Family-Friendly Ski Vacations

Skiing makes a great family vacation or weekend activity because it offers adventure, activity and beautiful surroundings. It also appeals to all age groups, from grade school children through college age, making it easy to say yes to a family ski trip.

Tips for First-time family skiers:
Family Ski Tip #1.  Select a family-oriented resort.  The resort itself is the hub of your activities, both on and off the slopes. The resort should have a reputation for being family-oriented, it should have a great day care center and a well-staffed ski wee program

Family Ski Tip 2. Don’t start kids off too young. Don’t make the mistake of starting a child at too early an age. Many ski schools will take a child that is potty trained but our editors do not recommend that. Very small children don’t have the motor skills or attention spans needed for a day on the slopes. They tire too easily and that is when the funs stops for all members of the family.  It is better to place children under the age of 4 children in the Mountain Day Care facilities. Editor Tori Milan recommends the age of 5 or 6 as a great starting point. Six-year olds have the stamina for a full day of activities, are less inclined to be homesick during the course of the day and can really make the most of the ski wee experience. Seven to 10-year olds will enjoy even more  of the benefits of a ski wee program because they can set goals, follow directions and have the motor skills to be able to progress very rapidly.

Family Ski Tip #3. Find resorts that have exceptional Ski Wee programs. A great way to get your kids started is in a full-day ski program. Most programs begin at
10:00 a.m. and run until 4:00 p.m. and include lunch, a mid-morning and a mid-afternoon snack. The instructors are part of the adventure and are known to be boisterous, fun and playful! Kids are with their peers, parents and older siblings can free ski, and most importantly the youngsters are learning to ski at their own pace. Half-day programs are also available for younger children. The programs are very cost effective and usually include ski rental fees.

Family Ski Tip #4. Choose a destination ski resort that is small enough to be manageable for kids and parents. The resort should not be overwhelming or intimidating. Hundreds of trails may be highly valued for adults with seasons passes, but families should be thinking about safety. Younger children need to feel that they are not lost and middle school age kids like to feel safe enough to taste their first bit of freedom. Avoid having too many choices of lift areas and slopes. Smaller mountains, such as those found in the Poconos, are marvelous because pre-teens can actually have full run of the mountain and never feel lost, intimidated, or end up on the wrong terrain. The same thing can be accomplished at larger mountains by restricting the child’s access to certain lifts or ski trails, but only after they are more accomplished skiers.  

Family Ski Tip #5. Dress the kids for warmth. Buy ski socks, gloves, helmet and goggles for safety and warmth. Don’t over dress them either. Ski socks are the right weight and height to avoid chafing from the ski boot. Double socks cause blistering and should be avoided.  Waterproof ski gloves, ski jump suits and ski parkas will be essential to keeping them dry. Remember that first-time skiers and snow boarders spend more time on the ground and tend to get wet faster. Never allow kids to wear only jeans.  Rent or purchase a helmet. Bring spare sets of clothes, especially long johns, which can get damp and uncomfortable.

Family Ski Tip #6. Once the child has had sufficient training in ski school they can join parents on the mountain. Bear in mind that the adults will have to ski at
the childs pace and ability. Don’t be surprised if they beg to go
back to ski wee, as the fun and antics are unbeatable.

Family Ski Tip #7. Savings Galore. Look for vacation packages that the mountain offers to save money block enough time to make progress. It is surprising how much a child can learn in a week of ski school vs. a whole season of random lessons. Kids are quick to learn. Make the investment on the front end and it will pay off for years to come. Many mountains offer ski coupon books that you can use across one week, a season of weekend trips or even spaced across several years. Pre-purchasing locks you into the discounted rates which definitely adds up to a lot of savings.

Family Ski Tip #8. Take walkie-talkies. Walkie-Talkies are a great way to stay in touch withthe kids during the day. Check in to plan a lunch meeting place or designated time to convene at the end of the day.

For experienced skiers:
For the more experienced family, skiing becomes a family outing. Parents
and kids can come together in an environment that fosters family time,
bonding and the building of great family memories. Families tend to each at
least 2 meals per day together, a rarity for families with teens. The kids
have time to explore both the mountain and the ski village on their own but
also congregate for meals at the lodge or ski chalet or vacation rental.

Famiy Ski Tip #9 
Older kids and adults who are young at heart will want to try NASTAR Ski racing. Essentially you are racing against yourself. The course is ranked and rated each day by a pace skier (usually a ski instructor) and you race to get your best time. Rankings and winnings are based upon your age group. Most mountains host the course on weekends. Many mountains also have development teams for youths ages 5 to 17 and are focused on developing skills and  having lots of fun. They include full-day instruction and access to the NASTAR course for a very reasonable rate of only $20/day. If you are avid skiers and usually go to the same mountain, it is a great way to continue the learning process in a fun environment. Development teams are non-competitive and kid-friendly. Your child will be assigned a coach for the season and that fosters a mentoring environment. Programs typically begin the first Saturday after new years and runs for 5 weeks. A second session begins in early February, running for five weeks. For those teens that want to take it further, there is always the traveling ski team. Snowboarders also race.

Family Ski Tip #10
Even parents that don’t enjoy skiing can enjoy a ski vacation. Most resorts offer snow tubing, spa services, indoor pools and waterparks, boutique shopping and much more. Parents can rely on the ski wee programs and have the day for their own interests and pursuits on or off the slopes.]

REMEMBER:  Ski school is not just for kids. Skiing is not an intuitive sport and lessons are highly recommend for your own safety and pleasure as well as other skiers safety. Never ski out of control or on slopes that are outside of your skiing ability. There are all kinds of hidden dangers such as icy conditions, avalanches, hidden rocks or tree stumps. Stay on marked trails and ski responsibly.