Visiting ski mountains in the summer has quickly become a new favorite when we travel around the Northeast. It's my new lazy summer activity - taking the gondola up mountains, walking around the tops, and taking them right back down. It's kind of like the reward of hiking to a summit to enjoy the views, minus the whole hiking up a mountain bit. Truthfully, it's a great family-friendly alternative to long summit hikes to take in a view. If you have a small babe, and are out and about with family/friends that do not enjoy your level of hiking, take a gondola or a lift, or even a tram to the summit and enjoy the views.
It's a super "inclusive" activity and a lot of the lifts even allow dogs. Drawbacks? It can be a bit pricey, around $100 for a family of four.
Another post, another ski mountain in the summer. Today we are talking about Loon Mountain which is open in the summer and there is a lot to do. You can rent a bike and enjoy some downhill mountain biking. You can play disc golf or just hike around. How did we spend our Sunday? We took the gondola to the summit, walked around the glacial caves, enjoyed the vistas and viewpoints, and headed back down without breaking a sweat.
I did not play in the glacial caves (wearing a Whitney) but these looked like a lot of fun for kids. They are labeled with "exits" and ladders get you in and out of the maze like cave system. There is no additional admission for the caves as admission is included with your gondola/skyride ticket.
The gondola/ skyride is a way to get to the summit and an activity all in itself. It's a relatively short ride but it's nice to sit back and enjoy the views on a clear summer day. Once at the top, you have a few options. The cafe is open if you want to enjoy a snack and view. The glacier caves are open (no admission charge) and are a great space for the kids to go explore. There is also an observation tower with awesome signage that takes you around some of the famous peaks in the White Mountains. You can follow the ski trails, you can take in the views, you can just sit at the summit with a snack.
About: 4-person gondolas
Distance: 1.3-mile ride
Activities: disc golf, yoga, hiking, glacier caves, observation tower
Ticket Prices: Adult (13-64) $25, Junior (6-12) $20, Senior (65+) $23
** It's best to book ahead of time online
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