1. Heading to the mountains for a family winter vacation? Discover the best ski resorts for families, offering activities for everyone on and off the slopes.
2. Family skiing trips can be tricky, but the right destination will cater to all ages and skill levels, ensuring an enjoyable experience for everyone.
3. Explore 12 family-friendly ski resorts that provide a mix of challenging mountain terrain and low-pressure activities, making them perfect for both experts and novices.
Fact checked by Elizabeth MacLennan
Part of what makes a big ski trip special is the people traveling with you. When the whole family is along for the ride, that usually means catering to every age, every skill level, and every interest. Finding one destination to accommodate all these needs can be a tall order, but there are plenty of excellent family-friendly ski resorts out there. You just have to know where to look.
The best ski resorts for families offer entertainment for everyone, from non-skiers and kids to the most expert shredders among us. That means a resort needs both challenging mountain terrain and low-pressure activities like scenic gondola rides all in one place.
Want an example of one that does just that? Look no further than Whistler Blackcomb Ski Resort in Canada, where the kids can explore an enchanted forest in the property’s “family-certified zone” while the adults push themselves on the mountain’s more difficult ski runs. There’s also Steamboat Ski Resort in Colorado, where the whole family can convene in a relaxing hot spring (including one with waterslides) to rehash the day’s adventures.
Bretton Woods
Adults will love the 464 acres of skiing found at this New Hampshire resort, while kids will love the fact that there are plenty of activities designed just for them (in addition to skiing and snowboarding lessons). They can speed down the resort’s snow tubing hill or, if they’re 12 or older, check out the Canopy Tour’s nine zip lines and two sky bridges.
Find it: Bretton Woods, 99 Ski Area Road, Bretton Woods, NH
Smugglers’ Notch Resort
This family-friendly Vermont resort caters to every age. Adults won’t run out of terrain to explore (there are 78 trails spread across three mountains), and everyone can unwind after skiing or snowboarding with some hot chocolate at the daily bonfire. Don’t miss the fireworks every Thursday night or glow tubing (night sledding under LED lights) on Tuesdays. Thanks to the resort’s Kids’ Club and on-property babysitting, parents can enjoy some adults-only time while their kids take in the nightly entertainment.
Find it: Smugglers’ Notch Resort, 4323 Vermont Route 108 South, Jeffersonville, VT
Keystone Resort
Adults can test their skills on more than 3,000 acres and 130 trails at this Colorado resort, most of which targets intermediate- to expert-level skiers. Despite its challenging terrain, Keystone does offer lessons for kids — but if your little ones would prefer alternative activities, there are plenty to choose from. Non-skiers can spend their time ice skating, tubing, enjoying a scenic sleigh ride, or visiting the world’s largest snow fort, perched atop one of the resort’s three main peaks.
Find it: Keystone Resort, 100 Dercum Square, Keystone, CO
Steamboat Ski Resort
One of the biggest concerns when it comes to planning a family ski vacation is cost, and this mountain resort has you covered. At Steamboat, kids 12 and under ski free if their guardian buys a five-day (or more) lift ticket package. Besides the nearly 3,000 acres of terrain, families will appreciate the Snowsports School, which gets kids and less-experienced adults on the slopes. After a day on the mountain, the entire crew will enjoy a visit to Old Town Hot Springs, which has two 230-foot waterslides.
Find it: Steamboat Ski Resort, 2305 Mt. Werner Circle, Steamboat Springs, CO
Park City Mountain Resort
The pure number of trails at this Utah resort makes it one of the best ski mountains for families in the United States. With more than 330 trails and 7,300 acres of terrain, there’s something here for everyone to enjoy. Kids and adults learning to ski or board will find their little slice of paradise at High Meadow Park, a learning area with groomed off-trail runs where beginners can work on their skills. After a day of skiing, relax with a 25-minute snowcat-pulled sleigh ride to The Viking Yurt, a six-course dining experience at 8,700 feet.
Find it: Park City Mountain Resort, 1345 Lowell Avenue, Park City, UT
Whiteface Mountain
After a day spent exploring this Lake Placid mountain’s 94 trails, parents can head to the Bear Den Lodge for a drink and a bird’s-eye view of their kids learning to ski and snowboard. There’s also plenty of adrenaline to be had away from the slopes. Whiteface is one of the “Lake Placid Legacy Sites” where the 1980 Winter Olympics took place, and between the four sites, you can find all kinds of Olympic-inspired adventures. Try hurtling down the bobsled track at Mt. Van Hoevenberg or watching ski jumpers fly the length of a football field from inside the Skyride, an eight-person gondola located at the Olympic Jumping Complex.
Find it: Whiteface Mountain, 5021 Route 86, Wilmington, NY
Northstar California Resort
This North Lake Tahoe resort features 100 trails and more than 3,100 skiable acres, so there is plenty of terrain for everyone in the family to explore. At the end of the day, gather your squad together for an evening of après-ski ice skating and hot chocolate, or continue to slide down the hill in a tube. Before you turn in for the night, warm up by the fire pits and get ready to do it all again. “I skied here for my first-ever ski trip at 31 years old, and I came in fearful of the slopes,” reported noted travelers. “I was very impressed by their private lesson program. My instructor not only put me at ease, she had me skiing blues. I’ve taken many ski lessons since, and I still think of her as my best instructor.”
Find it: Northstar California Resort, 5001 Northstar Drive, Truckee, CA
Beaver Creek
What’s more family-friendly than an on-mountain Candy Cabin that’s ready to welcome kids (and kids at heart) with Swedish Fish, Jelly Bellys, M&Ms, and more at 9,840 feet? After you’ve gotten your sugar fix at Beaver Creek, you can enjoy the resort’s 167 different trails or challenge yourself to ski the mountain’s longest run, Centennial, which clocks in at 2.75 miles long.
Find it: Beaver Creek, 210 Beaver Creek Plaza, Beaver Creek, CO
Camelback Resort
This Poconos ski resort is smaller than some of its big mountain counterparts, but its petite size actually makes it more manageable for families trying to juggle various needs and skill levels. There are 39 total ski runs and a whopping 42 snow tube lanes on the mountain (for the tubing fanatic you’re bound to have in your family). When you’re not skiing or tubing, you can keep your adrenaline pumping at the Aquatopia Indoor Waterpark, which features 13 waterslides, a wave pool, a simulated surfing experience, and a swim-up bar.
Find it: Camelback Resort, 301 Resort Drive, Tannersville, PA
Whistler Blackcomb
At Whistler Blackcomb, some of North America’s most serious skiing is paired with serious fun for young visitors. For adults, this former Olympic site offers more than 200 trails spread over more than 8,000 acres, plus an extensive backcountry that advanced riders can explore with an expert guide. The real magic, though, is reserved for kids. The resort has two slopeside children’s play areas — one on Whistler Mountain that comes with its own tree fort, and one on Blackcomb Mountain that’s equipped with a castle-themed playground. After the sun sets, the whole family will enjoy taking a stroll in Whistler’s charming pedestrian village or going ice skating under the stars.
Find it: Whistler Blackcomb, 4545 Blackcomb Way, Whistler, British Columbia, Canada
Aspen Snowmass
A single lift ticket at Aspen Snowmass gives access to all four mountains that comprise this resort: Aspen Mountain, Aspen Highlands, Buttermilk, and Snowmass. Families of mixed skill levels, however, should focus their visit on Snowmass. The mountain has more terrain than the other three peaks combined and offers trails that range from expert-level double-black diamonds to gentle short-distance greens. Kids will fall in love with Snowmass’ daily children’s programming, and even the most shred-averse family members will find something to enjoy at the base of the mountain — Aspen is one of the country’s best ski towns for non-skiers.
Find it: Aspen Snowmass, 120 Lower Carriage Way, Snowmass Village, CO
Big Sky Resort
When it comes to skiing with kids, accessibility is key. Direct flights from more than 20 cities mean you’ll have no trouble getting to Bozeman Yellowstone International Airport, and several shuttle companies will ferry you the 50 miles to Big Sky if you prefer not to rent a car. Once you get to the mountain, you’ll find over 4,000 vertical feet of skiing off of Lone Peak, plus chairlifts with heated seats and weatherproof storm shields (say goodbye to cold fingers). When you need a break from your ski boots, enjoy a dog sledding trip or take a nighttime stroll through the resort’s Enchanted Forest for a snowy light show the whole family will cherish.
Find it: Big Sky Resort, 50 Big Sky Resort Road, Big Sky, MT
