Okemo was voted North America’s Most Family Friendly Resort last winter. Photo courtesy Okemo.
Five family friendly ski resorts in 500 words?
That was my challenge from Expedia’s Viewfinder travel blog.
First, there’s the challenge of defining a great family resort.
The easy answer? A great family resort is where you are skiing, today.
Since families come in all shapes and sizes with all different ability levels, it’s hard to define great family terrain. But I do think that a great family resort should have some memorable and unique features, some touchstones to remember.
Enjoy!
Photographer: Keoki Flagg. Photo courtesy Squaw Valley.
West
Home of the 1960 Winter Olympics and one of the cradles of North American extreme skiing, Squaw Valley may surprise you.
Photo courtesy Squaw Valley.
First, there’s High Camp, Squaw’s mid-mountain “base.” Here you’ll find the learning center and access to extensive beginner and intermediate runs, as well as the terrain parks.
Start your day with a tram ride to High Camp and end it by soaking in High Camp’s outdoor hot tub and pool.
For families that rip, KT 22 is deservedly legendary. Other advanced terrain is found off of the Headwall, North Bowl and Granite Chief.
You’ll never max out at Squaw Valley.
Photographer: Hank de Vre. Photo courtesy Squaw Valley.
Top Tips: Buy a Wildflour Bakery “cookie pass.” Visit the High Camp Olympic Museum. Ski Alpine Meadows on the same ticket.
Honorable Mention
Utah
Families love Deer Valley Resort for its groomed terrain and top-notch service, including valets and free ski check.
Deer Valley. Photo courtesy Talisker.
Spread across six mountains, you’ll find 22 lifts, three full-service lodges and enough terrain to keep everyone busy, with bumps, chutes and some of the best tree skiing anywhere.
Skier: Ian Lummis. Photographer: Corey Kopischke.
Another Olympic mountain, Deer Valley hosted the 2002 Olympic Slalom and Mogul events. It’s also a great place to learn to ski, with a highly regarded ski school.
And, the dining at Deer Valley is equally unique and special.
Seafood Buffet, anyone?
Top Tips: Take a free intermediate or expert mountain ski tour. Check out Stein Eriksen’s collection of ski racing awards and memorabilia. Ski with Olympian Heidi Voelcker.
Exiting one of Deer Valley’s perfect glades.
Honorable Mention
Colorado
If you must pick just one family resort in Colorado, make it Keystone, home of Kidtopia.
Photographer Jesse Starr. Photo courtesy Keystone Resort.
From the fun, bright children’s learning center, to the on-mountain ice castle and tubing, Keystone offers diversions, explorations and adventures for kids. Munch on sweets at Cookie Hour. Meet and greet the Ski Patrol avalanche dogs. Ice skate on the outdoor rink.
Photographer Jack Affleck. Photo courtesy Keystone Resort.
And that doesn’t even begin to cover the skiing. A mountain with a low-key reputation, Keystone has surprisingly difficult options, as well as cat skiing for advanced and expert skiers.
Photographer Bob Winsett. Photo courtesy Keystone Resort.
Top Tips: Check out the Kidtopia calendar. Stay in River Run to be close to the fun. Enjoy a mountain top fondue dinner.
Honorable Mention
Mid-Atlantic/Southeast
A “western” mountain in the mid-Atlantic, Snowshoe is an upside down resort, with the skiing and riding falling away below the mountain top village.
Photo courtesy Snowshoe Mountain.
Known for intermediate skiing, families flock to Snowshoe and it’s sister mountain Silver Creek (they’re on the same ticket). While the hardest skiing is on the backside of Snowshoe, in The Western Territory, Silver Creek has the best terrain parks, night skiing and tubing.
Snowshoe at night. Photo courtesy Snowshoe Mountain.
Top Tips: Take an après ski dip at the Split Rock swimming pools and water slide. Book a “kids’ night out” and enjoy an adult dinner in a backcountry hut. Go cross-country skiing.
Honorable Mention
Photo courtesy Snowshoe Mountain.
New England
In April 2014, OnTheSnow.com honored Okemo, Vermont as North America’s most Family Friendly resort. A Visitors’ Choice award, it’s well deserved, because among all the things Okemo does well, keeping families happy is at the top of their list.
Photo courtesy Okemo.
Known for outstanding grooming and snowmaking, this family owned resort offers immaculate trails, with a huge amount of intermediate terrain. Okemo is also a great place to learn and expand your skills.
And when you need a break from skiing, Okemo has everything you need to keep busy, from tubing to snowcat excursions.
Photo courtesy Okemo.
Top Tips: Kids 6 and under ski free at Okemo, while kids 12 and under can stay for free. Trade your skis for skates and shoot pucks at the Ice House. Ride the Timber Ripper Mountain Coaster.
When you’re done skiing, it’s time to skate! Photo courtesy Okemo.
Honorable Mention
Want More Information?
- You Gotta Go Ski Squaw Valley, USA, November 11, 2013.
- Surprising Keystone: Bigger, Better and Fun for Everyone, February 4, 2013.
- Fun Family Times at Utah’s Deer Valley Resort, March 5, 2014.
- Snowshoe, West Virginia: A Southeast “Secret”, December 10, 2014.
- Why I Love Skiing At Okemo, Vermont, October 27, 2011.
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You’ve mentioned the key question: what qualifies as “family” resort? You left out the Midwest. In pure skiing/riding terms, Lutsen Mountains (Minnesota) is hard to beat. Its vertical of almost 1,000 feet is about the longest you can get, unless you head to Terry Peak, SD. The beginner terrain is somewhat limited, but you can add in all sorts of other activities, such as skiing on rivers, dog sled rides, ice climbing, etc. Plus the surrounding area is “rustic” in a way few Midwestern places can match.
If indoors fun is more your speed, there are ski areas near the Wisconsin Dells, which are loaded with water parks. Boyne Mountain, Michigan, has a good indoor water park as well. It also has some decent (though not Lutsen-like) skiing/riding, and some history (Stein Eriksen) behind it.
Though I’ve defended the right of any ski area to exclude snowboards, if that’s their thing, I would have to criticize the choice of Deer Valley for the list of family resorts. Why? Because a fair number of kids are on snowboards. Now, if everyone in the family is a skier, I suppose, go ahead and enjoy.
Thanks John! I so appreciate you adding some Midwest suggestions. I’ve heard great things about Lutsen, but have never been there. As for Terry Peak, SD, I’m happy to get the tip!
You make a good point about Deer Valley excluding snowboarders. They are on private land and can do so. But Park City, one of my runners-up, is right next door, and they gladly welcome snowboarders. Still, I can see where a “mixed” family, or snowboard only family, might be frustrated with my suggestion!
Thanks again!