I'm looking for an alternative to the beach this summer with my family, I have two kids and was wondering what sort of summer activities your mountain has to offer.

For this edition of Mountain Spy, our intern, Liz Eren, aka 007, once again called a random geographic mix of ski areas, as well as a mix of small, medium and large areas. Liz rated her experiences on a scale from one to ten with some commentary. Liz started her search on-line and then went to the phones. Were there any common themes? Yes. It appears that people who answer our phones are perfectly comfortable with dead air.

Medium Area, California

Homepage summer graphics: no

One click to summer activities: no

First Contact: automated answering machine, pressed 0 to speak to live representative. Transferred once.

Answering phone: Women, friendly, attempted to be helpful.

SAM: stated question

Staff: Um, we actually don't offer anything at the ski area itself. As far the area though, there is camping, fishing, kayaking and hiking. There is enough that should be able to suit what you're looking for.

SAM: Well I do have two kids who are 5 and 12 so I'm wondering if there is anything specifically for families to do together.

Staff: Well it really depends on what you want to do or what you're interested in. There aren't like designated activities that are geared towards families. You know, we don't offer anything in the summer at the mountain so I'm not exactly sure. It's actually not a good idea to come to the mountain right now because we're doing a lot of construction and it's not the ideal place at the moment.

SAM: Well, OK, but you did say there are activities in the valley so would I be able to just come up and easily find something to do in the area around the mountain?

Staff: Well there is XX cross-country and I know they offer a lot of summer stuff. They're right in the village below us, there is a link from us at xxx.com. We don't list the details of the activities but we do post what local businesses offer. So if you go to our website you should be able to find something.

SAM: Thank you, that should hopefully lead me to somewhere, I'll give that a try.

Staff: No problem, have a nice day.

Rating: 4

Comment: The women tried to give me answers but seemed to get caught in the confusion of explaining to me that the valley offered activities but not the mountain itself. Helped as much as she could without knowing many details and sounded like she was caught off guard. Ultimately led me to the website as a last resort to let me do the investigating myself which didn't lead me very far.

Large area, Quebec

Homepage summer graphics: yes

One click to summer activities: yes

First Contact: French and then English automated service. Put on hold: thanked me for my patience and apologized for being put on hold.

Answering phone: Women, friendly but pushy.

SAM: stated question.

Staff: For where? Here?

SAM: Yes.

Staff: Well how many kids do you have?

SAM: Two. They're 5 and 12.

Staff: When were you planning to come? Are you looking for a condo or hotel, how long were you planning to stay?

SAM: We were planning to come for the weekend and potentially stay Saturday night.

Staff: We do have family specific activities but not during weekends. It does run during the week, and you put your kids into certain activities. They can go on different tours like the canyons and things. It would be OK for the 12-year-old but not for the 5-year-old. Many families do come down for mountain biking though and they would typically choose a hotel with a pool. There are many different hotels you can choose from in the area that have pools for the kids.

SAM: Well OK, but you don't offer any activities during the weekends?

Staff: There's nothing planned except a visit to the duck farm or you can the ride the gondola up the mountain.

SAM: Hm well all right then. (Totally confused at this point of why a mountain with so much on the website is saying they don't offer any weekend activities?) Is there information on your website about what is offered?

Staff: Yes, of course, the website site is www.xxx.com and you'll be able to find everything you need.

SAM: Thanks so much.

Still so confused with the no weekend activities that I actually called back to find out why after checking the website and finding out they do offer everything imaginable on the weekends.

SAM: Explained my confusion, admitting I may have heard wrong.

Staff: Oh, well, we only offer the XX during the week for families.

SAM: (left in the dark again) Well what exactly is the XX?

Staff: It's specifically for kids during the week where kids can go on their own with the tours and take different adventures.

SAM: Oh, OK, but I checked your website and you do offer all the other general activities during the weekends.

STAFF: Oh yes, mountain biking, kayaking, canoeing, numerous things to do. There are just no kid-specific tours or adventures.

SAM: OK, thanks so much, I understand it now.

Staff: No Problem.

Rating: 5

Comment: Whew, quite the investigation to figure it all out. The website explains everything in explicit detail but the first customer service rep was completely lacking in that area going from briefly mentioning the XX to advising me to stay in the hotel with a pool. Why would I want to hang out at an indoor pool during a summer day? Too back and forth and not enough direction of what they could offer me.

Large mountain, B.C

Homepage summer graphics? yes

One click to summer activities? yes

First Contact: Automated machine. Gave daily hours right away. Chose general inquiries.

Answering phone: Women. Friendly and thorough but talked like she was in a race.

SAM: Stated question

Staff Well I mean at the moment this is actually our first day for summer activities so the mountain is just opening now for all of that. The bike park opens completely on the 24th and the sight seeing tour on the 21st. If you're coming up this weekend there is glacier skiing and some of the bike park. I don't how young the kids are but there is an adventure zone that includes just about everything.

SAM: Well yes, I was just going to ask about that, my kids are 5 and 12 so is there plenty for them to do either has a family or age-specific activities?

Staff: Oh yeah, the adventure park has everything from mini golf and a climbing wall to the luge, trapeze, balloon castle and slide, a big walking maze, bungee trampolines and so much more. (So much more? Holy smokes, what else could you pack into an adventure park?!)

SAM: Oh, wow and even my 5-year-old can participate?

Staff: Oh yeah, they'll be able to do almost all of it.

SAM: Great, perfect.

Silence. Waiting for anything more from her like a website referral but it didn't happen.

SAM: Well then, can I get further information about all of this from your website?

Staff: Oh yes, the website has everything with the all the details and additional things you can book that you actually can't book from this number. There's also white water rafting, ATV-ing, sledding hmm what else do we have, glacier hikes , and oh yeah, horseback riding you can find on the website, too. (My gosh, this place is like super ski mountain.)

SAM: So much, good to know. Thanks again.

Staff: You're welcome, anytime. I hope you do come visit us.

Rating: 8

Comment: Since this place could be a substitute for Disney World, (and after checking it out I'd almost rather go here) the customer rep did a good job of trying to squeeze everything in while also trying to accommodate my very open ended question with the kids. Talked a little too fast though and really made me have to pay attention if I wanted to catch everything.

Medium area, MA

Homepage summer graphics? yes

One click to summer activities? yes

First Contact: Automated machine. List of options: waited on the line for resort operator.

Answering phone: Woman, nice, moderately patient

SAM: Stated question.

Staff: Um, well you could uh. (silence) Well, when were you planning on coming up?

SAM: I'm not really sure yet, over a weekend, probably in July.

Staff: Well, we have an Alpine slide and in the first or second week of July the mountain coaster should be done. We have Mini gold, mountain climbing, a bouncy bounce, hiking, mountain biking along with some other general outdoor activities.

SAM: That all sounds wonderful, and like I said I'll be with my family and I have two kids who are 5 and 12. So are there age-specific activities for them or family-specific activities in general?

Staff: All the activities are good for kids. Your five-year-old would have to be accompanied by an adult though for the mountain coaster and the Alpine slide.

SAM: Oh OK. What exactly is an Alpine slide and the mountain coaster?

Staff: Do you have Internet access?

SAM: Yes I do.

Staff: OK, well good. You can log onto www.xxx.com where there are all the descriptions of our activities along with the prices and everything.

SAM: OK, so I can go to your website and find out everything I need to know?

Staff: Oh yeah, you'll be able to find everything you need.

SAM: Thanks so much.

Rating: 8

Comment: Very accommodating and was the first to actually lead me to the website where I would be able to find out all the info. Friendly, yes, but definitely used the website as their ticket out of having to manually answer my questions and explain what things were.

Large area, Utah

Homepage summer graphics? yes

One click to summer activities? yes

First Contact: Automated service. Seven options, chose operator.

Answering phone: Woman. Patient, friendly, made her best attempt.

SAM: Stated question

Staff Well, I can transfer you to reservations for more info. As far for kids go though we have the little adventure camp which is basically just a day care and once a week they take them off-site to a recreation center for swimming and things or to the aviary.

SAM: I was planning on weekends actually and was just curious what activities you had either for families or kids specifically.

Staff: Well, we don't have planned activities during the weekends but we have all-season adventures that the kids can take part in like a boating trips and so on.

SAM: Oh, well yes, I meant what in general do you have that my family could participate in if I came on a Saturday, let's say.

Staff: Of course. Well there are many other activities in the area that you can take part in when you come. There is an Alpine slide and bungee trampolines and also a new attraction we have which is the XX. It's like the Alpine slide but made for older kids so it's a little more aggressive. We also have horseback riding and hot air balloon rides.

SAM: OK, but I'm a little confused, you said all of that was in the area but not at the mountain itself?

Staff: Right, they aren't actually on the mountain but right in the area, so if you come to the mountain we have an adventure desk where you can get all the information you need about any of the activities.

SAM Oh, all right.

Silence

SAM: Well, can I go online and find out more about what you have to offer?

Staff: Oh of course! You'll be able to find out everything. (Haha, so excited!then why didn't you mention that before you went dead quiet and left me to think of it myself?? And no actual web address mention either. No good.) Did you still want me to transfer you to reservations?(What for?)

SAM: Oh no, I'm all set, you gave me a good overview. Thank you.

Rating: 6

Comment: Not a bad overview once we got through the confusion of what "family activities" meant and what exactly I was asking her. Good attempt to give me a basic understanding of what they had. However, failure to mention the website to keep my interest going gets minus points.

Medium area, PA

Homepage summer graphics? no

One click to summer activities? yes

First Contact: Automated service-listed two options, chose general information.

SAM: Stated question

Staff: OK where are you staying?

SAM: I'm not sure if I'm staying yet, I just wanted to see what you had to offer.

Staff: Well on site, when you rent a town site, you have access to the beach or at XX village you'll have access to the pool and the tennis courts.

Silence.

SAM: Well OK then, those sound OK.

Staff: Well yeah, and there's a state park right in between the two mountains, with hiking, biking and a beach area there.

Silence.

SAM: OK then, thanks so much.

Rating: 3

Comment: Just not enough substance to keep my attention. Didn't even feel like asking about a website because everything wasn't really at the mountain. Total turn off with lack of personality.

Large area, N.M.

Homepage summer graphics? no

One click to summer activities? no

First Contact: Automated machine, waited for assistance.

Answering phone: Woman, friendly, but a bit impatient and seemed like the task of answering this simple question was exhausting.

SAM: Stated question

Staff:We don't have anything going on yet this weekend. Umm, the following wait, what is the date today?

SAM: Uh, the 5th.

Staff: OK, so we don't open the lifts for the summer until the 22nd. Until then there's hiking, and a restaurant that's opens everyday.

Silence.

SAM: OK, well what do you have once you open the lifts on the 22nd?

Staff: We'll start our lifts then and we'll open the Eurobungy and tower maze and we have disc golf.

SAM: Oh wow, those sound interesting what are they?

Staff: Well Eurobungy is have you ever seen what gymnasts practice with? With the, ah, side straps, that are hooked to huge bungy cords that go up and they can do all these flips and crazy things in the air all over the place? (Cripes, that's a mouthful, and, no do I want my kids doing "crazy things in the air all over the place.")

SAM: Um, I have a vague idea.

Staff: Well yeah, so that's a Eurobungy. Then a tower maze is just a bunch of big rubber bands almost that crisscross up this giant tower and the kids have to maneuver their way to the top if they can.

Silence. (Again. Will anyone learn??)

SAM: So you have those three activities and then hiking?

Staff: Yes hiking, and if you have kids (kids? Did I not mention that in the initial question?) with you I'd highly recommend the hiking because it's a nice gradual hike and there's many little streams and all the flowers are out, so it's just beautiful right now.

Long period of silence-tried to hold it out this time and see if she'd get the clue, but of course, no.

SAM: Well, OK then, the hike does sound nice. Can I go on your website to find out the details and what not?

Staff: Well yeah, our website is xxx.com, but you can also go to the valley website to find out more about area activities or the chamber of commerce website to look at the national forest activities where you'll be able to find out loads of info.

SAM: Um, well OK then. Thanks.

Rating: 6

Comment: The women attempted to be helpful but what a nutty description of the Euro bungy a nervous or hesitant mom wouldn't let her kids go near the thing. Also, she gave the website information without realizing that I had already checked and there were no summer activities links.

Large area, Utah

Homepage summer graphics? yes

One click to summer activities? yes

First Contact: Live person!! Woman, sort of friendly, sort of really dry.

SAM:Stated question

Staff: One that we will have begins in the middle of ah Sep- ah Jul- ah begins in the middle of June. So yeah, June. We have mountain biking with a couple lifts that will take you up and you can go hiking as well. The lifts will also take you from the main lodge to mid-lodge where there is a restaurant. (Silence) Umm, outside of that there will be the occasional concerts and that sort of thing.

Silence

SAM: Uh well, OK. Like I said I am coming with my family, so I have two kids, one that is five and twelve and was just wondering if there were age-oriented activities or are biking and hiking all that you offer?

Staff: Well, they do have a children's camp that you can put them in for the day and they'll do other activities. I can transfer you over to the children's center if you'd like to sign them up?

SAM: I don't think I want to do that just yet, I really just wanted to see what you had. (Waiting for some kind of response but of course, nothing.)

SAM: Would I be ale to go to your website and find further information about all of this?

Staff: You should be able to(should? That's like saying I should be able to get a double cheeseburger at McDonalds) under xxx.com and then select summer where you can also go to events.

SAM: OK thanks.

Staff: Sure.

Rating: 4

Comment: I would have gotten more enthusiasm out of an automated voice the woman barley had a personality and responded in a "it is what is so take it or leave" sort of way. I'll leave it thanks.

Large area, ME

Homepage summer graphics? yes

One click to summer activities? no

First Contact: Automated machine-eventually connected to guest services.

SAM: Stated question

Transferred to reservations.

SAM: Stated question

Staff: OK, let me see, um actually I going to put you over to the concierge. Hold on and let me see who is down there. Hold on one second please.

Put on hold for 30 seconds. Recording about how great the mountain is and what you can do there.

Answering phone: Competition department answering machine (competition dept. what the??). Called back. Got customer service rep again.

Answering phone: Woman, friendly.

SAM: stated question

Staff: OK, let's take a look here, are you staying overnight?

SAM: I'm not sure yet, I wanted to see what you had first.

Staff: As far as right on the mountain we have a new golf course and you can do mountain biking and hiking. We have two resort hotels and there are condos. Most people stay in the hotels because the condos aren't air-conditioned. So you have a couple options. (That whole lodging thing came out of nowhere.)

Silence.

SAM: Well OK, but I'm really just trying to find out about your summer activities. I have two kids who are 5 and 12 and was wondering if there was anything else for them?

Staff: Oh, OK, well if you go into the town there's laser tag, bowling and a water slide park. That's less than 10 minutes from us. There's also the access road where you can find canoeing, kayaking and ATV tours.

SAM: So there isn't much for my 5-year-old on the mountain then?

Staff: No, not as much, there is more for your younger one in town.

Silence. I'm starting to hear crickets in the phone.

SAM: Well, OK, can I go on your website to find out further information about what you have to offer?

Staff: Of course, it's xxx.com. So if you wanted to stay in the hotel you can do that. The rates are $135 if you wanted a regular room with a queen size bed or if you wanted to go a little bigger for some more room we offer suites with a full kitchen, queen bed and living room with a pull-out couch or with a connect room. That would run around $158 per night. (Why is she still rambling on about hotel rooms?? I'm confused.)

Rating: 5

Comment: Not very impressed. The customer service rep really strayed from my question which I had to bring up a couple of different times and her attachment to trying to sell me lodging turned me off a little. And of course, had to ask for the website address.

Medium area, CA

Homepage summer graphics? no

One click to summer activities? no

First Contact: Automated machine, 8 options, chose operator.

Answering first: Woman, friendly, seemed a little stumped.

SAM: Stated question

Staff: Um, ah we don't have any, ah, public activities. We do have weddings and family reunions, things like that on the weekends

SAM: OK, so you don't offer anything like mountain biking or anything like that?

Staff: No no, there's hiking nearby but that's about it.

SAM: Well OK then, thank you though.

Staff: Of course. Bye!

Rating: 7

Comment: The woman was nice and did attempt to make an effort to satisfy my question but there was obviously just nothing there.

Large area, Idaho

Homepage summer graphics? yes

One click to summer activities? yes

First Contact: Real person!!! Woman, very friendly, could very well be a children's entertainer.

SAM: Stated question

Staff: Oh! (So excited already, good start). Well, we have mountain biking, we have golf, we have hiking, we have lake access, we have boating rentals and we have kayaking from that lake access. We have-do you have computer access?

SAM: Yes I do.

Staff: OK great, if you want to log onto our website you'll be able to find out all about our summer activities. The address is www.xxx.com and it'll list everything. You'll just want to go to the summer link and we are a four-season resort so you'll also be able to find everything about lodging as well. Just let me know if you have any further questions and I can transfer you to someone who can help you.

SAM: OK, sounds perfect, thanks. I'll check out your website.

Rating: 9

Comment: Got off the phone actually wanting to go look at the website and find out what else they have because the girl was just that nice and seemed like she really wanted to help. It's all in the attitude which she receives an A for. Slight deduction for rambling a bit at the beginning.

Medium area, MN

Homepage summer graphics? yes

One click to summer activities? yes

First contact: Automated service, 9 options. NO idea which one to pick. Decided to choose "campground" option.

SAM: Stated question

Staff: Um, at our camp ground? Nothing. Yeah ya know, we have a shower house and water hook-ups but no playground, no pool, no activities, hehe. (The best thing to do is laugh at yourself. Having no problem being able to offer me nothing but camping)

SAM: OK, that's fine so it's just camping then. Does the mountain itself offer anything else.

Staff: Um, no they don't.

SAM: Well OK then, thank you though.

Staff: Sure, of course.

Rating: 5

Comment: OK, the woman was completely polite and almost proud that camping was all they had. However, I checked the website and they do offer biking, hiking and local paintball. I was not satisfied yet, a spy never is.

Called back: Explained that I checked out the website and saw there was hiking and biking and paintball. Put the woman on the spot to see what would happen. Didn't give her any leads

Staff: Um, oh boy, yeah that has to be changed, the people just haven't-well so there is no paintball, there hasn't been for years. I should do something about that about though. As for mountain biking there are couple trails close by to the campground, but they are limited.

SAM: All right, so no paint ball and only a few biking trails then?

Staff: Oh yeah, no more paint ball, sorry.

SAM: It's OK, thanks for clearing it up.

Staff: Your welcome, bye!

Comment: OK, a total F for having absolutely no idea their website was telling a completely different story, especially when the site is pretty developed. However, still very nice on the phone and actually pleasant to talk to.

Rating: Still a 5. 

Medium area, VA

Homepage summer graphics? yes

One click to summer activities? yes

First contact: Automated machine, 6 options. Ended up having to dial another number to get anywhere.

Answering phone: Woman, nice, but in a rush.

SAM: Stated question

Staff: Well we've got golf courses, we've got tennis courts, hiking, we've got an outdoor pool, indoor pool, exercise facility, our out-of-bounds program has in-line skating, BMXing, mountain biking, we've got a climbing wall, paintball, putt-putt golf, (Wow, breathe!) we've also got lake facilities with swimmin' and fishin' and road bikes I think I've hit all the hot ones, haha.

Silence, again.

SAM: Wow, I guess you did cover just about everything. Is there a website that I can go to find out all the details?

Staff: Yes, of course, it's xxx.com and you'll be able to look at everything. Oh yeah, and I forgot about horseback riding. (Let's not forget the horseback riding, just in case I plan to stay forever and run out of things to do)

SAM: Sounds great, thanks.

Rating: 8

Comment: Kept it simple by running off everything they have, which isn't bad because it does let you know exactly what you asked for in the most basic way. Yet this lady was in a hurry a little too much and sounded a little detached was trying to be friendly, but not trying to connect with me.

Small Day area, Midwest

Home page summer graphics: Yes

One click to summer activities Yes

Phone First Contact: automated machine, four options, chose summer activities.

Answering phone: Automated person (melancholy voice. . .sounded like his automated dog just died). Gave hours of all activities-mountain biking, hiking, horseback riding, alpine slide, mountain tram. Listed adventure center offerings of rock wall climbing, canoeing and kayaking. Said that all activities are weather dependent and to please call the adventure center for more detailed information at 555-555-5555. Very loud beep when the message was over and then hung up on me.

Rating: 4

A little odd that they didn't give you an option right away of talking to a person about summer activities. Maybe you shouldn't solely rely on automated machines as your first impression. Big turn off.

Large area, N.J.

Home page summer graphics: Yes

One click to summer activities: Yes

First Contact: automated service, 6 options, chose guest services.

Answering phone: Young woman, very friendly, patient. Did not rush.

SAM: Stated question

Staff: Well we have the water park, um, there's ya know a lot of farms in the area to go to and there's hikes to go on. We have lots of state parks and beaches and horseback riding. Were you looking for something specific that you wanted to do?

SAM: Well, not particularly. I'm coming with my family and I have two kids who are 5 and 12. I was just wondering what you had in terms of maybe age-oriented activities or even anything for the whole family.

Staff: Oh well, yeah, it's very family-oriented. All the activities can accommodate families, even the water park. There are certain slides and sections for different ages and so on.

SAM: All right, well it sounds like there's enough to keep us busy.

(Silence. . .will any customer service rep ever understand not to just leave the customer hanging?!)

SAM: Sooo, is there further information on your website where I can get more details?

Staff: Yes, of course there is, you can log onto www.xxx.com and we have special lodging passes, if you choose to book online, that goes along with the special water park passes that you can get for the whole family, if and when you decide to come. It's a big special combination.

SAM: Well, OK then, thank you.

Rating: 7

The women was very nice and did seem to try her hardest to tell me what I wanted/needed to hear. But, the silence at the end of the conversation where I had to ask about the website gets minus points.

Medium area, MI

Home page summer graphics: Yes

One click to summer activities: Yes

First Contact: Woman's voice, "where may I direct your call." It sounded so much like an automated voice that I waited a couple of seconds to let my confusion pass.

SAM: Uh, hi. Stated Question.

Staff: OK, I'll transfer you over to the activities center.

Answering phone: Young male. Really sounded like he hated his job at this point.

SAM: Stated question.

Staff: This coming weekend we'll have the pool open, so it'll be an outdoor water park. When were you planning on coming?

SAM: I'm not really sure yet. When I do though I was thinking for the day on Saturday, something like that.

Staff: Aright, after the 16th the outdoor program will begin, but before, we'll have limited things. But after the 16th, the activity park is open from 8 a.m. to 10 p.m., we have mountain biking that is open from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m., there is a fitness center which is also open all day, a climbing wall that is open from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m., we have movie rentals and we can setup canoes and kayaks if we have advance notice, (whoa buddy, take a breath) we have great hiking on the mountain, too.

SAM: OK great, that all sounds fabulous to me. Is all of this offered right at the mountain or are some of these local area activities?

Staff: They're all right here at the mountain base.

(Waited to be directed to the website or given some sort of lead. Really long pause. . .really long. Tried to see if I could win this time. Nope.)

SAM: Alrighty then, is there a website I can go to to find out more?

Staff: Yeah, there is. (Silence. . .no kidding.)

SAM: (Laughing) Good to know, is there an address?

Staff: Uhh yeah. . .it's xxx.com. (The silence returns.)

SAM: OK, thanks then, bye.

Rating: 5.5

I decided right then that customer service reps should be out-of-work children's entertainers so there's always some color to the conversation, or some sense of interest in the customer. This guy obviously failed, I would say miserably but he did give me a decent run down of what they had and when it was open. But that is all I'm giving him a little bit of credit for. I got the feeling he was suffering through this job to get a free pass next season. . .cry about it dude.

Large area, VT

Home page summer graphics: Yes

One click to summer activities: Yes

First Contact: Automated service, waited for customer service rep.

SAM: Stated question.

Staff: Right now the only thing that is open is the toll road where you drive your car up and take a hike. Summer attractions open June 24.

SAM: OK. Well can I talk to someone who can give me some information on them?

Staff: Sure, hold on.

Answered: Woman, very nice and patient. Caught her a little off guard but handled it well.

Staff: Well, we have an Alpine slide (silence-not a bad first answer, but a little funny).

SAM: OK, what exactly is that?

Staff: (Silence at first), Um what I would recommend is going to our website. The website is www.xxx.com and it'll give you a better understanding of what that is specifically, along with all our other activities.

SAM: Oh, OK, I can do that.

Staff: OK good-once you get to our website, click on "Summer at xxx" and then click into mountain activities. It'll give you detailed information about what we offer, including ticket prices and it also has pictures so you'll be able to see everything.

Rating: 7.5

She knew right away it would save us both time if I went to the website. I liked it best that she advised the website before I asked, even gave me directions through the website. Quick phone call. . .but the women was kind, patient and kept it short and sweet.

Medium area, N.Y.

Home page summer graphics: Yes

One click to summer activities: Links to regional activities, but it's a dead end-no following link.

First Contact: Automated machine that talked about next year's ski pass deadline and then droned on and on and I stopped listening. I was then transferred two times by the automated machine after choosing options which seemed to be appropriate. Eventually told to leave a message. Gave up and hung up.

Rating: 1-just because I feel badly giving a 0.

It was so annoying that I had to hang out on the phone for 10 minutes and, ultimately, get nothing out of the phone call.

Large area, CO

Home page summer graphics: Yes

One click to summer activities: Yes

First Contact: Automated machine, chose activity information option.

Answering phone: Younger girl, very polite, enthusiastic.

SAM: Stated question.

Staff: Uhhhh, let's see here, are you coming this weekend?

SAM: Well I'm not sure yet. I just wanted to see what activities you had to offer.

Staff: Well, your best bet would be to come up later on this month. The mountain actually opens everything on the 27th. As far as activities go we have hiking, mountain biking and we also have things for the kids, let's see if I can find everything (short pause. . .wondering exactly where she is looking). Right, so we have one of those bunchy uh. . . I'm trying to figure out exactly what they are called, we have the paddle boats and we're also going to be offering go-carts. Another cool thing that we have is called XXX. I'm guessing you're familiar with the mountain?

SAM: I've skied there a couple times but I've never come during the summer.

Staff: All right, well we also have horseback riding and we have a climbing wall just for the kids. Oh right, here it is. . .it's called the power jump-that's the bungy thing. We have a mini-golf course as well for the kids.

SAM: Oh yeah great. I was going to say, my two kids are 5 and 12 so I wanted to see what activities they could participate in but it sounds as though you have lots.

Staff: Oh yeah, you have almost everything for the kids. Then there is an everyday pass for $49 with unlimited access to just about everything. Oh yeah! We have a Diggler which is a mountain scooter, which is really awesome. So the kids can take that all over the mountain on the trails and really have a blast. So the passes have unlimited access to the boats, climbing wall, and free equipment if they wanted to take a bike and ride it down mountain on the soft course.

SAM: Oh, great, that pass sounds like a good deal.

Staff: Oh yeah, it's definitely worth it. Then it's also really nice if you stay later into the night when you can lay under the stars and watch a movie on the big screen. It's really awesome for the family. That's the XX outdoor activity that I was telling you about.

SAM: Well OK then, all sounds wonderful. . .Can I go to your website to find all the details and potentially book something?

Staff: Oh, of course, that's actually where I've been looking this whole time.

SAM: Thanks very much.

Staff: Any time, I hope you come visit us.

Rating: 9.5

Minus .5 for leaving me to ask about the website, but I got off the phone ready to pack the kids. The girl's enthusiasm really was the icing on the cake. She wanted to be as helpful as she could and cover as much as she could, and she took her time. She really seemed excited for me to come and visit. Real point booster: She was looking at the website the whole time-it gave me evidence that I could follow up on all of the activities she mentioned to really give me some good details.

Identity revealed: Copper Mountain.