By Claire Taylor
The Best Family Ski Resorts in the U.S.
Skiing is a great way to have a good time with the family. But choosing the best ski
resort for the family can make the difference between having a fantastic trip or having a real-life nightmare. Fortunately, across the
United States there are some excellent ski
resorts for families to choose from.
The Rocky Mountains
The state of Colorado offers excellent skiing throughout the Rocky Mountains. Vail, Steamboat and Breckenridge are all great resorts. But the best area for families looking to have it all can be found in the city of Aspen. Aspen boasts four completely different ski mountains all within minutes of each other and each accessible by free shuttle. Of the four, two in particular stand out for families: Buttermilk and Snowmass. Buttermilk would be the best choice in the area for families wishing to learn how to ski together. Gentle, well groomed slopes are the norm here. Snowmass is the largest of the area resorts and offers a huge variety of terrain as well as some of the longest lifts in the country. Aspen is a great choice for another reason, the town of Aspen itself. Quaint, well maintained and festive, the town makes the visit that much better.
Buttermilk Ski Resort
38700 Highway 82
Aspen, CO 81611
(800) 234-5779
Snowmass Ski Resort
855 Carriageway Road
Snowmass Village, CO 81615
(800) 525-6200
The Sierra Nevada Mountains
Out west there are two ski resorts that are excellent choices for families. The first, Mammoth Mountain, is located on the opposite side of the mountain range from Yosemite National Park, due east from San Francisco. Located in the town of Mammoth, families will find a safe, friendly community awaiting them with a mountain mall, movie theater and good restaurants nearby. Worth mentioning is The Stove, a relaxed, country style restaurant that is famous for its breakfast menu. The second ski resort ideal for families is Heavenly Mountain Ski Resort on Lake Tahoe. Lake Tahoe straddles the border of California and Nevada near the city of Reno, Nevada. Excellent facilities and beautiful views abound in addition to excellent skiing. When the slopes get tiresome, Heavenly is close to many other winter activities including ice skating, sledding and sleigh rides.
Mammoth Mountain Ski Resort
1 Minaret Road
Mammoth Lakes, CA 93546
(760) 934-2571
Heavenly Mountain Resort
Corner of Wildwood and Saddle
South Lake Tahoe, CA 96150
(775) 586-7000
The Appalachian Ranges
In the eastern part of the country, the state of Maine offers an excellent family choice in Sugarloaf. About 4 hours from Boston and easily accessible via Bangor or Portland, Sugarloaf is a large ski resort with over half of the runs groomed for intermediate and beginning skiers. In Vermont, Killington Ski Resort has the largest amount of acreage for skiing in the eastern United States. Like Sugarloaf, Killington is set up well for learners and intermediates, but also boasts the steepest vertical drops in the east for experienced skiers.
Sugarloaf Ski Resort
524 Saddleback Mountain Road
Rangeley, ME 04970
(800) THE-LOAF
Killington Ski Resort
4763 Killington Rd
Killington, VT 05751
(888) 333-6031
About the Author:
Claire Taylor is a health, wellness and travel writer with credits in publications such as "Woman's Day," "Marie Claire," "Adirondack Life" and "Self." Taylor is also a seasoned independent traveler, as well as a certified personal trainer and nutrition consultant.
Photo Credits:
sanja gjenero
