Although there is something to be said for lodge lazing, not knowing “how to” is no excuse to skip the slopes. While the prospect of learning to ski may seem a daunting challenge, certain Northeastern resorts believe that the winter season is really a time for beginners.
In celebration of Learn to Ski and Snowboard Month in January, more than a dozen mountains are offerings free ski lessons in Vermont for beginner skiers and riders during .
One of our favorite slopes is at Stowe Mountain | stowe.com
What’s the deal: Stowe’s program specifically caters its teaching methods to adult learning. The Stowe for Starters package, which includes lift tickets and an expert taught lesson, is a steal for the nervous beginner. Mount Stowe also offers small group sizes (classes are capped at six participants) and offers equipment specially designed for beginners. The price for one adult 1.5 hour clinic is typically $167.
Reward yourself with: Hot chocolate and a chocolate-drizzled waffle from the Waffle House.
For more information on other winter destinations and how to get there check out offMetro’s Guide to Skiing and Snowboarding.
Sarah Knapp is a Brooklyn based entrepreneur whose love for the outdoors and community building led her to the October 2013 creation of OutdoorFest. She has a BA in History, is a Wilderness First Responder and a NY state hiking, camp and boating guide. Her proudest achievement to date is reading the Aeneid in Latin. 
Allison was one of our first top writers and Chief Editor but is no longer working with offMetro. Allison is a native New Yorker, who has lived in Rome, Tuscany, Melbourne, Toronto and Los Angeles. She frequently contributed travel pieces to Family Travel Forum, using her own children as guinea pigs as they travel the globe. She never missed a chance to sample local delicacies, as her love for travel goes hand-in-hand with her love for food and wine. 
Josh Laskin is a freelance travel writer and photographer based in the White Mountains of New Hampshire. When he is not at work or on the road, you can find him in the mountains snowboarding, climbing, hiking, fly fishing, mountain biking, and eating bagel bites.
Annie is a travel writer, environmentalist, and surfer based in Venice, CA. She heads up our West Coast team, keeps our grammatical errors in check, and makes sure our California writers always have a plan for their next adventure. Follow Annie’s travels @annelisemcb.
Carly Pifer is a freelance writer who has been known to follow whims inspired by romantic movie scenes or colorful street style shots to India, Japan, Tunisia and Argentina. After stints living in Seoul, Boston, Paris and Los Angeles, writing and searching for something intangible, she landed somewhat steadily in Brooklyn and has begun to find inspiration in her more immediate surroundings. 
Kate E. O’Hara is a New York based freelance writer and photographer who loves all things food—especially the people who make it and market it. Her writing aims to capture the essence of the food experience; the stories that go well beyond a plate of ingredients. In addition to her love of food, Kate is also known to have a hankering for red wine and craft beer. You can also find Kate on Instagram