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Message
First Time Family Ski Trip - Help Needed
Posted on 2/14/17 at 11:48 am
Posted on 2/14/17 at 11:48 am
Background - Family of four with 2 sons (12 and 15) plus the wife and myself (mid 40s). None of us have ever been. The kids really want to go and especially snow board. I want to go somewhere close to an airport with shuttle service - do not want to drive in the snow or mountains - that has ski in / ski out if at all possible. I'm happy to RENT EVERYTHING if possible - pricing doesn't matter. We're not looking for any type of nightlife and will be fine eating at the resort restaurants for about 4 nights with 3 days dedicated to skiing.
So far, I've found only found the Lake Tahoe area as having these prerequisites. From reading, it looks as though you fly into Lake Tahoe and then travel to the resorts just over the boarder to California.
We plan to go next month during the last week of March during spring break. There appears to be plenty of rooms available as of now. Does anyone have any better recommendations? I know nothing about this part of the country or skiing in general and all ideas are welcome.
I checked the season long thread and it appears to be page after page or reports from people that spend a lot of time skiing.
So far, I've found only found the Lake Tahoe area as having these prerequisites. From reading, it looks as though you fly into Lake Tahoe and then travel to the resorts just over the boarder to California.
We plan to go next month during the last week of March during spring break. There appears to be plenty of rooms available as of now. Does anyone have any better recommendations? I know nothing about this part of the country or skiing in general and all ideas are welcome.
I checked the season long thread and it appears to be page after page or reports from people that spend a lot of time skiing.
11
Posted on 2/14/17 at 12:15 pm to TigerScratch
Flying into Salt Lake City and Denver both have shuttle services to many mountains. I've use Colorado Mountain Express(CME) and they do a great job. If you want to avoid a 1-2 hour shuttle drive there is an airport in Eagle/vail that is 30 mins to Beaver Creek and Vail, Steamboat Springs has an airport close to it as well. Park City is an easy 40 min drive from the SLC airport as well and has a ton of on mountain lodging. There are also in total about 15 plus resorts within an hour of SLC but I'm unsure how many have ski in lodging.
I've been to Tahoe and it's fun and beautiful but I've never been somewhere that has as many wind closures as Tahoe resorts have so just be prepared to lose a day of skiing if a storm is coming in. If I was in your situation I would skip Tahoe and look at some places like Beaver Creek, CO, Park City Utah, Vail, CO. Majority of resorts do meet your conditions it just may require some googling or asking here for help.
My family is going to Winter Park the last week in March for Spring Break.
I've been to Tahoe and it's fun and beautiful but I've never been somewhere that has as many wind closures as Tahoe resorts have so just be prepared to lose a day of skiing if a storm is coming in. If I was in your situation I would skip Tahoe and look at some places like Beaver Creek, CO, Park City Utah, Vail, CO. Majority of resorts do meet your conditions it just may require some googling or asking here for help.
My family is going to Winter Park the last week in March for Spring Break.
Posted on 2/14/17 at 12:24 pm to TigerScratch
Can't comment on Lake Tahoe since I've never been but my family and I went to Colorado last month for our family's first ski trip. We went to copper mountain and it would have all the prerequisites you are looking for on top of being a great mountain for beginners to learn on. It's easily accessible from Denver international and as far as shuttle service we used Colorado Mountain Express and they were fairly reasonable. Not a whole lot of nightlife at Copper so it's a good thing you aren't looking for that but there are restaurants but I can't comment on them because we only ate at the food court in west village which was decent. Good luck
Posted on 2/14/17 at 12:30 pm to cassopher
I agree with cassopher's sugguestion of Copper as well. The mountain is easily divided by difficulty of terrain and if you need more restaurants than at the base there is a free bus that goes to Frisco as well.
Posted on 2/14/17 at 12:38 pm to TigerScratch
Flying into Reno and shuttle to Tahoe is ok, but flying into SLC and going to Park City would be a cake walk. If highly recommend that.
Posted on 2/14/17 at 1:33 pm to Atttaboy
quote:
Flying into Reno and shuttle to Tahoe is ok, but flying into SLC and going to Park City would be a cake walk. If highly recommend that.
I agree with this. Closer skiing to the airport and better snow overall with less of a chance to be closed due to rain/wind. SLC or Denver are the obvious choices with plenty of shuttle services to the mountains. Copper would be an excellent choice in Colorado
Posted on 2/14/17 at 1:41 pm to cassopher
Thanks for all of the help from everyone. I'm looking into Copper now. Is there any certain resort that any one would suggest over the others. Any more convenient, fun, etc.?
The Village East area is what I'm looking at including Copper Springs Neighborhood, but I assume that they are all comparable pretty much?
The Village East area is what I'm looking at including Copper Springs Neighborhood, but I assume that they are all comparable pretty much?
This post was edited on 2/14/17 at 1:46 pm
Posted on 2/14/17 at 2:29 pm to TigerScratch
Jackson Hole/ Teton village is met by those. I don't have much experience but I'm guessing Jackson Hole is the most expensive. Jackson Hole crushing it with the snow this year though, 2-3x that as some of colorado.
The airport in Jackson is 20 minutes from the Teton Village Ski resort.
The airport in Jackson is 20 minutes from the Teton Village Ski resort.
This post was edited on 2/14/17 at 2:31 pm
Posted on 2/14/17 at 2:52 pm to TigerScratch
quote:
The Village East area is what I'm looking at including Copper Springs Neighborhood, but I assume that they are all comparable pretty much?
It would be more convenient to stay in west village because it's 100% green runs. This is where you will take your lessons. East village is black and blue runs. It's a quick bus ride to west village though so shouldn't be a deal breaker to stay in EV.
Posted on 2/14/17 at 2:59 pm to baldona
quote:
Jackson Hole/ Teton village is met by those. I don't have much experience but I'm guessing Jackson Hole is the most expensive. Jackson Hole crushing it with the snow this year though, 2-3x that as some of colorado.
The airport in Jackson is 20 minutes from the Teton Village Ski resort.
you just recommended a family of 4 first timers to go ahead and take on the toughest resort terrain in the lower 48. OP, go to Park City. It's so much closer than that I-70 Denver to summit county haul.
Posted on 2/14/17 at 3:21 pm to DirtyMikeandtheBoys
quote:
you just recommended a family of 4 first timers to go ahead and take on the toughest resort terrain in the lower 48
This
Not the place for beginners
Posted on 2/14/17 at 3:36 pm to HippieTiger
First morning,TAKE THE LESSONS!!!! 
Posted on 2/14/17 at 4:09 pm to sstig
Big Sky MT will always get my vote over any other in the country.
Amazing place.
Amazing place.
Posted on 2/14/17 at 4:58 pm to Itismemc
quote:
Big Sky MT
Big Sky and Sun Valley are the tits but they don't really fit the needs of what the man is asking for baw
Posted on 2/14/17 at 5:23 pm to TigerScratch
Park City, Park City, Park City.
Perfect for your needs! Look no further
Perfect for your needs! Look no further
Posted on 2/14/17 at 5:41 pm to TigerScratch
I swe where you're not too concerned with price. SLC has a ton of flights per day and logistics to Park City are effortless, but direct flights into Aspen and Eagle get you super fast access to great skiing at Aspen/Snowmass and Vail/beaver Creek. If you go to Aspen, you'll want to go to Buttermilk or Snowmass to learn. Aspen (AJAX and Highlands) are more geared to advanced-intermediate skiers with very little to no beginner terrain.
I'd still opt for PC via SLC.
I'd still opt for PC via SLC.
Posted on 2/14/17 at 7:47 pm to TigerScratch
Fly to Kalispell, shuttle or cab to Whitefish, and bam! The Firebrand in downtown has an awesome dinner menu, a shuttle to the airport, and you can catch the snow bus to the ski area on big mountain.
Or you could taxi to the ski area from the airport and stay at a nice lodge on the mountain. Kandahar is a nice one with great amenities for you and the kids, plus Cafe Kandahar is exquisite (although a bit pricey). They have a private shuttle to the lifts at the village or base lodge.
And it's a 300 yard walk to the snow bus stop, which takes you directly into downtown whitefish.
Or you could taxi to the ski area from the airport and stay at a nice lodge on the mountain. Kandahar is a nice one with great amenities for you and the kids, plus Cafe Kandahar is exquisite (although a bit pricey). They have a private shuttle to the lifts at the village or base lodge.
And it's a 300 yard walk to the snow bus stop, which takes you directly into downtown whitefish.
This post was edited on 2/14/17 at 7:48 pm
Posted on 2/14/17 at 8:43 pm to TigerScratch
For families, especially beginners, nothing is going to beat Copper Mountain. You can shuttle from Denver or Eagle, don't need a car, and the mountain is divided according to terrain. It's also cheaper than most of the other resorts mentioned.
Posted on 2/14/17 at 8:47 pm to TigerScratch
It would be beneficial for you to stay in either Center or West Village. The easier terrain will be to those sides. If you stay in East it's not a very far walk or free shuttle bus to the easier stuff, just would be simpler to stay there. You can usually get a good deal thru Copper Mountain, but also look at vrbo
Posted on 2/14/17 at 9:47 pm to DirtyMikeandtheBoys
quote:
you just recommended a family of 4 first timers to go ahead and take on the toughest resort terrain in the lower 48
I'm well aware of that but the kids are 12 and 15, not 10 and under. Plus, it literally does not get any easier than teton village as far as accessing the mounting and accessing the resort from the airport which is what he emphasized. Its not like they are going to crush anywhere they go their first time.
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