USA Ski Resorts for Families
Top USA Family ski resorts
Skiing is great family sport for families and children of all age groups to get involved with. Littlenomads.com has found the best ski resorts in the USA so you can help plan your skiing holidays below is our current list of family focused ski resorts.
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Aspen/Snowmass – Colorado
Skiing family holidays nothin comes finer then the white stuff in Aspen and Snowmass, it is known as the winter playground for the rich and famous so for family value it may be a little on the high end, but if you can afford to take the family to Snowmass it does comes recommended as one the best in its class as a family ski area. The ski school is phenomenal, with a brand new facility that caters to every age and level. Accommodation options range from hotels to luxury second homes. The configuration of the lifts at Snowmass were recently changed, making it easy to get around and offering many opportunities for the whole family to take an equally fun run together. They have a great website dedicated to family fun.
Vail- Colorado , Could well be one of best ski resorts in Colorado for its sheer size and diversity of terrain, it is also one of the best family-friendly ski resorts in the United States, making it an ideal for family skiing. Many families visiting Vail will usually start their day at the Gold Peak base area on the east-side of Vail Mountain.
To get the family skiing holiday underway the oriented base area is known for its “slow-skiing zone” wide beginner trails and the “magic-carpet” for the youngest first time skiers with their own rope tow (ski school is offered beginning at age 3). There is also day-care available for children beginning at 6 months of age. All the ski school packages include lift pass and rental equipment (provided by Vail Sports at Gold Peak) including mandatory helmets. The full day class lessons include lunch and the Children’s Ski School instructors have the “patience of Jobe” and truly enjoy working with kids of all ages. For families who seek a ski vacation and not partaking in ski school, should consider rental equipment delivered and fitted at your vacation residence and avoid the confusion and chaos at the ski rental shop. Find Out More
Big Bear Mountain Resorts – California
Big Bear Moutain may be your family ski holidays next family ski ticket, It has been Southern California’s first choice for winter activities for more than 55 years. Big Bear Mountain Resorts includes Snow Summit Mountain Resort and Bear Mountain Resort. Their dedication to outstanding guest service and a consistent quality snow surface provides the perfect atmosphere for plenty of memorable skiing and snowboarding experiences. The two resorts are of similar size and are located in the San Bernardino Mountains, just a tank of gas away roundtrip from most areas in Southern California. The resorts are about two miles apart and are connected via a free inter-mountain express shuttle service. Each resort offers a variety of diverse terrain providing skiers and snowboarders with a combined 430 developed acres, 26 lifts (including 4 high-speed detachable quads) and more than 55 runs. Together, Big Bear Mountain Resorts has the region’s most progressive terrain parks but separately each have their distinctive features. Snow Summit Mountain Resort focuses primarily on skiing and family activity, allowing Bear Mountain Resort to shine as the premiere snowboarding destination.
Mt. Mansfield – Topnotch Resort and Spa – Vermont
Surrounded by Vermont’s legendary Green Mountains, Topnotch Resort and Spa is New England’s premier, four-season luxury destination retreat. Located on 120 wooded acres beneath Mt. Mansfield – at 4,393 feet, the state’s tallest peak – the AAA Four Diamond resort’s air of sophisticated rusticity is a natural fit for the region it calls home. The resort’s Nordic Barn Recreational Center provides rental equipment for all resort activities, including downhill and cross-country skiing, cycling, mountain biking, snowshoeing, in-line skating, canoeing and fly-fishing. The resort is outfitted with three pools, including a heated indoor pool and two outdoor pools, one of which is heated for year-round enjoyment. The Green Mountain range is renowned as a vacation paradise throughout the year, with fishing, skiing, hiking, golfing and much more all nearby. www.topnotchresort.com
Waterville Valley Resort – New Hampshire
Since the 1960s, Waterville Valley, New Hampshire, has been well known for its ski area, which features trails and activities for all ages and abilities. From Kids¹ Venture Kamps to the Silver Streaks over-50 ski club, from alpine to Nordic, boarders and hot-doggers, you¹ll find something for every level of skier.
Waterville Valley Resort offers 250 skiable acres with snowmaking ability on every trail. The ski area peaks at 4,004 feet, with a vertical drop of 2,020 feet, 52 trails and 12 lifts. But for those who like their skiing with a little less altitude, Waterville Valley¹s Nordic Center features 75 km of wide-groomed trails, again with terrain for every ability level, groomed daily for both skate and classic skiing styles. Skiers take off from the Nordic Center in the Valley¹s quaint Town Square, or just step out the door of their vacation rental–the trails are only steps away from most of the accommodations in the valley. Once on the trail, you¹ll enjoy incredible views of the surrounding White Mountain National Forest. Stop for a warm up and a snack at the warming hut along the trail, or return to the Nordic Center and sit by the fire.
For young skiers, age 3 to 12, Kids Venture Kamps provide their own ski rental facility in the base lodge no more jockeying for position with adults and older kids. A day of Venture Kamp includes lessons, rentals, lunch and even a snack for the younges skiers. Resort staff makes sure participants have the right boots, helmets and skis or snowboards. Then it’s out to the slopes, with specially designed Venture Zones ranging from Kinderpark to the black diamond True Grit. Kids can sign up for Kids Venture Kamp for a day or an entire season.
Crystal Mountain Resort – Michigan
Crystal Mountain Resort, in Thompsonville, Michigan, was rated the #1 Resort in the Midwest by SKI magazine in 2005 with a great commitment to families. Crystal was founded in 1956 and remains family-owned to this day. In fact, the Petritz family, who own the resort with Jim & Chris (Petritz) MacInnes, grew up at Crystal Mountain so it’s been important to them to maintain that sense of community they remember from their childhood.
They offer a number of values for families as kids 8-and-under sleep, ski, and eat breakfast FREE anytime, while children 17-and-under sleep and ski FREE midweek. The majority of our lodging units are designed with families in mind with condos, townhomes and the Cottages at Water’s Edge, in particular, that have full kitchens and great living areas where families can spend time together. Our Adventure Cubs and Crystal Kids ski schools welcome kids from 3-12 (97% of our instructors are at least Level I certified). If kids are a little too young to hit the slopes we also have a nursery and in-room babysitting. There’s plenty of off-slope activities like horse-drawn surrey rides, snowshoeing, scavenger hunts, ice skating, Build-A-Buddy workshops, and games for the whole family.
This past winter they held their first ever Winter Familypalooza in which families, along with mascots from around Michigan, took part in friendly competitions from snowshoe obstacle courses, to kayaking down the slopes, to snow angel decorating. We also see some families put together sleds made of only cardboard & duct tape for our Cardboard Classic. Find out more
Sierra Resort – California
Sierra Resort may be be the best family ski resort! Sierra Resort caters to families with great value options including a licensed daycare, full day and half day ski and snowboard school and a “Parent Predicament” lift ticket that lets one parent ski while the other watches the little one, then switch. They have 7 on-mountain restaurants which offer children’s and family meals and the restaurants in nearby South Lake Tahoe that are good for families. The town of South Lake Tahoe offers every kind of accommodation from hotel rooms to private mountain homes available for rent. There is a ton for families to do once they are off the slopes as well. Find Out More
Sunriver Resort – Oregan
With nearly 250 guestrooms and more than 400 vacation rental properties comprised of private homes and condominiums, Sunriver Resort is an year-round outdoor enthusiast’s dream with 63 holes of championship golf, 28 tennis courts, 35 miles of paved bike paths, three swimming complexes, horseback riding, canoeing and kayaking, fly fishing, skiing and snowboarding at nearby Mt. Bachelor Ski Resort, cross-country skiing and snowshoeing. Plus, there’s the resort’s Sage Springs Club & Spa, first-class programs for youths and teens, a nearby shopping village and nature center. Not to mention the vast array of dining options, Sunriver Resort is the ultimate home base for a winter getaway and skiing family holidays.
Mt. Bachelor – Oregan
Mt Bachelor is also popular for skiing holidays with 3,683 acres accessible by lifts, the mountain accommodates 7 Express Quads, 3 Triple Chairlifts, 2 Tubing lifts and a Wonder Carpet. Average annual snowbase is between 150 and 200 inches. The mountain features four terrain parks, 56K of groomed and tracked cross country trails, snowshoeing, tubing and dog sled rides.
Do you have a favourite family Ski Resort that you would like to share with us? Let us know in 100 to 130 words through the Contact Us.
