Family ski resorts provide opportunities for parents and children to spend precious time together, as well as rare time apart to ski at their own levels. The best resorts have gentle slopes for little skiers, first-rate instructors for children ages 3 and older, childcare services for kids younger than 3 years old and more than enough activity to keep Junior busy when he leaves the mountain.
These 10 ski resorts fit the bill in North America and are our Family Vacation Critic favorites for family ski vacations:
1. , Vermont
"A family that skies together, stays together" should be the motto for Smugglers' Notch Resort, situated just outside of Stowe. Its fully equipped condos cater exclusively to families, and the lineup of activities for kids — both on and off the mountain — is an ideal checklist for any family-focused resort. They have three of their own Green Mountains to carve that perfect turn and a magic learning trail where young children ski up to exhibit panels and learn about winter animals. Then there are horse-drawn sleigh rides, indoor pools, outdoor skating rinks, a lighted snow-tubing hill and nightly family entertainment. Yet, what really separates it from other ski areas in the East is its ability to teach young, inexperienced skiers the confidence to glide down the mountain effortlessly.
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}2. , Vermont
There's a slew of reasons families return to Okemo generation after generation, making it one of the most popular ski resorts in New England. The Okemo Ski + Ride School features an accomplished staff of more than 400 instructors. Jackson Gore Inn is one of the premier "ski in, ski out" hotels in the state. The heated indoor and outdoor pools, ice-skating rink and large indoor fitness area are well-loved after a day of skiing. First and foremost is the varied terrain and the impeccable grooming that allows novice skiers to feel like Olympic downhill champions as they cruise down the long boulevards. Through the ingenuity of powerful snowmaking machines and all-night grooming, Okemo can turn adverse skiing conditions into favorable surfaces, a feat that's valued in New England.
3. , Utah
The town of Park City seems to be running as smoothly as most high-speed quads these days. This stems from Mother Nature's benevolence and the deluge of snow the region received the past several years. The resort's proximity to the Salt Lake City Airport (less than a 45-minute drive on I-80) a free complimentary ski pass the day you arrive and, of course, the fame that comes from hosting the Winter Olympic Games in 2002 also play a role. The four-man bobsled run at Utah Olympic Park is open to the public, so you can get a feel of what it's like to zip around the track, reaching speeds of 70 miles per hour. And, oh yes, there are hundreds of serpentine trails to choose from at the three ski areas — Park City, Deer Valley and the Canyons — that make up this family-friendly locale. Remarkably, many of the easiest trails start from the top of these peaks, so first-time skiers are rewarded with glorious mountain vistas. Yet, that's just the tip of the iceberg. There's also dog-sledding, hot-air balloon rides and the Old Town district that easily transports kids back to the days of the Wild West, when Park City was a big mining town.
4. , Montana
When skiers discuss really big ski areas in America, the conversation usually turns to Colorado's Vail or Utah's Park City. Rarely does Montana figure into the conversation. Yet the biggest single ski site in the U.S. is a hop, skip and a jump from Yellowstone National Park in the southeastern corner of the state. Big Sky Resort and Moonlight Basin, two ski areas operating on opposite faces of 11,166-foot-high Lone Mountain teamed up in 2006 to offer a combined lift ticket that covers 5,512 acres, edging out Vail as the largest ski area in the country. But unlike Vail, which reports over 1.5 million skier visits annually, these Montana twins total less than 350,000 a year. Families come to this part of the world to leave the hectic pace of modernity behind and breathe in the crisp, fresh air. Kids will enjoy the quiet runs, dog-rescue demonstrations and on-mountain scavenger hunts. Parents will relish the "ski in, ski out" properties, where you can swoosh right up to your lodging. An added bonus is the one-hour drive to Yellowstone to cross-country ski or snowshoe with the wild bison, elk and moose in winter.
5. Vail and , Colorado
Get lost on Vail's back bowls, a winter wonderland devoid of trees, and you feel like you just entered the "Star Trek" episode where Captain Kirk landed on the Arctic Circle. Or make those turns on the meticulously groomed and serpentine Riva Ridge, and you'll reach that state of meditative bliss that can only be found from skiing long runs from an 11,570-foot peak. The apres-ski scene is also hard to top — a glorified theme park with a kids' snowmobile track, ice-skating rink 10,000 feet up the mountain, tubing hill and Kids Adventure Zones, where children can ski or snowboard over bumps and twists in a make-believe mine and ancient Indian Burial Ground. To top it off, the resort offers fireworks on select evenings throughout the season. The stellar terrain and long list of attractions can lure crowds, especially on weekends, so consider heading twenty minutes down the road to Beaver Creek, which arguably runs the finest children's ski school in the West. Ski-through tunnels and little slalom courses are several of the programs that make skiing fun.
6. , Colorado
Steamboat has one of the premier teen programs in the States. "Rough Rider" clinics are offered daily for kids ages 13 to 18. Afterward, teens can mingle among themselves in Night Owls, partaking in such activities as tubing and indoor climbing. Not to be forgotten, children ages 4 to 12 have five kids-only lifts and special ski terrain around frontier-style forts. At night, the Kids Adventure Club features supervision, movies, games and snacks. Or drag the entire family over to Steamboat Springs for a look at an authentic Wild West town. Also, be on the lookout for the Family Snow Festival, which usually happens during Martin Luther King, Jr. Weekend. Last year's performers included Smash Mouth and Mitchel Musson from the Hannah Montana series.
7. , California
A new Ritz-Carlton hotel, situated at mid-mountain, is just one of the many changes happening at Northstar this winter. Trails have been added to offer easy access to the resort, including doubling the size of the beginner teaching area. Also new this year, the Burton Snowboard Academy will offer instruction for wannabe boarders ages 4 to 12. After a day on the slopes, head to the Village to skate in the large rink, roast s'mores and drink hot chocolate around the large fire pits or try your hand at the bungee-jumping and rock-climbing walls. There is also a good number of indoor and outdoor pools and hot tubs to soak that weary body after a day of skiing.
8. Aspen and , Colorado
Aspen has earned its reputation as one of the premier places to teach kids and their parents the skills necessary to ski the Rockies. Indeed, they cater to kids, both on the mountain and off. The Family Zone in Snowmass is home to interactive kids' trails, races and a terrain park. Down at Snowmass village, they unveiled the Treehouse Kids Adventure Center several winters ago, and it's become a huge success. Themed rooms — such as one devoted to rock-climbing, another to puppet shows — entertain all children. Other activities include a guided snowmobile tour, ice-skating and a family Snowcat ride to a cabin, where there are Western sing-alongs and barbecue.
9. , British Columbia
Earlier this year, the Winter Olympic Games headed to British Columbia, with Whistler hosting all alpine skiing, nordic and sliding events. The ski resort has come a long way since opening in 1966 with one gondola, one chairlift and two T-bars. Today, Whistler and the neighboring Blackcomb Mountains have a whopping 8,171 acres of skiing terrain and a mile-high vertical drop, both tops in North America. Whether you're a novice or an Olympian, the terrain is varied enough to entertain all. Along with ski and snowboard schools offered to all ages, take advantage of Fresh Tracks, a chance to grab breakfast on the mountain and be the first to ski down. Children will also like the tubing, horse-drawn sleigh rides, helicopter tours and the chance to zip-line on the longest run in North America.
10. , Yosemite, California
It might feel strange to be in a National Park come winter, but mighty Yosemite is home to one of the oldest downhill ski areas in California. Badger Pass was built in the late 20's in a bid to get the 1930 Winter Olympics. The bid failed, but the resort, with a vertical drop of only 800 feet, is now one of the best places in the west to learn how to ski. The bargains at Badger include two-hour ski lessons for only $35 a child. But, this is Yosemite, so take advantage of your surroundings. A short snowshoe trek into Mariposa Grove, and you'll be making snow angels at the roots of 200-foot sequoia trees. Cross-country skiers will cherish the 10 miles of groomed track that leads to 7,000-foot-high Glacier Point. Ice-skaters can swirl around the Curry Village rink, which is dwarfed by the majestic cliff walls of Half Dome.