Pennsylvania's highest vertical drop gets a lot of attention, but Blue Mountain also has dedicated beginner areas, which makes it a great place to learn. This day trip from New York City pairs round trip travel in a heated coach with a lesson for beginner and green level skiers and snowboarders, so first timers can pick up the fundamentals before exploring on their own. A trip leader rides along and is on hand at the resort throughout the day.

Five packages are available to suit each rider. The Beginner Area Lift Bus Lesson & Ski Rental and Beginner Area Lift Bus Lesson & Board Rental packages keep things focused on the beginner area and include rentals, while the All Area Lift Bus Lesson & Ski Rental and All Area Lift Bus Lesson & Board Rental packages add access to the entire resort. Riders who already have their own equipment can go with the All Area Lift Bus & Lesson package instead. Ski rentals include skis, boots, poles and a helmet, and snowboard rentals include a board, boots, bindings and a helmet. When the lifts close, a complimentary drink is waiting before the relaxing ride back to the city, a fitting way to celebrate a brand new skill.

Any restrictions to participate?

• Age: All ages are welcome. Guests under 16 must be accompanied by an adult. Guests aged 16 to 17 need a waiver signed by a parent or guardian, who must also give the trip leader a printed copy of their government issued ID before the trip.
• Experience level: Designed for beginners. Lessons are geared toward beginner and green level skiers and snowboarders.

Who can you accommodate for?

• Children: All participants must pay to participate, children included.
• Pets: Sorry, no pets allowed. Certified service dogs are permitted on the bus.

What to expect on the day of the experience?

• Duration: Full day. The bus departs New York City early in the morning and leaves the resort at 4:30 PM, returning to the original pickup point in the evening.
• What's included:
  • Round trip coach transportation from New York City
  • A trip leader on the bus and at the mountain
  • Complimentary après drinks after the lifts close
  • A lesson for beginner and green level riders
  • A lift ticket limited to the beginner area (Beginner Area Lift packages) or a full day lift ticket with access to the whole resort (All Area Lift packages)
  • Ski rental with skis, boots, poles and a helmet (Ski Rental packages)
  • Snowboard rental with a board, boots, bindings and a helmet (Board Rental packages)
• Who will be present: A trip leader will be with the group on the bus and at the mountain, and other guests will be joining on the bus.
• Photo/video: Photos and video are welcome; flash photography is not permitted.
• Specific rules to follow:
  • All guests must sign a waiver before boarding the bus
  • Smoking of any kind is not permitted on the bus
  • Guests must be back at the return meeting point on time, as the bus departs as scheduled

How to prepare?

• Weather dependency: This trip runs in winter conditions. As long as the roads are open, the bus will be running, though travel may take longer in snowy weather.
• Arrival: Plan to arrive at the pickup location 15 minutes before departure. Pickup times may shift slightly due to weather or traffic.
  • Downtown Brooklyn: 578 Atlantic Ave, departs 6:10 AM
  • Union Square: Paragon Sports, 857 Broadway, departs 6:40 AM
  • Hell's Kitchen / Times Square: 351 W 42nd St, departs 7:00 AM
  • Return: Meet at P2 near the Activity Center by 4:00 PM. The meeting point may change due to resort events or conditions, and guests will be notified if so.
• Parking: Not needed, as round trip coach transportation is included.
• What to wear: Warm, layered winter clothing and ski or snowboard outerwear, including a jacket, pants, gloves and goggles. Clothing and accessories are not available to rent at the mountain.
• What to bring:
  • Valid ID
  • Skis or a snowboard, boots and a helmet if booking the All Area Lift Bus & Lesson package, which does not include rentals
  • Snacks, water and any personal essentials. Guests can bring their own food and drinks on the bus; no food or drinks are sold on board
  • Alcohol is allowed on the bus; please be considerate of other guests
  • Skis, poles, snowboards and boots go in the luggage bays below the bus
  • Bags can be left on the bus during the day, but it stays locked until the end of the day. Lockers are available at the mountain
• Restrooms/lockers/changing rooms: Restrooms and lockers are available at the resort.

Anything else I should know before going on this experience?

• With the Beginner Area Lift packages, the lift ticket is limited to the beginner area of the resort.
• A voucher code for the lesson, lift ticket and any rental is sent before the trip. It is redeemed online and the items are then collected from a Pickup Box at the resort. Redeeming the code as soon as possible is recommended for lesson packages.
• The bus makes no stops on the way to the mountain and cannot drop off or pick up guests anywhere other than the listed locations.

Unused Experience Vouchers can be returned within 14 days for a full refund to the original purchaser, no questions asked.

If you have any unused Experience Vouchers, you can exchange them for any other experience in our marketplace, free of charge, no matter when. If you choose an experience that's more expensive, you'll need to pay the difference.

No refunds are allowed once the experience is booked, but you can reschedule up to 10 days before your trip, for another available trip date this season or next. To reschedule, use the link in the booking confirmation email or contact the experience provider directly. No-shows, missed buses or rescheduling less than 10 days in advance means losing the value of your experience.