You...tubing

If you're schuss-averse or just a family hunting for fun, there are parks that can hook you up

Karen McGonagle, of Pownal, Maine, and her daughter, Calin, 4, hold tight at Seacoast Snow Park in Windham, Maine. (Fred Field for the Boston Globe)

SHREWSBURY - Low skill, big thrill. That sums up the attraction of snow tubing for families as well as the schussing-impaired who nonetheless yearn for a dose of downhill.

Snow sliding is a mix of old and new school zest. Whoop it up on an inflatable tube while speeding down groomed chutes separated by snowy berms. Then instead of having to schlep up, catch a lift as tubes come with leashes that attach to a handle lift.

"Sliding bridges the gap between athletics and time commitment," said Mark "Campi" Campaniello, snow sports director at Ski Ward in Shrewsbury. "Not everyone is going to ski."

Tubing areas have various rules on style, minimum age, height, and scheduling. And tracks can be straight shots or groomed with stomach-churning contours. Some facilities feature chute-side restaurants where you can catch a quick bite or a breather while still being able to keep an eye on the kids.

It's also possible to tube under the lights. Runs at night offer the added bonus that as the temperature drops, lanes harden and speeds increase. And if the weather warms, there's even snowmaking.

For sledders, methods range from the belly-flop to bottom-first. Some link tubes together in family flotillas while others only speed down alone.

While skill isn't a prerequisite, a successful tubing trip does require a little planning. You need to dress warmly, though not in specialty clothing.

"Remember back to when you used to go sledding as a kid," says Greg Goddard, general manager of Gunstock Mountain Resort in Gilford, N.H.

Waterproof clothing has advantages over jeans that can get soaked. Scarves get in the way. Some people use goggles. Forget ski boots; winter boots are fine.

And whatever you do, don't forget to smile.

NASHOBA VALLEY'S SNOW TUBING PARK, Westford
Go big at Nashoba Valley's park. When Nashoba is humming, snow tubers look like lines of ants going up the four lifts, then sliding down the 17 lanes. The facility has its own access off Route 2A about a half mile from the ski area. Like many parks, Nashoba uses snowmaking to beef up its nearly 1,200-foot runs. Moms and dads can watch from a lane-side wooden observation deck with picnic tables or the family can head into the lounge and cafe.

Nashoba Valley's Snow Tubing Park, 179 Great Road, Littleton, 978-692-3033, skinashoba.com. Two-hour ticket $20, group rates available. Monday-Friday 1-10 p.m. Weekends, holidays, and holiday weeks 9 a.m.-10 p.m.

AMESBURY SPORTS PARK, Amesbury
Location is everything. The Amesbury Sports Park can be seen from Interstate 495 so is its own best advertising. Riders get a kick out of tubing down the nine tracks served by three lifts on the grounds of the New England Soccer School. Parents can watch the action from the cozy Corner Kick Pub, which features WiFi, darts, and pub fare. A new snack shack will have warm treats to ease the wait during busy times. Thinking about linking tubes? Last year's record was 37.

Amesbury Sports Park, 12 South Hunt Road, Amesbury, 978-388-5788, goslide.com. Nonholiday Thursdays five-hour pass $20, three-hour pass $15. Friday-Sunday, holidays, and vacation weeks five-hour ticket $30, three-hour ticket $20. Thursday and Friday 3:30-9:30 p.m., Saturday 10-9:30, Sunday 10-7, holiday and school vacations 10-9:30. Helmets and adult supervision required for ages 4 to 7 under 42 inches tall.

TUBASLIDE AT SKI WARD, Shrewsbury
At TubaSlide, the hill may be small but the potential for fun isn't. The low-key family-oriented ski area just east of Worcester has a pair of lifts serving its five lanes where the yellow sign at the bottom of the runs offers sage advice: Drag feet to stop. The TubaSlide has its own small ticket booth, located outside the mountain's rustic lodge. Want more than speed? When snow conditions are right, they'll put in some wavy whoop-de-dos in select lanes for a snowy roller coaster experience.

Ski Ward, 1000 Main St., Shrewsbury, 508-845-1797, ski ward.com. Two-hour midweek ticket $16, Saturday, Sunday, and school vacations $19. Monday-Friday 4-8 p.m., Saturday and school vacations 10-8, Sunday 10-5.

CRANMORE ARCTIC BLAST TUBING PARK, North Conway, N.H.
Arctic Blast is open before the ski season gets going. There's even a season pass. The two-level park has four lower and three upper lanes served by two lifts. The fabric warming huts sell tickets, snacks, and hand warmers. Children under 42 inches can ride with an adult. Ask the topside attendants for a spin before launch.

Cranmore Mountain Resort, 1 Skimobile Road, North Conway, N.H., 800-786-6754, cranmore .com. Two-hour ticket $18; all day (9 a.m.-4 p.m.) $24, night (4-9) $24, season pass $89. Thursday 3-9, Friday and Saturday 9-9, Sunday 9-4. Extended hours during holidays.

THRILL HILL TUBING PARK at Gunstock Mountain Resort, Gilford, N.H.
Thrill Hill delivers eye-watering speed. The four lanes - each 1,068 feet - have a few natural contours that won't get you quite airborne, but can tickle the tummy. The park is tucked away near the learn-to-ski area outside the woodsy main base lodge. The resort also offers tubing as part of a couple of special night deals featuring live entertainment and skiing. Grab a hot chocolate and watch sliders from the lodge balcony.

Gunstock Mountain Resort, Route 11A, Gilford, N.H., 800-486-7862, gunstock.com. Two-hour ticket $15, four hours $20. Tuesday-Thursday 2-9 p.m., Friday 2-10, Saturday 9 a.m.-10 p.m., Sunday 9-4. Tubing included during Gunstock Rocks Saturday night $30 package from 4-10 and $25 Wall to Wall Wednesdays 4-9.

SEACOAST FUN PARK Windham, Maine
Golf driving range and amusement park by summer, the 100-foot vertical drop at Seacoast Fun Park gets sledders moving quickly. The seven lanes are varied with curves, straightaways, and rollers. No more than four tubes can slide in a chain while lanes are also reserved for single and dual tubes. The park, complete with video arcade and coffee-bar cafe, also has double tubes. Those are two tubes fixed together to carry one adult and one child down the chutes. Two lifts service the lanes.

Seacoast Fun Park, Route 302, Windham, Maine. 207-892-5952, seacoastfunparks.com. Five-hour Friday tickets and two-hour weekend tickets $15, children 36-48 inches tall $6. Friday 4-9 p.m., Saturday 9-9, Sunday 9-6, varying hours during holidays and vacation weeks. Weekend morning sessions go a half hour longer.

THE EDGE TUBING PARK at Black Mountain of Maine, Rumford, Maine
The Edge is a detour worth taking. The four-lane facility served by one lift isn't the biggest in New England, but there's plenty of zip on the hard-packed surfaces. Sandwiched between Maine's mega-resorts of Sunday River and Sugarloaf - both with tubing - Black Mountain is a no-frills winter playground with its historic Chisholm Ski Club, and championship cross-country ski races.

Black Mountain of Maine, 39 Glover Road, Rumford, Maine, 207-364-8977, skiblackmountain .org/snow_tubing.html. Tickets $15. Group rates available. Saturdays noon-9, Sundays noon-4. Starting in February, Fridays 6-9. Varying hours during holidays and vacation weeks.

Marty Basch can be reached at marty@martybasch.com.