We'll never forget the look of startled pleasure on the snow-dusted face of our son, Abram, then three, when my husband and I first took him down a toboggan run. A classic winter thrill, a trip down one of these chutes--formed from wood, fiberglass or banked snow--provides a longer, faster ride than you're likely to find at your local sledding hill. Unlike skating or skiing, this sport requires no athletic ability or expensive equipment. And, because most toboggans accommodate four riders, it's truly an activity families can do together. If your family seeks high speed action, the Camden Snow Bowl in Maine is a sure bet for any thrill-seeking tobogganer.
CAMDEN, MAINE
CAMDEN SNOW BOWL: You know this run must be good--it's the home of the annual United States National Toboggan Championships. Here, you can hop on a toboggan with your kids and hurtle down a 400-foot wooden chute past pine trees, then across frozen Hosmer Pond. Offerings include a snack bar and warming lodge as well as a tubing hill, Alpine skiing and ice-skating. Per-person prices are 50 cents per ride on your own toboggan and $1 per ride on a four-person rental. Kids ages three to 12 must ride with an adult, and kids under age three are not permitted to ride. Call 207-236-3438 or check out their Web site by clicking here.
Joan Huyser-Honig is a freelance writer in Grand Rapids, Michigan.
Please keep in mind that phone numbers, addresses, and prices are subject to change. Originally published in December 1998. Updated August 2002.
