Packing List for a Family Ski Vacation

A family ski trip is one of the best winter vacations for families, especially with older teens and college students. The kids might be different ages, though preparation is still key to a successful trip. My family has been skiing together for years. My kids learned at different ages, and each of them caught on great. If it is your first family ski trip, I have some tips to share in this Packing List for a Family Ski Vacation.

Hotel Room vs. Rental Property 

Over the years, I realized renting a condo works out better than staying in a standard hotel room, especially for families. Here’s what I need in a rental property or condo for a family ski trip.

Fully Equipped Kitchen + Dishwasher and Microwave

Washing Machine and Dryer–a must for wet clothes

Dining table with chairs for everyone

To save money, I cook, so I pack my Crock Pot. I make breakfast and dinner; then we eat out for lunch. After a long day of skiing, I don’t want to wait for a table at a restaurant.

I pack a few extras to make a rental feel like home.

Cozy blankets–snuggle in the car on the way and at the rental.

Scented candles or plug-in air freshener

A bouquet of flowers–I grab some at the local grocery store.

Bag of Marshmallows and Roasting Sticks–Most resorts feature fire pits so grab the sticks and a bag of marshmallows.

Fondue Pot–So much fun for a ski trip and easy too. Check out this Fondue Set.

Clothes For Kids

Before buying new stuff, I dig out what I have. It’s amazing how much you have already.

Winter coats with hoods — wash them and spray them down with water repellent.

Base layer — A lot of kids use a polyester layer for sports; pack those. The old-school waffle-weave long underwear is itchy.

Fleece layer —Another item most kids own.

Wool or Cashmere Sweaters — Natural fibers are best, so I pack my nice sweaters. But not something that most kids own.

Socks — Pack some hiking or wool-blended socks.

Scarves —Instead of scarves, my kids wear neck gaiters, so there isn’t any dangling clothing while using ski lifts.

Ski gloves — I buy inexpensive ones for the kids. One will get lost every single time. Spray those down with the water repellent, too.

Snow Bibs or Pants —Bibs for the little kids, since the ski pants are hard to fit around little waists. Pants for teens and adults. Spray the bibs and pants down with water repellent, especially the seats of the pants.

Snow boots — Inexpensive boots if you live in a warm climate. Spray down with water repellent.

Hand and Foot Warmers — Buy these before heading to the ski resort; they are expensive at the resort shop.

Resort Review: Killington Resort in Vermont

Snow Play Fun

Sure, the kids would love to ski every day, but I can’t. So, after a couple of days at the resort, I plan a snow play day.

Sled–My kids are older and harder on the equipment, so I take a heavy-duty sled.

Snoballer–A Snowballer is another must for snow day fun. The snowballs are super smooth and aerodynamic. Old-school outdoor winter fun.

Snacks for Ski Trips

Most family-friendly resorts allow picnicking at their outdoor tables. Some resorts even have indoor lunch rooms that allow picnickers to use. However, we respect the rules of the resort.

I find the lunch line at the ski resort’s snack bar daunting during the school holidays. With my snack bag, my kids grab a quick bite, especially my boy, who wants to snowboard all day.

I pack:

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

Freeze-dried fruit

Nuts

Cookies

Marshmallows and roasting sticks

Mandarin oranges

Reusable coffee cups

Lake Tahoe Winter Guide for Families

Other Must-Haves

I pack another bag for the non-food stuff.

First aid kit with lots of bandages

Lip balm

Sunscreen for faces

Wipes and tissues

Extra gloves — A glove will go missing every single time.

Ski goggles — My kids prefer sunglasses on sunny days.

Sunglasses — Goggles are best for blustery or snowy days.

Giant blue IKEA bag — Some families change into ski boots in the car, but I find kids slip and fall. I can fit all the boots and helmets and haul them to the ski lodge.

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