A winter mountain getaway is a great activity for families, especially for those with older kids. After skiing and boarding with kids for over 15 years Here are my top tips to pick a family-friendly ski resort.
When I started skiing in my twenties, it was easy. Rent some skis, take a lesson and then drink a cocktail. That was my ski trip. The hardest thing was picking out an outfit. Then, I had my kids, and everything got more complicated.
First, I understand skiing with a family is expensive. It requires special clothes and special equipment, and that’s before you’ve bought lift tickets or arranged lessons.
9 Top Tips to Pick a Family-Friendly Ski Resort
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Know the Week Between Christmas and New Year is the Busiest.
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Plan Early for the Best Lodging for a Ski Trip.
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Consider a Season Pass for Your Trip.
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Find Lodging with a Kitchenette and Washer/Dryer
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Pack Snacks for Feeding the Family
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Check out the Resort’s Map for Type of Runs
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Look for Magic Carpet Lifts for Beginners
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Find the Best Ski or Snowboarding Lessons
When to Plan a Family Ski Trip
If there is a universal truth in travel planning, it is the best deals go first. This is true for family ski trips.
If possible, start planning a ski trip after the kids go back to school in the fall. This is my Top Tip to Pick a Family-Friendly Ski Resort.
If you are flying, then check the flights. If there is a great deal to a destination, then then hone in on that area. We always drove to our ski trips, so I researched lodging.
Lodging usually takes the longest to research, especially if you are renting a condo or house. After the lodging is confirmed, then look at ski lift tickets to get the best prices (usually before the resort opens for the season).
Remember that the busiest week for ski resorts is the week between Christmas and New Year. It is also the most expensive.
A season pass might be the best choice for your trip. Both Epic and Ikon Passes are popular. However, check out the lesser-known Mountain Collective and the Indy Pass (sold out for the 2024-2025 year). Remember to look at the season pass blackout dates for this time period.
If skiing early in the season, check out the resort’s snow-making coverage. Without a good base, skiing and boarding isn’t fun and can be a challenge for beginners.
Prep and Pack for a Family Ski Trip
Best Lodging for Family Ski Trips
I recommend you do your research. Look at the type of lodging the ski resort offers. This is another one of my Top Tips to Pick a Family-Friendly Ski Resort.
Ski In, Ski Out
The most luxurious option, though check out the valet services. Skiing requires more luggage and gear so if someone else is hauling your gear, then that’s a plus.
Also, look at how the resort stores ski equipment for its guests, too. You will definitely need self-service laundry or an in-unit washer and dryer for wet coats and gloves.
Independent Condo or Rental House
I prefer to stay in a condo or rental house. I need a washer and dryer for my family, especially when skiing.
Plus, an equipped kitchen saves me money. I bring my crock pot for hearty dinners after a day of skiing. Breakfast is a snap with instant oatmeal. We also enjoy for room to spread out.
Hotel Rooms
Not my favorite option; I’ve done it once and wouldn’t do it again. The rooms felt crampy with more coats and gear.
I tripped over gear like snow boots and gloves. Eating out for every meal got expensive and time-consuming after a long day of skiing.
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Fly or Drive?
If your family is flying, look at the transportation between the airport and the resort. Then check out where the shopping, restaurants and activities are in relation to your lodging. You will probably need a vehicle for your trip.
UBER and LYFT might use surge pricing at some resort areas or the service is limited. This is another one of my Top Tips to Pick a Family-Friendly Ski Resort.
I recommend renting a 4WD or AWD vehicle for your trip. Don’t skimp on the rental. Driving a typical 2WD rental car in the mountains is just too risky. I prefer to drive, so I don’t have to limit the luggage. I have an all-wheel drive SUV, plus I pack tire cables if the roads get snow-covered.
Finally, check out the location of the ski resort’s parking lot if you are skiing for the day. I prefer to park in front of the resort since I never grab everything I need in one trip.
Some resorts require parking reservations. If a tram or shuttle is involved to get to the resort from the parking lot, I’m not impressed.
Feeding a Family at a Ski Resort
Hungry kids will destroy a happy holiday.
Pack snacks for in-between meals to save some bucks. This is another one of my Top Tips to Pick a Family-Friendly Ski Resort.
- Refillable water bottles
- Gatorade or flavor packets
- Hot water in a thermos
- Instant hot cider or cocoa packets and tea bags
- Instant Cup-of-Soup
- Granola bars and Protein bars
- Jerky
- Dried fruit or fruit leather
- Applesauce pouches
- Nuts
- Cookies
- Marshmallows and roasting sticks
- Mandarin oranges
- Reusable coffee cups
When to Start Kids Skiing
How old are your kids? I started my kids skiing at different ages, and I don’t think it really matters. They all seem to pick it up quickly, but if all your kids are under 5, I might wait a few years to try skiing as a family.
The youngest kids have a problem with the cold, and dressing them in ski gear can be a challenge. Ski resorts are not stroller-friendly, with stairs and icy patches. Young kids can’t carry their own gear.
My kids are in high school and college now. We started skiing when my oldest was 7, and the youngest was 2. The first year, he stayed in the on-site daycare and started ski lessons when he was 3.
My oldest and youngest kids ski, but my middle kid snowboards. Most resorts won’t teach young kids (3 to 5) to snowboard, requiring kids to be at least 5 so do your research.
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What to Look for at a Ski Resort
Trails for Kids
First, I look at the ski resort trail map and count how many green runs they offer. This information is usually listed as a percentage of the runs based on color–green, blue, or black. This is another one of my Top Tips to Pick a Family-Friendly Ski Resort.
Green runs–Easiest and great for families
Blue runs–Moderate runs, and Dad will start here regardless of ability.
Black runs–People braver than me. I recommend tackling black runs with an instructor first.
Then, I look at the quality of the green runs. I don’t like resorts that only offer green runs tacked onto the bottom of more difficult terrain. I have found that more advanced skiers fly through slow areas on their way to the lift line. If all of the green runs wide and lacks different routes, the skiing gets boring.
I prefer resorts that have green skiing areas with both wide open spaces and narrow runs through the trees. Kids like to ride a run several times and then try another route.
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Ski Lifts
Next, look for beginner ski lifts; they should be labeled on the trail map on the resort’s website. I prefer resorts that use conveyor-belt-type lifts for beginners. This is another one of my Top Tips to Pick a Family-Friendly Ski Resort.
Getting on and off an elevated ski lift is where most falls happen. Conveyor or Magic Carpet Lifts will keep your kids on the ground and not dangling from a wire like a trapeze. It was always a bit nerve-racking to get my youngest and myself on the ski lift.
I want the beginner area to be available to all skiers and not restricted to the ski school students. This is an excellent area to practice with your kids after their lessons. My carful of kids love to race Mom down the beginner runs.
Remember, beginner runs are not the same as GREEN runs. Just because it’s labeled green doesn’t mean your kids are ready to cruise down it after one lesson.
Resort Review: Mt Rose Ski Tahoe
Ski School for Kids
Look at the resort’s ski school. Ski School is a must for kids under eight unless you are a pro. All the instructors I have met through the years have been great with kids, pacing the program according to the ability of my kids. They’re patient with missing gloves and potty breaks.
Ski School Must Haves
- Trained staff that know how to talk and play with kids. Corny jokes and riddles are a plus.
- Separate facility with an indoor transition area that allows kids to rest or warm up.
- Staff to fit kids with skis.
- An outdoor area that’s fenced off from the rest of the resort yet visible for parents wanting to check-in.
- Separate magic carpet lifts or conveyor lifts for kids.
- Helmets for kids, regardless of local laws
An Outstanding Program will have
- A program that keeps the littlest kids off the elevated lifts before 6. (a new trend that I’m seeing and not all resorts are presently doing this)
- Serves lunch that accommodates kids’ special diets (gluten-free, vegan) and chef-inspired daily menus for students–not just pizza or buttered pasta.
- Engineered runs to make turning easier.
- Covered lifts
I like the ski schools in a separate fenced-off area with a separate conveyor belt or magic carpet lifts, used only by the ski school. I want my younger kids in an area away from the older kids with different needs and skills.
Some ski schools have half-day programs, but this is usually not an option during the school holidays. The resorts prefer full-day programs during peak periods. Some resorts offer on-site daycare, a convenient yet expensive option.
If your kids are older, then skip the ski school and sign them up for a beginner ski/snowboard package that includes lessons, rental equipment, and lift tickets for the first day. The earlier in the day, the better. After the class, they can practice.
If you plan to learn to ski or snowboard as a family, then you might consider private or semi-private lessons. The resorts tend to assign the most seasoned instructors to the private lessons. They are a great way to go, but they are expensive.
Other Considerations
The last thing I check is the ski resort elevation. I have a kid that gets elevation sickness over 9,000 feet. We have to ski at resorts with lower elevations, or he gets sick (nausea).
I hope that my hints help you to find a family-friendly ski resort that suits your family.
Know Before You Go:
- Reservations are a must for ski school programs during the school breaks.
- You can get a discount by booking your lift tickets online through the ski resort’s website.
- I purchase lift tickets through consolidators for greater discounts.
- I like to rent my equipment from ski shops and skip the line on the mountain. Most shops let you rent equipment the evening before, and you can return it early in the morning after your trip.
- Don’t forget the helmets. They are required for kids at lots of resorts.
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