Are you struggling with a case of cabin fever? A trip to a ski resort may be the perfect antidote to the winter blues. These resorts offer skiing and other winter sports, and best of all, they are within a few hours’ drive from Central New Jersey.

Mountain Creek - Vernon, NJ

If getting to the slopes as quickly as possible is your goal, Mountain Creek is an excellent choice for a day of skiing, snowboarding or snow tubing. The resort’s 167 acres of trails are scattered among four mountain peaks.

You’ll want to pay a visit to the resort’s terrain parks if you’re a skier or snowboarder. Some parks offer mild thrills for beginners, while others will get your adrenaline flowing with 50-foot jumps, street-style rails and ride-on progression boxes. Bare spots won’t be a problem at Mountain Creek. The resort uses more than 1,000 snow-making guns that cover 100 percent of the terrain. Both ski and snowboarding lessons are available.

Holiday Mountain Ski and Fun Park - Monticello, NY

Just about two hours from our area, Holiday Mountain Ski & Fun Park offers fun for the entire family. With just nine skiing and snowboarding trails and four tubing trails, the atmosphere at Holiday Mountain is more relaxed than the frenetic pace of big resorts. In fact, long lift lines and waits are rarely a problem here.

The resort offers a Snow Sports School, a beginner area and a Kinderski Program just for kids ages 4 to 6. Family nights and other special events are held throughout the season.

Jack Frost, Big Boulder - White Haven, PA

At Jack Frost – Big Boulder, you’ll enjoy access to two challenging mountains that offer a combined total of 35 trails and 22 lifts. Located in the heart of the Poconos, the resorts are among the most popular in the area. Season passes are sold out, but day tickets are still available for this season. Although both parks offer skiing and snowboarding, Big Boulder devotes 50 percent of its terrain to park features. If you prefer milder thrills, both mountains also provide snow tubing areas.

Campgaw Mountain - Mahwah, NJ

Have you been meaning to try skiing, or do you want to introduce your kids to the sport? A short drive up I-287 takes you to Mahwah’s Campgaw Mountain. With shorter hills than the huge ski resorts, Campgaw Mountain is the perfect place to refine your skills or learn to ski or snowboard. The Mountain offers eight beginner and immediate skiing/snowboarding trails, 10 snow tubing runs and night skiing on Fridays

Shawnee Mountain - East Stroudsburg, PA

Another Pocono Mountains favorite, Shawnee Mountain Ski Area, is close enough for a day trip, yet offers plenty of winter activities to keep you busy for an entire weekend. Slide down the slopes at the Pocono Plunge Snow Tubing Park, then put on your skis or board and head to one of the 23 downhill trails. Two terrain parks feature table tops, full-scale rails, rollers and boxes. Beginners have their very own place to learn ski basics at The Learning Center.

Big Snow American Dream - East Rutherford, NJ

Another Pocono Mountains favorite, Shawnee Mountain Ski Area, is close enough for a day trip, yet offers plenty of winter activities to keep you busy for an entire weekend. Slide down the slopes at the Pocono Plunge Snow Tubing Park, then put on your skis or board and head to one of the 23 downhill trails. Two terrain parks feature table tops, full-scale rails, rollers and boxes. Beginners have their very own place to learn ski basics at The Learning Center.

Thanks to Big Snow American Dream, you don’t need cold weather to enjoy skiing. The indoor skiing and snowboarding park, located inside the American Dream shopping and entertainment complex, is open year-round no matter what the weather. The first indoor ski park in North America offers a 1000-foot-long run with a 160-foot vertical drop.

All of these ski resorts follow COVID-19 recommendations and require masks in indoor public areas, in lines, on lifts and in areas where social distancing isn’t possible. Advance reservations and lift ticket purchases are required at most resorts. Some restaurants and bars may not be open currently or might only offer take-out service.

If skiing is one of your favorite activities, it makes sense to live close to the best slopes in the area. Country Classics at Scotch Plains and Country Classics at Frenchtown offer brand new luxury homes conveniently located in Central New Jersey. Get in touch with us to learn more about these outstanding new communities.