Smugglers' Notch Resort: America's Family Resort

Just over the ridge from Stowe, down a winding road that closes in winter, sits the resort that calls itself America's Family Resort — and three generations of parents will tell you it earned the trademark. Smugglers' Notch Resort, Smuggs to everyone who knows it, spreads across three interconnected mountains in the town of Cambridge, near the village of Jeffersonville. Its whole philosophy is simple: everybody in the family should have a great day, every day. The resort counts some 70 years of operation, and the slopeside condo village has been hosting week-long family stays for decades.

Don't mistake family-friendly for small. The three mountains — Morse, Madonna, and Sterling — deliver a 2,610-foot vertical drop, the third largest in Vermont and the fourth largest in New England — among the biggest vertical drops in the East — spread across more than 1,000 acres of terrain and 78 trails, from a 1,030-foot base to a 3,640-foot summit. The mountain averages about 312 inches of snow a season, with snowmaking covering 62 percent of the terrain. Morse is the beginner-and-family zone near the village base, and the Morse Highlands lift opens up wide, forgiving terrain for building confidence; Sterling serves intermediates; Madonna hosts the steeps, including the Fab Five black diamonds and the Black Hole, advertised as the East's only triple-black-diamond trail.

The resort's name comes from its namesake: a narrow mountain pass running beside Sterling Mountain that smugglers used in the early 19th century, when the notch offered a hidden route through the Green Mountains. Route 108 through the actual Notch is closed in winter and passable only by small vehicles in summer — no RVs, buses, or trucks — but from May through November it is one of Vermont's great scenic drives, threading between boulders and cliffs that tower over the road. Parking areas at the state park entrance charge a day-use fee, and many visitors walk or bike through rather than driving it.

Summer at Smuggs is a full second season, and the resort markets itself as a four-season destination. The village hums with guided activities — aqua fitness classes, pickleball, family bingo, trivia nights, guided hikes — plus a farmers' market at the Village Center stocked with fresh produce, cheese, wine, meat, maple syrup, and desserts from local farmers and vendors. Newcomers can join a welcome orientation at the Meeting House covering area attractions, events, and resort facilities. Pools and water fun, including the Courtside pool facility, anchor the warm months, and the resort runs fall lodging deals during its autumn festival season.

The Snowsports University is the heart of the winter experience for families: the resort's ski and snowboard school is known for patient, cheery instructors and kids' learn-to-ski camps that rank among the best in the ski business. Mascots like Mogul Mouse and Billy Bob Bear roam the base area, and the activities schedule runs from morning lessons into the night, with evening entertainment for all ages, so the kids' day doesn't end when the lifts stop.

Lodging is built for week-long stays. The slopeside village is dense with condominiums, many of them ski-in/ski-out, and the resort offers free on-site parking plus a complimentary shuttle system connecting lodging areas, the base lodge, ski school, and village amenities. The resort's address is 4323 Vermont Route 108 South, Jeffersonville, VT 05464 — general info and vacation rentals at (800) 419-4615 — and the Guest Service Desk sits at 121 Village Center Drive in the village.

Getting there is part of the charm. Smuggs is about 45 minutes from Burlington International Airport via Route 15 through Jeffersonville and a scenic climb up Mountain Road, and under two hours from Montreal, which explains the strong Canadian contingent on the slopes. Ride-sharing is limited in the area, so plan airport transfers and evening outings in advance. Drivers take Route 15 through Jeffersonville, then climb Mountain Road to the resort, and should note the notch road closes in winter when traveling between Smuggs and Stowe. The projected ski season runs from late November into mid-April, roughly 135 days on snow.

The three mountains are all interconnected by lifts and trails, so strong skiers can roam from Morse to Madonna without unbuckling. The fixed-grip double chairs on Madonna and Sterling keep the vibe old-school — one family ski publication noted the 1963-vintage Hall chairs with affection — and Smuggs is not a fancy, high-speed-lift kind of place. Madonna's summit delivers fantastic scenery, with views stretching to nearby Stowe and, on a clear day, all the way to Lake Champlain.

The surrounding valley rewards exploring. Jeffersonville and Cambridge are classic Vermont villages, and the resort's own dining rooms plus the village restaurants cover everything from family pizza nights to a proper dinner out. In summer, the wider valley offers swimming holes, quiet back roads for cycling, and farm stands, and the whole area glows during foliage season. It is the kind of place where a week goes by faster than you expect.

Smugglers' Notch has been doing the family thing for more than six decades — the resort counts some 70 years of operation — for longer than most of its guests have been alive, and it shows in every detail, from the lesson programs to the village layout. It is not trying to be Stowe or Jay Peak; it is trying to be the place your kids ask to go back to. That's why Smugglers' Notch Resort is our featured pick for the Smugglers' Notch area.