NYC Snow Tubing & Brewery Trip: Honest Review & Guide

Dreaming of escaping the city for a day filled with snowy slopes and craft brews? A snow tubing and brewery day trip from NYC sounds almost like a pretty ideal winter adventure, right? I mean, who wouldn’t want to trade skyscrapers for snowdrifts and finish off the day sampling some interesting beers? Before you pack your bags and grab your winter gear, so let’s see what to expect.

What’s the Deal With This Trip Anyway?

Okay, so the general concept is this: you hop on a bus in New York City, then you head up to a spot where there’s a hill just perfect for snow tubing. So after you’ve had your fill of speeding down the slopes on an inner tube, the tour takes you to a local brewery where, too, you can taste different types of beer. Very often lunch is included, or at the very least, they plan it to where there’s time for a meal. Sounds fun, right? Still, there are some things to look at a little more closely.

The first thing is, almost always, location, location, location! Most trips go to the Poconos or the Catskills. That’s usually like a two- to three-hour drive, just a bit, depending on traffic, so that’s a pretty considerable chunk of your day right there spent just getting there and getting back. You might want to check the specific snow tubing location, and make sure it’s really a place where you can tube – because you want steep hills with good snow conditions, not just a little incline!

It’s almost also wise to find out what’s included. Certain tours offer lunch, like your average, simple sandwiches or pizza, while others just plan time for you to buy your own grub. Very similarly, some tours cover the cost of your brewery tasting flights, yet others leave that up to you. Plus, what appears to be a lower price tag on one tour might not seem like a good deal if you wind up shelling out more cash for food and beer.

The Snow Tubing Part: High-Speed Thrills or a Gentle Glide?

How is it, then, actually going down the hill? So, first, a heads up: very often these tubing places use what they call a “magic carpet,” so you just stand on a moving conveyor belt thing that takes you to the top, just a bit like an outdoor escalator for tubers. I mean, this is clearly way better than needing to trudge up the hill each time! But sometimes, you get the spots that require you to actually walk to the top of the hill. That’s definitely something to consider if you’re a bit out of shape or have younger kids in tow.

What’s the ride like, anyway? The tour operators almost always talk a good game about “thrilling speeds.” Still, the truth is that it all really relies on snow conditions, the steepness of the slope, and, I mean, just how many people are on the hill that day. In general, fresh powder makes for a faster, slicker ride, yet icy conditions are also potentially very fast but can, too, make things a bit bumpy. If the snow’s been really packed down by lots of tubers all day, very, very similarly, it might be slower and even a little slushy.

In a way, safety first, always! Your tubing spot really should have some simple rules in place and employees around to keep things a bit orderly. So it might not seem like a big deal, but watch out for things like designated lanes to prevent collisions, and instructions about how many people can hook up their tubes together. You want fun, yet also maybe not a trip to the emergency room.

Brewery Time: Hoppy Happiness or a Bit of a Disappointment?

What regarding the brewery visit? Does the stop offer some, like your small-batch, local charm? Or might be it more like a touristy place designed almost only to deal with busloads of people? So I mean, the difference in quality of beer can be huge. You’re hoping, definitely, for a place with a friendly, chill atmosphere where the staff is happy to talk to you regarding their beers. Keep an eye out for a brewery with a bit of character, for example your cool decor, or maybe there are interesting views of the brewing process itself.

When it comes to beer, diversity really adds to the experience. So you might prefer a range of options – from IPAs to stouts to lagers – something for almost every palate. Most breweries these days also, too, offer tasting flights, which can let you sample a handful of different beers without getting too tipsy, fairly fast. Very often the staff will walk you through the flavors and ingredients, and they may make good recommendations based on what you usually like.

If the tour shoves you in and out of the brewery in almost no time, you might feel really rushed and not have a chance to appreciate the beers. You really should look for a tour that allots adequate time, roughly an hour and a half or two hours, at the brewery. Very similarly, find out how many samples are included, and what happens if you wish to try additional beers.

Is This Day Trip Worth It? The Bottom Line

In short, is it worth trading your cozy couch for a snow tubing and brewery trip from NYC? Possibly, it all depends, in some respects. These trips work well if you’re up for a day that involves a little travel, a bit of physical activity, and social interaction with a group. So they take away the need for you to plan, drive, and organize the activity yourself. But don’t think it won’t have some drawbacks.

Make sure the tour checks almost every box on your must-have list. Does the snow tubing location look awesome, or a bit lame? Does the brewery come off as a cool local spot, or a tourist trap? What exactly is included in the price, and what’s going to cost extra? If, arguably, the tour appears to deliver a decent balance of fun and value, that’s an interesting, almost, win. If you’re really expecting something that it isn’t, it’s also, arguable going to lead to major disappointment. So, go for it and have a winter wonderland blast!

• Know What You’re Getting Into: Before you make a move, shop around to look closely at the tubing hill and the brewery.
• Read the Fine Print: Understand all expenses involved to see if this trip matches the resources you have for this endeavor.
• Set Your Expectations: Do a bit of checking and accept a tour as a day of group activities, maybe not five-star luxery.

Hope you find that hill with the exhilarating run.

Good luck selecting the frothy brew that is perfect.

And most importantly safe travels!

#SnowTubing #BreweryTour #NYCDayTrip #WinterFun #GroupTravel