Discover Mountains Perfect for Families
A cold kiss of winter air. The soft swish of fresh snow. A sudden rush of adrenaline at the grip of gravity, the world whirling beneath you and the slope stealing you away. No wonder snow skiing has become such a popular vacation activity for people the world over — families included.
Of course, everything gets more complicated when children are involved. Yes, little ones can have a wonderful time snowplowing their way down the mountain. But kid-friendly slopes, appropriate amenities and additional kinds of entertainment are the proverbial powder on the run.
Read on to discover seven of the best family ski vacations in North America and Europe.
Beaver Creek, CO
Most consider Colorado the king of U.S. winter sports, and its various mountain resorts certainly compete with one another over the difficulty of their runs, the quality of their snow and the luxuriousness of their accommodations. Beaver Creek holds it own in any of these areas, but it boasts something the others lack: chocolate chip cookies.
Yes, you read that correctly. Every day at precisely 3 p.m., resort chefs gather around lift six to hand out Beaver Creek’s decadent signature dessert. Forbes’ Allison Olmstead calls Beaver Creek “amazingly welcoming to families,” and it shows in more than just the resort’s sweets.
The newly opened 200-acre Red Buffalo Park offers 13 family learning trails, a snow sculpture area and multiple Kids’ Adventure Zones.
Tremblant, Quebec, Canada
Plug Tremblant into your search engine of choice and you’ll find more than one reference to this “candy-colored” ski town. A quaint, seemingly misplaced Alpine town, brightly painted structures on cobblestone streets meet excellent eateries — and that’s all before you slap on your skis.
With over 600 acres of slopes (and plans to expand that area to 1,000), Mount Tremblant has some of Quebec’s best skiing. Veterans won’t have any trouble finding challenging runs, but a big draw is its excellent ecole de neige (i.e., snow camp) for children.
Parents can feel perfectly safe enjoying couple’s time on any of the mountain’s 96 trails while their little ones learn to safely navigate the bunny hill.
A Tremblant travel guide will tell you that opportunities other than skiing also abound. Enjoy a snowshoe hike. Try your hand at dog sledding or snowmobiling. Horse-drawn carriages can whisk you and your loved ones through the chill, and kids will adore the hot pools at Aquaclub LaSource after a day on the mountain.
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Park City, Utah
No mention of Park City would be complete without bringing up Park City Mountain Resort. A Vail Resort development, this multi-site property sprawls over 7,000 acres. But families should know they have plenty of other options, many of which cater specifically to them.
Take Canyons Resort, which covers a still impressive 4,000 acres and provides free skiing for children ages 6 and under. Deer Valley aims to entertain little ones off the mountain, specializing in swank accommodations with kid-centric amenities such as bowling alleys and year-round outdoor heated pools.
And don’t dismiss Park City Mountain Resort simply because it’s big. Size offers certain advantages. Nearly two-thirds of its runs are beginner or intermediate. What’s more, its Ultimate 5 program serves up serious ski instruction in super small groups.
Avoriaz, Morzine, France
Lots of resorts like to market their ski-in/ski-out accommodations as a luxurious add on, but in Avoriaz, it’s almost de rigueur no matter where you stay. See, this charming corner of the Portes du Soleil area doesn’t allow any automobiles. To make your way around the community, you’ll need to rely on horse-drawn carriages, sleds or (natch) skis.
You won’t find more than half a dozen hotel options at Avoriaz, as well as a few privately rented single family units. Also, there isn’t a lot of space set aside for beginners. However, reliable snowpack, speedy lifts, generally short lines and a freeriding space for snowboarders more than make up for it. So does the family-friendly safety and convenience of the tight-knit area itself.
Sun Valley, Idaho
Originally conceived as a way to boost rail-passenger traffic through the American West, Sun Valley claims the title of the first U.S. ski resort. It’s also the home of the first chair lift ever. And though you may not hear its name mentioned with the same reverent tones as Aspen or Vail, it more than holds its own in the luxury department.
There’s a reason why celebrities sneak off to Sun Valley during the winter.
While experienced skiers can suss out plenty of pleasantly advanced slopes, families will love Sun Valley’s Dollar Mountain. This tree-free area features broad, easy runs for beginners and a magic carpet (think of those moving walkways in airports) that will whisk them up the mountain.
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Vemdalen, Sweden
Sun Valley may be friendly to novices, but Vemdalen positively caters to them. Located in Central Sweden, this resort isn’t the largest or the most varied. Still, families can count on stupendous scenery (many consider its Klövsjö area among the most beautiful in Sweden) and lots of snow (ski season starts in October).
Vemdalen also boasts a surprisingly large number of beginner runs, with 32 of its 58 slopes aimed at amateurs. What’s more, super speedy six-person lifts will get you to the top of your mountain of choice in no time flat.