Publicly Rumored
No rumors here. It’s just the facts, baby. Want to know about sign-ups for upcoming events? Or when the latest mega-sale is at (insert favorite store here)? How about learning when Dunkin has the Free Donut Day before it actually happens? No worries, we got it covered for you. It’s like putting your ear to the ground…if that actually worked.
The Seacoast’s Guide to awesome sledding. Weeeeeeeee!
The snow has arrived which means it’s time to don the winter gear and head outside! Check out our picks for the best local sledding and snowboarding hotspots.
Note: Outdoor play is a ton of fun, but it comes with the usual precautions. We would be remiss not to mention some safety tips when sledding:
- Avoid sledding hills with obstructions such as trees, electrical poles or buildings. Steering a sled isn’t like driving a car, especially for little ones.
- Traffic + Sledding = Disaster. Stay away from any sledding trails that have traffic at the top or bottom of hills. We can’t stress this one enough.
- Dress the kids warm! All that up-and-down-the-hill can heat you up, but the cold air can still penetrate little fingers and noses.
- Make sure there are no sharp edges or other protrusions on your sleds. If your child wipes out and hits the sled the wrong way, a torn snow suit will be the least of your worries.
Sledding is one of those memories that stick in our brains forever, and it will with your children, too. Have fun and make this the best day ever!
Amesbury Sports Park (Sled/Snowboard)
This park offers very wide and groomed trails for both snowboarding and sledding. Website offers ticket and group discounts, as well as event/party hosting information. Note: Tubes are included with the price of admission. The park does not allow any tubes/sleds to be brought into the park.
Cost: Please see website for hours of operation and costs.
12 South Hunt Road, Amesbury MA
(978) 388-5788
Wagon Hill (Sled/Snowshoe/Cross-Country Ski)
This town property is free and open to the public year round. Enjoy a large sledding hill on one side and cross-country trails leading down to the coast on the other. Great spot for picnicing and hot cocoa, too! Always plenty of free parking (“sometimes” there is a porto-potty on site).
Cost: FREE!
Route 4, Durham NH
Garrison Hill (Sled/Snowboard)
This public park offers two steep trails; one designated for sledding and the other for snowboarding and skiing. The sledding hill is flat and straight while the snowbard park is filled with large jumps and rails.
Cost: FREE!
Abbie Sawyer Memorial Drive, Dover NH
(just off Central Avenue before Wentworth-Douglass Hospital)
Jady Hill (Sled)
Looking for a great place to take the kids sledding? Look no further than the hills of the Exeter Country Club. Open to the public for golf in the warmer months, the Country Club provides hours of sledding entertainment for children in the winter. Secluded by trees, its the best-kept secret sledding spot in the area!
Exeter Country Club
58 Jady Hill Avenue, Exeter NH
Powderhouse Hill (Sled/Snowboard/Ski)
Powderhouse Hill offers skiers and snowboarders a rope tow (generated by a re-habbed 1939 Ford Model A engine!), 3 trails and 175-feet of vertical elevation. There is an adjacent sledding area, although not run by Powderhouse Hill, is open to the public and FREE. Had your fill of falls, er, runs, for the day? There is a small lodge at the base with a snack bar and wood stove.
Cost: $5! (cash only) for snowboarding/skiing. Sledding is free.
Agamenticus Road, South Berwick ME (207) 384-5858
Open Wednesday and Friday 7:00pm to 9:00pm; Saturday and Sunday 12:00pm – 4:00pm
Through the grapevine, we’ve heard these FREE locations are also great for sledding:
New Hampshire
- Behind the tennis courts at South Mill Pond in Portsmouth
- Odiorne Point State Park in Rye
- Dearborn Park on Rt. 111 in North Hampton (note: this hill abuts a very busy and high speed road. Please use extreme caution!)
- Stratham Hill Park, Rt. 33 in Stratham
- Nippo Lake Golf Club on Province Road in Barrington (also good for snowboarding)
- Brown’s Hill located just east of the Rt. 125 and Hedding Road intersection in Epping
- Shaw’s Hill Farm in Kensington
- Alexander Carr Park off of Birch Street in Derry (behind Parkland Medical Offices next to Parkland Hospital)
- Derryfield Park in Manchester
Maine
- Fort Foster in Kittery, ME
- York Golf Club on Organug Road in York, Maine
- Mount Agamenticus in York, Maine
Massachusetts
- Endicott Park in Danvers (East Meadow best for sledding)
- Woodsom Farm in Amesbury
- Maudsley State Park in Newburport
- Ould Newbury Golf Couse in Newbury (you may need a 4x wheel drive to get up the road!)
(Please note: Conditions and restrictions on the above locations may change at any point.)
Sledding spots are everywhere! What’s your favorite spot? Share with us and we’ll add it to our list!
“4th Grade Earn Your Turns” Progam. Earn free lift tickets for the 2011-2012 season!
Earn Your Turns Passbook
What’s included in the Earn Your Turns Passbook is a lift ticket and trail pass to EVERY Ski NH resort (you can find links to all our 37 member ski resorts), as well as savings on lift tickets and trail passes for parents and siblings, rental packages, lessons and more! Coupons from the 4th grade passbook are valid everyday of the 2011-12 season, except these holiday blackout dates: December 27-31, 2011; January 14-15, 2012; or February 18-20, 2012.
2011-2012 Program Information
To participate in the Earn Your Turns ski free program, fourth grade students must research some aspect of the history of skiing in New Hampshire, and summarize the information in a report of their or their teacher’s choosing. For instance, students could write an essay or a story, draw a picture, build a model or interview a grandparent or friend who skied in the time of rope tows and wooden skis. Once the project is complete, students submit it to their fourth grade teacher. The teacher reviews each project and, if it is satisfactory, submits the student’s name to Ski NH. Ski NH then sends the qualified fourth grade student his or her Earn Your Turns passbook.
Parents
Download the Parent Guide to learn how to get your child started on their Earn Your Turns project. We encourage you to communicate with your child’s 4th grade teacher to help your child “earn” his/her passbook. Are you a parent in MA, NY, NJ or another state? YES! You can participate in the Ski NH Earn Your Turns Program.
Are you a parent of a home-schooled child? You can participate in the Earn Your Turns Programs too! Click here for the homeschool guide, and home school participation forms.
Teachers
If you are a 4th grade teacher and would like to learn more about the Earn Your Turns program and the benefit you can receive, please call 1-800-887-5464 x201 or email Info@SkiNH.com for more information. Participation forms can only be requested by the teacher to prevent program abuse. Click here for a Teacher’s Guide to Earn Your Turns.
4th Graders
Want to get started on your skiing history project? Click here for some “Great Links” to some really cool information to all different aspects of skiing history and some fun websites to check out!
Check out all kinds of fun stuff on Winter Feels Good. Learn about Terrain Park & Helmet safety, where to take part in a free racing circuit with the Mt Dew Vertical Challenge in New England, and how to LiveFit.
SKC needs restaurant recommendations! Where do you like to eat?
SeacoastKidsCalendar loves seeking out new restaurants that are great for family nights out—but we want to hear from you! What are your favorite places to go with the family? Or, is there a restaurant you’ve been wanting to try? Please use the comment box below to share your restaurant recommendations and we’ll add them to our Review List. Breakfast, lunch or dinner—we’ll try them all.
Announcing New Class/Workshop Schedules!
Looking to get your child involved in class or workshop running for longer than just one day? Check out the following course schedules and sign-up your little ones! Future artist/gymnast/athlete in the making!
Richie McFarland Children’s Center
The Richie McFarland Children’s Center is an early childhood program whose purpose is to help young children reach their full developmental potential and to support their families through that process. Check out their upcoming programs!
Music Together
Music Together is an early childhood music program for babies, toddlers, preschoolers, kindergarteners and the adults who love them. Check out upcoming classes and locations!
Free Museum Passes when you have a Bank of America account. Finally, a perk.
Did you know that you can get free admissions to participating museums all across the country on the first full weekend of the month just by having a Bank of America account? Check this link for details and locations.
