The city of Boston is at sea level, and skiing does not seem like a likely outdoor activity here. But great skiing is available not far from the city. There are over 70 ski areas near Boston, and many of them can be reached in one or two hours. You will find great choices for all skill levels and tastes. Here are some of our recommendations:

Best for Beginners: If you are a beginner or would like to improve your skiing before you hit the big slopes, maybe try a local area such as Nashoba Valley or Wachusetts Mountain.

Best for Families: Wachusett Mountain is a great choice for a family outing. A little over an hour's drive away, it offers gentle slopes with many kid-friendly options, such as a magic carpet ski lift and Polar Kids Ski School. There are many family events to enjoy, including contests, concerts, and balloon races. Pat’s peak is another great choice.

Best for Serious Skiers: Only two hours from Boston, Loon Mountain offers great skiing, particularly for intermediate to advanced skiers. The resort offers some beginner slopes but excels with challenging terrain and great snowmaking.

Best for Apres Ski: If you are looking for more than just the thrill of the slopes, Stowe Mountain Resort in Vermont has a lot to offer. About three hours from Boston, Stow can pamper you with 45 restaurants, elegant accommodations, and boutique shopping at some 75 unique stores and spas.

Nashoba Valley Only 40 minutes from Boston, Nashoba Valley makes for a fun family outing. Although the vertical drop is only 240 feet, you will find 17 trails with 5 of them for beginners, 6 for intermediate skiers and 6 more for experts. You can get lessons and it is great place iif you are just learning how to ski because the terrain is very forgiving. The resort also has an adaptive program available that aims at giving disabled individuals guidance and encouragement to reach their potential. The tubing park has 15 lanes which makes it New England's largest. Features: Alpine Skiing, Tubing, Racing, Lessons, Adaptive Skiing, Lodge Price: $55.- Day Ticket Weekend Address: 79 Powers Rd, Westford, MA (978) 692-303301886

Wachusett Mountain This well established ski resort is just about an hour from Boston and offers fun for skiers and snowboarders alike. You will find gentle and well-groomed slopes that are especially great for beginners and families. There is a ski and snowboard school with seperate beginners area, complete with a four-passenger chairlift. You will find many activities offered that your family enjoy. Features: Racing, Season Pass, Senior Pass, Lessons, Clinics, Kids and Teens Activities, Events, Contests, Store, Ski Demos, Functions, Weddings Price: $69 - Day Ticket Weekend Address: 499 Mountain Road Princeton, MA 01541 (978) 464-2300 (800) SKI-1234

Pats Peak In a little over an hour you can reach Pats Peak from Boston and you could not have found a friendlier and more fun place. It is a small but fun family resort with plenty of terrain for beginners and intermediate skiers. The vertical is limited but the variety of slopes makes for great skiing. You will find a couple steep areas and a bump run with many small but fun glades. Although the runs are not that long, the slopes are very conveniently arranged so that all runs end in one location. The snow making is excellent and many skiers consider Pats Peak one of their favorite locations. Features: Alpine Skiing, Snowtubing, Snowshoeing, Lessons, Racing, Lodge, Child Care, Kids Program Price: $68.- Day Ticket Weekends Address: 686 Flanders Rd Henniker, NH 03242 (888) 728-7732

Mt Sunapee Less than two hours from Boston, Mount Sunapee is definitely the closest mid-sized ski resort. Skiing here is excellent thanks to a great choice of slopes, from gentle cruisers to relentless mogul runs. The resort is known for high quality grooming and snowmaking and you will be impressed about the views from the slopes, overlooking Lake Sunapee. Due to its somewhat southerly location, temperatures here are generally on the warmer side which comes in handy when the wind blows. You will find ski lessons, racing programs, and a many services for skiers with a wide range of disabilities. Features: Alpine Skiing, Rentals, Lessons, Racing, Lodge, Freestyle, Competions, Skiing with Disabilities, Price: $84.- Day Ticket Weekend Address: 1398 Route 103 Newbury, NH 03255 (603) 763-3500

Gunstock - Central NH Only a two hour drive from Boston, Gunstock reminds you a little bit of Lake Taho with magnificent scenery of Mount Washington and Lake Winnipesaukee. The terrain is wonderful and very confidence inspiring. A High speed quad lift gets you to the summit in less than six minutes. For cross-country skiers there is a rustic 31 mile nordic trail and the resort has a 1000 feet snow tubing run, the longest in New Hampshire. Gunstock has been there for a long time and offers a fun skiing experience for the whole family. You will often encounter surprising special features such as free chocolate at the summit or fun events like moonlight skiing. Features: Alpine Skiing, Nordic Skiing, Lessons, Lodge, Day Care, Rentals, Lodge, Racing, Winter Camping, Mountain Coaster Price: $86.- Day Ticket Weekend Address: 719 Cherry Valley Rd Gilford, NH 03249 (603) 293-4341

Waterville Valley - White Mountains, NH Waterville Valley is one of the best ski resorts in the Northeast and has a lot to offer for both skiers and after-skiers. You will love the unique layout of the area. Everything revolves around a central base lodge where you can access lifts to the summit as well as intermediate and beginner slopes. This is particularly wonderful when you are a family or group with skiers of different skill levels. Expert skiers can find plenty of challenge by simply heading for the lifts at the top of the mountain without heading back to the base. The fun doesn't stop when you are done skiing. Other than many ski areas, you will fin a lot to do in the village with coffee shops, grocery stores, an indoor ice rink, sleigh rides, a Nordic Center and even fireworks on Saturday nights. Features: Alpine Skiing, Nordic Skiing, Lodge, Lessons, Racing, Tubing, Dogs alloed, Dog Sledding, Shopping, Village, Ice skating, Rock Climbing, Spas Price: $81.- Whole Mountain Ticket Address: 1 Ski Area Rd, Waterville Valley, NH 03215. - (603) 236-8311

Loon Mountain Only two hours from Boston, Loon mountain offers you great skiing, particularly if you are an intermediate or advanced skier. Although the resort offers some beginner slopes, it really excels with challenging terrain and great snowmaking. If you are a snowboarder, you will have your own terrain park with superpipe, 16-foot wall ride, and a roller coaster rail. There's also a tubing run served by a lift. You will find the view on the mountain spectacular, with summits that stretch as far as your eyes can see. Choose your times well as it can get crowded over the weekend. At Loon you will find an elaborate program of events and entertainment for the whole family and after-skiing options are available near the lodge and in the the village. Features: Alpine Skking, Nordic Trails, Rentals, Lessons, Racing, Ice Skating, Tubing, Snowshoeing, Adventure Center, Shopping Restaurants Price: $95.- Day Ticket Weekend Address: 60 Loon Mountain Rd Lincoln, NH 03251 (603) 745-8111

Bretton Woods - White Mountains, NH Fun, Relaxing and friendly summarizes the Breton Wood experience. This established resort is popular among children, families and intermediate skiers and is known for its well-groomed generous and confidence-building slopes. You will find snow here that is known to be particularly smooth and powder conditions here can last for days after a snowstorm. If you are a Nordic skier you will not be disappointed with over 100 miles of groomed trails, a nordic center and a school. Off the slopes, the Mount Washington Hotel, one of the last old-style grand hotels, can offer you many creature comforts such as a spa and wellness center, a pool, and fine dining. Features: Skiing, Lodge, Alpine Skiing, Nordic Skiing, Snow Shoeing, Tubing, Skating, Sledding, Snowmobiling, Climbing Wall, Lessons (Nordic and Alpine), Spa, Pool Price: $89.- Day Ticket Weekend Address: 99 Ski Area Road Bretton Woods, NH 03575 (603) 278 - 3320

Attitash Attitash is a classic New England ski resort with great runs and spectacular views of the White Mountains. You will find a variety of terrain among two interconnected mountains, with long winding trails near the peak to wide open cruisers further below. There is a great ski school and a dedicated triple chair learning area with a magic carpet. Your lift ticket not just covers Attitash but is also valid at nearby Wildcat, only minutes away. For after-skiing fun, there is nearby Conway with all the many amenities like shops, spas, restaurants, bars and much more. Features: Alpine Skking, Rentals, Lessons, Racing, Freestyle, Child Care, Adaptive Skiing, Lodge, Events, Shopping, Reastaurants Price: $79.- Day Ticket Weekend Address: 775 US-302 Bartlett, NH 03812 (800) 223-7669

Sunday River Sunday River It is one of Maine's largest and most visited ski resorts. It is a big place, spanning 8 different mountain peaks,. This offers you many possibilities for creating your own special slope, even on a busy day. The runs are very suitable for beginners and families but can also offer considerable challenge if you are an expert skier. The resort is known for its expertly groomed slopes and and you may end up being one of thoses many skiers who return year after year just to experience theses perfectly smooth trails. Snowmaking at Sunday River is taken seriously and is perhaps the best in all of New England. You will find two slopeside base hotels and there are over 700 condominiums nearby. For after-ski you can go the Bethel where there are inns, restaurants, bars and many services and amenities. Features: Alpine, Skiing, Nordic Skiing, Racing, Lodge, Ice Skating, Tubing, Snowshoeing, Snowmobiling, Dogsledding, Geocaching, Ziplines, Kids' Programs, Ski and snowboard schools, Rentals, Fireworks, Spas, Price: $99.- Day Ticket Fri-Sun Address: 97 Summit Rd Newry, ME 04261 (800) 543-2754

Jackson Ski Touring Foundation - White Mountains, NH Features: Nordic Skiing, Alpine Skiing, Lodge, Village, Rentals, Lessons, Racing, Lodging, Restaurants, Dogs allowed Price: Address: 153 Main Street, Jackson, NH 03846. - 603-383-9355

Bear Notch Ski Touring Center - White Mountains, NH Features: Nordic Skiing, Lodge, Village, Rentals, Lessons, Dogs allowed Price: Address: 1573 US-302, Bartlett, NH 03812 - (603) 374-2277

Stump Sprouts - Berkshires MA Features: Nordic Skiing, Lodge, Rentals, Rustic, Sustainable, Lodging. Dogs allowed Price: Address: 64 West Hill Road Hawley, MA 01339 - (413) 339-4265