How to Go Skiing in Shawnee Mountain, Pennsylvania

With one of the Pocono's most highly rated children's ski programs, Shawnee Mountain, Pennsylvania is a family favorite. Offering one of the largest arrays of novice and beginner trails in the nation, this is an excellent spot to learn or to bring groups of varying skill levels. This resort boasts a 700-foot vertical drop and aggressive snow-making capabilities that cover all 125 acres of skiable terrain.

Instructions

Difficulty: Easy

Things You’ll Need:

• Internet access or a telephone
• Major credit card to reserve rooms and purchase tickets in advance
• Dates and times for your trip

Reserve a Place to Stay in Shawnee Mountain

1. Book your accommodations for your ski trip to Shawnee Mountain through the Pocono Mountains Vacation Bureau Web site (see Resources below). You can also call them at 1-800-POCONOS.
2. Reserve a room at an upscale hotel in Shawnee on Delaware. Many of these accommodations offer ski packages and breathtaking views of the surrounding scenery, though they come with pretty price tag to match.
3. Book yourself into a Shawnee bed and breakfast for a free, hearty breakfast and après ski delights served each evening on the house. Many of these reasonably-priced accommodations are housed in charming, mountain-style structures.
4. Select from a wide array of hotels and inns in the Stroudsburg, Pennsylvania area to stay within close proximity of Shawnee Mountain. These accommodations range from budget to rustic to moderately priced.
5. Opt for a cabin or home if you plan to stay for a while with a large group, as this tends to be more economical. You'll find vacation rentals in Shawnee on Delaware as well as nearby Marshalls Creek, Bushkill and Stroudsburg.

Travel to Shawnee Mountain

6. Book a flight to the nearest airport, the Lehigh Valley International airport in Allentown, Pennsylvania.
7. Use the I-80 to reach Shawnee Mountain by car. Take exit 309, which used to be exit 52.
8. Check the snow report for chain requirements before heading into the Shawnee Mountain area (see Resources below).

Hit the Slopes at Shawnee Mountain

9. Check with your hotel for discounted single and multi-day passes to Shawnee when you book.
10. Align your lift ticket purchase with your skill level to save on slopes you will not use.
11. Buy midweek passes for the best deal on lift tickets, regardless of your age.
12. Save a bundle on a night ski (after 4 p.m.) season pass if you plan to return several times during the season.
13. Enjoy kid-free skiing with the first-rate babysitting program for children too young to ski.
14. Try the new on-site prepaid debit card system for everything from food to lift tickets to on-mountain stores--it's ideal for families with children and couples tapping the same financial resources.

Tips & Warnings

• Get a free pass for your under 4-foot tall child with any full-price adult lift pass.
• Book online for the latest and greatest discounts in Shawnee, which rotate daily (see Resources below).
• Reserve dinner seats at local restaurants if you're not planning to eat in your hotel. They fill quickly on the weekends.
• School holiday weekends are packed at Shawnee Mountain, so reserve your trip outside of these windows when possible.

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