Clan destined

Utah resorts offer some good deals, great time for the whole family

Catherine Lutz, Special to the News

Published December 22, 2004 at midnight

Text size

More More Sports

More stories »

Let's face it: family ski vacations rarely run smoothly.

Schlepping the family's bulky gear from this place to that, rushing to pick the children up from ski school and worrying about the next meltdown adds stress to what's supposed to be a relaxing time.

Add in slippery sidewalks, confusing transit systems and the cost of it all, and no wonder many American families choose to head directly to the beach.

On the other hand, what better way to spend quality time with the family?

How about enjoying the great outdoors through a great activity by day, gathering around a crackling fire at night and choosing from the plethora of activities mountain resorts have to offer?

Utah's ski resorts have a reputation for being sensitive to families' needs. By developing programs and promotions that cater specifically to children and families, they have ensured the loyalty of multiple generations of returning guests.

Madeleine Osberger and her husband, Rick Low, chose Alta for a weeklong ski vacation with their then 4-year-old daughter Madison. They stayed in the slopeside Alta Lodge, a venerated, old-fashioned ski lodge that steps it up for its visiting families.

Everything about the Alta Lodge made the vacation easy on the family - large rooms; afternoon tea for the adults while the children receive complimentary apres ski child care; meals served family style so children and adults can socialize with other guests; and an early children's dinner.

"She'd look forward to having a meal with the other kids instead of with mom and dad," said Osberger, an avid skier from Aspen.

Alta's well-known Alf Elgen Ski School accommodates families that love to ski by going until 4 p.m. - not earlier, like many other resorts - so parents also have all day to play on the mountain. And most importantly, Madison and her parents enjoyed themselves with minimum hassle.

"The coordination was just wonderful but, obviously, they've had 50 years to figure it out," Osberger said. "We met people who had gone as kids who are now taking their kids."

Several other Salt Lake City-area resorts offer programs to entice families. Here are some of the highlights.

• The Snowbird Mountain School has earned a reputation for being one of the best children's ski schools in the West. Children can be enrolled in three- to five-day programs that offer the consistency of having the same instructor and classmates throughout.

Snowbird's Chicadees program, for 3-year-olds, guarantees a class size of three or fewer. And even children at heart love the Mining Camp fun park and other children's trails.

Parents who want to ski all day or take lessons can drop off the tykes early at Camp Snowbird, an all-day summer camp-style facility open from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.

Camp Snowbird also can be combined with ski lessons, and parents can reserve evening baby sitters, who will come to any of Snowbird's lodges, through it.

• Brighton consistently has topped local polls for being family oriented.

It widely is recognized for its family-friendly terrain - "slopes that are nice and wide with a gentle pitch, and blues that run almost everywhere so families don't get stuck somewhere accidentally," according to Brighton spokesperson Carol Garner.

Brighton also is the least expensive resort on the Wasatch Front, offering a $41 adult lift ticket (children 10 and younger ski free), and a preseason family coupon book of 10 fully transferable lift vouchers for $300. Children 10 and younger also stay free at the Brighton Lodge, one of the only local lodging options.

• Quiet, low-key Solitude boasts a family-friendly terrain park with small features that not only accommodate pint-sized riders but don't intimidate parents.

During the holidays and around Presidents Day weekend, Solitude pulls out the stops with family activities such as tubing, puppet shows and storytellers.

Club Solitude, a gathering place for guests, offers such diversions as a movie room, children's game room and outdoor pool.

• Park City offers a two-hour "mom, dad and kids" private lesson that not only teaches everyone, but gives parents the tools to be able to instruct their children later. First-time skiers and riders also are guaranteed success: If the child is not riding the lift by the end of the day, the next lesson is free.

Park City also is convenient: The town and mountain are connected by a lift, and a free bus runs around town, minimizing the schlepping factor.

• Deer Valley recently completed a multimillion-dollar expansion to its children's center, which can accommodate 260 children. Instructors meet their charges inside, and parents can drop off children early. Another nice perk: Parents get free pagers so they can easily be contacted.

• At The Canyons, children and parents ski free during select weeks of the season if they stay slopeside at the Grand Summit Resort Hotel or Sundial Lodge. The Canyons also offers special clinics for skiers ages 13 to 17.

Teens ski or ride all day with a coach, exploring the mountain and making new friends.

After all, "the mountain experience is a family experience and one that bonds relationships," The Canyons' Katie Eldridge said. "We are finding the families come here because they can do activities together on and off the mountain."

Ski free!

Recognizing that a ski vacation often can stretch the pocketbook for families, several Utah resorts offer free skiing and riding to entice families.

• At Brighton, children 10 and younger ski free.

• Snowbird lets up to two children 12 and younger ski free with each adult lift-ticket purchase.

• At Solitude, children 6 and younger ski free.

• The Canyons gives away lift tickets to children and parents during select dates while they stay at select lodges.

• Information for all these resorts, and the various programs they offer, can be found at www.skiutah.com or by calling 1-800-SKI-UTAH.

• Salt Lake City is 550 miles from Denver.

Subscribe to the Rocky Mountain News