A ski vacation can be a budget-breaker for family travelers when accounting for the cost of lift tickets, lodging and travel. Ski lifts alone can be more than $200 a day for an adult and up to $150 a day for a child at resorts in Aspen, Breckenridge and Vail. Fortunately, many smaller resorts provide good skiing and excellent learning programs for children, with lift tickets at half or one-fourth of the more famous mountains.
Sipapu, New Mexico
Family-owned Sipapu, near Taos, takes its family-friendly reputation seriously, with free season passes for kids under 12 and 20 percent of its trails tagged for beginners. Enough of its 41 trails are for experts that experienced skiers won’t be bored here, and teens also love the three terrain parks.
Sunlight Mountain, Colorado
Also well-geared to family skiing, Sunlight Mountain is a good place to get kids on the slopes with its Learn to Shine program, one of the cheapest ski school programs in the industry. Not far from Aspen, Sunrise enjoys the same snow conditions (more than 20 feet of snowfall in an average season) along with 300 sunny days a year. Stay and dine on a a budget in nearby Glenwood Springs.
King Pine, New Hampshire
In the heart of the White Mountains, King Pine is a local secret with trails carved through pine woods and a warm, friendly vibe. Part of the family-oriented Purity Spring Resort, King Pine is known for its grooming and snow-making, and often has better conditions than nearby high-profile ski resorts. The range of trails suit all skill levels, with gentle cruisers, tree skiing and one of the state’s steepest trails. Kids rule here, with an excellent ski school and kid-friendly staff, as well as a tubing hill and ski tickets that include ice skating on the covered rink.
Camelback Mountain, Pennsylvania
Families in the middle Atlantic states don’t have to travel to New England for a ski vacation thanks to Camelback in the Poconos. The 30 trails are best for beginning and intermediate skiers, and children under 5 ski free. The resort is good for a full winter vacation experience, with a tubing hill, mountain coaster, water park and zip line.
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