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Winter Vacation Destinations
Posted on 7/2/24 at 8:19 am
Posted on 7/2/24 at 8:19 am
Kids (8 & 5) are begging to see some snow and we want to plan a trip during Mardi Gras. Neither my wife or I snow ski (except once as children) but would like to do maybe lessons one day with the kids and maybe a day on some easy slopes so not really a skiing trip. Want to sled, snowmobile ride, etc.
Looked into Santa Fe, but it’s not always guaranteed to snow there.
Are places like Steamboat our best option? Not looking for real expensive places like Aspen or Park City.
Looked into Santa Fe, but it’s not always guaranteed to snow there.
Are places like Steamboat our best option? Not looking for real expensive places like Aspen or Park City.
11
Posted on 7/2/24 at 8:35 am to bleedpurplengold
I took my kids skiing for the first time when they were about that age. We went to Red River New Mexico. We had a great time. Their ski season lasts till the end of March so you should be good. It's a small mountain with good trails for beginners. We went snowmobiling as well and that was fun. We rented a cabin within walking distance to the lift. Lodging and lift tickets were inexpensive compared to the resorts in Colorado and Utah. Had a great time and I highly recommend it for your first time with young kids, it wasn't very crowded, and the locals were nice.
Posted on 7/2/24 at 9:46 am to bleedpurplengold
Park City, Utah. Love that place. You will get snow. Took my granddaughter there in February. It was magical.
Posted on 7/2/24 at 9:52 am to cusoonkpd
Highly recommend staying west of the Mississippi River. I would say Vail has a ton of snow/winter related stuff in addition to skiing. The mountains have tons of beginner slopes, lots of amenities, and can always make snow when needed. It’s not cheap, but at this point I hear skiing in Europe is cheaper for Americans than staying in the USA.
Posted on 7/2/24 at 10:08 am to bleedpurplengold
Breckenridge is a great option. Has all of the non-skiing activities you listed.
Posted on 7/2/24 at 10:17 am to bleedpurplengold
I would recommend Steamboat.
1) Airport is only about 35min from town. Southwest flies there.
2) Howelsen hill is a small ski area right next to downtown that is free on Sundays. I think it has 3 green runs and a few short blues. Great way to try it out without breaking the bank. If you decide yall love it, then spend the money to take lessons and ski on the big Steamboat resort mountain the rest of the week.
3) Lots of easily accessible sled hills around town.
4) Hot springs
5) good snowmobiling
1) Airport is only about 35min from town. Southwest flies there.
2) Howelsen hill is a small ski area right next to downtown that is free on Sundays. I think it has 3 green runs and a few short blues. Great way to try it out without breaking the bank. If you decide yall love it, then spend the money to take lessons and ski on the big Steamboat resort mountain the rest of the week.
3) Lots of easily accessible sled hills around town.
4) Hot springs
5) good snowmobiling
Posted on 7/2/24 at 10:42 am to bleedpurplengold
I would look at Keystone, great family mountain and one of the cheaper options in Colorado. Lots of condos at the base area, easy walk to the gondola. There is a sledding hill not to far away in Frisco, I also think Keystone might have tubing on the resort but I've never done it.
I would look at getting lift tickets now through Epic, looks like it is $87 for an adult and $44 for a child but the price will increase the longer you wait.
Steamboat would also be great, better ski town but probably a bit more expensive. Same would go for Breck as well. If you have passports Banff is awesome, outside of flights would be easily the cheapest option.
I would look at getting lift tickets now through Epic, looks like it is $87 for an adult and $44 for a child but the price will increase the longer you wait.
Steamboat would also be great, better ski town but probably a bit more expensive. Same would go for Breck as well. If you have passports Banff is awesome, outside of flights would be easily the cheapest option.
This post was edited on 7/2/24 at 10:45 am
Posted on 7/2/24 at 11:38 am to fargobison
quote:
If you have passports Banff is awesome, outside of flights would be easily the cheapest option.
Is this really the case? I have limited ski experience and no experience with Banff.
ETA: Op skiing is very expensive these days for non locals that fly in and don't have their own gear. Throw in lessons that are going to be $250-800 each depending on location, and it gets insane quickly.
WIth kids 8 and 5 I may consider waiting a year to try and do lessons and that's pretty young, I just took my 5 year old to Park City with family and she did great we did all of Homerun their longest green with her after her 2nd day of lessons. But, it was dicey and I'd say another year or two probably would be better to spend that coin. I'm not one to normally say to wait by any means.
I don't think there's anything wrong with just flying into Salt Lake or Denver and renting a place away from a ski resort to save money and hit some ski towns and bum around the snow. Go from there.
This post was edited on 7/2/24 at 11:46 am
Posted on 7/2/24 at 4:34 pm to bleedpurplengold
Back years ago, I used to go to reno for super cheap midweek casino hotel deals. Then drive an hour on IH80 to truckee, California. Ski at Northstar. Beautiful country around there . Lake Tahoe views from the slopes. You can fly into SFO and it's a 4 hour drive to reno up over the Donner Pass. On days you don't ski, you can visit virginia city and south lake tahoe.
This post was edited on 7/2/24 at 4:38 pm
Posted on 7/2/24 at 11:00 pm to baldona
quote:
Is this really the case? I have limited ski experience and no experience with Banff.
Hotels are reasonable, lift tickets aren't bad even if you buy them last minute...winter is the slow season for Banff and prices reflect that. The exchange rate is also very nice.
If you look at Skibig3.com you can find some deals for lodging and lift tickets.
Posted on 7/3/24 at 7:05 am to Motownsix
quote:
It’s not cheap, but at this point I hear skiing in Europe is cheaper for Americans than staying in the USA.
It is and that’s why we are doing Europe this year. Plus we are going to visit some non ski destinations
For OP, check out New Mexico. Red River, Taos, Angel Fire, etc.
Posted on 7/3/24 at 11:04 am to yellowfin
quote:
It is and that’s why we are doing Europe this year. Plus we are going to visit some non ski destinations
Where are you finding the savings? I haven't looked i'm just curious? The one issue with skiing in the USA is flights aren't cheap during peak times, you can easily be stuck with $600-800 flights at times. Almost double compared to non ski times.
Lodging in europe that much cheaper?
What are the lift prices and rental prices?
I may consider this in 2-3 years, winter flights to europe can be very affordable.
Posted on 7/3/24 at 11:11 am to bleedpurplengold
We took the kids to Whistler BC many years ago. Numerous slopes for all ages. Great village. You could add Vancouver as part of the tour and go to their aquarium.
Posted on 7/3/24 at 12:59 pm to bleedpurplengold
No winter vacation is cheap. Your less expensive options are going to be Angel Fire and Red River in New Mexico or Wolf Creek or Estes Park in Colorado.
Posted on 7/3/24 at 1:12 pm to dek81572
We now go to Park City every other year. Love it.
Posted on 7/3/24 at 1:27 pm to bleedpurplengold
I’m a big fan of Park City but sounds like Gatlinburg, TN is what you’re looking for.
Posted on 7/3/24 at 2:47 pm to deltafarmer
What has more non skiing activities and better town? Angel Fire or Red River?
Not necessarily looking for cheapest option either, just don't want to be paying an extreme premium for a place to stay that caters more towards skiers.
Budgeting around $5-7k without flights
Not necessarily looking for cheapest option either, just don't want to be paying an extreme premium for a place to stay that caters more towards skiers.
Budgeting around $5-7k without flights
This post was edited on 7/3/24 at 2:53 pm
Posted on 7/4/24 at 4:56 am to bleedpurplengold
I have been to Angel Fire many times. The non ski options there are limited but that’s why we go. If we aren’t skiing we are relaxing around our house, sledding, driving to Taos, watching wildlife, or cooking in or eating out.
Posted on 7/4/24 at 11:38 am to baldona
Lodging, lift tickets, lessons are all probably 1/2 the price of major US resorts.
Posted on 7/4/24 at 12:58 pm to baldona
quote:
Lodging in europe that much cheaper? What are the lift prices and rental prices?
All of it
Half the price or even less depending on where you go
My kids love to ski so when I go to Colorado for 7 nights, it’s 6 days of skiing and that’s a 15k+ trip
ETA: planning is a lot more time consuming but I like doing that
This post was edited on 7/4/24 at 12:59 pm
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