snow must go on, The

Southern Living, Nov 1997 by Roberts, Carolanne Griffith

A vacation for around $97? Here's the ninth in our series of memorable bargain getaways.

You've got to give them credit. The staff at Wintergreen Resort, the topof-the-mountain ski haven near Charlottesville, Virginia, sported genuine smiles last winter when the snow refused to fall. Their countenance was as warm as the temperatures, which is to say that they glowed.

Mind you, it's rarely soggy at Wintergreen. Most winters are bright and white. The resort boasts snowmaking equipment for the 17 trails and slopes. They've got a great ski school for wee ones and a snowboard park dedicated to that ski-devil sport. But it's their thesnow-must-go-on attitude-the ability to show us a good time while skiing in shirtsleeves-that makes us want to return.

There are other reasons our family will hasten back too. Our rental condo, with its sweeping view of the Blue Ridge Mountains and its toast-your-toes fireplace, was ours for $90 per person per night midweek. That included two bedrooms and two days worth of lift tickets for four. The package was only available Sunday through Thursday-perfect for our travel schedule.

Fletcher, who hadn't seen snow for a whole year, needed to re-bond with the concept. Enrollment in the Ski Cats program turned out super. The instructors were long on patience and big on praise. Our 6-year-old wonder soared from tentative little "pizza" wedging to fullfledged skiing in two days. All this on snow the consistency of a vanilla slushie. Again, Wintergreen rose above nature.

The nature of being the Mom in the group-that's me-is generally to buck up, ski down, and pray for bones intact at day's end. So the Wintergreen wizards put me on parabolic skis, which look like normal skis with swollen, rounded tips. They come with the promise that the skier can make a turn it used to take a decade or so to master. I snapped them on and forayed forth to my lesson (all rentals here, parabolic and otherwise, come with a free 90-minute lesson). Modesty aside, I was great My husband had to pull me back to reality.

Speaking of husbands, mine decided to cash in on the wondrous offer to ski and golf the same day. The resort's Stoney Creek course, rated in the top 40 by Golf Digest, just happens to be in full play this time of year. And Johnny's lift ticket doubled as a free pass for 18 holes. Granted, he did have to pay $16.50 for the cart, but it was worth it to experience winter and summer in the same day.

So it didn't bother us a speck that Wintergreen was more green than winter. May the snow fall generously as the season begins-but if history dares repeat, the staff will prevail with cheer and calm. And well be there. Carolanne Griffith Roberts

For more information on the Midweek Ski package, contact Wintergreen Resort at 1-800-325-2200 or http://www.winter greenresort.com. Also inquire about the Ski Free package that includes lodging for four in a two-bedroom condo and four lift tickets for $275 per night.