A top travel writer share her “favorite family resort” with readers and explains why Colorado's Snowmass is worth the bucks.
Snowmass (800/525-6200), the Aspen Skiing Company’s bastion of family skiing, might be one of the most expensive places we’ve ever skied but it was also one of my family’s favorites. This place has thought of everything for the snow-loving family, from the fantastic terrain for all skier levels to convenient slope-side condos, licensed day care and a free shuttle that takes skiers between Snowmass, Aspen, Aspen Highlands and Buttermilk Mountains in central Colorado.
The impressive children’s ski school will give your toddler private lessons, teach your 5-year-old to snowboard and has enough thrills built into the “too cool for school” groups for older kids that even your teen won’t get bored. The Cubs program teaches “Powder Pandas” and “Big Burn Bears” ages 3-4 and “Grizzlies” ages 5-6 how to ski. Also, kids ages 7-12 can take lessons at Snowmass’s “First Turns” program.
The resort recently unveiled The Treehouse Kids’ Adventure Center that offers interactive activities in themed rooms for children 8-weeks and older. They even have evening activities for teens with skate ramps and video game nights and also for kids so parents can get a guilt-free evening out while they watch movies and do crafts projects. When you get tired of skiing, you can sled, hop the local bus into Aspen to ice skate, people-watch and shop (take the kids for burgers and shakes at Boogies Diner). Take a sled in Snowmass to Burlingame Cabin for a night of cowboy entertainment served up with your dinner.
Be prepared for a pricey stay, though. Condos easily can cost more than $400/N, though you can save some money skiing early and late season: Kids’ lessons-and-lifts are over $100/D; adult lift passes are around $70.
Snowmass
16 Kerns Rd # 113
Snowmass Village, CO 81615
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