My New Left Foot--and More
I can handle expert slopes on skis, but I'm having more fun on the bunny slopes. This new snowboard feels like a giant left foot at first, but after a lesson and some practice, I'm linking turns, gathering speed, and feeling the free-riding vibe. I've found the perfect place for beginners like me: Silver Creek, Snowshoe's novice-friendly sister resort.

Reachable from the main resort by shuttle, Silver Creek offers wider trails, molehill slopes, and fewer crowds. (All-inclusive lift tickets are available.) A stand-alone entity with its own lodging, dining, shops, and ski school, it's perfect for families with kids. I'd come here just for the tubing park (humor required; skills optional) and night skiing.

I swap my snowboard for skis to explore Snowshoe, a mountain big enough to keep me entertained, but small enough that I don't get lost. Then I cross the street to the experts-only Western Territory. First thought: Wow, this is steep! Second thought: Whew, this is long! There may be only a few runs, but they serve up 1,500 vertical feet in a 1¼-mile stretch. Few resorts in the East can offer slopes like these.

Into the Night
It's dark. And I'm roaring uphill. Snowflakes dart through the headlights of my snowmobile like Star Wars on fast forward. I'm tapping the inner NASCAR fan I never knew existed. I give in to the urge to holler "Shake and bake, baby!" Me--a rebel? Who knew?

That's the beauty of Snowshoe: It's not all about downhill. Live shows at the Comedy Cellar. A cozy soak in the Split Rock Pool, an indoor-outdoor winter haven. Terrain parks with ramps and rails. Family fun at the Big Top, an 11,000-square-foot entertainment center with a climbing wall and trampoline. You don't need to be a downhiller to have fun here.