Where to Take Kids Tubing, Skiing Near Washington, D.C.

Cavorting in the snow is not reserved for residents of the north. Maybe the options are not as plentiful in the Middle Atlantic region, but families there don’t need to travel far to find ski mountains, tubing parks and other snow sports near Washington, D.C., and the nearby cities of Baltimore and Wilmington.

Ski resorts make up for lower snowfall with modern snow-making technology, and augment ski slopes and trails with other outdoor activities like tubing, ice skating and terrain parks for boarders. Night skiing, spas and indoor recreation facilities make these all-weather family resorts fun for all ages.

Nearest to the nation’s capital is Liberty Mountain Resort, 8 miles from Gettysburg , and just more than one hour from Washington. Snow making covers all 16 ski trails and three terrain parks. A child care center frees parents for some adult ski time, as do ski lessons for children. A separate smaller ski area is set aside for children ages 4 and under. The 15-lane Boulder Ridge Snow Tubing is also part of the resort.

About half an hour farther from Washington, Roundtop Mountain Resort is near Lewisberry, Pennsylvania. Eighteen ski trails wind through the wooded slopes and are especially beginner-friendly. The 14-lane tubing hill is accessed by a Magic Carpet lift, and a smaller area with shorter lanes and smaller tubes is reserved for kids aged 4 and under. Best of all are Roundtop’s bargain tubing rates. And be sure to warm up around the giant fire pit.

And just two hours from Washington, Bryce Mountain Resort in Virginia’s beautiful Shenandoah Valley boasts six trails, a terrain park, and beginner area served by two chair lifts and three carpet rides. A long gentle beginner trail runs from the top, and a short but challenging expert trail challenges experienced skiers. For kids interested in racing, Race Training Clinics welcome kids as young as 7. Children ages 5 and under ski free with a ticketed adult.