Planning A Family Ski Trip

Last year we took our first family ski trip. Teaching the kids to ski is something my husband and I have always wanted to do. The girls were old enough for ski school and we decided to give it a try. We were surprised just how much everyone enjoyed it and while it was certainly far from a “relaxing getaway” our family ski trip was a blast. We are looking forward to trying a new mountain this year! Browsing family ski vacation home rentals is something I do all year long to plan.

Today I’m highlighting a few family friendly ski mountains around the US and some great ski home rentals available in each spot. This past year, we rented a HomeAway home for a family vacation and since then, I spend a lot of time browsing the site, planning future trips for our family. As a family of 6 I found a lot of value in staying in a home and also a lot of ease in the overall planning process for the kids. I would highly recommend booking a vacation rental for any upcoming ski trips on HomeAway.com. Here’s why:

1. The Gear: 

The amount of gear we packed last winter was pretty crazy. We kept saying “and this is with renting the boots and skis and with only 2 of the 4 kids skiing”. When we would all come inside from a day out in the snow the pile of gear was crazy: hats, gloves, base layers, millions of socks… the list goes on. Having a vacation home to rent for a ski trip gives you more space for all the gear and even more importantly, a washer and dryer so you don’t have to bring as much. Ski trips are probably the family vacations that require the most clothing and you need it to be warm and dry the next day if you want to use it again. Having a washer and dyer is key.

2. A Kitchen 

I think a kitchen is really important on a family ski trip. We tend to start the day early and then start piling on the ski gear. It’s nice to be able to have breakfast at home and get ready. Then, everyone is starving after the slopes – so you can store a bunch of snacks at the house. Last, after a day of skiing, taking kids to a restaurant to sit is not too easy. Quiet dinners at home are wonderful, especially by a fire!

3. Cost Efficient 

Renting a ski house can be a cost efficient way to go skiing as a family. You get a lot of space for less money and often you can really save if you have friends or family members to go with you. Some of the ski houses I saw fit 15+ people! Plus you’ll save a lot being able to cook in a kitchen vs eating meals out.

4. Room to Relax

After skiing our kids were exhausted. Usually they are “go go go” on vacation but we found on a ski trip they wanted more down time after the slopes. Renting a ski house gives you space to hang out at home after skiing and relax. I’ve even seen vacation rentals with playrooms. Also, the kids being exhausted meant super early bedtimes. Having living space separate from the bedrooms means the kids can go to bed and the parents can hang out and relax at night!

5. Unwind as a Family 

Ski trips are so much fun but a day on the mountain with 4 kids is a bit chaotic. There’s a lot of divide and conquer based on who wants to do what, who is at what level, etc. Having a warm cozy house to head back to at the end of the day to unwind and just enjoy time as a family really makes the trip special.

Now for a few mountains to check out as a family:

Mount Snow, Vermont

Mount Snow is where we took the kids last year to ski and loved everything about this mountain. The ski school was amazing and perfect for even the youngest skier. The instructors were awesome and our kids still talk about the ski school there on the regular. They also have a fun tubing hill and great spots to eat.

Here’s a great rental for Mount Snow Skiing:

And here’s one more rental in Mount Snow:

Stratton Mountain, Vermont 

Another spot we love in Vermont is Stratton Mountain. We have a good friend there that invites us up and we have gone a few times with the kids. It’s a super family friendly area with a ton to do. Check out the book store in town too for a great afternoon off the slopes with the kids. Here’s a great HomeAway rental for families in Stratton:

 

Skiing in Colorado with Kids

Over the next few years, we hope to venture off the east coast and try skiing in other parts of the country. I went out to Colorado years ago and can still remember the first time I saw the mountains there. They are so beautiful and I can’t wait to show my kids someday. One spot people have recommended trying for skiing with kids is Breckenridge. HomeAway.com has some awesome listings there including this house: 

OR if you can get a big group together, I think this house in Breckenridge looks incredible: 

Another spot in Colorado that’s nice for families is Steamboat.  This HomeAway rental in Steamboat looks amazing:  

        

 

I’m an east coast girl and love our scenic mountain ranges, but they don’t compare to what you can see if you head out west! So a few other spots on our family ski bucket list are California and Utah. Here’s a few neat rentals I found there:

Ski House Rental in Lake Tahoe, CA:

Ski House Rental in Park City, UT:

Even if you don’t ski, ski houses make a great vacation. I know… it sounds strange.. but being in a ski area in the winter is wonderful. The mountains are beautiful and there are plenty of activities besides skiing. My brothers and I grew up going to our family ski house in Vermont every winter and none of us ever learned to ski until we were much older. My parents love Vermont and the snowy mountains but neither have ever skied! The first few times we took the kids to Vermont we enjoyed a cozy dinner by the fire, sledding, making snowmen, a horse drawn sleigh ride through the snow, shopping, etc but didn’t let them ski until this past winter.

Ski Rentals from HomeAway

If you are thinking of planing a trip for your family this ski season, now’s the time to book a vacation rental. According to HomeAway 50% of all in-season ski rentals booked on their site are snapped up by December. So this Thanksgiving, while your relaxing and spending time with family, chat about where you might all want to head to for a winter getaway!

Disclosure: I have not rented these homes, they are my recommendations based on location, photos and reviews. We were not compensated for this post and all thoughts, opinions and house selections are my own. I do occasionally receive credit from HomeAway for their site but as always all opinions are my own.