If you’re looking to kick back with the kids this winter, catch our drift: A snow-covered getaway could be more family-friendly (even with toddlers!) than a beach vacay. But where can you stay comfortably without sacrificing a big chunk of your savings? To find out, Parents magazine asked tourism boards in states where snow is plentiful to nominate affordable inns, lodges, and resorts that cater to families. From more than 100 contenders, we narrowed the field by evaluating the family activities on site and at nearby ski areas, the quality of ski lessons for young children, the standard room size and amenities, the kids’ club or supervised play area, special holiday events, and the price tag. Our top ten faves—all costing less than $250 per night for a room that sleeps two adults and two small kids or $400 for an all-inclusive—may make you want to fly north this winter.
10. Dakota Mountain Lodge & Golden Door Spa—Park City, Utah
It’s all new. Opened in July, the resort has ice-skating, snow tubing, an alpine roller coaster for kids four and up, and a terrific ski school. The school limits group-class size to five kids, one of the lowest in our survey.
Back at the lodge, there are arts and crafts and games in a playroom that kids can pop in and out of with their parents. Chefs at Spruce, the lodge’s restaurant known for its healthy, locally grown food, cook the kids’ fries in rice-bran oil and put the grilled cheese on whole-wheat bread. The resort is light on your wallet too: Introductory deals abound through December 15. Rates start at $159 per night; dakotamountainlodge.com
9. Resort at Squaw Creek—Lake Tahoe, California
It’s the perfect spot to ring in 2010. The resort, at the hub of the Squaw Valley USA ski area, throws a New Year’s Eve party for the family—with games, crafts, and music, plus a toast and a balloon drop at both 9 p.m. and midnight. In fact, there’s a whole string of holiday activities, including photo workshops, hot cocoa by the fire, breakfast with Santa, and ice-skating with Buddy Bear, the resort’s mascot. You’ll find plenty of downhill and cross-country action. Many of the trails are for beginners, so it’s an ideal place to ski as a family. Rates start at $229 per night; squawcreek.com
8. Crystal Mountain Resort & Spa—Thompsonville, Michigan
You’re getting a bargain here. A spacious “Hamlet” room with a microwave, a fridge, and a toaster goes for as low as $120 per night. Plus, the activities are free or cheap: There’s a snowman search (your family gets a compass and clues to find a snowman hidden somewhere on the resort’s 1,500 acres), bonfires, horse-drawn-surrey rides, and storytimes with mascots, as well as nighttime snowshoe hikes. “The kids love to do owl calls on the hikes,” says Janice Davidson, recreation director. Skiing is here too. There are forty-five slopes with lessons starting at age three. A unique feature we love: Kids in ski school wear color-coded vests to designate if they have a food allergy or any other special condition. Rates start at $119 per night; crystalmountain.com
