Off-Grid Adventure at Snowshoe Mountain Resort | West Virginia #Family #Travel

I love West Virginia for the gorgeous scenery, but I had no idea how much adventure could be found there!  Thanks to Snow Shoe Mountain Resort for inviting my family for a stay and enlightening us to all the summertime fun!  We received a complementary activities and accommodations, but all thoughts and experiences are solely that of Rural Mom and family!

Driving through most parts of West Virginia offers breath-taking views of the mountains and valleys of the Appalachians.  When we’re headed that way, we typically try to go during the day to enjoy the scenery and make a few stops along the way at photo spots, wineries and small cafes.

Though we’ve visited ski resorts in the wintertime, I had little idea how many activities were available in the summer.  The mountains are alive with hidden adventures, especially at the Snowshoe Mountain Resort!

Proclaimed home to the fabled mascot for the resort Wooly Ted, the Sasquatch, Snowshoe Mountain Resort offers an off-the-grid haven year-round with activities and luxuries available year-round.  Their newly enhanced summer programs are brimming with fun entertainment options and activities geared towards sports enthusiasts and adventure seekers.

Whether your objective is to take on every experience, to simply kick back and relax or to just spend some quality family time “away from it all,” the resort has you covered!

A variety of lodging accommodations are available from single bedroom rooms to private cabins.  Our family stayed in a 2-bedroom suite at the Seneca that offered everything we could possibly need and then-some!  Complete with a full kitchen, balcony, fireplace and even a wash machine and dryer, this 2-bedroom, 2-bath suite is nearly the size of an apartment.  Plenty of room to move around, store your equipment, have some privacy or settle down for a family meal and game night.
The Seneca also offers a community room and private access to a huge hot tub and courtyard for relaxing. The building has direct access to the village area, where you’ll find restaurants and shops a few steps from the front door, a large swimming pool about a two minute walk away and easy access to the ski lifts or hiking trails to the lake.

During our stay we participated in the Family Mountain Adventure Program, a 3-day camp for children and teens, and a 3-day resort vacation for the parents.  The program offers a lot of flexibility for each family member to have their own summer camp experience.

For example, while my sons were busy riding mountain bikes, canoeing and having a great time interacting with the camp counselors, my husband and I had time to shoot sporting clays and hop on a Polaris RZR for a tour of the mountains including a stop and a spectacular hike up a fire tower with incredible views.

Having our own couple’s time at the resort was a fun treat, as was having our own private instructor and custom shoot for sporting clays.  The instructor worked with both of us, catering to our skill levels and designing a course that would offer the most benefit for us individually.  He also worked with us to perfect our stance, offer tips and suggestion along the way and to help correct any trouble-spots we might have.  During the trip, I learned that I was left-eye dominant and the instructor showed me how to compensate… which led to my being able to finally be able to shoot down more clays!

We also spent time at the lake, hiked, shopped, had cozy lunches and truly enjoyed all the amenities and activities of the Snowshoe Mountain Resort including the Polaris RZR tour which had us winding through the mountains and resort areas, stopping for wonderful views and up-close encounters with the natural beauty of the area.  All while my sons enjoyed the same activities (sporting clays and Polaris RZR tours are available options for teens.)

At night, we came back together for family fun including swimming, ski lift rides, dining and play time in the village.  A rock climbing wall, bungy bouncer and zip-line track are all available in the village for kids to enjoy.  In addition to several restaurants, there’s also a Starbucks where you can enjoy a refreshment and access Wi-Fi if you feel the urge to check back in with the world outside the resort.

If you are considering Snowshoe Mountain, it is important to note this is a true off-grid experience.  The resort is in a radio-free zone, so cell phones do not provide much access without Wi-Fi and the Wi-Fi access has limited hours of availability.  During our stay, I was able to access it from 8 am to 8 pm in the village.

When the sun went down, we enjoyed relaxing and playing board games that were provided in our room. Things get a bit quiet at night at Snowshoe Mountain as most activities close down prior to sunset (around 8 pm)  including shops and most eating locations.  The room we stayed in had a fully functional kitchen, though, so it was easy enough to plan ahead and stock a few munchies in the room if the late-night snacking urge hit or if were in need of an early morning coffee or quick breakfast.

Food is a little on the pricey side, as you’ll find in most resorts, so it may pay to plan ahead and bring some snacks and fixin’s for sandwiches with you to accommodate your hungry crew.

To maximize your visit, I suggest planning your stay over the weekend as some family activities are not offered during the week, such as S’Mores Campfires and Sasquatch Hunting.  Also note that if a thunderstorm or heavy rains, most of the resort activities are shut down, so it pays to be flexible during your stay and have a back-up in-room activity planned for the kids.

There’s really no shortage of outdoor events and activities around Snowshoe Mountain, too, including golf courses and mountain festivals.  If your family enjoys outdoor activities and sports, off-road adventures and laid-back quiet settings or you’d simply like to “escape from it all,” be sure to check out the wide range of options Snowshoe Mountain offers.

For more information or to plan your trip to the Snowshoe Mountain Resort, visit http://www.snowshoemtn.com/