Skiing is a wonderful vacation idea for families with children. Not only do you get to spend time being active outdoors together, but your children will spend their holiday making new friends, learning new skills and building their physical confidence. With most resorts now having great children's classes and kid's clubs too - they'll even be time for you to enjoy some alone time too. Sound too good to be true? It really isn't! Here are some amazing resorts to begin your search with:
Smugglers Notch, Vermont, USA - This ski resort has a wide range of slopes on offer, including double and triple black diamond runs to keep the more advanced members of the family happy. The ski school is renowned, and the instructors are very family friendly, but if skiing isn't for your little ones, the resort also offers FunZone, an indoor activity centre for kids. This combination of excellent skiing facilities for children and adults, and other entertainment for kids make Smugglers Notch the perfect family ski getaway.
Saas Fee, Switzerland - Saas Fee has been called 'the pearl of the alps', and is a car free village, meaning it's a very safe area for children to run around in, making the resort very attractive to families. The park also offers a huge selection of runs for skiers, with great terrain for both experts, with half pipes and rails, and beginners, the nursery run with mini ramps and jumps is suitable for all ages and abilities. Many park run children's activities also take place at Saas Fee, making it a great all around family holiday park.
Obergurgl, Austria - This ski resort is perfect for families with teenage children with many slopes of varying difficulties, but not so many that children could get lost on their own. There is a wonderful ski school with teachers fluent in English, ready to push learners to the best of their ability, and classes a kept as small as possible, meaning that learning children are not overlooked. The various hotels at the resort also offer great childcare options for children that are too young to hit the slopes just yet, meaning parents can enjoy their holiday safe in the knowledge that their children are being well looked after.
Crap Sogn Gion, Laax, Switzerland - This ski resort offers an extensive range of beginners slopes, allowing kids to find their feet on the snow with ease and make them grow in confidence. Older kids and parents will be amazed by the five different terrain parks, and be sure not to miss out on the international freestyle competitions often held at the resorts, which could give the children something to aspire to!
Squaw Valley, USA - Squaw Valley is one of the biggest ski resorts in the USA, spread across six peaks. Not only does this ski resort offer amazing slopes, but also boasts a heated swimming lagoon, an ice skating rink, tennis courts, tubing and a bungee tower! You would never get bored during a stay at this resort, and children especially will love all of the choice of activity. During your stay you can also sample the delicious American cuisine and explore the wonderful hiking trails, all perfect for children, so there's always something to keep the family happy!
A few tips though before you leave?
- Remember to buy the right clothing. Lots of boutique children's shops - like ShopHouse will get you everything you need to that perfect vacation. Including all the right gear - just in mini-size for the kids!
- Remember gloves and hats. A cold, shivering child will not a happy one!
- Remember you're going over as a family to spend time together - so perhaps sign up to classes as a family?
- You could practise your skills beforehand by going to an indoor ski slope - this will really boost your child's confidence.