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Message
Snow trip Colorado? For 3 and 5 year old.
Posted on 1/21/25 at 10:05 pm
Posted on 1/21/25 at 10:05 pm
Hi just looking for some ideas for taking what will be our 3 and 5 year olds next winter somewhere with snow. A place that would have stuff for them to do like sledding at a resort. I don't know what else, looking for ideas. We don't really ski or snow board. Would be a bonus if they just had other kids stuff they could do nearby or at the resort that didn't involve snow. Not like they can stay out there forever.
Kinda looking for more of a experience for them. We were talking about this before all the snow was happening. They were just amazed by it today and had so much fun playing in it. I would probably do a snowmobile rental for a few hours for myself. Don't think I seen anything for kids that small.
We did just get back from a Disney World trip and they loved it. I will never be back there unless it's December, January or February. Its to hot any other time.
Kinda looking for more of a experience for them. We were talking about this before all the snow was happening. They were just amazed by it today and had so much fun playing in it. I would probably do a snowmobile rental for a few hours for myself. Don't think I seen anything for kids that small.
We did just get back from a Disney World trip and they loved it. I will never be back there unless it's December, January or February. Its to hot any other time.
Posted on 1/22/25 at 9:28 am to ReadyPlayer1
Most of the bigger ski resorts all have tubing hills and snowmobile tours. Get a place with heated pool to swim if they like the water. Maybe let the 5 year old take a one day lesson to ski- that's how we got ours started. He is now 10 and we go every mardi gras. He loves it.
Posted on 1/22/25 at 9:57 am to ReadyPlayer1
Frisco/Silverthorne would have the most dining/lodging/entertainment options, there is tubing at multiple places. I would guess you could do a snowmobile tour there. Some resorts have sleigh rides with a dinner and other family type stuff as well.
Maybe Granby woud be a cheaper spot, it would be a bit more limited but you have Winter Park nearby if you want a bit more action.
Maybe Granby woud be a cheaper spot, it would be a bit more limited but you have Winter Park nearby if you want a bit more action.
This post was edited on 1/22/25 at 9:58 am
Posted on 1/22/25 at 12:59 pm to ReadyPlayer1
I'd look hard at Breckenridge. Great for family skiing plus the other activites and a fun town experience. It's close to the large sledding park at Frisco, too.
Posted on 1/22/25 at 4:15 pm to OTIS2
The resorts don't like you sledding on their runs after they close, and especially not while they're open of course. Keystone has a tubing hill at the top of the first hill and at their nordic center. Frisco Adventure Park has a tubing hill as well. All of them cost money, resort prices aren't cheap, even for something as simple as tubing. Most are $40+/person. So stupid.
Carter Park IN Breck has a great sledding hill and is free. Just buy a couple cheap $10-15 plastic sleds from Walmart in Frisco or City Market in Breck and your kids will be set to sled as much as they want during your trip.
Check out the Mountain Top Children's Museum in Breck too, I'm sure they'll enjoy it. It's down in town.
quote:
I'd look hard at Breckenridge. Great for family skiing plus the other activites and a fun town experience. It's close to the large sledding park at Frisco, too.
Carter Park IN Breck has a great sledding hill and is free. Just buy a couple cheap $10-15 plastic sleds from Walmart in Frisco or City Market in Breck and your kids will be set to sled as much as they want during your trip.
Check out the Mountain Top Children's Museum in Breck too, I'm sure they'll enjoy it. It's down in town.
This post was edited on 1/22/25 at 4:46 pm
Posted on 1/22/25 at 5:04 pm to ReadyPlayer1
I'm writing this reply from a condo in Steamboat, on a family trip with a 4 and 3 year old. Torian Plum condos right at the base were great. Pool, etc.
HEED THIS ADVICE - WAIT UNTIL LATE SEASON TO GO. We froze, they were miserable. Ski school turned into daycare and they stayed inside the whole time due to temperatures. Wife and I both have the flu. It was not a great time for brining young kids. Book late March when it is much sunnier and warmer. The kids will enjoy it much more and have more opportunity to be outside.
ETA - also has direct flights from DFW which we booked for under $300/each. It is very easy to get in and out of.
HEED THIS ADVICE - WAIT UNTIL LATE SEASON TO GO. We froze, they were miserable. Ski school turned into daycare and they stayed inside the whole time due to temperatures. Wife and I both have the flu. It was not a great time for brining young kids. Book late March when it is much sunnier and warmer. The kids will enjoy it much more and have more opportunity to be outside.
ETA - also has direct flights from DFW which we booked for under $300/each. It is very easy to get in and out of.
This post was edited on 1/22/25 at 5:06 pm
Posted on 1/22/25 at 5:32 pm to Wade Phillips
quote:
We froze, they were miserable.
I don't mean to offend you, but did you purchase proper clothing? Things like thermal underwear, multiple layers, and sub-zero rated coats and ski pants?
Posted on 1/22/25 at 5:39 pm to GOP_Tiger
quote:
Things like thermal underwear, multiple layers, and sub-zero rated coats and ski pants?
It was -20*F felt like -45*F there Monday night. Not much gonna help with those temps

His post made me think of how miserable it'd be to go deal with those temps with kids. Let alone catch the flu out there, tough break. I can handle it by moving the whole day, warming up with a beer midday, but not sure about kids
Posted on 1/22/25 at 6:01 pm to Wade Phillips
Thank y'all all fro the replys !
Looking at the areas now and finding a lot more kids stuff then I had before.
Yes we were planning on going probably more end of February beginning of March. Just depends on work schedules then.
Ya I'm good not being in the negative temperature of I can help it.
Looking at the areas now and finding a lot more kids stuff then I had before.
Yes we were planning on going probably more end of February beginning of March. Just depends on work schedules then.
Ya I'm good not being in the negative temperature of I can help it.
This post was edited on 1/22/25 at 6:03 pm
Posted on 1/22/25 at 6:06 pm to Wade Phillips
quote:
HEED THIS ADVICE - WAIT UNTIL LATE SEASON TO GO. We froze, they were miserable. Ski school turned into daycare and they stayed inside the whole time due to temperatures. Wife and I both have the flu. It was not a great time for brining young kids. Book late March when it is much sunnier and warmer. The kids will enjoy it much more and have more opportunity to be outside.
I took my nieces to Keystone a few years ago, first week of April. Beautiful weather and everyhing is at a discount later in the season. It was awesome, definitely solid advice. Anytime in March though should be ok, if it gets cold it won't be cold for long.
This post was edited on 1/22/25 at 6:08 pm
Posted on 1/22/25 at 6:45 pm to ColoradoAg03
quote:
Carter Park IN Breck has a great sledding hill and is free. Just buy a couple cheap $10-15 plastic sleds from Walmart in Frisco or City Market in Breck and your kids will be set to sled as much as they want during your trip.
There is a man made sledding hill next to the parking lot on airport road with free sleds.
Posted on 1/24/25 at 12:45 pm to ReadyPlayer1
quote:So, they will be 4 and 6. IMO, 4 is too young to ski. 6 is probably fine to try, will likely only get to greens with 3 days of lessons (maybe easy blues if athletic and interested).
Hi just looking for some ideas for taking what will be our 3 and 5 year olds next winter somewhere with snow.
quote:Towns that happen to have ski mountains are probably your best bet. They have lots of other things to do.. unlike ski mountains that built towns.
Would be a bonus if they just had other kids stuff they could do nearby or at the resort that didn't involve snow. Not like they can stay out there forever.
Big Sky, for example, offers world-class skiing, but not much else.
quote:My recommendation will likely surprise most people, but I would send you to Jackson Hole.
A place that would have stuff for them to do like sledding at a resort.
The flights are like $600/pp but they give you a flight discount credit of $400/pp when you book through the JH website.
When pricing out flights plus lodging, it is the cheapest. ($2300).
Next best bets will largely be driven by flights. So, Denver will be the cheapest to fly into.
Your I-70 corridor is next cheapest: Keystone ($2400), Winter park ($2800), Breck ($3100).. and if you stay in Frisco, you can probably save even more.
Other options: Steamboat (Hayden) ($3200), Park City ($3400).
All of them will have some type of sledding or tubing hill, which is good for an hour or two each.
Ice skating rinks... probably another hour, especially if on a different day.
Sight seeing tours.
Oh... hot tubs and heated pools will entertain young kids for DAYS....
quote:Typically won't let a kid ride on a tandem until they are 5... most places older than that. But it's fun for the adults. Like 4 wheeler mud riding.
I would probably do a snowmobile rental for a few hours for myself. Don't think I seen anything for kids that small.
Posted on 1/25/25 at 2:01 am to CuseTiger
Yep we were in Winter Park this week and even with multiple layers it was the coldest I’ve ever been. One dude on the lift with us showed me the tip of his frostbite nose because he didn’t use a gaiter. Night is no joke with the temps in the Rockies this week.
Posted on 1/25/25 at 8:04 am to Mahootney
Appreciate all the responses. Son will be 5 1/2 next February and daughter will almost be 4. We would be flying out of MSY.
I had very little knowledge of all those areas and didn't even know where to start. I did dive into it some and Frisco area seems to be the best fit for us right now, looks like a good central location. I can ski but I can't slow down or stop lol. That adventure park looks like some fun and not to steep for me. I could try a few hours there.
We have a bunch of friends with kids of similar ages and brought it up at the last gathering about going maybe as a group. I don't want to deep dive into the planning yet until we talk to them again and see if they are serious or if it's just our family. When I do I will probably obsess over the planning for like 2 weeks .I like the idea of the plastic sled on a little hill also. Let them run up it over and over, they have to much energy and that might put a dent in it lol.
My experience is a 1/2 day 3 different trips and my wife is just 1/2 day once snow skiing. Friends that could be going very little experience. So bunny type slopes for adults is probably plenty for us.
I had very little knowledge of all those areas and didn't even know where to start. I did dive into it some and Frisco area seems to be the best fit for us right now, looks like a good central location. I can ski but I can't slow down or stop lol. That adventure park looks like some fun and not to steep for me. I could try a few hours there.
We have a bunch of friends with kids of similar ages and brought it up at the last gathering about going maybe as a group. I don't want to deep dive into the planning yet until we talk to them again and see if they are serious or if it's just our family. When I do I will probably obsess over the planning for like 2 weeks .I like the idea of the plastic sled on a little hill also. Let them run up it over and over, they have to much energy and that might put a dent in it lol.
My experience is a 1/2 day 3 different trips and my wife is just 1/2 day once snow skiing. Friends that could be going very little experience. So bunny type slopes for adults is probably plenty for us.
Posted on 1/25/25 at 9:10 am to ReadyPlayer1
Frisco is a good choice. Breck is a cool town to visit.
If you and the wife and son want to try skiing, keystone has a nursery at the base that takes 4 year olds.
Breck and copper don't offer that.
Copper is probably best layout and least crowded for learning.
If you put your daughter in ski school, she will have fun, but it will mostly be a snow fun and hot chocolate daycare (and not much skiing). Lol.
You can buy snow gear for the kids on ebay for Super. Cheap. $20 jackets, $18 bibs, $10 boots... delivered.
Amazon for thermals, gloved socks, gaiters, and cheap goggles. Maybe $120-150 total for each.
A full day of.lessons or two and you and the wife could easily do blues and some easier groomed blacks.
They usually will be able to walk themselves up the hill, but they wear out quickly.
You will end up carrying the sled and the 4 yo up until you quit.
If you and the wife and son want to try skiing, keystone has a nursery at the base that takes 4 year olds.
Breck and copper don't offer that.
Copper is probably best layout and least crowded for learning.
If you put your daughter in ski school, she will have fun, but it will mostly be a snow fun and hot chocolate daycare (and not much skiing). Lol.
You can buy snow gear for the kids on ebay for Super. Cheap. $20 jackets, $18 bibs, $10 boots... delivered.
Amazon for thermals, gloved socks, gaiters, and cheap goggles. Maybe $120-150 total for each.
A full day of.lessons or two and you and the wife could easily do blues and some easier groomed blacks.
quote:It is fun, but You will be the one going up and down with the sled. Lol.
I like the idea of the plastic sled on a little hill also. Let them run up it over and over, they have to much energy and that might put a dent in it lol.
They usually will be able to walk themselves up the hill, but they wear out quickly.
You will end up carrying the sled and the 4 yo up until you quit.
Posted on 1/25/25 at 4:31 pm to ReadyPlayer1
OP, since you said the actual skiing is secondary. I would strongly suggest a smaller, less crowded, and less expensive ski area. A few to consider;
Granby Ranch near Winter Park (tubing in Fraser)
Loveland by Frisco/Dillon & Georgetown (a personal favorite)
Santa Fe, Red River, or Angel Fire in New Mexico
Brian Head near Salt Lake City
Snow King at Jackson Hole
Howelson Hill in downtown Steamboat
There are also many local areas in Michigan, Oregon, Vermont, and others that are good for first-timers or those not looking for hardcore slopes. Some even have kids-ski-free-or-cheap offers, you just have to do your research.
The drawbacks are possibly less than ideal conditions and fewer amenities, but not always. And with the prices for kids tickets & lessons rising astronomically, it doesn’t make sense to spend a fortune when beginner slopes are pretty much the same everywhere. Let the newbies learn on a smaller mountain and save the mega resorts for when you can get the benefits.
If you are determined to go to one of the larger areas, I’d recommend Park City or Breckenridge as best for varied skiing and things to do off the mountain.
Granby Ranch near Winter Park (tubing in Fraser)
Loveland by Frisco/Dillon & Georgetown (a personal favorite)
Santa Fe, Red River, or Angel Fire in New Mexico
Brian Head near Salt Lake City
Snow King at Jackson Hole
Howelson Hill in downtown Steamboat
There are also many local areas in Michigan, Oregon, Vermont, and others that are good for first-timers or those not looking for hardcore slopes. Some even have kids-ski-free-or-cheap offers, you just have to do your research.
The drawbacks are possibly less than ideal conditions and fewer amenities, but not always. And with the prices for kids tickets & lessons rising astronomically, it doesn’t make sense to spend a fortune when beginner slopes are pretty much the same everywhere. Let the newbies learn on a smaller mountain and save the mega resorts for when you can get the benefits.
If you are determined to go to one of the larger areas, I’d recommend Park City or Breckenridge as best for varied skiing and things to do off the mountain.
Posted on 1/25/25 at 6:54 pm to Mahootney
quote:
keystone has a nursery at the base that takes 4 year olds.
Breck and copper don't offer that
Copper (well daycare/preschool on Copper property) does offer that but only on Saturdays.
quote:
Copper is probably best layout and least crowded for learning.
If you put your daughter in ski school, she will have fun, but it will mostly be a snow fun and hot chocolate daycare (and not much skiing). Lol.
Three lessons and my daughter got up on Kokomo, she's 4. So dont expect a lot of progress. And yes abundant hot chocolates.
Also, I see people talking about how cold it was recently. Yeah, its been cold AF up here. Im local now, and I thought the past two weeks were miserable. That isnt normal up here.
I bet you southern baws had a rough go of that shite.
Posted on 1/27/25 at 10:03 pm to ReadyPlayer1
Wait 3 years. Your kids are too young.
Posted on 1/28/25 at 12:30 pm to Wade Phillips
quote:
HEED THIS ADVICE - WAIT UNTIL LATE SEASON TO GO. We froze, they were miserable. Ski school turned into daycare and they stayed inside the whole time due to temperatures. Wife and I both have the flu. It was not a great time for brining young kids. Book late March when it is much sunnier and warmer.
This is excellent advice. Even people who live in mountain towns don’t want to be there in December and January. End of February gets better, but March is the best month for a “winter” vacation.
Posted on 1/29/25 at 2:39 pm to ReadyPlayer1
We've been taking our kids to Taos since before they could walk. They've been going to ski school there since they were potty trained. They've got a great daycare/kids center right next to the magic carpet and they'll pull the little ones on/off the hill as age/weather dictate. they've got a small tubing hill, gondolita, play areas, etc. We like to ski to put it mildly but if you didn't you could stay in town and just run up to the ski area for a day or two. There's a great toy store in town that our kids have spent many hours playing at, some parks, etc.
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