• 1
• 2
• 3
• 4
• 5
• 6
• 7
• 8
• 9

Head to Deep Creek Lake for skiing at Wisp Mountain, dogsledding, winter sports and more in a little known, top value resort.

Within driving distance of many East Coast and upper Midwest communities lies the under-discovered resort area of Deep Creek Lake. This massive yet cozy vacation community is nestled in the natural mountain heritage of the Appalachians. Back in the 1960s, there was an enterprising plan to build a dam across a mountain stream while no one was looking, and it resulted in what is now a premier family retreat with a ski resort, convention hotel, and rental lodging in its midst.

While Deep Creek Lake's Wisp Mountain does not have the biggest ski slopes around, it is right in the middle of the continental divide, providing enough altitude for the powdery and deep snow familiar to New England skiers. I highly recommend skiing at Wisp, even for beginners.

It's a common misperception is that skiing is difficult to learn, only best done in one’s younger years and expensive lessons are required. I am living proof that this is incorrect because I never touched a ski until I was 40 and am now a competent intermediate skier of 54 (gahh!).

What if skiing is not your thing? Try the Wisp resort's premium tubing area with unexpectedly vast and fast undulating slides that will please the grownups, as well as the kids. Another favorite, and a rush for newbies, is a guided snowmobile excursion. It's no more difficult than riding a bike, and it is fun, fun, fun, so rev it up and be adventurous.

But the grand prize for a non-traditional winter activity goes to dog sledding. Relatively new to those in this part of the country, it's a winter activity that should not be missed.

Husky Power Dogsledding (301/746-7200), located at 2008 Bumble Bee Road, Accident, MD 21520, provides an interesting and new educational experience about sled dogs the husky dog breed, their care, and the tradition of canine winter transportation. The operation is run by an enterprising couple at their country residence. A sleigh ride through the woods is followed by the opphortunity to meet the very friendly tykes in their kennels while learning about their delightfully quirky and intricate personality traits. Make sure to allot adequate time and wear insulated boots because, for some reason, the lecture part of the experience required an hour-and-a-half of standing outdoors before the sleigh ride.