Western ski resorts known for winter and skiing offer summer fun at family-friendly mountain destinations. Parents love that lodging and activities are economical and the weather is usually cooler. Kids love the new hiking, biking and other adventures that high altitude resorts offer. These plusses mean western ski resorts are good summer vacation destinations that shouldn’t be overlooked.
Most western ski resorts began investing in summer offerings when climate change brought in milder winters and warmer summers. They know that year-round guests can only help their traffic and revenues.
What began as resorts opening their mountains in the summer for hiking –- perhaps with one chairlift operating on limited hours -– has evolved into a summer ski resort culture offering a dozen or more summer-only activities.
Cheap Mountainside Summer Housing at Western Ski Resorts
Summer is the time to get great deals at Western ski resorts on resort accommodations as well. The summer season is generally defined as June through September. Dates may vary at different resorts, especially those with convention facilities. But always look for discounted lodging rates compared to the winter ski season.
These deals, however, are not the bargains they were before the pandemic, an era that saw interest in outdoor activities blossom. Today, thanks to a newfound passion for outdoor recreation and increasingly hotter summers, many families prefer mountain resorts over beach resorts at any price.
Popular slopeside accommodations at Utah resorts, for example, will still be about 35% less during the summer season than during a non-holiday winter week. What’s more, quality lodging can be had at ski resorts on short notice in the summer. A quick search for an upcoming summer weekend yielded many suitable results. Many of the same accommodations are already fully booked for many winter weekends.
Below are three resorts from different states along with the summer offerings and rate discounts. These resorts are generally representative of what you’ll find at most major North American resorts.
Park City, Utah: Summer at a Top Western Mountain Resort
Near Salt Lake City, Park City Mountain is one of several ski resorts in the immediate area. The region’s great combination of village and mountain have made it one of the country’s most popular summer destinations. Summer offerings in Park City include a zipline, where you hang (securely) from a cable and let gravity take you for a thrilling ride down the mountain. There’s another option for those who prefer to sit rather than hang. That’s the alpine slide and coaster from past Olympic Games which give bobsled feel for a fast ride down.
Several mountain resorts operate some of their chairlifts throughout the summer. These are great for rides up to access to hiking and mountain biking. (Less active families also enjoy a scenic ride back down.) In addition to chair lifts, inquire about the ziplines and mountain coasters or slides found in the immediate area.
Instead of staying in town, check out the mountain resorts around Park City where lodging is deeply discounted in the summer, up to 40% off. The same goes for many other Salt Lake area mountain resorts, many of whom also offer similar amenities.
Note that the southern Utah ski resorts don’t have to discount so much because they are close the very popular Zion and Bryce Canyon national parks.
Western Ski Resorts Like Breckenridge, Colorado Are Cool in Summer
By driving a couple hours west of Denver, you’ll find many great ski resorts. Colorado’s favorites include Copper, Winter Park, Beaver Creek, and Vail. Breckenridge is another excellent western ski resort for summer offering outdoor adventures. This destination boasts many festivals in summer, along with excellent dining and spa services in the village area. The greater Breckenridge area offers scenic lift rides, hiking, mountain biking, and a climbing wall. That action is in addition to other activities such as gem stone panning. Given its great location close to several rivers, Breckenridge provides both fishing and whitewater rafting to summer visitors.
Lodging at Breckenridge mountain is deeply discounted in the summer, especially midweek. A random sample we did of August versus February lodging rates runs at a 40% discount.
Northstar California, A Western Ski Resort for Summer Family Fun
Northstar California, long considered a “best” family ski resort during winter months, does it up well in the summer. They have a large array of activities for the entire family. Golf, hiking, mountain biking, tennis, and fly-fishing are just a few of the activities you’ll find at Northstar if you visit while the weather is warmer.
On the unique list of things to do at Northstar, geocaching is a popular summertime activity. Geocaching is basically a high-tech treasure hunt, using a GPS unit on Northstar’s many hiking trails to find treasures. Northstar also offers a continuous lineup of summer events, such as the once-per-month Wine Walk. Each Wine Walk features a different California winery of high quality, such as Stags Leap.
Lodging at Northstar California, part of the Vail Resorts family, includes a few hotels plus several HOA’s where rental units are available. These will cost about half during the summer of what they would during the winter. At some, loook for a “3rd night free” deal and many other accommodation packages.
These are just a few options at ski resorts in the summer. As the local saying goes in many mountain towns, people “come for the winter but they stay for the summer.” Don’t be afraid to check out your favorite ski destination during the summer months. You’re bound to be pleasantly surprised with its offerings and affordability.
Contributed by the editorial staff at www.familyskihub.com. FamilySkiHub.com is a one-stop resource for resort reviews, online community, and family skiing tips for skiing families.
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