3. The Lodge at Suncadia—Cle Elum, Washington
The holidays are snow much fun here. A tree-lighting ceremony on Thanksgiving weekend kicks off Winterfest, a monthlong celebration with horse-drawn-sleigh rides, Jack Frost storytimes, s’mores roasting in the outdoor fireplace, cookie-decorating classes for the kids, and—the sweetest of all—elf tuck-ins. “The elves come to a family’s room to read the kids a story and bring them a trinket,” says Shawn Cannon, recreation director.
All this, of course, is in addition to the lodge’s regular wintertime activities, including cross-country skiing for kids five and over, ice-skating, and snow-tubing. An indoor pool with waterslides and mommy-and-me spa treatments are also part of the fun. Rates start at $129 per night; suncadiaresort.com
2. The Westin Riverfront Resort & Spa, Beaver Creek—Avon, Colorado
The staff seems to have thought of everything. Childproofing supplies? You can pick them up at check-in along with some welcome goodies for the kids. Place to store all your family’s wet gear? A valet will whisk away your skis and warm up your boots for free when you come off the gondola or shuttle from nearby Beaver Creek ski area. Extra hand in the morning? The Westin’s car-pool service will drive your child to and from lessons at The Ranch, Beaver Creek’s incredible new ski school that features tepees, wagons, and other Wild West-themed obstacles for beginners. If you can’t resist checking out your three-year-old’s first lesson (but don’t want her to see that you’re around), you can peek out of the school’s huge panoramic windows.
Beaver Creek ski area has plenty for your clan to do together, too, like tubing, ice-skating, sleigh rides, afternoon cookie breaks, and a Thursday night fireworks display. When you add that to the Westin’s family-movie and crafts night, heated outdoor pool (yes, the kids can swim in the snow!), and supervised kids’ club activities like building snow forts and learning about the area’s Native American culture, you’ll find that there’s barely enough time to sleep in the chain’s signature super comfy Heavenly Beds or cribs. Rates start at$249 per night; westinriverfrontavon.com
1. Jackson Gore Inn—Ludlow, Vermont
It’s in a great location. The Jackson Gore Inn is just a snowball’s throw away from all of the fun family happenings at Okemo, a mountain that ski buffs flock to for its 119 lush trails. A top-notch ski school rents pint-size gear and puts kids on the bunny slopes starting at age two, the youngest in our survey. “We designed ski maps for kids, with secret stuff like easy glades [tree skiing] that aren’t on the adult version,” says K. C. Gandee, recreation director.
Even if your family doesn’t ski, Jackson Gore is still an awesome resort. Right outside the front door, kids can climb on and crawl through the “ant hill,” a giant mound of snow. There are three snow-tubing runs, and some tubes link together so you can slide down as a family. An outdoor rink rents skates and hosts family events like broomball games. “It’s ice hockey wearing your sneakers, and you use frozen brooms for sticks,” explains Gandee. The excitement continues after dark with candy-bag bingo games, trivia contests, moonlit snowshoe treks with glow sticks, and animal-track tours. Rates start at $150 per night (kids 6 and under get free lift tickets); okemo.com
By Karen Cicero. Originally published in the November 2009 issue of Parents magazine
