Southern California has its very own world-class ski resorts including Bear Mountain, Snow Summit, and Mountain High, all based in the San Bernadino Mountains. Further north the Sierra Nevada Mountains are home to the most popular resorts in the state, including Lake Tahoe’s Sugar Bowl, Heavenly, and Kirkwood slopes. That’s a fair old selection of snowy destinations all within state lines, but North America as a whole has another eight hundred resorts to choose from! If you’re thinking about going on a skiing trip, trying the sport out near where you live is a sensible plan, but don’t forget there is a whole continent full of opportunities out there for you to explore.
Family-friendly resorts
If you’re going on vacation with the kids, you want to make sure that your chosen location is suitable for children and has the facilities and experienced tuition they will need. Being stuck in the middle of nowhere with nothing to do as a storm batters your ski lodge is no fun for kids, so you want to be close to local amenities and have alternative forms of entertainment available in case the weather prevents you getting out on the slopes. Whistler Blackcomb in British Columbia, Deer Valley in Utah and Jackson’s Hole in Wyoming are all highly rated as being ideal for families and beginner skiers. For example, if you book a stay in one of the Whistler Village rentals, you’ll have a widescreen TV and Internet access, as well as being close to a range of stores, restaurants and entertainment venues.
Getting started on the slopes
Even if you are an experienced skier or snowboarder yourself, it’s best to book some lessons for your kids to get them started. Trying to teach them yourself is like trying to teach your own kids to drive – you’re both likely to find the experience frustrating and unrewarding. If you book the kids in for some professional lessons, they will learn more quickly, and you can enjoy a few hours each day exploring the slopes for yourself while they’re being taught. Until you know how enthusiastic your kids are going to be about becoming regular skiers or snowboarders, it’s not worth investing in specialist equipment for them like skis, boards, and boots. You can hire all the items you need very easily at your resort, and as long as you get them expertly fitted, they should be comfortable enough to get going with. What you do need to get before you go is some good warm, waterproof clothes for the kids, as it’s no fun being cold and wet when you’re out in freezing temperatures.
Skiing and snowboarding are ideal pastimes for families, as you can all enjoy being together doing something you love and sharing an exhilarating experience. It’s also a lot of fun snuggling up in your lodge in the evenings, having hot cocoa and marshmallows in front of a roaring fire. With the number of resorts available across the country, a family skiing trip should be at the top of your vacation list.
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