Summer fun at the ski slopes

Smugglers' Notch features a water playground for kids.

By Emily Mathis

Special to amNewYork

When it’s scorching hot in the city this summer, you may find yourself dreaming of the ski slopes.

So why not head there? Off-season travel offers an affordable option for those looking to escape the heat and humidity. ­

Smugglers’ Notch, Vermont

smuggs.com, 800-419-4615

This mountain resort, nestled in Vermont’s Green Mountains, is 45 minutes west of Burlington, a six-hour drive from New York City.

A common ski destination, the family resort knows how to do summer, too. “It’s completely green,” said Barbara Thomke, PR director at Smugglers. “We make a total switch.”

This summer, it’s 2004 at Smugglers’ Notch, with the resort rolling rates back five years.

The action-packed, Family Fest Package for a family of four (which includes five nights’ accommodations in a one-bedroom condo) is $1,046 — down from $1,575 last year. The package includes guided hiking and garden tours, tennis camp, mystery shows, volleyball, and daily camps for kids ages 3 to 17.

Getting there: By public transportation the closest you you’ll get is Burlington, Vt., which can be reached by plane or Amtrak train. From Burlington, you can rent a car or take a shuttle provided by the resort (for a fee).Hunter Mountain

huntermtn.com, 518-263-5580

Located a little more than two hours north of the city in the Catskills, Hunter is an easy escape.

According to Kim Pickett, a manager at Kaatskill Mountain Club, the area has seen an increase in summer travel thanks to the resort’s new focus on assisting travelers in taking day trips to surrounding areas — including the Baseball Hall of Fame in Cooperstown, the underground caves of Howe Cavern or Woodstock.

Beginning July 5, mountain biking will be offered and the Skyride will open.

Here, the ski chairlift transforms into a 5,500-foot-long ride to the second-highest point in the Catskills, with views of the Berkshires, the Catskills, and the Green Mountains. You can ride or hike back down if you’re so inclined.

From now until Labor Day the Kaatskill Mountain Club hotel is offering third nights free. Weekend rates for studios for a family of four range from $150-$250/night. One-bedrooms range from $200-$375/night.

Getting there: Trailways Bus runs from Port Authority to Hunter Mountain. The 3½ hour trip costs $66 round trip. Tickets for New York to Hunter Mountain are not available on the Internet. Instead, call 800-776-7548.

Killington, Vermont

killington.com, 800-621-6867

The East’s largest ski area doesn’t just shrivel up and die in the summer heat — it gets adventurous.

Their summer adventures package, which includes lodging and a pass to the adventure center, begins at $58 per person per night. The deal must be booked for two nights and is based on four people in one bedroom.

The pass includes access to hiking, K1 gondola rides, alpine slides, mini golf, climbing walls and the quad Pico Power Jump, a trampoline contraption. Mountain biking can be added on for a fee.

Getting there: Killington is a five-hour drive from the city. Amtrak trains run from the city to Rutland, and Killington can be reached by car or by bus. The closest airport is Burlington, from which Killington may be reached by bus.

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