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Park City Mountain Resort keeps ski classes small for better learning. // © 2009 Park City Mountain Resort |
Skiing is one of my favorite sports and also one of my favorite family activities. I have so many childhood memories of ski trips with my family, of ski trips I went on with friends’ families and of trips my family took with other families. And now, I’m making new memories with my own kids (except now they ride snowboards, and we book their lessons online).
It seems like skiing and snowboarding are some of the most family-friendly activities around, and maybe this is because ski resorts offer so much for families.
Lake Tahoe, Calif.
www.skilaketahoe.com
In college, my friend dubbed Lake Tahoe, Calif., the “Santa Cruz of ski areas.” She may not be 100 percent correct — I’ve never seen a slot machine in Santa Cruz, Calif., but she has a point. Every time I have visited the Lake Tahoe area, I’ve had a very organic experience. Whether it’s making turns on an uncrowded run, enjoying a winter hike or relaxing in a yoga class, Tahoe has always felt homey, natural and down to earth.
Although Tahoe’s innate sense of familiarity will resonate with families, its size might surprise them. Still, the area doesn’t lose its downhome appeal, and families will be spoiled for choice. The cities surrounding the lake are easy to navigate. There are seven ski areas to choose from and a wide variety of lodging options and amenities for children. It’s easy to get to Tahoe with access from three major interstates and the Reno-Tahoe International Airport.
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And Tahoe, which is located on the California/Nevada border, is the only place in the West where you can ski from one state to another.
Mammoth Mountain, Calif.
www.mammothmountain.com
Mammoth Lakes, Calif., home to Mammoth Mountain Ski Area, is a former Gold Rush mining town turned modern mountain mecca. Starting in early November, skiers and snowboarders from around the globe take over the sleepy city nestled in the Eastern Sierra Nevada Mountains.
Mammoth Mountain offers three separate and distinct lodges — it’s like three ski areas in one. With more than 150 runs and 3,500 skiable acres, the mountain is one of the biggest in the West. Its terrain parks are legendary, its runs offer heart-stopping peaks and powder-filled bowls and its snow is fluffy and fresh.
While on-mountain activities, such as ski lessons, may divide families by athletic ability, they can come together for activities like tubing, snowshoeing and cross-country skiing. Families can also visit the Interpretive Center at the top of the mountain to learn about the creation of the Eastern Sierra Nevada Mountains or grab a snack and enjoy the stunning vistas from more than 11,000 feet.
Mammoth’s family-friendly lodging options come in all shapes and sizes. Condo communities and roadside inns cater to big groups. And higher-end lodges such as Tamarack Lodge, Juniper Springs, the Mammoth Mountain Inn and the brand-new Westin Monache offer more luxurious accommodations.
The village is easy to navigate with a free shuttle that runs through town and up and down to various lodges. It’s a great option for families and provides independence for restless teens and tweens.
Park City, Utah
www.parkcitymountain.com
Kids are center stage at Park City Mountain Resort. One of the mountain’s most family-friendly features is its Kids Signature 5 Program, which guarantees a class size of no more than five children for ski and snowboard lessons for those ages six to 14. With such concentrated attention, you could potentially watch your child go from amateur to pro in less than a day.
Park City Mountain Resort has also developed other family programs that bring everyone together. Family Mountain Tours, which are available at MyMountainPlanner.com, allow kids and parents to create printable tours of the resort that appeal to everyone’s comfort level.
Families can also experience unique attractions such as the Alpine Coaster, a gravity-
propelled thrill ride twisting and turning through the mountain on a track. There’s also Gorgoza Park, which offers tubing, mini snowmobiles and Fort Frosty, a play area for kids.
At night, one of the best things for families to do is stroll through the town of Park City, which still has a rustic, small-town feel that makes visitors — especially families — feel at home.
Vail, Colo.
www.vail.snow.com
When it comes to families, Vail Mountain doesn’t disappoint, with numerous ways for families to bond both on and off the slopes. On the mountain, families can visit Adventure Ridge, where they can play on ski bikes, ride a kid’s snowmobile track, go tubing or snowshoeing and more. And activities here don’t shut down at dusk, but remain open in the evening.
Off the mountain, parents can take kids dog-sledding, horseback riding and sledding. Families can also experience Nature at Night, hosted by the Gore Range Natural Science School, for nature talks under the stars. Seasonal topics include astronomy and nocturnal animals.
Of course, Vail has all the ski-resort essentials, such as the Kids Snowsports School and the Small World Nursery. Classes, as well as spaces at the nursery, can be booked online, prior to arrival. This is recommended, especially during busy holiday seasons when the ski school and nursery fill up quickly.
Ski the Rest
Since skiing is such a fun family sport, almost every ski area offers something unique and intimate for families. Other family-friendly options include Killington, Vt.; Stowe, Vt.; and Sugarloaf, Maine, in the Northeast. Jackson Hole, Wyo., offers clients an Old West atmosphere, and Big Sky, Mont., is gaining nationwide recognition. Mount Hood, Ore., has long seasons, and Taos, N.M., combines desert beauty with mountainous terrain.
Big Sky, Mont.
www.bigskyresort.com
Jackson Hole, Wyo.
www.jacksonhole.com
Killington, Vt.
www.killington.com
Mount Hood, Ore.
www.skihood.com
Stowe, Vt.
www.gostowe.com
Sugarloaf, Maine
www.sugarloaf.com
Taos, N.M.
www.skitaos.org
