Top 10 family ski resorts

Bundle up the clan and head into a winter wonderland

	Considering taking the family skiing this winter? Try these ski resorts that cater to skiers of all ages.
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By ShermansTravel editorial staff

updated 10:15 a.m. ET Feb. 23, 2009

There's a certain magic known only to those who spend time out on the slopes, found in those glorious moments of carving out solitary paths through a snow-clad winter wonderland — it's only natural to want to pass that enchantment on to the brood. Of course, the littlest ski legs have some way to go before they'll be shredding black-diamond trails — that's why our editors have rounded up these 10 North American ski resorts that cater to family-friendly fun.

Spread out from the Northeast to the Rockies and up past the Canadian border, these mountain playgrounds offer not only superior kid-geared instruction and picturesque beginner's terrain, but snow-centric and off-slope activities that the whole family can enjoy. So, bundle up the clan and learn firsthand just why families that play together, are so inclined to stay together!

Bretton Woods
Located in the White Mountains of northern New Hampshire (under a three-hour drive from Boston), the state’s largest ski area gets high marks for its consistently good weather conditions: An east-facing exposure protects it from the northwest wind, while exceptionally good snow coverage means parents don’t have to worry (as much) about exposed rocks while teaching their kids to ski and snowboard.

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Younger children (not to mention their solace-seeking parents) will love the Kids’ Club, which offers supervised games, activities, and kid-friendly dinners like pizza or macaroni and cheese (Fridays, Saturdays and select holidays from 6 to 9 p.m.) on the lower level of the historic Mount Washington Hotel. Older kids (ages 12 and over) with parents in tow can alternatively check out the resort’s year-round Canopy Tour (opened in December 2008) — it features elevated suspension bridges and treetop zip-lines descending some 1,000 feet to the base of the resort.

Collingwood
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Nestled in the shadow of the Niagara Escarpment and bordered by Georgian Bay, Collingwood’s Blue Mountain resort, situated about two hours north of Toronto, is Ontario's quintessential family destination. A haven for clans whose idea of family fun is a wee bit less intense than tearing down the slopes, ski-bunnies-in-training here can take advantage of the wide variety of lessons and activities available to childern in the resort-sponsored Kids’ Camp, while their parents get a much-deserved break.

Or, parents themselves can enjoy learning to ski, or brush up on long-forgotten skills, thanks to lessons on offer and the high number of beginner and intermediate runs. After a day of playing in the snow, rally the troops for a dip at the resort’s indoor water park, before winding things down for a good old-fashioned family powwow by the fireplace.

Crested Butte
These uncrowded, powdery Colorado Rockies’ slopes come minus the icy patches more common to eastern resorts, making them a resounding hit with tumble-prone kids (and adults) alike. Youngsters are especially stoked by kid-specific trail maps and the children’s terrain park, featuring rails, jumps, tabletops, rolls and even a mini-halfpipe. Day care is on offer for little ones aged 2 months to 3 years (when ski programs kick in), with a 1-to-2 caregiver-to-infant ratio for tots under 18 months.

Tubing, movie and pizza-dinner evenings or monthly pizza-and-movie “teen nights” keep the young ones entertained, while this historic-mining-town-cum-ski-resort — completely devoid of traffic lights and chain stores — serves to charm the skis right off of the adults. Access is via a 5-hour drive southwest of Denver, or just 45 minutes from the Gunnison-Crested Butte Regional Airport.