Wachusett Mountain

The Scene
Wachusett boasts more student visits per week than all of Vermont's ski areas get in a season. The central location doesn't hurt; nor does the nearby Wachusett Village Inn complex, which has made the ski area more of a multi-day destination.

The Slopes
A 1,000-foot vertical drop packs one of the best punches south of the New Hampshire border with a 360-degree view of the Boston skyline, and the mountains of New Hampshire, Vermont and the Berkshires. State-of-the-art snowmaking blasts powder on even the toughest days. Wachusett also boasts the largest ski school in the state (with 200 instructors) and one of the most popular NASTAR courses in the country. This means crowds, but an improved lift system, with the state's only two high-speed quads, keeps things moving at a reasonable pace.

The Stats
Vertical drop: 1,000 feet
Base elevation: 1,006 feet
Top elevation: 2,006 feet
Lifts: 8
Trails: 22
Skiable acres: 105
Snowboarding: Full facilities