The 12 finest household ski resorts within the US

Whether or not your youngster is a snowboarding teen used to shredding powder or a beginner headed to ski college for the very first time, many mountain resorts throughout the U.S. are good for a household ski journey.

Snowboarding could be a terrific household exercise in winter, because the apres-ski scene supplies simply as a lot enjoyable as time spent on the slopes. Many resorts additionally provide various snow-related actions — akin to tubing, ice skating, snowshoeing and even sleigh rides — so the entire household can benefit from the mountain expertise.

Associated: Finest journey bank cards

The perfect ski resorts for households are normally those that supply on- and near-mountain lodging, ski faculties with quite a lot of applications, beginner- and intermediate-friendly terrain and a few high quality nonski actions.

Ski and snowboard classes can refill nicely upfront, so if ski college — and even on-mountain youngster care — is a must have on your trip, double-check the choices to make sure they suit your ski trip objectives. Simply word that you probably will not have the ability to e-book ski college till the autumn, on the earliest.

When you determine on the most effective resort for your loved ones, value out elevate tickets and move choices forward of time. Chances are you’ll be stunned at how way more reasonably priced it’s to purchase ski passes upfront relatively than buy particular person elevate tickets — even if you’re solely snowboarding for a day or two. Shopping for ski passes early will make sure you get the most effective pricing; they are going to solely get dearer because the 12 months goes on.

Some mountains additionally provide kids-ski-free applications, which might help maintain the journey price down. Moreover, many ski resorts have capability limits, so you will wish to be sure you buy your tickets earlier than arriving (or make advance reservations at choose mountains).

With all these nuances in thoughts, listed here are a few of our favourite ski resorts for the entire household.

Beaver Creek Resort, Colorado

Why Beaver Creek is an efficient ski resort for households

This can be stunning for many who are solely aware of the mountain’s luxurious popularity, however Colorado’s Beaver Creek provides what are probably among the friendliest slopes for household ski journeys. A couple of two-hour drive from Denver Worldwide Airport (DEN) or half-hour from Eagle County Regional Airport (EGE) in Gypsum, this resort is comparatively straightforward to succeed in, assuming you could have good street situations.

Beaver Creek has been upping its already strong household ski sport much more these days, thanks partially to the comparatively new, 250-acre, lift-served enlargement known as McCoy Park. This provides much more terrain for newbie and intermediate skiers and snowboarders; it additionally elevates the mountain expertise with a further 17 groomable trails, plus two extra chairlifts.

Right here, you will additionally discover the Beaver Creek Sweet Cabin, which is a good addition to the Ice Cream Parlour on the prime of the Haymeadow Categorical Gondola. At Pink Buffalo Park’s Cookie Cabin and on the backside of the Centennial Categorical and Haymeadow Raise, you will additionally have the ability to expertise the mountain’s well-known 3 p.m. cookie time.

After an extended day of snowboarding, you may get pleasure from ice skating within the village. On Thursday nights, from Dec. 28, 2024 by means of March 25, 2025, degree 5 and up skiers can take part within the mountain’s glow ski down (by means of the Ski College), full with light-up batons and a spectacular firework show from the higher mountain. And, for a singular expertise, take an open-air, snowcat-led sleigh experience to Allie’s Cabin, Zach’s Cabin or Beano’s Cabin — three completely different mountain-top eating choices.

The mountain additionally ensures that teenagers are totally entertained. This previous season, the brand new Hawk’s Nest Cabin opened in Beaver Creek Village, the place teenagers can benefit from the coolest underage membership. There, these between the ages of 10 and 18 get pleasure from craft nonalcoholic drinks, music, interactive know-how, arcade and desk video games, a ski simulator, lounge spots and extra.

Raise tickets for Beaver Creek do not must price a ton when you plan upfront and lock in an Epic Cross of some type.

The place to remain at Beaver Creek

Winter charges begin at $700 or 35,000 World of Hyatt factors per night time.

Winter charges begin at $950 or 80,000 Marriott Bonvoy factors per night time.

Winter charges begin at $530 or 70,000 Marriott Bonvoy factors per night time.

TPG tip: You possibly can add as much as 15,000 Marriott Bonvoy factors to certificates with mounted costs. Must you discover any nights that price 100,000 factors or much less, you should utilize the 85,000-point certificates awarded yearly by the Marriott Bonvoy Sensible® American Categorical® Card if you’re keen so as to add some factors.

Keystone Resort, Colorado

Why Keystone is an efficient ski resort for households

Out of all the good Colorado ski resorts (and there are loads), Keystone is the new spot for youths of all ages. There are the same old snow tubing, ice skating and sleigh experience actions, however the piece de resistance is the resort’s children applications and lodging.

There are many enjoyable on-mountain experiences, akin to snowcat snowboarding and night time snowboarding (on weekends and holidays). Tykes also needs to just like the well-known World’s Largest Mountaintop Snow Fort. This 12 months’s Snow Fort is deliberate to be Keystone’s largest but, and can even provide a free child’s snow tubing hill proper within the heart of the fort.

Moreover, the resort provides a ton of household conveniences, akin to free most well-liked household parking for these with children 12 and youthful, in addition to pink wagons to assist tow skis, boards and even drained kiddos.

This previous season, Keystone added elevate entry to to greater than 500 acres of various excessive alpine terrain amongst 16 new trails — together with the nation’s highest newbie path, Tenmile. With a lot terrain, your loved ones can expertise a variety of trails for all skill ranges, together with the three.5-mile-long Schoolmarm — a timeless run for the household to work on turns.

Better of all, children 12 and youthful ski free when staying at one of many resort’s properties for 2 or extra nights. (There are not any blackout dates.)

The place to remain at Keystone

Winter charges begin at $300 or 12,000 World of Hyatt factors per night time. This property is a good use of the Hyatt Class 1-4 certificates that is out there yearly for these with the World of Hyatt Credit score Card.

Winter charges begin at $700 per night time for a three-bedroom lodging, with 20% reductions out there to these with an Epic Cross.

Snowmass, Colorado

Why Snowmass is an efficient ski resort for households

Snowmass is likely one of the mountains in Colorado’s swanky Aspen ski space, so you may verify a high-end ski resort off your bucket checklist whereas entertaining the youngsters on the identical time.

A bit much less showy than its large sister Aspen, Snowmass notably consists of the Treehouse Youngsters’ Journey Middle, a licensed children membership for kids between 8 weeks and 4 years outdated. Kids a minimum of 2.5 years outdated can even hit the slopes, because the mountain provides many ski college choices.

On prime of that, Snowmass permits children to ski free during age 6, which makes it a extra reasonably priced alternative for a younger household than most mountains; different areas usually begin charging children by the point they flip 4. For these 7 and up, know that the mountain participates in each the Ikon and Mountain Collective ski passes.

Different kid-friendly Snowmass actions embody on-mountain snow tubing, alpine coasters, ice skating, snowshoeing excursions and even an indoor climbing wall. Throughout choose dates all through winter, Snowmass will provide a nighttime winter wonderland get together known as Ullr Nights full of night actions for households. This features a gondola experience to Elk Camp, bonfires, tubing, alpine coaster rides, snow biking, s’mores and scorching chocolate.

And for the 2024-2025 season, visitors will have the ability to expertise some new enhancements, together with the all-new high-speed Coney Categorical elevate and the renovated on-mountain Lodge, The Cabin.

The place to remain at Snowmass

Winter charges begin at $600 or 64,000 Marriott Bonvoy factors per night time. This implies you possibly can add Marriott factors to a 50,000-point free night time certificates on choose nights.

Winter charges begin at $800 per night time.

Associated: Sure, you actually can go to Aspen on a finances. This is how

Copper Mountain, Colorado

Why Copper Mountain is an efficient ski resort for households

In case you are on the lookout for a Colorado ski resort expertise with decrease costs than its neighbors, Copper is a good alternative. This resort has family-friendly written throughout it, and it provides an array of actions for all ages.

Along with snowboarding in what are sometimes prime snow situations, you will have the Rocky Mountain Coaster, loads of snow tubing and ice skating on West Lake in Middle Village and even each day complimentary ambassador ski excursions. For an off-mountain exercise, the 19,400-square-foot Woodward Copper Barn serves as an indoor motion sports activities facility, providing many distinctive actions at Copper Mountain.

For the previous three years, Copper has additionally featured a Snow Maze, which we must always see return for the 2024-2025 season as nicely. Close to the bottom of the Tremendous Bee elevate in Copper’s East Village, this maze is extraordinarily enjoyable for youths, because it’s made fully of snow.

This previous season, guests have been in a position to expertise the resort’s brand-new mid-mountain lodge, Aerie. This 25,000-square-foot constructing provides extra eating choices and a lovely 270-degree view. Better of all, the gondola unloads proper on the lodge’s deck.

Copper can also be persevering with to make enhancements to its Western Territory Enlargement. This space is on the far west aspect of the mountain and is designed to encourage newbie skiers, children and households to attach with Copper’s historical past and heritage. For the 2024-2025 season, Copper has upgraded the Timberline Categorical chairlift from a four-pack to a high-speed six-pack, making it even simpler to expertise the two,538 acres of skiable terrain. Since 2021, the Western Territory has improved with the addition of a family-friendly journey zone and 5 new trails providing ability growth and animation.

The place to remain at Copper Mountain

Winter charges begin at $180 or 30,000 Alternative Privileges factors per night time.

Deer Valley Resort, Utah

Why Deer Valley is an efficient ski resort for households

When children are getting their bearings and making large side-to-side activates a slope, it may be simpler to start out on runs the place you will not discover any snowboarders.

On the ski-only Deer Valley Resort, there is a youngsters’s journey space on the mountain with 14 pint-size trails permitting tots to observe new strategies. Nevertheless, their favourite half will in all probability be the tiny cabin hidden within the woods. The mountain limits its ticket gross sales every day, which retains crowds (and elevate line waits) at a minimal.

In case you are on the lookout for a ski resort that may additionally entertain a non-skiing youngster, the Deer Valley Kids’s Middle provides licensed full-day youngster care with many actions, in addition to outside and indoor playgrounds. Kids between 2 months and 12 years outdated can get pleasure from this facility.

Deer Valley has a enjoyable method to ski college that features the Teen Escape for teenagers ages 13 to 17, the Journey Membership for youths ages 7 to 12, the Reindeer Membership for 5- and 6-year-olds and the Bambi Membership for 4-year-olds. For the youthful children, the category sizes are extremely small, with simply two to 4 children in a category — relying on age.

As a result of Deer Valley participates within the Ikon Cross ski program, the extra economical solution to lock in elevate tickets may be to go for a move as an alternative of paying the window charges.

The place to remain at Deer Valley

Winter charges begin at $1,100 or 105,000 Marriott Bonvoy factors per night time.

Winter charges begin at $1,000 per night time.

Winter charges begin at $530 or 21,000 World of Hyatt factors per night time.

Northstar California Resort, California

Why Northstar is an efficient ski resort for households

California’s Northstar Resort, alongside the California-Nevada border by Lake Tahoe, is great for households — particularly as a result of common 350 inches of annual snowfall. Right here, households can ski collectively within the Youngsters Journey Zone, the place two mountain areas have blue trails safely tucked away from larger, sooner skiers and snowboarders.

Each Thursday by means of Monday and each day throughout vacation intervals, you may kick up your ft and unwind noon whereas having fun with a glass of apple cider (or a glass of bubbly for the adults) on the mountain’s one-of-a-kind Tost custom. Moreover, households can benefit from the apres-ski scene by cozying up across the fireplace pit or zipping round on ice skates whereas listening to stay music. At different instances, you may get pleasure from hearth s’mores and scorching cocoa.

If cross-country snowboarding is your exercise of alternative, the Nordic Middle provides practically 22 miles of scenic trails for cross-country snowboarding, snowshoeing and fats biking. Better of all, entry to this hidden gem is included together with your Epic Cross.

The place to remain at Northstar

Winter charges begin at $700 or 94,000 Marriott Bonvoy factors per night time.

Winter charges begin at $250 or 60,000 Hilton Honors factors per night time.

Smugglers’ Notch Resort, Vermont

Why Smugglers’ Notch is an efficient ski resort for households

An uber kid-friendly ski resort, Smugglers’ Notch focuses on the complete household expertise. That is why it is referred to as “America’s Household Resort.”

Smuggs, because it’s known as by those that know and adore it, provides an award-winning Snow Sport College. It begins classes with little ones as younger as 3 years outdated. Sir Henry’s Studying and Enjoyable Park has two “magic carpet rides” that lightly information new skiers to the highest.

For many who already know the best way to ski and board, the mountain has every thing they might need: 78 trails, eight lifts, the very best vertical drop in northern Vermont at 2,610 ft and greater than 300 inches of pure snow every year. A number of terrain parks and 1,000 acres for snowboarding and driving are additionally out there.

For these staying on the resort, every thing is a couple of steps away, and an on-demand shuttle will take you wherever it’s worthwhile to go.

Off the mountain, you will additionally discover a plethora of actions — each throughout the day and night time. Actions embody snowshoeing, tubing, cross-country snowboarding, swimming, ice skating, bingo and magic exhibits. You too can expertise the up to date Enjoyable Zone 2.0 advanced, which contains a “Ninja Warrior” course, laser tag, miniature golf, an arcade, massive inflatable slides and extra unfold throughout 26,000 sq. ft of indoor house.

The place to remain at Smugglers’ Notch

Winter charges begin at $285 per night time.

Stowe, Vermont

Why Stowe is an efficient ski resort for households

Stowe has a world-class ski college and loads of lengthy, lovely blue trails to maintain your not-yet-expert skiers and snowboarders engaged. The comparatively new Journey Zone has continued to be a giant hit; these low-angle, gladed areas are applicable for anybody within the household on the lookout for a enjoyable expertise snowboarding or boarding by means of the bushes on Mount Mansfield.

After an incredible household day on the slopes, get pleasure from a free pre-dinner skate on the Spruce Peak outside ice rink, embark on a guided twilight snowshoe tour by means of the woods or get pleasure from indoor mountaineering at Stowe Rocks. For those who’re on the lookout for a resort with a village environment, this is likely one of the finest you will discover within the Northeast.

The primary subject with Stowe Mountain is its ticket costs in comparison with many different East Coast resorts. Fortunately, the Epic Cross can save your loved ones over the walk-up elevate ticket charges. You may even take a look at Epic’s Northeast Worth Cross when you anticipate solely to ski at East Coast mountains this winter.

The place to remain at Stowe

Winter charges begin at $400 or 35,000 World of Hyatt factors per night time.

Winter charges begin at $400 per night time.

Jay Peak, Vermont

Why Jay Peak is an efficient ski resort for households

Folks love Jay Peak because of its indoor water park, which is right for households who wish to take a time off from snowboarding or have one thing to do after morning ski college. The Jay Peak Pump Home options slides, a FlowRider surf simulator and a whole children play space. Many lodging packages embody water park entry, or you should purchase a day move. (We advocate buying upfront.)

Other than the water park, there are two arcades, a climbing fitness center, an ice skating rink and a slopeside movie show. Not all actions can be found every single day, so double-check forward of time. Purpose to make advance bookings the place out there.

Better of all, there is a surplus of ski-in, ski-out rental and lodge choices, giving households the right alternative to remain in lodging that work finest for his or her wants. For these with little ones — and even large ones — Jay Peak provides youngster care for kids as younger as 6 weeks outdated, each throughout the day and within the evenings.

The place to remain at Jay Peak

Winter charges begin at $300 per night time.

TPG tip: You too can verify to see when you like every of the on-mountain rental choices that take Wyndham factors by means of Vacasa.

Bretton Woods, New Hampshire

Why Bretton Woods is an efficient ski resort for households

Simply throughout the Vermont border is New Hampshire’s reply to family-oriented snowboarding: Bretton Woods.

Residence to the family-friendly Omni Mount Washington Resort, Bretton Woods options fat-tire snow biking trails, a 62-mile path community for cross-country snowboarding, sleigh rides, snow tubing, cover excursions, and indoor and outside heated swimming swimming pools (only for visitors). The not too long ago constructed Rosebrook Lodge on the prime of the mountain additionally provides skiers and riders that top-of-the-mountain lodge and luxurious eating expertise that you just will not discover at many different close by mountains.

Bretton Woods provides half- and full-day ski college for ages 4 by means of 10, plus a one-house Snow Play introduction to snowboarding for ages 4 to six on Fridays, Saturdays, Sundays and choose holidays. Personal ski classes for ages 4 and up (snowboarding for ages 7 and up) can be found each day all through the season. As a result of a extra restricted schedule than what you will discover at different mountains, if ski college is a must have, make sure the mountain has an possibility that matches your wants. Nevertheless, we did discover ski college was way more reasonably priced right here than these at many different resorts.

From the lodge’s structure to the unimaginable views of Mount Washington, it is no shock that the resort is a prime vacation spot for households. With many enjoyable actions for the complete household and greater than 464 acres to ski, there needs to be no scarcity of on-mountain household enjoyable.

The place to remain at Bretton Woods

Winter charges begin at $300 per night time.

Mont-Tremblant Ski Resort, Quebec

Why Mont-Tremblant is an efficient ski resort for households

In case you have not discovered the right household ski resort for you this far into the checklist, we’re dishonest a bit and together with two near-to-the-U.S. household ski resort choices in Canada.

At Mont-Tremblant, your loved ones can expertise the worldwide snowboarding vibe with out crossing the pond. This French-influenced getaway is simply a few hours exterior Montreal. That includes 102 slopes and normally nice snow situations, Mont-Tremblant is likely one of the finest ski experiences in North America, with the very best peak within the Laurentians area.

Whereas older relations discover the excessive peaks of Mont-Tremblant, children as younger as 3 years outdated can get pleasure from training their turns at ski college. Or, when you occur to be visiting throughout spring break, Tremblant’s Ski Week program provides you with 4 full days with the identical teacher.

Company can discover a singular European-style pedestrian village instantly on the mountain’s base. The pedestrian village permits quick access from the entrance step of your lodge door to the underside of the slopes. With its colourful buildings — together with greater than 75 retailers, eating places, bars and boutiques — there’s loads to do in any climate.

On a non-skiing day, seize the youngsters and hit the snow-covered trails ripe for fats tire biking, all-terrain-vehicle excursions, dogsledding, snowshoeing, ice fishing, sleigh rides, snow tubing and even mountaineering. Households is not going to wish to miss the Brind’O Aquaclub water park, which provides 4 slides, indoor and outside scorching tubs, 35 interactive water video games and a revamped health room. There may be additionally laser tag and a digital actuality arcade.

If Mont-Tremblant is in your radar, it can save you cash with the Ikon Base Cross.

The place to remain at Mont-Tremblant

Winter charges begin at $350 per night time.

Winter charges begin at $300 or 53,000 Marriott Bonvoy factors per night time.

Winter charges begin at $276 or 69,000 Hilton Honors factors per night time.

Whistler Blackcomb, British Columbia

Why Whistler is an efficient ski resort for households

British Columbia’s Whistler is one other Canadian winter ski scorching spot with a family-friendly focus. Your children will love the pint-size ski expertise on the resort’s Enchanted Woods, which is normally away from extra skilled and sooner skiers. Or, embark on the thrilling Bubly Tube Park.

Along with Magic Citadel and Tree Fort outside playlands, positioned on Blackcomb Mountain and Whistler Mountain, respectively, households might be entertained with the resort’s free Fireplace & Ice performances each Sunday night time (a show of ski and snowboard expertise). Households can even alternate their ski boots for ice skates and skate at no cost in Whistler Village; the realm is chock-full of outlets, eating places and issues to do within the after-ski hours.

The place to remain at Whistler

Winter charges begin at $450 per night time.

Winter charges begin at $470 or 56,000 Marriott Bonvoy factors per night time.

Winter charges begin at $300 or 80,000 Hilton Honors factors per night time.

Backside line

Although you will have to shell out a bit extra for a trip on the slopes, planning a household ski journey is greater than well worth the effort (and added expense). Whether or not you are dreaming of a powder-filled getaway in Colorado or a winter sports activities journey in Vermont, there is a vacation spot and slope-adjacent resort made for you and your crew.

Able to plan a household ski journey? Try the next tales for extra tips about the best way to e-book your ski journey with factors and miles and take advantage of your loved ones ski trip: