Family-friendly ski resort…

[Panhandler80]

So I’m just now looking a potential ski trip for 5 year old’s spring break. Be just him, wife and myself. Money definitely a concern. Was thinking 3 days of lift tickets and 4-5 days at resort.

Delta airline friendly is a huge deal.

Some pretty views from mountain and nice cruising runs to some intermediate runs all we need.

Don’t need 5 star dining at night, but a couple drinks an an easy to grab hamburger / bar food needs to be close.

Would like easy / quick access to a lift but willing to take provided shuttle.

Right now I’m kinda eyeballing Keystone, but open to all suggestions. Really good chance it doesn’t happen. Used an agency in price all in to Steamboat and it some sticker shock. Keystone a whole lot easier to get to and booking my own stuff shaves some more off the bottom line. By no means beholden to CO. Just some really cheap and numerous delta flight options and easy access to some resorts (likely tons of people as a result) To some stuff near there.

Also, would trade mountain attributes for smaller crowds and/or lifts and runs that consistently move people well.

Thanks

 

[cnelk]

Keystone for sure.
Very kid friendly

 

[Gwchem]

Skiing only makes financial sense if you do it often enough for a season pass.

Where are you flying from? East Coast is cheaper.

 

[cuerro viejo]

Hell with CO, head north. Idaho or Montana. My favorite is “el pescado blanco”.

Favorite ski resorts are like units and trail heads

 

[Panhandler80]

Skiing only makes financial sense if you do it often enough for a season pass.

Where are you flying from? East Coast is cheaper.

NW Florida. Have a lot of delta miles, free 1st class upgrade per flight this year and next and a free companion ticket with purchase. So, Lots of Options. Also found retail fight from here to Denver for like $500 with just one stop. Could fly the three of us for a little more than that.

Clearly, none of it makes financial sense. Just an option we’re considering.

 

[cnelk]

Winter Park is also an option if you decide to fly into Denver

 

[Poser]

For what you are looking for, take a look at Angel Fire, New Mexico. You might also think about Jay Peak or Okemo Vermont.

Lots of tradeoffs with an area such as Keystone: its packed to the gills and utterly wild during Spring Break, though they do move people around efficiently. You're paying for a lot of access to terrain you won't ski. It can be cold, sometimes too cold for kids. You'll see some extremely distressed parents when they are thinking about the cost of a day out skiing and little Johnny is crying because he's cold and wants to go inside. Of course, the amenities are crazy good, and crazy expensive: a basket of chicken fingers and french fries will cost you $35. Lunch for 3 can easily be $100+. Traffic getting up there from Denver can be INSANE.

If you want that level of amenities, you might also price out Park City, Utah. That being said, every option is going to be shockingly expensive. The "cheap" options will be expensive which will lead you back to the premium options because you're already spending so much, might as well have world class amenities.

 

[schmalzy]

I’d look at ski cooper, monarch or Loveland valley.

I have a 9, 7 and 4 year old and just recently got them skiing. Or attempting to. Our reality was that they’re really only having fun for an hour or two depending on weather/temp. My wife is just barely learning to ski so when the kids are done that turns into her watching them while I ski.

Does your wife ski? If not that’s another huge variable to contend with.

Keystone is great but an epic resort and therefor going to be more expensive.


Happy medium may be to hangout and explore Denver/Boulder for a few days and try skiing one day at Loveland valley and see if it’s a hit. If it is, easy to extend another day or two. If it’s not, you still can explore the many many places around. Lodging in Denver will be significantly less. You will have to deal with traffic but will more than likely save you hundreds if not over a thousand.


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[Gwchem]

Colorado is either super expensive or packed. We only go there because my in-laws live at one of the resorts. Highly recommend you look into Vermont. Or even WVa, Snowshoe is a great family resort. Has your kid ever skied? If not, Colorado is a massive place to start but it's a commitment.

 

[mxgsfmdpx]

It can be crowded and touristy these days but... You should do yourself a favor and experience Lake Tahoe at least once in both the Summer and Winter.

For winter fly into Reno via Delta and rent a 4WD vehicle. I'd spend two days on the North side at Squaw Valley and then 2-3 days on the South side at Heavenly. If wanting to only do one place I'd choose Heavenly, there is tons to do around South Lake. There are also some "less popular' places to check out for skiing and snowboarding specifically in the area if you want to branch off. I spent nearly 20 years snowboarding those mountains every year.

For summer, if you end up going, PM me.

 

[LongWayAround]

If I'm going to a ski resort, it's Steamboat. No decision to be made.

It's not cheap but the general lack of crowding beats anything I've experienced on I-70.

 

[wyodan]

I found the salt lake area resorts to be better for prices and crowds than the Colorado resorts. I liked Brighton, and you can night ski there.

 

[Poser]

If I'm going to a ski resort, it's Steamboat. No decision to be made.

It's not cheap but the general lack of crowding beats anything I've experienced on I-70.

Let me tell you about Southwest CO…. Oh, wait, never mind


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[FOS373]

If I'm going to a ski resort, it's Steamboat. No decision to be made.

It's not cheap but the general lack of crowding beats anything I've experienced on I-70.

I agree, but I’m a bit biased…….

Delta flies direct from Atlanta. Take the shuttle service and ride around town on the free bus. Ski, goto the hot springs, eat downtown. Less crowds, more chill.

 

[def90]

Family friendly..

Colorado = Keystone, Granby Ranch, Copper, Winter Park

Montana = Big Sky

 

[WoolyBugger]

This has been 3 years now so it could have changed.. I did a 3 night, 2 ski day trip to Breck on the cheap. I think the 2 day epic pass was like $175, less than $75 a person per night (3 of us went) at an Airbnb on the south side of town with a shuttle that took us to the lift, and we packed lunches on the mountain. It’s the only place I’ve skied outside of Iowa but it wasn’t any busier than our hills on a weekend and they move people way more efficiently. Lots of good dining in town and groceries. Wouldn’t advise buying any food on the mountain, no matter where you go

 

[Panhandler80]

For what you are looking for, take a look at Angel Fire, New Mexico. You might also think about Jay Peak or Okemo Vermont.

Lots of tradeoffs with an area such as Keystone: its packed to the gills and utterly wild during Spring Break, though they do move people around efficiently. You're paying for a lot of access to terrain you won't ski. It can be cold, sometimes too cold for kids. You'll see some extremely distressed parents when they are thinking about the cost of a day out skiing and little Johnny is crying because he's cold and wants to go inside. Of course, the amenities are crazy good, and crazy expensive: a basket of chicken fingers and french fries will cost you $35. Lunch for 3 can easily be $100+. Traffic getting up there from Denver can be INSANE.

If you want that level of amenities, you might also price out Park City, Utah. That being said, every option is going to be shockingly expensive. The "cheap" options will be expensive which will lead you back to the premium options because you're already spending so much, might as well have world class amenities.

Thanks! I’ve actually skied Angel Fire before. Drove from Amarillo. Wasn’t super impressed. Went to Taos after a couple days. It was quite a bit better.

Just got back to replying. Ran rough numbers by wife and she’s OUT. “I don’t like cold, or heights, and that’s expensive.”

So back to drawing board. Last year was a 7 day cruise and I effing hated it. Trying come up with coming different.

Thanks for all the input.

 

[Thess87]

we love copper. It’s the best value in my opinion

 

[KChunter71]

Fly delta to Alaska in the Summer!

 

[Gwchem]

O.P. I want to reiterate, as a dad of 7 and 9 year olds in an avid skiing family, that you would be better served with a small family resort where your boy can handle his day. People suggesting Breck and Big Sky have no idea what it's like taking a 5 year old for his first time.

My kids are comfortable at Steamboat, but that's cause we started at timberline and canaan, West Virginia.