There's a certain magic known only to those who spend time out on the slopes, found in those glorious moments of carving out solitary paths through a snow-clad winter wonderland — it's only natural to want to pass that enchantment on to the brood. Of course, the littlest ski legs have some way to go before they'll be shredding black-diamond trails — that's why our editors have rounded up these 10 North American ski resorts that cater to family-friendly fun.
Spread out from the Northeast to the Rockies and up past the Canadian border, these mountain playgrounds offer not only superior kid-geared instruction and picturesque beginner's terrain, but snow-centric and off-slope activities that the whole family can enjoy. So, bundle up the clan and learn firsthand just why families that play together, are so inclined to stay together!
Located in the White Mountains of northern New Hampshire (under a three-hour drive from Boston), the state’s largest ski area gets high marks for its consistently good weather conditions: An east-facing exposure protects it from the northwest wind, while exceptionally good snow coverage means parents don’t have to worry (as much) about exposed rocks while teaching their kids to ski and snowboard.
Younger children (not to mention their solace-seeking parents) will love the Kids’ Club, which offers supervised games, activities, and kid-friendly dinners like pizza or macaroni and cheese (Fridays, Saturdays and select holidays from 6 to 9 p.m.) on the lower level of the historic Mount Washington Hotel. Older kids (ages 12 and over) with parents in tow can alternatively check out the resort’s year-round Canopy Tour (opened in December 2008) — it features elevated suspension bridges and treetop zip-lines descending some 1,000 feet to the base of the resort.
Nestled in the shadow of the Niagara Escarpment and bordered by Georgian Bay, Collingwood’s Blue Mountain resort, situated about two hours north of Toronto, is Ontario's quintessential family destination. A haven for clans whose idea of family fun is a wee bit less intense than tearing down the slopes, ski-bunnies-in-training here can take advantage of the wide variety of lessons and activities available to childern in the resort-sponsored Kids’ Camp, while their parents get a much-deserved break.
Or, parents themselves can enjoy learning to ski, or brush up on long-forgotten skills, thanks to lessons on offer and the high number of beginner and intermediate runs. After a day of playing in the snow, rally the troops for a dip at the resort’s indoor water park, before winding things down for a good old-fashioned family powwow by the fireplace.
These uncrowded, powdery Colorado Rockies’ slopes come minus the icy patches more common to eastern resorts, making them a resounding hit with tumble-prone kids (and adults) alike. Youngsters are especially stoked by kid-specific trail maps and the children’s terrain park, featuring rails, jumps, tabletops, rolls and even a mini-halfpipe. Day care is on offer for little ones aged 2 months to 3 years (when ski programs kick in), with a 1-to-2 caregiver-to-infant ratio for tots under 18 months.
Tubing, movie and pizza-dinner evenings or monthly pizza-and-movie “teen nights” keep the young ones entertained, while this historic-mining-town-cum-ski-resort — completely devoid of traffic lights and chain stores — serves to charm the skis right off of the adults. Access is via a 5-hour drive southwest of Denver, or just 45 minutes from the Gunnison-Crested Butte Regional Airport.
The second highest peak in the Catskills, snowy Hunter Mountain is only about two hours north of Manhattan, making its scenic slopes a popular weekend destination for New Yorkers (so plan a weekday trip to avoid the crowds).
Celebrating its 50th season in 2009, Hunter has long attracted Burton-clad snowboarding hipsters looking to perfect their ollies and butters, but it’s equally well-known for its state-of-the-art family and beginner facilities, including user-friendly lifts and terrain designed specifically with the novice in mind.
Ski and snowboard lessons are on offer for adults and kids, including a daycare program (ages 6 months to 6 years) that can be combined with a short ski program for 3 year olds (Just for Me Because I’m Three). Downhill enthusiasts can also enjoy Hunter’s popular snow-tubing park, with two tows and up to nine chutes (42 inch minimum height).
With over 50 miles of skiable terrain, 100-plus acres of off-piste routes and four terrain parks, Jay Peak, located 60 miles from Burlington International Airport, offers a nice mix of options for skiers and boarders of all ages. An array of age-appropriate ski school programs — Kinderski (ages 3 to 5), Mini-Learn-to-Ride (ages 5 to 6), Jay Explorers (ages 6 to 10), and Mountain Riders (ages 7 to 10) — make use of indoor ramps with moving carpets and special “kids-only” ski areas.
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On-property guests can take advantage of free daycare (ages 2 to 7), part of a package that includes complimentary lodging and lift tickets for kids 14 and under (non-holiday periods only). Tip: If you’re traveling from D.C. or New York City, consider hopping aboard the Amtrak Vermonter, which terminates in St. Albans, Vermont, about 45 minutes from the resort; children ages 2 to 15 are eligible for a 50 percent fare discount and children under 2 ride for free, when accompanied by a fare-paying adult.
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Just 90 minutes northwest of Montreal, this Canadian resort is considered by many to be the best in the Northeast. With a festive village in the base area and an $800 million expansion underway, it’s often favorably compared to resorts in the Alps (expect 94 runs and 13 lifts, including five high-speed quad lifts and a panoramic gondola).
Most importantly, for those looking for a place that will virtually guarantee a snowboarding teenager’s happiness (no small feat, perhaps), rest assured: The resort’s 30-acre terrain park, which includes an Olympic-caliber half-pipe and a tunes-blasting sound system, was rated by Ski Magazine as one of the best in North America. Don’t be afraid to let the pre-teens tag along as well; there’s a daycare for kids ages 1 to 6, as well as an ice labyrinth, ice-skating rink, and evening tubing. Kids ages 7 and up can take advantage of snowboarding lessons while 3 is the minimum age for ski lessons.
Families comprised of beginning or intermediate skiers and snowboarders should look no further than Truckee’s Northstar-at-Tahoe (in California’s Lake Tahoe area), where nearly all of the resort’s 2,420 acres are designated as green or blue trails. Extras like the Parent Predicament perk (allowing two parents with young children to share one lift ticket), après-ski ice skating and s'mores roasts, and moonlight snowmobile tours get rave reviews from parents and youngsters alike. Also worthwhile, for more adventurous young skiers, is a visit to Adventure Parks, which offers an outlet to practice elementary jumps to both beginning skiers and snowboarders.
Tucked away in the shadows of Wasatch Mountains in Big Cottonwood Canyon, this private Utah ski lodge, located just 40 minutes from Salt Lake City, offers ski-inclined families a barrage of kid-friendly activities. Parents can enjoy a day shushing through the 1,200 acres of fresh powder, while the little ones are enrolled in the resort’s kids’ programs — the Play Academy caters to kids age 4 and under, and features activities like snowplay and storytelling, while the Kids Academy brings ski instruction to children ages 5 to 12; snowboarding lessons are reserved for youngsters ages 7 and up. Ice-skating, fireside s’mores roasts, and terrain parks round out the family-friendly experience.
Revered for its decided lack of glam, Steamboat continues to hold out against the trend of local, homey ski towns turning ritzy resort. It’s true Colorado Rockies cowboy country up here (160 miles northwest of Denver but a mere 25 miles from the closest airport in Hayden), combining Old West ranching heritage with wicked tree skiing and copious amounts of champagne-powder snow cover.
Adults adore the authenticity, while youngsters dig the kids-only terrain and lifts (with areas for both novices and the more advanced), small group lessons, and the Kids Night Out camp-style evening program. Parents, meanwhile, can delight in special family deals (like free kids rentals and lift tickets), as well as top-notch day care for children as young as 6 months.
Sun Valley was the first major ski resort in the Rockies, hosted the range's first ski school, and was the first to install a chairlift — it’s fitting then, that it’s among the first destination choices for families in search of an optimum ski outing. Managing to avoid the bulk of the more commercial and flashy elements common to other Rockies’ resorts, the mountain — and Ketchum, the town at the resort's base — maintain a distinctly Western charm and relatively unpretentious feel.
Camp-style, full-day group ski lessons can be arranged for skiers ages 4 to 12 and for snowboarders ages 6 to 12; even 3 year olds can enroll in a Tiny Tracks group lesson, or enjoy a private lesson with mom or dad in tow (daycare can also be arranged). Off the slopes, professional-skater ice shows, sleigh rides, tubing, and ice-skating offer more fun ways to enjoy the snow and scenery.