Choosing a Ski Resort for the Family:

- California - Colorado - Idaho - Montana - Utah - Vermont - Canada -

California Family Ski Resorts:
Alpine Meadows Ski Resort - offers a small-town atmosphere and is perfect for a simple family ski vacation. All Ski Runs lead down to one base lodge keeping your young ones from skiing onto the wrong mountain. Alpine is well equipped for powder lovers with easy to find untracked snow. Alpine Meadows is about skiing, not nightlife.

Heavenly Ski Resort - is one of the larger ski areas in North America that is blessed with California sun. Located in Lake Tahoe, near Reno Nevada, Heavenly has something for everyone. Although it is part of the Lake Tahoe series of ski resorts it is the closest to the center of Lake Tahoe and is more convenient for outside travelers. It is family orientated but on the more expensive side.

Mammoth Mountain Ski Resort– family owned since 1955 – Mammoth is one of the first resorts to open their slopes in the US and are famous for their bright sunny days. This year they will be opening on November 11th. Unfortunately, it is about a 5-hour drive for LA and 6 hours from San Francisco. However, once you get there, you will agree it is a great place to have a relaxed family ski vacation. Mammoth Mountain has a sister resort June Mountain perfect for park lovers.

Squaw Valley Ski Resort– For a more ADVANCED family of skiers. Squaw does offer some beginner and intermediate slopes, but the majority of Squaw has great steep descents for the skier with experience. Skiing Squaw also means you get to ski at night because they offer night skiing. An added plus to skiing Squaw is that ski tickets for kids are only $5 a day!

Colorado Family Ski Resorts:
Aspen Area – Aspen has four ski resorts Separated only by a few miles and close to Aspen’s historic village where you will find – over 300 shops - 30 art galleries - restaurants – bars – all in walking distance, there is something for everyone. Colorado has a great bus system, so I wouldn’t worry too much about transportation once you are there.

Aspen Area Ski Resorts
Aspen Highlands - For the family who wants to avoid the crowds. The Highlands is a nice getaway especially for the family who is experienced in snow sports because this mountain is considered the most extreme mountain of the four.
Aspen Mountain – Not for beginners. The only slopes they offer are for strong intermediate and expert skiers. An added bonus to this resort is that the runs all drop into the town.
Buttermilk Mountain – A smaller mountain, but good for learning to ski families. Buttermilk is where the ski schools of the Aspen area are offered. Day care is also offered here.
Snowmass Ski Area – Not taking the term “mass” lightly, this resort is huge. Mostly for the intermediate skier, this mountain has a village with many ski-in-and-out hotels.

Beaver Creek Resort - Fun for the entire family. Beaver Creek has everything in one spot –shops –ski rentals – lift tickets – ski school – day care – restaurants. The resorts lift tickets are interchangeable with Vail, Keystone, and Breckenridge. Located only 25 miles from Eagle County Airport and 2 ½ hours away by car or shuttle from Denver International Airport.

Breckenridge Ski Resort - Located in a charming authentic western town mostly for expert skiers. Breckenridge’s snowboard parks are one of its finest attributes because they are some of the best in the country. Breckenridge is 104 miles west of the Denver International Airport.

Copper Mountain – Copper may not have the elegance of Aspen Mountain, but is a more convenient resort for families. Lodging and lift ticket prices are low. Copper is just a 73-mile shuttle ride from Denver.

Vail – Vail skiing offers a variety of terrain coplled with high-speed lifts on one of the biggest mountains in North America. Much of the lodging is near the lifts and one lift ticket buys you skiing for Beaver Creek resort, Arrowhead ski resort as well as Vail.

Idaho Family Ski Resorts
Sun Valley Ski Resort – The resort of the rich and famous during the 30’s and 40’s delivers a total ski experience with three stunning world class lodges and loge flowing runs that keep going and going. You can ski down to your room in Ketchum town. lift lines are short under bright sunny days. There is an efficient shuttle system

Montana Family Ski Resort
Big Sky Ski Resort – Located near Yellow Stone National Park, Big Sky is an amazing outdoor family experience with vast acres of Nature. But, you will also find hotels, condominiums, day care, restaurants, and a few shops – Enjoy the advanced ski slopes on a mountain designed for family middle of the road skiers + short lift lines and fast lifts = a great ski vacation.

Utah Family Ski Resort
Park City Mountain Resort – The location for the Winter Olympic Games 2002. Park City ski resort has reliable snow and a variety of terrain. For non-skiers there is an old mining town a shuttle away. Or if you would rather be closer to the kids right at the base you will find restaurants, ski shops, and gift shops. Park City also has an area called Utah Winter Sports Park, which is a great place for kids to take ski-jumping lessons. Park City is conveniently located 40 minutes from Salt Lake City Airport.

Vermont Family Ski Resort
Smugglers’ Notch Ski Resort – The village at the resort is an all in one area with lodging, restaurants, ski lifts, ice skating, tubing, tubing, sleigh rides, nightclub . . . Full of activities for the kids, every night there is a different theme. Teens are offered special ski and snowboard programs. Smugglers’ Notch has steep descents that cater from intermediate to advanced skiers or snowboarders. A nice touch is a trail leading to Stowe Mountain Resort where one lift ticket is good at both resorts.

Stowe Mountain Resort – This resort offers family skiing for all abilities. There are two main peaks, Spruce Peak dedicated to beginner and intermediate skiing and Mt. Mansfield for the rest of you skiers who demand a little challenge. Stowe offers five Ski Runs that are each a mile long. For the non-skiers there are galleries, antique stores, inns, and restaurants in a quaint small town. Also a bonus to this resort is that there is lodging for every taste and budget.

Stratton Mountain Resort – This ski resort is easy to navigate for families and has activities for the skier and non-skier family members. There is a 40-acre designated as learning park, which is a slow-skiing family zone for beginners to ski in safely. Considered the birthplace of snowboarding Stratton defiantly accommodates snowboarders with what they want.

Sugarbush Ski Resort – Stay in a classic New England village with your family. Here there is an area called Family Adventure Land designed for beginning skiers and boarders where fast skiing and snowboarding is monitored. Sugarbush ski resort isn’t just for kids though; experts have plenty to pick from at Sugarbush.

Canada Family Ski Resorts
Lake Louise – Located in Lake Louise Village in the Canadian Rocky Mountains skiers will find breathtaking views of the lake. A good family ski resort where lodging prices actually drop for the winter season. Lake Louise has something for all ages and abilities.

Monte-Sainte-Anne - Twenty miles east of Qubec City where there are hotels that over ski packages with skier shuttle to the lifts. It is the biggest cross-country ski center in Canada. Most skiers you speak to will be French and you will find that it seems a world away form the US. Monte-Sainte-Anne

Mont Trembland – Also has the French Canadian flair in a resort that is bright and cheerful. You will find a well laid out ski resort with. Montreal is the closest major airpot.

Whistler and Blackcomb – These two colossal mountains offer more skiing than any other ski resort in North America. One lift ticket to Whistler is also good for Blackcomb but each mountain can have you discovering new terrain for days. Fog is sometimes a problem in the lower mountain. A well designed pedestrian village keeps people together at night which = great night life.