Okemo’s secret: Make snow, groom it obsessively, repeat nightly. That earns it a No. 2 ranking in rooming, second only to sister resort Sunapee, N.H. Overall snow quality (No. 4) has been a hallmark of Okemo’s rapid rise, as has the abundance of family-friendly trailside condos, great service (No. 5), kid-approved terrain parks (No. 6), good on-mountain food (No. 6) and thought-ful family programs (No. 5). If everyone’s happy, no one cares that Terrain Variety (No. 18) and Challenge (No. 18) are lacking. “The mountain is an intermediate’s dream,” says one happy cruiser. “It’s my family’s favorite place.”
/ What’s New / Addition of a second 500-hp Prinoth BR500 groomer: eight feet wider and 10 feet longer than previous machines
/ Don’t Miss / White-tablecloth lunch at the midmountain Epic at Solitude restaurant
/ Mandatory Run / Dreamweaver, an easy but beautiful run with a sunny top-of-the-world feel
