The Boston Ski Expo is a family friendly weekend event that happens every November in Boston at the Seaport World Trade Center. Nearly two hundred vendors, ski resorts, travel & tourism companies and other exhibitors get together Thursday through Sunday to bring you all things ski and snowboard. If you are an outdoors activity seeker even in the winter, you do not want to miss the Boston Ski & Snowboard Expo!
Every year our family goes to the Boston Ski and Snowboard Expo. And we love it! Even me while I'm dreaming about fuzzy pajamas with feet and hot cocoa. If you haven't read my post last year about what you find there, then check that out here.
Do the research before you go
We go nearly every year. The first thing you want to know is to always do the research before you go. One of the best parts of the Boston.com Ski & Snowboard Expo are the free and discounted lift tickets we get. Below is a sampling of what we got last year.
This is no joke! It's like this every year. Every vendor has giveaways, or special deals. You need to go to the Boston.com Ski & Snowboard Expo Facebook page as well as every other ski resort page and vendor that will be there to find out what their show special or giveaway is going to be.
For example, last year I looked to see that radio station, WAAF had a text a code contest. I texted and I won my family a trip to Sugarloaf mountain in a mountain side condo with ski tickets included. Yes completely awesome!
A few years back, we booked a ski trip with Sunday River because of their show special and we were able to spin the big wheel. My son had just won a season pass to three of the best mountains in New England for his dad.
Ski passes + discount tickets
Buy your tickets online to save time and money. I don't know anyone that loves to stand in line, so buy your tickets on-line right now. And then next year, be sure you are on their email list, because they just may send a promo code in September get $5.00 off each ticket. But don't worry this year, you can still get on the saving money band-wagon by going to their website and request your $3.00 off coupon!
With the purchase of your Boston.com Ski & Snowboard Expo ticket, you are eligible to receive a $10 GetSkiTickets.com gift card and a chance to win one of four Ikon Pass passes. Be sure to complete the survey BEFORE going into the Expo. A valid email address is required.
Children, 12 and under, admission is FREE with a paid adult.
Where to park
Bring cash for parking. Yes, times are changing and most places take credit cards at the parking lots, but do you really want to be searching around Boston for a parking lot that takes them? Save yourself some time and mental anguish and bring some cash. Also, check out this map, courtesy of Parkopedia.com for a list of parking locations and cost.
Filling out the giveaway forms
Although lately most places are completing giveaways on tablets, you still may want to have a few on these on hand. Who wants to get a cramped hand filling out postcards? Pick up a pack of Avery address labels, head to their website to download a template and fill out your name, address, phone number and email. Print it out and now you have labels to quickly put on all those giveaways! We usually make sure we have a couple of sheets of labels filled out and ready to go!
Parenting tip
Dress your kids in clothes you don't really care about... The vendors love to give out bumper and logo stickers. My kids, especially my older son, decorates himself into a walking billboard. He loves it, the vendors love it - a win-win right? WRONG! Peeling those damn things off before they go through the wash is simply not fun. Now I either have him help me peel them all off the next day or I put on a shirt that he doesn't care about - too small, too ugly, too big, you get the idea. Waste of a good shirt, of course, but keeps my sanity in check.
If you go, please let me know if any of these tips helped you out or let me know if you have any of your own to add! Thank you and enjoy the show.
Bringing cash for parking is a great tip. Many of us, especially when going to do activities like this try to minimize the cash we have on us. Great tips!
But for many, it’s the lesser known spots and points of interest that draw their attention, the less touristy places that provide totally unique Boston experiences.
Good Point! I don't ski but my family does and I love to go to see what other fun places/events there are around New England.