Hit the Slopes for an Active Vacation

Whether it’s a day on the slopes, sharing a meal or relaxing in front of a cozy fire in the evening, a vacation at a ski resort provides lots of opportunities for families to spend time together and create new memories.

 

With choices from New England to California, it can be difficult to pick one. Your Travel Leaders travel advisor can guide you through all of the options and help you select the perfect spot for your family, one that fits your budget and provides the amenities and activities you need.

 

Among the factors to consider when planning your trip are the distance from the airport to the resort, what type of accommodations you want, whether it’s a lodge, condo or hotel, and the ease of getting from your lodging to the slopes.

 

You’ll find that resorts are welcoming places, whether your family includes beginners, intermediate or advanced skiers, or a combination. There are trails and classes for every age and level of experience. Adaptive instruction for skiers with special needs is increasingly common, too.

 

At Smugglers’ Notch in Vermont, for example, the First Timer ski or snowboard program is designed for ages five to adult. Children are divided into groups by age increments that take into account their developmental stages. Smugglers’ Notch also offers childcare for infants as young as six weeks old.

 

In Utah, Park City’s new High Meadow Park is a dedicated learning area for beginning skiers and snowboarders, with gentle terrain and a high-speed four-passenger lift.

 

Like many ski areas, Colorado’s Breckenridge has several programs for women that are led by female ski instructors. Aspen Snowmass, also in Colorado, is one of many resorts offering lessons for children and adults with physical disabilities or special needs, including those on the autism spectrum.

 

Of course there’ll be times when you want to take a break from skiing, so take a look at the types of activities off the slopes, too.

 

The historic mining town of Park City, about 35 miles from the Salt Lake City airport, retains much of its authentic look and feel. The resort provides lift access directly to Main Street, with its restaurants, shops and galleries. At Colorado’s Keystone resort, Kidtopia offers numerous activities, from a giant snowball launch to a hunt for Sasquatch to a parade and a snow fort built for play. Meal options include dinner in a rustic log cabin, which you and your family will reach via a horse-drawn sleigh ride.

 

At Bretton Woods, in New Hampshire, activities include a snowmobile park for kids, an indoor climbing wall, a tubing hill and a skating rink.

 

Heavenly Mountain, on the California-Nevada border, is not far from South Lake Tahoe, where you can take in its coffee shops, craft breweries, lakefront dining, shopping and spas. For cross-country skiers, New York’s Whiteface Mountain has miles of trails that will take you through the scenic Adirondacks.

 

For help planning a skiing vacation, contact our travel advisors.