Colorado.com Staff Writer

DFP Leaderboard: Article

<p>All of Colorado ski resorts make for amazing family vacations. From magical events to ski trails just for kids and more, your family is sure to find a perfect winter escape. <a href="http://www.colorado.com/winter-vacations/ski-areas-and-resorts">Full list of Colorado ski resorts</a></p>


Best Ski Resorts for Families in Colorado

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Aspen Snowmass gondolas

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<p>Here are a few options for families looking to create lasting memories in Colorado this winter. If you're traveling with teens or littler kids, there's a slope or program to keep them engaged.</p>
<h2>Crested Butte</h2>
<p><a href="/skiing-snowboarding/crested-butte-mountain-resort">Crested Butte Mountain Resort</a>'s <a href="https://www.skicb.com/plan-your-trip/ski-and-ride-lessons/category/kids-seasonal-programs.aspx">Mountain Adventures Camp</a> lets parents go ski or snowboard while the kids skill-build and make new friends over three days. While Crested Butte is known best for its expert runs, the resort also has trails especially for kids and a wide array of green runs (green means easy!).</p>
<h2>Snowmass</h2>
<p>On select nights during ski season, bring your family to <a href="https://www.colorado.com/fine-dining/elk-camp-restaurant">Elk Camp</a>, <a href="/skiing-snowboarding/aspen-snowmass">Snowmass</a>' on-mountain restaurant, which transforms on <a href="https://www.aspensnowmass.com/visit/activities/winter/ullr-nights">Ullr Nights</a> into a nighttime winter wonderland with rides on the Breathtaker Alpine Coaster, opportunities for snowbiking, as well as s’mores and hot chocolate by the bonfire. <a href="https://www.colorado.com/cities-and-towns/snowmass">Snowmass Village</a> is also home to the <a href="https://www.aspensnowmass.com/visit/lessons/child-care">Treehouse Kids Adventure Center</a>, which offers child care with themed playrooms, as well as ski and snowboard lessons. Many evenings, kids can gather 'round the campfire for Old West storytelling and marshmallow roasting.</p>
<h2>Beaver Creek</h2>
<p>We can't mention <a href="/skiing-snowboarding/beaver-creek-resort">Beaver Creek</a> without giving a shout-out to its innovative 3pm cookie program: Warm cookies served at the end of the ski day as you leave the slopes and head to après activities. In addition to this delight, there's also <a href="https://www.beavercreek.com/explore-the-resort/activities/event-detail.aspx?id=%7Bac34d6c7-6053-4178-b186-46c21983209e%7D">Thursday-night lights</a> (a glow-stick ski procession followed by fireworks), a tubing hill and ice-skating. </p>
<h2>Keystone</h2>
<p><a href="/skiing-snowboarding/keystone-resort">Keystone Resort</a>'s <a href="https://www.keystoneresort.com/plan-your-trip/stay/kids-ski-free.aspx">Kids Ski Free</a> program for families gets the little one on the slopes when their families stay two or more nights in Keystone. While there, the fam must be sure to take advantage of the <a href="https://www.keystoneresort.com/explore-the-resort/activities-and-events/winter-activities/snow-fort.aspx">Fun Zones</a> — snow forts and tubing mean the kiddos can play, then when they're hungry you can head into the Summit House for snacks and chocolatey cocoa. For unparalleled ease, there's also the preferred family parking, just steps from the gondola. Other family amenities include complimentary red wagons to help guests transport their gear and children to the lifts, plus lessons that are perfect for everyone.</p>
<h2>Winter Park</h2>
<p>Check out <a href="/skiing-snowboarding/winter-park-resort">Winter Park</a>'s Coca-Cola Tubing park, which is open into the evening, for hot chocolate, four tubing lanes with a conveyer lift (perfect for tired ski legs!) and a warming hut. <a href="https://www.winterparkresort.com/plan-your-trip/getting-here/winter-park-express">Amtrak</a> has also reintroduced its route between Denver's <a href="http://www.colorado.com/articles/union-station-things-see-do">Union Station</a> and <a href="http://www.colorado.com/skiing-snowboarding/winter-park-resort">Winter Park Resort</a> for skiers and boarders looking for a relaxed ride to the slopes — this'll make your ski trip more focused on family time and less on driving. The trip takes only two hours. <a href="/articles/snow-tubing-sledding-colorado">Read more about snow tubing in Colorado</a></p>


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DFP 4-Pack: Body

<h2>Vail</h2>
<p>Kiddos age 3 and up can learn to shred via ski and ride lessons. As part of <a href="https://discovervail.com/blog/book-a-guide-on-vail-mountain/">Vail's Ski School</a>, Walking Mountains Science Center Naturalists give kids slopeside nature lessons about the Rocky Mountains that surround them. Jaw-dropping scenic gondola rides are also perfect for family outings, as is <a href="https://discovervail.com/things-to-do/nature-discovery-center/">Nature Discovery Center</a>, which offers free snowshoe tours which are both fun and educational (ages 10 and up). After a full day, the family-friendly <a href="/vail/bistro-fourteen">Bistro 14</a> is the perfect place to refuel.</p>
<h2>Copper Mountain</h2>
<p>Check out the <a href="https://www.coppercolorado.com/things-to-do/activities-amenities/play-sledding-zone">Green Acres Snow Play and Sledding Zone</a>, where you can build snowmen and zoom down the hill until sunset. <a href="https://www.colorado.com/amusement-parks-play-centers-indoor-entertainment/woodward-copper">Woodward Copper</a>’s Barn, an indoor playground with year-round ski, skate and bike programs offers ramps, foam pits and fly-bed tramps for those of all skill levels to practice tricks for their next trip down the mountain. For some family fun, <a href="/cities-and-towns/copper-mountain">Copper Mountain</a> also offers an <a href="https://www.coppercolorado.com/events-activities/winter-activities/ice-skating">ice-skating rink</a> where you can show off your oh-so-graceful moves to the group.</p>
<h2>Steamboat Springs</h2>
<p>Known as Ski Town U.S.A., Steamboat Springs has become one of the best family ski resorts in North America with options on and off the slopes for kids. Steamboat provides the perfect environment for kids and families learning how to ski with kids-only magic carpet lifts, private full- and half-day lessons for the whole family, and Sunshine Family Trail's Snow Monsters, Steamboat Olympians and other characters along the way. And once you get your brood back to your lodging and settled, there's no need to put the boots back on — have your <a href="https://www.steamboat.com/plan-your-trip/services/grocery-delivery-and-gift-basket-service/the-grocery-company">groceries delivered</a> and sit down to family dinner without any fuss. </p>
<h2>Durango</h2>
<p><a href="/skiing-snowboarding/purgatory-resort">Purgatory </a>(formerly Durango Mountain Resort) offers the <a href="https://www.purgatory.ski/power-kids-season-pass/">Power Kids Season Pass</a> free to children 12 and under. The Polar Express returns to the <a href="https://www.colorado.com/scenic-railways/durango-silverton-narrow-gauge-railroad-and-museum">Durango and Silverton Narrow Gauge Railroad,</a> a Christmasy ride where kids get into their PJs for hot cocoa and cookies and a reading of the Polar Express before a visit to the “North Pole” where they are greeted by Santa and his helpers, Christmas carols and a Sleigh Bell gift. Purgatory also offers winter tubing, so you can zoom down snow-covered hills with your little ones with stunning mountain views as the backdrop. <a href="http://www.colorado.com/articles/winter-train-trips-colorado">Find more winter train rides in Colorado</a></p>
<h2>Breckenridge</h2>
<p>With oodles of wide, gentle trails at the base of Peak 8 and Peak 9, there's plenty of room for new skiers to get things off to the right start at a relaxed pace. Off the slopes, there's ice skating, a <a href="/breckenridge/mountain-top-children's-explorium">mountain-top children's museum</a>, lots of family-friendly dining spots and other activities. For the competitive family, Breckenridge participates in <a href="https://www.epicmix.com/">EpicMix</a> (as do Vail, Beaver Creek and Keystone), a mobile app that keeps track of the vertical feet your family has covered, lessons completed, lift rides taken and many other ski-vacation stats to boast about when you return home. For older kids skiing without their parents, it'll tell you where on the mountain they last checked in — all they need to do is wear their EpicPass.</p>
<h2>Glenwood Springs</h2>
<p>A few miles south of <a href="/cities-and-towns/glenwood-springs">Glenwood Springs</a>, <a href="https://www.colorado.com/equipment-rentals/sunlight-mountain-resort">Sunlight Mountain Resort</a> covers 680 acres of skiable terrain, including one of the longest runs in the state. Friendly and affordable, it's a spacious place to hone ski skills. Ski for the day, then swim and stay at the <a href="/hot-springs/glenwood-hot-springs-resort">Glenwood Hot Springs Pool</a> where you can splash away any sore ski muscles. Sunlight also hosts a <a href="https://sunlightmtn.com/plan-your-trip/snowmobile-tours">Family Snowmobile Tour</a> short enough (one to one and a half hours) to keep everyone interested. Learn more about <a href="/articles/colorado-skiing-snowboarding-hidden-ski-hot-spots">Colorado's smaller ski areas</a></p>
<h2>Want More?</h2>
<p>Remember, nearly all of <a href="/winter-vacations/ski-areas-and-resorts">Colorado's 28 ski resorts</a> have family activities, including <a href="http://www.colorado.com/articles/night-activities-colorado-ski-resorts">nighttime fun</a>. Need lessons? Many resorts and ski areas offer <a href="/articles/colorado-ski-school-learn-ski-snowboard-colorado">ski and snowboard schools and programs</a>. Also check out our <a href="http://www.colorado.com/winter-vacations/ski-areas-and-resorts">full list of Colorado ski resorts</a> and <a href="https://www.colorado.com/articles/summer-activities-colorado-ski-resorts">ski-town activities for summer</a>.</p>
