Best family ski resorts:
Whilst pretty much every resort in North America can be considered 'family-friendly', below are the ones we feel particularly stand out:
Whistler, Canada
Free lift passes for children 12 yrs and under, a whole plethora of non-ski activities, excellent selection of family friendly restaurants, great ski school, good babysitting and spacious, well located accommodation.
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Big White, Canada
Free lift passes for children 15 yrs and under, ski-in ski-out accommodation, small village area so very safe, mild temperatures and an excellent Children’s Centre offering a range of ski and non-ski programmes for kids from 18 months to 12 yrs.
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Panorama, Canada
- Children 18 yrs and younger ski free, 2 for 1 on accommodation and free transfers if flying with Air Canada
- Weekly family activities arranged including a Kids Nights Out evening (5 -12 yrs old) twice a week - games, crafts and movies.
- Wee Wascals Childcare (18 months - 5 yrs) - fun, safe and caring childcare including creative crafts, a bundled up walk in the snow, gondola ride and winter playground time. Younger toddlers have sleep time whilst older kids can have daily Snowbird lessons offered by the School of Skiing.
- Top rated Ski and Snowboard School - family oriented but also specialises in intermediate to expert all-mountain instruction and guiding and offer’s a variety of programs for every level.
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Sun Peaks, Canada
Free lift passes for children 18 yrs and under, safe central village area, lots of non ski activities and weekly family events, child care for children 18 months to 12 yrs and there’s a Kids Adventure Park with mini snowmobiles and tobogganing and an activity centre with swimming pool. Any level of skier can ski from any lift, with most runs leading right into the village.
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Sunday River, USA
Free lift passes for children 12 yrs and under, day care for 6 months to 6 yrs and ski programmes from 3 yrs +. Lots of non ski activities available and special offers at accommodations make for some excellent prices.
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Snowmass, USA
Free lift passes for children 6 yrs and under, ski-in ski-out accommodation and the NEW Treehouse Kids' Adventure Center with a host of themed rooms for kids aged 8 weeks +, teen activities, ski school check-in, rental and family après entertainment.
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Steamboat, USA
Ranked numerous times as the #1 Family Resort in the West by SKI Magazine, Steamboat has a reputation for its excellent children's programs. Their Kids Vacation Centre caters for children from 6 months old, there are regular 'Kids Nights Out' (supervised entertainment and food for children 5 - 12 yrs old), there's dedicated Kid's Only terrain and lifts including a kids terrain park and kids 12 yrs and under ski & rent free (conditions apply).
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Copper Mountain, USA
- Free lift passes for children 13 yrs and under at certain dates
- Childcare for children 6 weeks - 8 yrs - full & half day programmes available and strollers can be rented.
- Evening childcare programme 'Kids Night Out' with supervised games, activities and food wednesday to saturday nights, 5.30pm - 10pm - free if parents spend $30 per child on their night out. Reservations required.
- Tubing, sleigh rides, Copper Cade arcade, snowmobiling and ice skating.
- Kids eat free on certain nights at participating restaurants
- Ski School programmes for children 3 - 15 yrs
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