A trip to the snow is a great idea for your next family vacation. And adding in some fun on the slopes to your trip is always a good idea. The kids will love it and so will the adults, especially if skiing is an activity that you have never experienced as a family before. Whether skiing or snowboarding is your flavor of choice, there are tons of resorts for beginners and families alike that can offer a ton of entertainment to your family for your upcoming escape. The best way to start planning your trip is to find the best ski resorts for beginners and families and, lucky you, you are in the right place. Here are a few of our favorite options that we think you will enjoy, too.

What to Consider

When we start up our search for the best ski resorts for beginners and families, we have to take a second to understand what it is we are looking for ideally. There are a lot of factors that go into planning a family trip and here are a couple of things we think it is important to consider for a ski trip, specifically.

First, we have to make sure that our resort has adequate bunny slopes. The kids are going to want to hit the mountain with mom and dad so smaller courses are a must. Additionally, if mom and dad are beginners, too, then everyone needs to get their bearings on the bunny slopes first. Luckily, almost any resort will have bunny slopes – but some take it a step further and decorate theirs with kid-friendly facades and other props for added fun. This could break of the monotony of the bunny slopes for more advanced riders who are stuck with less experienced family.

Second, the environment around the resort should be conducive to all sorts of family fun. Ski resorts often have taken this into account, adding kid’s zones and other amenities to attract families. Most even add in day care centers that are active at night to complement their restaurants and bars for the parents to enjoy while the kids are away. So, this could be another characteristic that we look at as we find the best ski resorts for beginners and families.

Interested in other family friendly ski/snowboard locations? Check out our Best Ski Resorts in Colorado for Families article!

Best Ski Resorts for Beginners and Families

Grand Targhee, Wyoming

The first resort on our list comes from somewhere you may not be expecting – Wyoming. The awesome Teton Mountains keep Grand Targhee tucked away from giant crowds so that the powder is always fresh. While Targhee isn’t the biggest resort you can find, it absolutely provides a great atmosphere (And perhaps you prefer the more intimate setting, anyway!). There are 2,000 acres of lift-accessed skiing and another 1,000 acres of snowcat skiing, providing plenty of mountain to carve up. Additionally, there is a program for teaching new skiers and children alike.

But the fun doesn’t end when the skiing stops. The resort at Grand Targhee offers far more than the usual offerings at a ski resort. You can go dogsledding, snowmobiling, or snowshoeing. There is also an adventure available in the form of a bus ride over the peaks of the Tetons to Jackson with a cowboy-poet bus driver. There are also kids-only trail maps for the younger people in your group and casino nights every Wednesday for the parents.

Altogether, Grand Targhee has a unique set-up that should attract the adventure lover in you and your family to the Tetons, making it one of the best ski resorts for beginners and families.

Okemo, Vermont

This resort has been owned by the same family for twenty years, giving it a history and richness that not many ski resorts can boast. The aura of the resort is one that all but screams “family first” and begs for a spot on any list of the best ski resorts for beginners and families in the world. Welcome to Okema, Vermont!

The skiing at the resort is perfect for the types of skiers we are talking about here. The slopes are gentle and generally novice, although there is some more intense riding to be found on the grounds of the resort. But, generally speaking, cruising down the mountain in Okemo is exciting and safe all at once. There are plenty of trails to explore for beginners and families, letting you have tons of fun without ever having to see the same strip of mountain twice.

And as far as amenities away from skiing, Okemo is top notch. The kid’s day care center is in the dead middle of the resort’s base area, allowing easy access and a simple pick up and drop off for mom and dad. Big bonus: Kids under 12 are taken care of for free. Additionally, the resort offers plenty beyond the skiing experience. There is plenty of nightlife around (with or without the kids) to enjoy and even a Kids Night Out program on holiday weekends.

Between the skiing and the other great activities around the resort to enjoy, there is a ton of fun waiting for you and your family at Okemo, one of the best ski resorts for beginners and families that you could imagine.

Steamboat Springs, Colorado

While Steamboat Springs may not be the first place that you think of when it comes to Colorado skiing resorts, it is absolutely one of the most family friendly. There’s truly something for everyone in Steamboat Springs, whether they be a beginning or expert skier.

The ski programs and skiing school are top notch at this location. There is terrain (and consistent snowfall) for every skier and snowboarder of every skill level. There are plenty of bunny slopes to satisfy newer skiers and other areas for the more advanced members of your family. There is even a (free!) option to ski with an Olympic medalist in Billy Kidd, a truly one of a kind experience.

The accommodations away from the mountain are equally as awesome as the skiing in Steamboat Springs. Steamboat Mountain Village and the downtown nearby are always alive with restaurants to eat at and interesting places to visit. If mom and dad, desire a night out, the Kids Adventure Club can keep the kids taken care of until 10 on most nights.

For these reasons, Steamboat Springs should be at or near the top of your list for your next vacations since it is one of the best ski resorts for beginners and families.

Wrap Up

Altogether, this list most likely contains the answer to your family’s next ski trip. All of these locations have accommodations for everyone in the family, younger and older. They also each have their own unique styles and activities to provide as you decide which of these three options are, indeed, the best for you.

We like to note that it is important not to forget that the best family vacations center around keeping the kids entertained. Whether that means finding activities for everyone to enjoy at once or keep the kids entertained while mom and dad enjoy themselves, a family vacation should always take care of the kids. And we are willing to bet that your kids will love learning to ski (or continuing to ski if they already know how). Therefore, these, the best ski resorts for beginners and families, are some of the best candidates for your upcoming trip out there.

See you out there!