You want to go skiing this weekend, but you have children on board. What do you look for in a ski resort? Well…
Look For Child-Specialist Instructors
Child-specialist instructors can help teach your kids to ski. This is important for two reasons: first, it gets them off your back so you can enjoy skiing instead of having to be an unqualified instructor. Second, the instructor is specifically trained to help kids learn how to ski.
Some of resorts out there, like Park City Mountain’s are very accommodating. Kids can go tubing on a lighted hill, there’s an Alpine Coaster, a winter playground, and a miniature snowmobile track. And, to top it off, there’s a horse-drawn sleigh you can ride into Park City if you get hungry.
All in all, this is one of the most family-friendly places you’re going to find in Utah. And, for the price, you can’t beat it.
Night Skiing Options
If skiing all day isn’t enough for the little ones, there’s always night skiing. Some resorts allow this, like Snowbird Ski and Summer Resort. You can ski at night on Wednesdays, Fridays, and Saturdays. If you’re visiting Snowbird, you get a free lift ticket for night skiing.
You may also be interested in a guided snowshoe tour or a snowmobile ride. These two resorts offer both.
Room To Walk Around
The Canyons is Utah’s largest ski resort, with 163 trails of varying terrain you can roam around on. There are 17 lifts and several terrain parks with a total of 6 half-pipes. If you can’t find something to do here, you don’t belong on the slopes.
If slope diversity is important, it’s difficult to beat this one. It’s not quite as posh as Deer Valley, but you might find it a little more family-friendly. It’s also way less expensive when it comes to dining and lodging.
Lodging Nearby
Speaking of lodging, if you’re trying to save money, look for something that’s just outside the resort, like Park City Utah lodging. The closer you are to the slopes, usually the most expensive things get. But, this isn’t always true.
If you can get within a mile or so, it’s a reasonable drive, and you’re not far away if you have to leave because, you know, kids and their issues sometimes force you to leave early.
Make sure you’re comparing prices among different hotels and lodging. Just because something is far away from a ski resort doesn’t mean it’s always cheaper or that it’s the best deal.
Free Skiing
When kids ski free, you win. If you’re on a budget, you should look for places like Alta, where beginners can use the rope tows for free all day long. And, after 3PM, you can use the Sunnyside lift for no charge.
The beginner’s slopes at Albion Basin are also free. You must be at least an intermediate skier and your kids must be under 6.
Gary Harper works as a travel advisor. He likes to write about his experiences online. You can find his posts on many vacation and travel websites.
