Friendship: What is it? Where do we find it? How do we keep it?

According to Facebook, a friend is someone we may have met for a minute, added to a list, and then left to the algorithm.

According to Marc Antony in Shakespeare’s Julius Caesar, friends (like Romans and countrymen, respectively) tend to lend their ears and are often prone to peer pressure.

According to my youngest son, friendship is a compass that points to where your heart is, regardless of time or distance.

Sorry, Bill, but I’m with the kid on this one.

“I’m not tired,” said that same kid, lying through his eyelids, then his mouth fell open and never closed again. We were five hours into a 10-hour flight, somewhere over something dark. It was late. We were all tired. He was asleep.

We were on our way to Sweden. Again. The best friendships, you see, like any compass, are a magnetic thing, and they pull us through the iron of our heartstrings. Frankly, it is a wonderful way to travel.

I get that long-distance friendships aren’t for everyone. There are far more obstacles to family travel than not, with money being perhaps the biggest. It wasn’t easy for us, either. In fact, it nearly didn’t happen. Despite buying our airfare so far in advance that it was cheaper than most domestic travel, and having accommodations provided via the generosity of our friends and their timeshare, it was still a big undertaking that involved a lot of saving and even more corners cut. The benefits, of course, outweigh everything.

The best friendships are a good investment

The slopes of Storlien look soft from a distance, white and fluffy like marshmallow rivers running down the sloppy side of a bright, cold sundae; and the nuts in the thick of it are those you love the most. Mountains are made for metaphors, but they are not nearly as soft as the brochure may suggest. Still, it is worth it all the same, even more so for the sharing.

This is where we spent a week, a quick walk in the snow, uphill both ways, between cabin and ski lifts. We were an overnight train ride from Gothenburg, sans internet and dressed in more layers than an onion. The temperature stayed well below freezing. The wind blew it colder. The kitchen, however, was cozy with wine and conversation.

The best friendships, when done correctly, become the family that you choose.

Ours started seven years ago, when two little boys, both new in town, met in a California classroom. Neither spoke the language of the other, nor did they seem to care, but they knew what laughter sounded like and they understood kindness perfectly. Their friendship rippled to include their older siblings and their parents, from play dates to family game nights to theme parks on the weekends.

And then they moved back to Sweden, which could have been the end of it. We all know life has done meaner things.

But it wasn’t.

Absence, it turns out, really does make the heart grow fonder, but the digital age provided a tether that wouldn’t break. The boys’ long-distance friendship grew all the stronger, and they took the rest of us right along with them. It is an easy comfort.

Hence, our trip to Sweden, and plans are already in motion for the next trip we will all take together. We’re thinking somewhere warmer.

Friendship is anything you want it to be, and everything you make it.

Winter sports are optional.

This article about long-distance friendships was originally published in 2018. Best friendships main photo by Sunny Jat via Pexels.

Winter dad jokes exist to warm the cockles of every kid’s funny bone. Or is it to give our spouses yet another reason to give us the cold shoulder? Brrr! Did anyone else just get an icy shiver down the spine?

As a service to our readers (and a disservice to their friends, co-workers and relatives), we have scoured the internet for the best/worst winter dad jokes. They are family-friendly, kid-approved, good ol’ clean jokes.

So you want silly snowman? We got them! Skier jokes? We got a few! Groan-inducing puns? You betcha!

But wait — there’s more! After you finish these, check out our Christmas dad jokes and our New Year’s dad jokes. ‘Tis the season!

Enjoy!

Best (or is it worst?) winter dad jokes

Q. What do you call a snowman who vacations in the tropics?
A. A puddle.

Q. Why are snowmen great at parties?
A. They always know how to break the ice.

Q. What do you call a winter monster with six-pack abs?
A. The Abdominal Snowman.

Q. What did the first snowman says to the second snowman?
A. “I don’t know about you, but I smell carrots.”

Q. What falls in the winter but never gets hurt?
A. Snow.

Q. What do snowmen call their offspring?
A. Chill-dren.

Q. What is the best Mexican food to have during a frigid winter?
A. A brrrrr-rito.

A gingerbread man went to the doctor’s complaining of a sore knee. The doctor asked him, “Have you tried icing it?”

Q. How does a snowman get around town?
A. By icicle.

Q. Why did the girl keep her saxophone out in the snow?
A. Because she wanted to play cool jazz.

Q. What does a snowman take when he gets sick?
A. A chill pill.

Q. What do you call a slow skier?
A. A slope-poke.

Q. How do mountains stay warm in the winter?
A. They put on their snowcaps.

Q. What did the snowman say to the dog that relieved itself on the sidewalk?
A. “Icy what you did there.”

Q. Why did the boy only wear one winter boot?
A. There was a 50% chance of snow.

Q. Where do skiers go when they’re short on cash?
A. The snow bank.

Q. What’s a snowman’s favorite condiment?
A. Chilly sauce.

Q. What do trees say when winter finally ends?
A. What a re-leaf.

Q. What sort of cakes do snowmen like?
A. Ones with lots of icing.

Did you hear about the snowman spy? He has a license to chill.

Q. What do you call an old snowman?
A. A puddle.

Q. What kind of money do snowmen prefer? 
A. Cold hard cash.

Q. How did the snowgirl break up with the snowboy?
A. She gave him the cold shoulder.

Q. What did one snowflake say to the other?
A. “You’re one of a kind.”

Q. Why is Frosty never late?
A. Because time waits for snowman.

Best winter dad jokes photo: © Soloviova Liudmyla / Adobe Stock.

EDITOR’S NOTE: NYC area family-friendly skiing guide updated for Winter 2023-2024!

Family-friendly skiing, snowboarding and tubing is not as far or as difficult to get to from NYC as you may think. Several kid-friendly slopes and resorts are within a few hours by car, commuter train or even bus.

And COVID-19 — be damned! Most resorts operated throughout the 2020-21 season without issue thanks to limits on daily lift ticket sales, face mask requirements, social distancing rules and restrictions on lodge use.

So if you want to escape the urban jungle for a day or weekend, here are some of our favorite family-friendly ski resorts and spots in the New York City area.

Thunder Ridge Ski

Thunder Ridge Ski may be the easiest of all these to reach from NYC. Located in Patterson, N.Y. just off I-684, it’s only 90 minutes by car and accessible via the Metro North Hudson Line. The resort normally offers a free shuttle service from the Patterson, N.Y., train station on weekends and you can call to have them pick you up during weekdays. Check the resort’s ski shuttle page.

Thunder Ridge is good for beginners given its easy access, small size (22 trails, three chairlifts, and four magic carpets) and gentle slopes.

Mountain Creek Resort

Also just a 90-minute drive away is Mountain Creek Resort in Vernon Township, N.J. It offers two-hour lessons and rental packages at a reasonable price through its Kids Kamp. Mountain Creek offers 200 acres of trails with eight lifts along with 30 lanes of snow tubing — a perfect family activity, no skill required.

Staying overnight slope-side at The Appalachian hotel is also awesome because, regardless of the temperature, you can relax in the heated outdoor pool and hot tub. (I’ve done it — it’s pretty amazing on a cold night.)

Camelback Mountain Resort

About two hours northwest of New York City in the Poconos is Camelback Mountain Resort, regularly voted one of the best family-friendly skiing resorts in Pennsylvania. Why? In addition to 166 acres of skiing (fully covered by man-made snow if nature doesn’t help), Camelback has one of the biggest snow tubing parks — 42 lanes — in the United States, ziplining, an adventure park and a 4,500-foot-long Mountain Coaster.

The fun doesn’t stop at night. Colorful LED lights and music keep the snow tubing going after dark while skiing and snowboarding also continue.

Tired of the outdoors? You and the family can dive into the wave pool or ride of the water slides at the adjacent Aquatopia Indoor Waterpark. If you go, make sure you read our indoor waterpark tips first.

One downside — driving is the only way to get here.

Hunter Mountain Ski Resort

Hunter Mountain in the Catskills is the closest “big” mountain (3,200 feet above sea level) to NYC at less than three hours away. Given its size, Hunter has something for skiers and snowboarders of all skill levels with two terrain parks and 67 trails over 320 acres. It also boasts New York state’s largest snow tubing park with 1,000-foot-long lanes.

One-on-one or group lessons are available for kids or, if you want some adult time on the slopes, “playcare” is available for kids ages 2 to 6.

Windham Mountain Resort

A bit farther north in the Catskills is Windham Mountain Resort. Lessons are available for children as young as 3 while experienced skiers and boarders will find plenty to do on 285 acres filled with 54 trails, six terrain parks and 11 lifts.

Windham also has an Adventure Park with tubing, ice skating and — yes! — kid-sized snowmobiles (these need to be booked in advance).

Mount Snow

If you want a more traditional New England-style but still family-friendly ski resort, trek the four hours north by car or bus to Mount Snow in beautiful West Dover, Vt. With 85 trails, 19 lifts and 10 terrain parks across four mountain faces and 589 skiable acres, it’s the real deal.

You could also go snow tubing. Or get pulled by a team of Siberian huskies. Or take a ride on a sleigh pulled by Belgian draft horses.

Mount Snow also offers occasional Kids Discovery Days where children ski and learn free with a midweek lodging stay and adult lift ticket purchase.

For more on the family-friendly skiing and winter experience at Mount Snow, check out this review.

DISCLOSURE: Thanks to Mount Snow for providing us with ski passes, equipment rentals, and accommodations for this skiing and travel review. The opinions expressed here are honest and solely the author’s.

Our family welcomed a beautiful daughter to the world 10 months ago. Consequently, fatherhood became more complicated juggling a 7-year-old son and a newborn girl. I was thrust back into the trenches — a life of diapers, bottle feeding, sleep deprivation, stroller walks, and precious moments with a nugget napping in my arms. What was surprising was how this drastic lifestyle change would affect our older son. It’s difficult being the big sibling when so much attention focuses on the baby.

As winter enveloped our lives, I wanted to break out and have some inner-child fun. I was seeking a way to give my son some well-deserved personal attention. We hatched a plan to take a father/son trip for an adventurous weekend getaway. We brainstormed several destinations — a warm beach, indoor waterpark, amusement park, and skiing. We figured a ski trip to one of the most popular ski resorts on the East Coast — Mount Snow in West Dover, Vermont — would hit our sweet spot.

Here are a few reasons we determined Mount Snow was a perfect family skiing destination.

1. Great for children who have never skied

Truth be told, my son was 99 percent more excited about the chance of riding one of the 20 ski lifts up the mountain at Mount Snow than he was about learning to ski. He was salivating at the prospect of hopping aboard a chair-lift — honing in on Mount Snow’s sleek BlueBird Express that whisks you up to the summit in 7 minutes — and riding it up and down for the entire day. I tried to explain to him you’re only allowed to ride it one way — up. To the top of a slope. Then, you must ski down for another opportunity to ride the chair lift. This was instant motivation for my son to learn how to ski.

We enrolled my son in Mount Snow’s ski school on our first day. Yeah, I’d love it if he learned how to plow, make turns, and was shredding all over the mountain, but ultimately I wanted him to leave the lesson wanting to ski again. My son’s instructors were extremely patient, cared deeply about safety, and made the learning fun.

I wasn’t surprised when my son shared the highlights of his “Mountain Camp” (the snow camp program for 7-year-olds) experience: riding the “magic carpet” (a conveyor belt that takes you to the top of the bunny hill), using the rope tow, and slurping hot chocolate during the snack break. More importantly, he had a beaming smile and was eager to take another lesson. I couldn’t believe how much he progressed after only two days of ski school.

2. Also great for parents who haven’t skied in a while

Skiing is one of the most invigorating activities I’ve ever experienced in my life. However, it’s been years since I’ve last clicked on a pair of boots and skis. I’m older now, feeling mortal, and was definitely nervous at the prospect of getting back on skis.

Fortunately, Mount Snow has a welcoming ski school program for adults as well. I was comfortable being grouped with three other participants who were in a similar situation — they used to ski, but haven’t been on skis in several years. For the next two hours, my anxiety melted away as I practiced with an instructor who focused on my strengths and provided valuable guidance to improve my skills. To be completely transparent, I fell frequently and getting back up on my skis after a fall was embarrassingly challenging. I persevered.

I credit the humor, process, and coaching craft of my instructor, Andy Donofrio, who had all of us within the group gliding confidently across the slopes at Discovery Center in no time. Bottom line: after two days of skiing at Mount Snow, I learned to fall back in love with a sport that I’d completely forgotten about.

3. Mount Snow: An easy road trip from the NYC area

In planning our weekend ski adventure, I wanted a destination close enough to drive in a few hours, had top-notch skiing, and offered a wealth of amenities forwhen we weren’t skiing. Mount Snow is ideal because it’s in the Southern part of Vermont so with a pit stop at the gas station and a snack at the rest stop, we were at our destination in under 4.5 hours. There were several other enticing ski resorts we explored in Vermont, but we chose the resort closest to New York City.

Parents don’t want to hear children in the backseat asking, “Are we there yet?” I’m happy to report the scenic drive consists of easy highways to navigate and the help of a DVD player made for an easy round-trip drive. The other bonus of using your car for a family road trip is you can stuff your vehicle to capacity, and not have to worry about airline weight limits. Let’s face it — children require lots of stuff, so bring their favorite pillow, stuffed animal, and infinite snack options.

4. Numerous activity options … even if you DON’T ski

If this weren’t billed as a “ski weekend,” a compelling argument could be made that the recreational activities for families happening off of the slopes are the top reason to visit Mount Snow.

It was snowing and the mercury was at 25 degrees Fahrenheit when we arrived at Mount Snow’s Grand Summit Resort Hotel on Friday night. With an itch to explore the enchanting property, stretch our legs, and seek adventure, we did what any family would do — we jumped into the Grand Summit’s outdoor pool. Yes, you read that correctly. The ultra-warm, outdoor pool is open year-round and frolicking is encouraged. With a view of the slopes and the snowflakes falling around us, we had our first snowball fight in the pool!

One of our weekend goals was to break from our usual routines. So we decided to hit the hotel’s arcade at 7 a.m. before breakfast. After a few games of pinball and Ms. Pac-Man, we ignored the advice from two bitter children (see cute sign in the photo) who deemed the Claw Machine was impossible to win, and were victorious. Disclosure: we spent $6 before being elated when Red the “Angry Bird” fell into our laps.

My son’s weekend highlight was going head-to-head against me in extreme snow tubing, and winning. The spectacular tubing course, located at the base of Mount Snow (and just outside the Grand Summit Hotel) is an eight-lane run. It provides an awesome opportunity to race against your entire family at the same time. Then, after the thrill-seeking, scream-induced, lightning-fast ride to the bottom of the hill, you’re met by a wonderful surprise — a conveyor belt that takes you and your heavy tube back up to the top so you can do it time and time again.

Activities off the beaten path? Imagine an evening sleigh ride through the snowy forest pulled by a pair of one-ton Belgian draft horses. On Saturday night, we ventured to nearby Adams Family Farm for this one-of-a-kind, magical treat. Our sleigh was guided by valiant captain, Kip Adams, to a log cabin in the woods to enjoy some hot chocolate. Cuddling up under blankets with my son, and staring up at a breathtaking, starlit galaxy was a special moment for me. We’re eager to try dog sledding at Husky Works Mushing Company on a future visit during the winter.

There’s no shortage of high-quality food options around the base of Mount Snow. There’s something truly gratifying about skiing right up to the front door of a restaurant.  Our favorite lunch spot was 1900′ Burger.  An Angus beef burger topped with smoked, applewood bacon paired with a thick milkshake was just the ticket after a two-hour ski lesson.

The focus of the weekend was bonding with my son. It was truly special to have a date night with my sidekick after a tiring day of winter activities.  We dined together by flowers and candlelight at Harriman’s Farm to Table restaurant in the Grand Summit Resort. The service and food were superb!  I’m still dreaming about the Fusilli alla Vodka topped with sliced ribeye steak.

5. Breath in that fresh mountain air

Our family spends ample time enjoying Central Park in New York City. However, there’s no comparison to that feeling on the mountain when you’re surrounded by snow, trees and natural beauty. Escaping the monotony of our daily lives and surrounding ourselves with breathtaking scenery at Mount Snow was truly special.

So many lasting memories were made during our weekend getaway at Mount Snow. Fortunately, our family no longer needs an excuse to visit. What was remarkable about Mount Snow was that all of the staff from renting equipment, dining, ski instructors, and hotel information made you feel welcome and part of one big family. My son and I are hooked and we’ll be back. In fact, we’re already plotting our next trip which will likely occur over the summer so we can kick the tires during Mount Snow’s Summer Family Camp. Plus, in the warmer months, we’re told that you can ride the Bluebird Express Lift up and down the mountain to our heart’s content.

Have you been or are you headed on a ski trip with your family this winter? Please let us know in the comments where you’re headed.

Photos: Courtesy of the Somerfeld family

What do the fathers of City Dads Group do when a blizzard (kinda) hits their fair metropolis? Some of our NYC Dads Group fathers explain, in words and photos, how they handled the approach, arrival and aftermath of this week’s Winter Storm Juno.

We go sledding.

“On snowy days, we either commute to school or do pick-up via sled. Here I am bringing my son home from school as Snowmageddon 2015 kicked off.” — Lance Somerfeld

We get them gear and explore

“When I looked out the window … the snow was very light so I put my son in the cushy Bugaboo and went for a walk down to the soccer field at Asphalt Green. The wind was blowing off the East River and was bitter cold so decided to head back home.” — Brandon Garcia

We catch snowflakes on our tongues

“With Sienna still being so young, it fills me with joy to just watch her catch snowflakes on her tongue. Later, we’ll go out and see what’s higher – Sienna or the snow piles.” — Lorne Jaffe

We build mountains to conquer

We build snowpeople

“We had a brief snowball fight on the sidewalk and then did some street sledding (which turned out to be great exercise for Daddy). After we met up with neighbors, we played in the snow together with their kids, and eventually built a ‘Snow Princess Jedi’ (equipped with a wand and mini light saber). Once we were frozen, we returned inside for lunch (grilled cheese). My younger daughter refused to nap and so we let the girls watch a movie. All in all, a great day!” — Ariel Chesler

We make snow angels

When it’s too cold out, we read, sing and cook with them

“Snowed in on a Tuesday. Jake’s not in the mood to go sledding. What to do? What to do?

“Wake up.

“Serve ‘His Highness’s’ breakfast. French toast with maple syrup, sprinkles, and cinnamon. Got that?

“Read children’s books.

“Color by numbers.

“Sing silly songs like ‘Goodness, Gracious, Great Balls of Snow!’ Gotta love Jerry Lee Lewis.

“Watch Peppa Pig and Tickety Tock.

“Hop on Pop. No. Not Dr. Seuss’s Hop on Pop. Jake’s actually hopping and jumping up and down on my chest right now. I think he cracked one or two of my ribs.

“Speaking of ribs … What’s for lunch?” — Jason S. Grant