What’s the Pack’s recommendation for a ski vacation this winter? I’m looking for a place with a lot of greens and blues and a good spot for my 5 year old to learn. We’re willing to go wherever. We went to Whistler in 2020, so not there again.
OT: Ski Vacation
- Thread starter SyonaraStanz
- Start date
Now you obviously know your kid better than I. But if you told me I had to take a random five year old skiing, I would start by taking them to the place that makes snow in Mentone, Alabama before I spent the money to fly them out west for a high dollar trip only to find out they hate it. But that is just my two cents.
I have a 9 year old who beats me down the mountain, so we need a good location to meet our needs and a good ski school to drop off the 5 year old.
I’ve done Keystone many years ago, and it was fine. I’ve done Snowmass a few times as a teenager, and it was great. My wife is a timid (poor) skier, so we need a wide range of runs.
The concept of spending money to go somewhere that there is snow on the ground is a foreign concept that doesn't compute with me. I hope to never see another single flake of that wet cold stuff in person in my lifetime.
Northstar in North Lake Tahoe. Large resort with mostly green and blue slopes. Even their black slopes are really just dark blues. Its usually not too crowded, and makes for a relaxing day of skiing.
If you and the 9 year old want something more challenging, Squaw Valley is just up the road. Some good skiing in South Lake, too, if you want to hit up the Casinos
If you and the 9 year old want something more challenging, Squaw Valley is just up the road. Some good skiing in South Lake, too, if you want to hit up the Casinos
Breckenridge....lots of greens and blues with multiple peaks and high speed lifts. You can stay at the bottom which is ski in not ski out and take Bus or Gondola to the slopes. Several restaurants on the slopes. Great village with family friendly restaurants/bars that you can walk to from your condo.
Took my almost 5yo to WP this winter. The Discovery Park area is a perfect place for a beginner.
She had a half-day private lesson with four friends. The second and third days she was having a blast on greens.
She had a half-day private lesson with four friends. The second and third days she was having a blast on greens.
What was your thought on Whistler? I have a room at the Westin around New Year's, but I am bringing a 6 year old and wondering if there are better places to take a kid that young.
East Coast and driveable: Not Colorado but this one is 73 % Greens and Blues
https://www.onthesnow.com/west-virginia/snowshoe-mountain-resort/trailmap
Syonara, depends on what you want to spend, flights, renting a car, damn gas money, and most importantly, WHEN you will be there.
I agree w/ Keystone and Breck. Both are very kid friendly, good ski schools, and most importantly wide *** open beginner ski areas for them to learn, especially Breck where my two kids learned to ski. At 5 years of age I might add.
The only problem w/ either of these is the time you'll be there. Both Keystone and Breck can get very crowded, not a problem for your kid, but the lifts that serve greens and blues get long lines to get on the lifts, less skiing time.
Getting there, two options, fly in to either DIA or Colorado Springs, I love Colorado Springs, nice airport, less congestion, easy access to car rental, and a beautiful drive through the back country to Breck. Keeps you off I-70 which is brutal.
Another option, Snowshoe, in WV is a good option, and drivable. It is roughly 13 hours from NE Miss. Very nice resort, kid friendly w/ a good school, and the Cupp Run, it's a black is a must, one of the best runs in the east.
Winter Park is an good option, my kids skied there, and they have a tube park in Frazier which is fun. Can't comment on the school.
My son lives in SLC, Utah and skis constantly, his pass is for Brighton although he's skied all the areas there. He says Brighton is very kid friendly and has a top notch school, the only problem, you need to check housing, I don't
think it offers much, most stay in SLC and drive there, somewhat cheaper. Stay away from Alta and Snowbird for the kids sake and yours unless you're a very good intermediate skier. Fun mountains but challenging.
Park City is along the lines of Breck, only in Utah, very popular, but can get crowded. If you go to SLC, do yourself a favor and go to Olympic Park in Park City and ride the bobsled, it's a blast. 70 mph of neck breaking fun.
Lastly, if money isn't an option, fly into Aspen airport, catch the shuttle to Snowmass, stay at the Westin, and enjoy. It's ski in ski out, wide open slopes, blue paradise, and fantastic ski school for the kid. I skied there once and plan
on being back and taking my full grown kids and g-kids. It's pricey but worth it. Absolutely love the place.
I'm done, sorry so long.
I agree w/ Keystone and Breck. Both are very kid friendly, good ski schools, and most importantly wide *** open beginner ski areas for them to learn, especially Breck where my two kids learned to ski. At 5 years of age I might add.
The only problem w/ either of these is the time you'll be there. Both Keystone and Breck can get very crowded, not a problem for your kid, but the lifts that serve greens and blues get long lines to get on the lifts, less skiing time.
Getting there, two options, fly in to either DIA or Colorado Springs, I love Colorado Springs, nice airport, less congestion, easy access to car rental, and a beautiful drive through the back country to Breck. Keeps you off I-70 which is brutal.
Another option, Snowshoe, in WV is a good option, and drivable. It is roughly 13 hours from NE Miss. Very nice resort, kid friendly w/ a good school, and the Cupp Run, it's a black is a must, one of the best runs in the east.
Winter Park is an good option, my kids skied there, and they have a tube park in Frazier which is fun. Can't comment on the school.
My son lives in SLC, Utah and skis constantly, his pass is for Brighton although he's skied all the areas there. He says Brighton is very kid friendly and has a top notch school, the only problem, you need to check housing, I don't
think it offers much, most stay in SLC and drive there, somewhat cheaper. Stay away from Alta and Snowbird for the kids sake and yours unless you're a very good intermediate skier. Fun mountains but challenging.
Park City is along the lines of Breck, only in Utah, very popular, but can get crowded. If you go to SLC, do yourself a favor and go to Olympic Park in Park City and ride the bobsled, it's a blast. 70 mph of neck breaking fun.
Lastly, if money isn't an option, fly into Aspen airport, catch the shuttle to Snowmass, stay at the Westin, and enjoy. It's ski in ski out, wide open slopes, blue paradise, and fantastic ski school for the kid. I skied there once and plan
on being back and taking my full grown kids and g-kids. It's pricey but worth it. Absolutely love the place.
I'm done, sorry so long.
Snowbird and Alta! Just up from Salt Lake City. Salt Lake City is a great place to visit. I lived there for two years and hit these ski resorts with regularity. Park City is just over the mountain too.
Copper Mountain has lots of green and blues and is/was less crowded than Breckinridge. If you’re up for it Whistler/Blackcomb north of Vancouver is great. Huge, great snow and elevation is a few thousand less than the Colorado Rockies.
Here in Colorado there are plenty of options.
The best ski school is in Snowmass and it is a great mountain to learn on, but is pricey.
Buttermilk is right there also, and is a beginner mountain.
Granby Ranch is a beginner mountain and much less expensive than others. https://granbyranch.com/
Bode Miller runs their ski school
Other options (you can't go wrong with any of these)
Keystone, Copper Mountain, Breckenridge, Winter Park, Steamboat, Crested Butte, and Monarch
Come on out.
For those reading that want to ski the goods, go to one of these.
Arapahoe Basin, Silverton Mountain, Aspen Highlands, Snowmass, Wolf Creek, Telluride or Crested Butte.
Also there are several Heli-skiing and Powder cats operating still.
The best ski school is in Snowmass and it is a great mountain to learn on, but is pricey.
Buttermilk is right there also, and is a beginner mountain.
Granby Ranch is a beginner mountain and much less expensive than others. https://granbyranch.com/
Bode Miller runs their ski school
Other options (you can't go wrong with any of these)
Keystone, Copper Mountain, Breckenridge, Winter Park, Steamboat, Crested Butte, and Monarch
Come on out.
For those reading that want to ski the goods, go to one of these.
Arapahoe Basin, Silverton Mountain, Aspen Highlands, Snowmass, Wolf Creek, Telluride or Crested Butte.
Also there are several Heli-skiing and Powder cats operating still.
I went to Angel Fire New Mexico, flew into Albequerque and just rented a large SUV. It was a great trip as this was my first one. Had a great time, they had a pretty easy setup from the lift to the different spots. The long green run was maybe 25 minutes long. Had a great time.
Haven't been in a couple of decades but I liked Winter Park. An entire area of greens for new skiers. Super dry so was really comfortable even when the temperature was really low. Only downside is it was crowded as hell. But if you went up the mountain and never came all the way down, it wasn't too bad. Definitely sucked if you accidently came all the way to the base during the middle of the day and not the place to go if you're the type of person that wants to come in and out of ski-in, ski-out accommodations.
What a horrible suggestion…..it’s too similar to Whistler.
I live less than 3 hours from there, love to ski and haven’t been in 7 yrs
Go to Steamboat. Blue run heaven. The entire right side of the resort are great blue/green. Low altitude compared to most Colorado resorts. Maybe your family isn’t affected negatively by altitude, but some are. I know a family that had to leave Copper and go back to Denver cause a kid got so sick.
I just get a headache for a few days.
Stay downtown. The bus picks you up in front of your condo and drops you off at the mountain. Stay in one of the pimp condos at Howelson place. You do that and they have their own lockers at the base. Keep all your gear there and don’t have to tote it back and forth. I can provide more information. My kid learned to ski there.
the town is great and real. Not a fake mfg Swiss village. Don’t stay on mountain(I’ve done both). I’d rather be able to walk to eat at night and ride the super convenient bus to and from skiing with zero gear.
this is the correct answer for your family. Oh and you can fly into Montrose and take a shuttle. Absolutely No need to rent a car.
here’s the condos. Btw, that’s not the resort in the photo. That’s howelson hill
https://www.steamboat-springs.com/Steamboat_Springs_Vacation_Rental_Complex.php?id=42
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Deer Valley? The Montage. They’ll have your skis/poles on the snow, help you take your boots off. Just be warned, you’re family will never want to go anywhere else again. Skiing can be ok.
Take him to Gatlinburg and throw him down the mountain full of fake snow and ice. It will make him or break him! *
Heading Home....super fun green run but can get crowded and narrow. You can also hang out at the Warming Hut/Restaurant at the jump park and safely let your kids ski up and down at their own pace without leaving your area.
you can take an Amtrack from Denver that slowly snakes through the mountain passes in beautiful country and through a 20 minute black-out stretch through the Moffit Tunnel then pop-out in Winter Park. It's the first stop in the am and then catch that same train back to Denver in the evening if you want to stay around Denver
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