Family Ski Resorts in North America

1. Diamond Peak, Nevada

Diamond Peak, Nevada is a popular family ski resort not only because of the fabulous trails, but also because of all the fun available in the picturesque Incline Village where it is located.

The Diamond Peak Child Ski Center is so much fun that you can leave your kids there in the morning and pick them up in the evening.

It is an excellent, safe and fun environment for the kids with its own learning area, surface lift and a maximum five kids per instructor.

Kids over four can learn to snowboard, which is always a hit among little adventure-seekers.

The children get fitted with appropriate gear, get to bond with their experienced instructor and not only get to learn, or improve, their skiing and snowboarding abilities, but also go tubing, do some crafts, and play games. Diamond Peak Map

2. Aspen-Snowmass, Colorado

Aspen / Snowmass they go out of their way to make a winter vacation with kids effortless fun for the whole family.

If you are bringing little kids, you can safely leave them at the Treehouse Kids interactive Adventure Center, in the Snowmass Base Village, where they will have so much fun you can hit the slopes without feeling guilty.

Bigger kids have several options: they can learn to ski or stay in and play games.

The kids can join the Ski and Snowboard School and learn to enjoy the mountains in the hands of expert instructors.

There are several excellent runs at Snowmass and Buttermilk that have been specially adapted for kids.

If they prefer to stay indoors, the kids can stay at the Treehouse and play games and enjoy the company of new friends. There is always plenty of hot chocolate.

3. Steamboat Springs, Colorado

Avid ski enthusiasts need look no further than Steamboat Springs in Colorado for your next exciting ski vacation. Nestled in the heart of the Yampa Valley, Steamboat Springs has everything you need for an active outdoor winter vacation including 171 ski trails, 40% of which are perfect for experienced skiers.

The trails are serviced by 18 lifts and night skiing and a terrain park increase the fun. In addition to skiing, the town offers ice skating, snowmobiling, winter horse-back trail rides, snow-tubing and more. After a busy day on the ski slopes your can soak your aching muscles in one of the natural hot springs for which the town is famous. Steamboat Springs Map

4. Sugarbush, Vermont

Sugarbush is a winter wonderland for the whole family, for any skill level.

To start with, you can go skiing and riding at Mt. Ellen and Lincoln Peak.

There are 2600' of vertical runs , with 111 trails, and more than 28 wooded areas.

Then there is snowshoeing; snowshoeing in the woods is magical.

It is a great way to spot traces of wildlife, and spend a quiet day in the woods with the family.

You can go with an Outback Guide into Slide Brook Basin, where black bears, deer, moose, coyotes, bobcats, ermines, owls, and so many other animals prowl.

You can also go alone on several clearly marked trails. If your family is already experienced on skis, you would enjoy cross country skiing in the Mad River Valley, with 30 miles of rolling trails and spectacular panoramic views of Sugarbush.

Ice fishing in Vermont’s frozen lakes is another fun and popular activity and you might even catch some pan fish.

When you get tired of snow, there is always the Adventure Zone with games and toys, basketball, bungee trampoline, ping-pong, gaga ball and two inflatable bounce houses.

5. Snow King Mountain in Jackson Hole, Wyoming

Whether you want to introduce your kids to the winter sports or they are already as crazy about the snow as you are, Snow King Mountain in Jackson Hole is the place for you.

There is skiing, even at night, as well as snowshoeing, snow biking, snowboarding and snow tubing. It is a giant winter playground with gondolas, lifts, an aerial tram, and miles of ski trails for any ski ability.

Skiing is fantastic, but snowshoeing will get you into the true wild nature where you can see animal tracks from deer, snowshoe hare and maybe spot an elk or two.

You will not be able to resist going down the hill in the Tube Park, it is just too much fun.

If you have time, don’t forget that you are close to Yellowstone and Grand Teton National Parks.

There are two other ski resorts that you can visit in Jackson Hole and the resort staff can help you organize a magical winter adventure. Snow King Mountain Map

6. Big Sky, Montana

Everyone starts with a bit of skiing, snowshoeing and sleigh riding on the magnificent slopes of Lone Peak, Andesite, and Spirit Mountains. Big Sky has a kid’s adventure area, called Lost Frontier, which features an exciting layout for easy learning and interactive surprises for children.

There is also a Free Skiing & Free Kids Club for kids under 10 available to those who stay in Big Sky Resort managed properties.

Kids under five always ski free regardless of where you are staying.

Activities in the Mountain Village include zipline tours, a high ropes course, snowshoe tours, and a unique dinner yurt, complete with a snowcat ride, live music, sledding and a bonfire. Big Sky Map

7. Heavenly Lake Tahoe, California

Bringing kids to Heavenly Lake Tahoe means that you have promised them some serious outdoor fun. One of the best things you can do together is to take private snowboarding lessons.

Your own private coach can put the whole family through their paces and in no time you will be hitting the slopes together. Or falling down together, which can be fun too!

If the kids want to learn to ski or to improve their skills, you can entrust them to the Heavenly ski and snowboarding school, where kids are separated into age-appropriate groups.

And you know that making new friends is at least as important to them as improving their skiing skills. In the meantime, you can have some fun on your own.

If you came with the little ones, there is an excellent Heavenly Child Care Center that provides high quality care for kids from 6-weeks through 6-years old. The Center is located in the California Base Lodge, and it offers one-on-one nanny services, if that is what you need, and ski lessons for 3-5 year olds if they are interested in being outdoors.

8. Arapahoe Basin, Colorado

Kids will love the Arapahoe Basin Kids Center located a short distance from the Pika Place Learning Area, and the Black Mountain Express lift.

The modern three-story building is open every day during the winter season.

There is plenty to see and do, with a fantastic play area with an obstacle course, low balance beams and balance boards, TV screens showing videos of Arapahoe Basin and all the fun things they can do there; from introducing the avalanche dog Rio to showing what skiing down big runs looks like.

There are pictures introducing the environment of Arapahoe Basin and the animals living in it.

The Kids Center is the starting point for the ski and snowboarding school for kids of all ages, starting from 3-year-old kindergartners to the teens.

Highly experienced instructors will not only teach them about safety on the slopes and all the skills necessary to enjoy the mountain, but instill in them a lifelong love for the winter sports.

Classes have small groups of up to four kids to ensure full attention is paid to each of them. They also offer private classes by arrangement. Arapahoe Basin Map

9. Park City, Utah

There is so much to do with kids in Park City; you might have very little time for skiing. Start by taking a ride on the Flying Eagle, a zip line that will show you Park City from high up in all its glory. To ride, kids must be over 42” tall. Then hop onto the Alpine Coaster, a toboggan car that will take you on an exhilarating half hour ride that will show you the magnificent Wasatch mountain scenery from up top, before dropping you down through over 4,000 feet of bends, curves and loops.

There are several sleigh rides in Park City, a wonderful way to see the city and its surrounds, pulled by large, powerful horses. You can get the sleigh to take you for a dinner and back to your hotel after.

Snowshoeing is another great fun activity that the family can enjoy together, even if you have never done it before. Park City Map

10. Snowshoe Mountain, West Virginia

In addition to great skiing Snowshoe Mountain Resort in West Virginia offers families an array of things to see and do. Take a tour of the slopes in one of the four-seat, heated, enclosed Polaris off-road vehicles.

Enjoy the breathtaking beauty of the Snowshoe’s backcountry filled with imposing trees and spectacular vistas.

Or take a one-hour evening Basin Snowmobile Tour, seeing the same slopes you’ve skied on during the day, at night, with the lights twinkling in the valley below.

Tubing down the 6 story, 8 lane hill at the Coca-Cola Tube Park is another thrill that brings the inner kids in all of us.

And when you have had enough of the outdoors, there is The Big Top, a 15,000 square foot wonderland with a climbing wall, Eurobungy, an area for toddlers. Snowshoe Mountain Map