Three great places for skiiers and snowboarders in the Northeast

I like to ski and snowboard. Here are three of my favorite spots:

If you are a beginner skier, I recommend Hunter Mountain in New York State. It is a little more than three hours away from Long Island. At Hunter, there is a giant bunny hill. It’s good for skiers and snowboarders to learn.

Jiminy Peak in Massachusetts is close to New York but isn’t as big as Hunter Mountain. Jiminy gets really crowded on the weekends, and there are way too many skiers and snowboarders on the mountain. It can be dangerous for snowboarders and skiers to be on the same mountain.

Mount Snow, in Vermont, is four hours away from Long Island. It’s a great place to go with your family because it’s big and has a lot of different trails. One side of the mountain is strictly for snowboarders. In my opinion Ripcord at Mount Snow is a really hard trail. It is really steep and has lots of moguls.

Here are my feelings about skiing vs. snowboarding.

Pluses for skiing: easier to learn; easier to strap skis on; better balance; skis come off when you fall.

Pluses for snowboarding: the boots are light and comfortable; while you’re on the mountain you can sit down; it’s only one thing to carry.

The bad part about skiing: uncomfortable, heavy boots; too much to carry; it’s harder to walk.

The bad part about snowboarding: your snowboard stays on when you fall; it’s hard to balance; it is very hard to learn.

Melissa Levonick’s fifth-grade class, Wading River Elementary School