If you are looking for some winter fun for the entire family, Canaan Valley Resort is a perfect destination. Nestled in the Alleghany Mountains, at an elevation of 3200 feet, Canaan is the highest point east of the Mississippi. While year round fun can be found here, winter is magical.
As evidenced from my old ski jacket, circa 1992, with a lift ticket still attached, in my younger days, I was an avid skier. But then, well, kids. My priorities shifted and sadly skiing took a backseat. So when I was given the opportunity to head to Canaan Valley Resort, I jumped at the chance.
I learned a few things about Canaan Valley, about my skiing ability, and about why everyone needs to plan a weekend here:
I refuse to let another 15 years go by before skiing again. Yup, you read that correctly. I had not skied since 2000. But, I am happy to report, it is like riding a bike. Though skis seem to have gotten shorter and fatter in the past 15 years, I am happy to report I was able to pick it up again really quickly. If you or your kids have never skied, they have a fantastic staff and very easy trails for learning. If you are like me and getting back into it after a hiatus, the runs are easy to give you confidence and just challenging enough. And, if you are an expert skier then I urge you to check out Gravity. While I didn’t try it, the expert skiers in my group did and loved it.
Trying new things is good for you. I tried cross-country skiing for the first time and really enjoyed it. While very different from downhill, Canaan Valley has fantastic trails to try it out. And it is quite a good workout!
Laughing is good for you and you will laugh (and scream) when snow tubing here. There are 4 lanes, each 1200 feet long, making it the longest in the Mid-Atlantic. I recommend going down as a group (tethering 4-5 tubes together) because you will FLY down the hill! And laugh and scream and act like a kid again. Then there is the most amazing magic carpet to get you back up the top so you can do it over and over and over again.
It is possible to slow down and be in your own personal snow globe. I bet this sounds a little surprising considering most winter fun at Canaan Valley involves you traveling at fast speeds, be it on skis, a snowboard, or a snow tube, but in the midst of it all, you truly can slow down. As I was riding the ski lift to the top of the mountain, I truly felt like I was in my own snow globe. It was quiet, snowing slightly, the trees were magical and snow covered and it was just me in that moment.
Winter is absolutely beautiful and Canaan Valley offers the perfect opportunity for you and your family to enjoy the snow and all winter has to offer. Skiing, snowboarding, tubing, cross country, and ice skating are all right there at your fingertips. This is more than just a day’s destination. You truly need a weekend to enjoy and explore all Canaan Valley has to offer.
The writer was a guest of Canaan Valley Resort. Meals, activities, and accommodations were included to facilitate this review. All opinions are those of the writer.
