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Best Family Ski Resorts

best family ski resorts

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Family Travel Magazine is pleased to present our editorial guide to the best family ski resorts the US.  Here, you’ll find our top picks for ski areas and resorts throughout the US.

We based our choices on a variety of factors, including fun features for families, size of the resort, location, and availability of press materials.  We’ve only skied two of these locations – Gore and Titus Mountains – but hope to change that over the course of this ski season.

If you are traveling on a family ski vacation, keep in mind that you may get discounted lift tickets if you purchase a hotel package.  You should also be aware that it’s possible to rent ski clothing as well as ski equipment – so if you need to save money on your checked bags, that may be the way to do it.  Just make sure you do all of the appropriate research before you leave.

Most, if not all of these resorts have special ski classes or ski programs for families.  Some even offer daycares with lessons for very little ones.  Be sure to call ahead to confirm all details, and remember that these family ski resorts are likely to be crowded on family vacation weeks.

 

Best Family Ski Resorts

Nevada Family Ski Resorts

Las Vegas Ski & Snowboard Resort
Photo credit: Las Vegas Ski & Snowboard Resort

Las Vegas Ski & Snowboard Resort, Indian Springs, NV
Notable features: Lids on Kids, a national helmet and skier safety education campaign for children and parents unique to LVSSR, and the Snow Day program, a field trip-style program for school groups
Photo credit: Las Vegas Ski & Snowboard Resort

New England Family Ski Resorts

Suicide Six
Photo credit: Suicide Six

Suicide Six, Woodstock, Vermont
Notable features: family-friendly terrain, two chair lifts and a J-bar serving 23 trails

Bretton Woods
Photo credit: Bretton Woods

Bretton Woods, Bretton Woods, New Hampshire
Notable features: Seven different seasonal ski and snowboarding programs, great views.

Waterville Valley
Photo credit: Waterville Valley

Waterville Valley Ski Resort, Waterville Valley, NH
Notable features: New Kids Learning Park, Indoor ice arena.

See hotels in Waterville Valley here.

New York/Pennsylvania Family Ski Resorts

Shawnee Mountain
Photo credit: Pocono Mountains

Shawnee Mountain, Delaware, PA
Notable features: Six children’s programs for skiing and snowboarding, snow tubing.

Snow Ridge, Turin NY
Photo credit: Snow Ridge, Turin NY

Snow Ridge in Turin, NY
Notable features: the heaviest snowfall in the east, seven lifts, 22 trails, cheap lift tickets.

Gore Mountain
Photo credit: Gore Mountain

Gore Mountain, North Creek, NY
Notable features: Great ski school, kids’ learning area.

Franklin County Tourism
Photo credit: Franklin County Tourism

Titus Mountain in Malone, NY
Notable features: Kids’ lessons, tubing

Michigan Family Ski Resorts

Shanty Creek
Photo credit: Shanty Creek

Shanty Creek Resorts in Bellaire, Mich
Notable features: children’s programs, snow-tubing hill, sleigh rides

Some of the Best Family Ski Resorts in Colorado

Keystone Resort
Photo credit: Keystone Resort

Keystone Resort, Keystone, Colorado.
Notable features: All children 12 years of age and under ski and snowboard free every day, longest ski day in Colorado.

Durango Mountain Resort
Photo credit: Durango Mountain Resort

Durango Mountain Resort in Durango, Colorado
Notable features: short lift lines, ski school, family-friendly terrain

Snowmass
Photo credit: Snowmass

Snowmass, Aspen, CO
Notable features: Treehouse Kids’ Adventure Center, one of the top ski schools for kids.

Montana Family Ski Resorts

Big Sky Resort
Photo credit: Chris Kamman

Big Sky Resort, Big Sky Montana
Notable features: short lift lines, kids’ camp, daycare (with optional ski lessons), sleigh rides.

Moonlight Basin Resort
Photo credit: Moonlight Basin Resort

Moonlight Basin Resort, Big Sky, Montana
Notable features: Short lift lines, lodging options for the whole family

California Family Ski Resorts

Village at Northstar
Photo credit: Village at Northstar

Northstar Resort at Lake Tahoe
Notable features: Burton Snowboard Academy, Shaun White’s 22-Foot Superpipe, ice skating rink.

Tahoe Donner
Photo credit: Tahoe Donner

Tahoe Donner, Truckee CA
Notable features: learn to ski program that accepts kids as young as 3.

Utah Family Ski Resorts

Alta Ski area
Photo credit: Alta Ski area

Alta Ski Area, Alta, UT
Notable Features: Teen Freeride camp, all day children’s programs

Park City Mountain, UT

Midwest Family Ski Resorts

Perfect North
Photo credit: Perfect North

Perfect North Slopes, Lawrenceburg, IN – Notable features: great for families new to skiing, tubing runs, Chip Perfect of Perfect North has received global recognition for his snow making ability.

Mountain Top
Photo credit: Mountain Top

Mountain Top, Grand Geneva, Lake Geneva, WI.
Notable features – great family program

Pacific Northwest Family Ski Resorts

White Pass
Photo credit: White Pass

White Pass Ski Area, White Pass, WA.
Notable features: PeeWee Skee, Kids’ club

Mt. Bachelor
Photo credit: Mt. Bachelor

Mt. Bachelor Ski Resort, Bend, Oregon
Notable features: great programs for vacationing families, terrain changes and the long trails

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