With close to a foot of freshly fallen snow blanketing our slopes, there’s no better place to seize the winter than here at Mountain Creek ski resort. At this very moment, 43 freshly groomed trails, serviced by seven lifts, are open for skiing and snowboarding. And sessions at our snow tubing park are selling out, so book your spot before you arrive at the mountain.

A few inches of snow have a way of stirring the 10-year-old in even the most cynical among us. If this latest round is the catalyst that finally gets you to the foot of our mountain, fear not. You’re in good hands. For starters, buy your lift tickets online, before you even leave home. You’ll save yourself a bit of time when you get here and a whole lot of cash. (Online passes are discounted up to 68 percent.)

You’re going to need some gear, so head over to our state-of-the-art center on the first floor of the Red Tail Lodge for skiing and snowboarding rentals. We’ll outfit you head to toe for $49.99, plus tax. The process is simple and the gear—Head skis and Burton boards—is designed specifically to make learning a little easier.

Speaking of which, you’re going to need a lesson. Trust us on this. We’ve taught three generations of skiers and snowboarders. And now, with our new Terrain Based Learning method, which uses specifically shaped snow features to naturally control your speed, you’ll be carving your way down the mountain (and probably falling some; this is your first time, after all) by early afternoon.

Even with the falls, the only regret you’re likely to have at the end of the day: that you waited until mid-February.