Our kiddos are now in school, which means we have their school calendar in hand. These kids work so hard with long days, extra curricular activities, and homework, leaving such little time for the family. That is why family vacations are so important. Making memories to last a lifetime is my specialty, so lets make some great winter break memories for your family.
Aspen Colorado
Whatever you are looking for in a ski resort, Aspen has it with it’s “Power of Four” ski resorts—Aspen Mountain, Aspen Highlands, Buttermilk and Snowmass. All 4 mountains are within a 10- mile radius. Each resort offers something different. Aspen Mountain is best suited for the more experienced skier while Aspen Highland attracting the adventurer and the snowboarder. Meanwhile, beginners and intermediate skiers will enjoy Buttermilk. If you are looking for dog sledding, Nordic skiing, ice skating and snow tubing, head to Aspen Snowmass for great fun with the family! With a complimentary, inter-resort skier’s shuttle, you can stay at one and play at all.
Beaver Creek Colorado
Beaver Creek ski vacation is all about sophistication, luxury and class. Catering to first-timers through advanced skiers, Beaver Creek has something for everyone, including the opportunity to choose the path less taken and make new tracks in the untouched snow. Hosting the annual Birds of Prey World Cup Men’s Downhill Race, Beaver Creek has been recognized for its white glove service. There are four gourmet restaurants on the mountain that are a must after burning all that energy on the slopes. The lodges are stunning with so many ski-in and ski-out options. But the staple for the resort is the best homemade cookies handed out every day at 3:00.
Breckenridge Colorado
Breckenridge is beloved by skiers all around the world and is one of the most commonly visited ski resort in the US. Breckenridge is world-renowned for its five terrain parks, halfpipes and stat-of-the-art ski and snowboarding school. Breckenridge has the highest chairlift in North America, making for spectacular views. The resort has accommodations from budget friendly to luxury for skill levels of beginners to advanced, literally providing everybody with what they need to enjoy the snow.
Copper Mountain Colorado
Copper Mountain is a laid-back resort, rather than upscale, allowing people to just enjoy the mountain in a very family friendly resort. Copper Mountain is naturally divided into three terrains with the West Village area ideal for beginner skiers, the Center Village is perfect for intermediate skiers and the East Village an advanced skier’s paradise with nearly all black runs. The Woodward at Copper Barn provides families with an indoor skateboarding, BMX and slope side mountain bike experience. The fun never ends!
Crested Butte Colorado
Designed for the dedicated skier, Crested Butte, its known for its technical, steep extreme skiing with sharp peeks for intermediate and advanced skiers. The top half of the mountain is challenging while the bottom half levels out. Crested Butte is not easy to travel to, but the charm and intense skiing will make it worth it for the diehard skier. The town is filled with friendly locals dedicated to maintaining the Colorado ski town charm with Crested Butte “the last great Colorado ski town.”
Keystone Colorado
Keystone is a great family ski resort. Located close to the airport, offering affordable accommodations as well as luxury lodging, inexpensive restaurants as well as fine dining. Not only does Keystone offer skiing, but also tubbing and world-class cat skiing. The Kidventure Zone is a great place for kiddos to explore the snow and participate in camps. At night, Keystone turns on their lights for more, night-time skiing, just in case you didn’t get enough during the day. For those advanced skiers, check out the moguls, glades, steeps and the Outback bowl.
Snowmass Colorado
Snowmass offers a number of wide-open trails, off-piste steeps and glades and the longest lift-served vertical rise in the US. Freestylers love Snowmass with its terrain parks and Olympic-quality Superpipe. While the parents are heading down one of the longest runs in North America, their toddlers through teens are hanging out at The Treehouse Kids’ Adventure Center where they offer Colorado-themed play rooms as well as kiddos ski school programs and rentals, making Snowmass one of the best family ski resorts.
Steamboat Colorado
Steamboat is a great ski spot, so much so that they are known for its history in the Winter Olympics. Steamboat trademarked Champagne Powder snow, given the name because the snow tickles your nose like champagne. Steamboat prides itself that you will not find this very light, dry and smooth snow anywhere else in the world. Receiving 350 annual inches of snow each year and with its diverse terrain, Steamboat can’t disappoint skiers of any skill level. Steamboat embraces its deep Wester heritage, stemming from miners skiing the hills home after a long day’s work. You will find evidence of this heritage throughout the trails and the downtown area.
Telluride Colorado
If you are looking for a secluded ski resort, Telluride is your place. With virtually no traffic or long lines, you get the most out of your time on the slopes. Telluride is ranked among Ski magazine’s top five destinations with its challenging, rock-littered runs, easy access from the chairlifts and beautiful views. Downtown Telluride resembles the mining town whereas the Mountain Village offers the modern hotels, shops and restaurants. A complimentary gondola links downtown Telluride and Mountain village so you can conveniently experience both.
Vail Colorado
Vail is a favorite ski area for many skiers of all skill level. Non-skiers even fall in love. Whereas a lot of the US ski resorts resemble mining towns of the west, Vail is designed to resemble a European ski village. It is located between three base areas: Lionshead, Vail Village and Golden Peak. But what Vail is best known for is some of the best Back Bowls of any resorts. Vail offers fine dining, shopping, art galleries, and nightlife. Unlike more casual resorts, Vail is the ski resort where ladies will trade their snow boots in for heels come dinner and yet they have an abundant luxury and moderate accommodations.
Winter Park Colorado
Winter Park is a budget friendly resort just northwest of Denver. It offers seven terrain parks, a slope side village and Coca-Cola tubing hill. The kid’s activities and lessons are great way to get your littles ones excited and familiar with skiing. In addition to the beginner courses, there are so many intermediate runs for those quickly advancing through the resort. Mary Jane is where you will find the expert skiers with its mogul runs.
