The weather this year has been cooperating with Vermont--at least so far. I've read that Mount Snow opened last weekend. Other Vermont ski resorts opened this weekend, as well. Apparently, this is the earliest people have been able to hit the slopes in Vermont in almost 10 years. With the Thanksgiving weekend coming up, and the winter holidays close behind, I can imagine the resort owners and the people who work there are feeling gleeful. There are 20 Alpine ski resorts in the state, so if you can't find a place to ski, you're not looking that hard. The Web site "Ski Vermont" lists all of them.

Here are a few that are open already:

1. Mount Snow just made fresh snow. Check out the deals. Kids 5 and under, ski for free and there's a 10% military discount.
2. Killington is the largest resort in the eastern United States. There's a ski package you can buy to cut down costs.
3. Okemo Mountain was named good for families by Ski Magazine. Here kids 6 and under can ski for free. If you buy a 3-day or more lift ticket, you can ski at two other resorts, Mt. Sunapee in New Hampshire and Stratton Mountain, also in Vermont, during that time frame pn the same ticket. Neat. Mt. Sunapee is not open yet. Stratton is scheduled to open November 21.

With the ski season upon us, expect more Gadling coverage. Here is a link to some past posts. Neil has one later today on a place where skiing is perhaps the last thing you'd think about when planning a trip there.

Filed under: Skiing, United States, Holiday Ideas