 Poster: A snowHead
|
Evening all,
I have been thinking about going to Whistler with family next year, but not sure I actually fancy it enough to warrant the outlay. As an alternative I'm considering a 2 centre trip which will likely include Silver Star (family friendly) and if I get my way either Revelstoke or Red Mountain.
From what I can there ain't much at either Revelstoke or Red Mountain so only concern is if it would work with a 3 yr old or not???
Any first hand experience out there able to offer advice?
Ta
|
|
|
|
|
|
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
|
nickr, Been to both, is your 3 yo skiing ?
Both are great places especially with fresh snow and some good skiing. What do you want to know ?
|
|
|
|
|
|
Well, the person's real but it's just a made up name, see?
Well, the person's real but it's just a made up name, see?
|
Hey Bones,
No, she's not skiing yet. The plan would be to book her in childcare part time and take 1/2 day ski lessons for the rest of the time or something along those lines.
To be honest, its my wife who wants to go to Silver Star. Because it is marketed as a 'family resort' she seems to think it would be a better option with more things to do in the evening or if you wanted to take an afternoon off and spend time with the little one.
I'm not convinced by this, and I really would like to do Revelstoke and Red. From what I can see both have the kids lessons and childcare facilities we need plus good accommodation options with swimming pools and small towns nearby for off-slope diversions.
However, I am yet to convince the missus, so I guess what I want to know is, would Silver Star really be such a better option for a family holiday?
I need ammo to bring her round!!!
|
|
|
|
|
|
You need to Login to know who's really who.
You need to Login to know who's really who.
|
|
nickr, quick question - what sort of skiing are you looking for?
|
|
|
|
|
|
Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
|
We like to ski pretty steep off-piste, moguls and easy trees with the odd well groomed piste for a bit of a change. We do like to challenge ourselves a bit and have enjoyed Fernie, Kicking Horse, Jackson Hole etc in the past.
We're at a point where if we ski in Europe we need to hire a guide or spend a lot of money of avalanche safety equipment. We feel we get much of the skiing we like to do in bounds at many US / Canadian resorts.
|
|
|
|
|
|
You'll need to Register first of course.
You'll need to Register first of course.
|
Silver Star is a good family resort. it has pond skating, best tubing and sleigh rides, mini snow mobile things.
The glades are good at Silver Star, so I wouldn't totally diss it as part of a two centre.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
nickr, ahhhh, that puts a totally different complexion on your question 
As gryphea, suggests, I haven't skied Silver Star but it looks ok. Revelstoke has nothing to talk of at base, but is a proper small town. Assuming you can get childcare and stuff appropriately, I'd think it was totally fine. It also boasts "British Columbia's best sex shop, 2008", which has to count for something.
Red looks about the same. Naff all near the hill, but with a town. Probably crap sex shops though.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
You'll get to see more forums and be part of the best ski club on the net.
You'll get to see more forums and be part of the best ski club on the net.
|
I think we'll be avoiding the sex shop, the last thing I need is the missus getting amorous and us ending up with more kids and even less money for ski trips!
Looking more and more like 6 or 7 nights at either Big White or Silver Star and 3 or 4 nights at Revelstoke. Funds don't seem to be stretching quite as far as I'd hoped.
Thanks all
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
None of them bad options. Silver Star has some good stuff and the family tag means that there aren't too many people lapping it but the fake painted frontier town look is irritating IMV. Revy & Red deserve their places on the top "resorts for real skiers" lists. If town's got a pool and a soft play area and the resort a creche, what more do you need? Stay in town at either place though. Base areas aren't super big
|
|
|
|
|
|
snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
|
|
nickr, i'm going to throw a wild card in, maybe not for your upcoming trip, but throwing a little cash at avvy kit is not a bad thing and a cheap in every other respect but with guides trip to, say, Monterosa might be fun... t
|
|
|
|
|
|
And love to help out and answer questions and of course, read each other's snow reports.
And love to help out and answer questions and of course, read each other's snow reports.
|
We went to Monterosa in 2009 and hired a guide for a couple of days. Was good fun, although conditions were not great. I have a love hate relationship with skiing in Italy. Love the people, food and scenery etc but the skiing on-piste is a bit boring. Mainly easy cruising and they always seem to flatten the moguls - why would you do that!!!
The issue for me with avy gear is that whilst it increases your chances of survival, you still have a good chance of getting buried. That goes for hiring a guide too - I've read plenty of news stories in recent years about guided groups getting caught out. My attitude seems to have changed since the arrival of my daughter - my balls appear to have shrunk and I take fewer risks than before! As I see it, the safest option is to ski off-piste in a controlled environment.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
If you are taking a 3yr old to silver star then might be worth a look at Snowbird lodge its has a "kids playroom" with play equipment suitable for
3yr old. Most of the rooms have hot tub on balcony only a couple of 1 beds units and studios don't. The skating and tubing highly recommended, and the ski school. Firelight lodge also great, hotubes only on the ground floor and gas barbecue, there is a hot tub on a patio area for guest with out tubs. The skateing rink and the tubing are on your doorstep and the bowling alley is in the basement. You can use the silver queen lift and nursey slope if 3yr old want to ski abit with parent. It would be a walk across the main car park in an evening for food.
|
|
|
|
|
|
You know it makes sense.
|
|
|
|
Otherwise you'll just go on seeing the one name:
Otherwise you'll just go on seeing the one name:
|
|
Joneski, looks like we're heading to Big White now instead of Silver Star. Looked at the Snowbird Lodge and it looks great, but as it turns out, one my wife's old school friends owns a bar at Big White, which is weird since she comes from Tamworth! But hey, we might get some free beers and a local guide for a day.... sold it to me!
|
|
|
|
|
|
Poster: A snowHead
|
We are giving BW a miss this year, don't stay in ptarmigan lodge (we stayed 2yrs ago it was awful) it was shabby no wifi (we borrowed next doors wifi  ) The skiing was mixed Saturday was awful full of kids with out parental control Sunday a bit better the rest of the week empty slopes.
|
|
|
|
|
|
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
|
|
Looking at staying at either Grizzly Lodge or Stonebridge Lodge - both have a hot tub on balcony option which is a nice touch.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
FAQ
Red would be about 5 hours from Silver Star IIRC.
but if they havent had much fresh snow will be a bit limited. Great trees and bowls though. No idea about childcare at any of these.
