By Eileen Ogintz
Ready to gear up for winter sports? Snow resorts certainly are. Many are hoping to open before Thanksgiving.
Yes, there are terrific resorts in ski country. But you don’t have to bust the budget for a getaway to the snow as long as you plan smart.
Wherever you go, consider getting travel insurance. Allianz Travel offers the OneTrip Prime and OneTrip Premier plans, which cover kids aged 17 and under for free* when traveling with a parent or grandparent (excluding Pennsylvania residents). Having Allianz Travel Insurance for your ski trip is like having your own ski patrol. The OneTrip Prime plan includes 24/7 travel assistance, emergency medical transportation, baggage loss/damage protection, trip cancellation or interruption coverage, and more — providing you with peace of mind. Ski trips can be costly, so it’s essential to protect your investment.
Look for airline deals. Those going to Park City Utah may be eligible for a $400 Delta credit voucher As long as they book a minimum 3-night stay at a participating lodging company by June 30, 2025. (There are some blackout dates)
Receive up to $400 off your airfare per person when you book your roundtrip flights, lodging and a qualifying activity through Jackson Hole Resort Reservations by November 30, 2024.
To stay on budget, consider smaller ski areas that are cheaper and less crowded including in the Midwest, Pennsylvania, and New York state.
There are many kids’ passport options across the country that get you deeply discounted kids passes and discounts on gear. (Check DiscoverSnow.org to link to programs around the country. Just be prepared that you need to get them in advance and each state has slightly different requirements: Another plus: You don’t necessarily have to live in that state. However, they may not be valid during holiday times.
In Michigan, he Cold is Cool program gives 4th and 5th graders free lift tickets at 27 resorts. . There is a $25 fee for the passport, and it works on an app.
In New Hampshire, The Ski New Hampshire ‘New Hampshire 4th and 5th graders Only’ Passport, for example, offers one free lift ticket and cross-country trail pass from each of the state’s 33 ski areas, as well as savings on lessons and equipment for fourth- and fifth graders, as well as lift tickets and trail passes for parents and siblings.
In Utah: the Ski Utah Passport is available to all 4th, fifth and six graders offering 45 days on the slopes at all 15 snow resorts, three Ski NY passports are days at each resort, for $69 (price goes up Dec. 1 .
In New York state, Ski NY passports are for kids in 3d,4th and 5th grades but only two passport holders can redeem lift tickets per paying adult.
IN VERMONT
In Vermont, the Ski Vermont passport is for kids in fifth grade with access to more than 90 days of skiing or riding at participating alpine and cross country ski areas for $35.
Kids 12 and under get a FREE Power Kids season pass that’s good at all Power Pass mountains in the U.S. and Chile! It’s totally FREE – no purchase required, no blackout dates. Kids get unlimited skiing at Purgatory, Snowbowl, Brian Head, Sipapu, Pajarito, Nordic Valley, Lee Canyon, and Willamette Pass.
For those wanting to hit iconic resorts including Alta, Jackson Hole, Sun Valley and more, consider a Mountain Collective pass that gives you two days at 25 resorts plus 50 per cent off at additional days for $659 and $259 for kids 12 and under. (No blackout days!) If you are thinking of a once a year snow getaway, get an Ikon Pass for three days of skiing at 43 destinations, plus discounts on gear and lodging for less than $500; Vail Resorts offers a variety of Epic Passes that allow you to choose from 1-7 days and 20 per cent off lodging, group lessons, rentals and more.
Include every family member on your ski and snow vacation. Many ski areas around the country offer special adaptive programs for those with physical and mental challenges. Consider that many ski areas from Vermont to Colorado to Utah to California, among them , offer adaptive programs and equipment with discounted pricing.
Here are some resorts around the country where kids ski free:
IN CALIFORNIA
Kids 12 and under ski free at June Mountain near Mammoth Lakes with 1500 acres of uncrowded slopes and beginner-friendly terrain
IN CANADA
WHISTLER BLACKCOMB in British Columbia offers big mountain skiing and riding for all ages and skill levels. Kids six and under ski free. Powder hounds, glade lovers and groomer aficionados won’t want to miss the unmatched variety of terrain at North America’s largest ski resort. Whistler is growing its offering of ski and ride camps for kids and adults this season, while Extremely Canadian’s ski and snowboard clinics maximize what the Coast Mountains have to offer including Steeps Clinics, avalanche skills training and more.
IN COLORADO
ASPEN SNOWMASS At Aspen Snowmass, take your pick of four mountains and 5,700+ acres where kids ski free with lodging (valid Jan 1-April 20,2025.)Get a complimentary child lift ticket for every day of Four Mountain Sports equipment rentals when you book with at least 2 nights of participating lodging through Stay Aspen Snowmass.
COPPER MOUNTAIN Kids 15 and under get a free season pass with the purchase of an adult pass (one child’s pass per adult pass.)
COLORADO GEMS are 11 smaller Colorado snow resorts that are less expensive and less crowded than the big resorts and, for younger families, easier to navigate. For just $48, the GEMS Card provides your choice of either two 2-for-1 lift tickets or two 30% off lift tickets. It can be used twice at each ski area for 22 total uses and pays for itself after one use. T There are also multi-mountain passes ($67) for kids that include rentals; a teen pass for those 12-17 for $199 with 22 days of skiing and riding and a Gems Parents Pass for $325.
KEYSTONE RESORT has over 3,000 acres of skiable terrain including three peaks, five above tree line bowls, night skiing and, over 550 acres of lift-serviced high alpine terrain with the addition of the Bergman Express. Families love the World’s Largest Mountaintop Snow Fort along with non-stop activities including high-speed snow tubing, unparalleled ice-skating on 5-acre Keystone Lake and more. . Book two or more nights at Keystone in Colorado and kids 12 and under geta day of free skiing (an additional day for each room night booked.) We love the complimentary red wagons that help parents tote gear (and excited kiddos) to and from the slopes.
STEAMBOAT SKI RESORT, in its 61st year in Colorado, HAS A reimagined base area with better crowd flow and a second gondola to a new learning facility on mountain. Alternatively, if you want to relax, ride horses, go snowshoeing or X-country skiing – plus dine on great food — check out nearby Vista Verde Ranch. Read about Taking the Kids’ visit here. At Steamboat, Kids 12 and under ski free when with a paying adult as long as they book a 5-day pass.
WINTER PARK in Colorado is one of the closest large ski areas near Denver and offers terrain for all levels of skiers. Winter Park Ski Resort offers kids aged 4-14 a free lift ticket with the purchase of a full day kids lesson. Check out the Winter Park Express, a partnership between Amtrak and Winter Park Resort. The train leaves Denver’s Union Station early in the morning and chugs through the scenic foothills to the Continental Divide, through the historic Moffat Tunnel and to the doorstep of the ski resort on weekends. Winter Park is also home to the National Sports Center for the Disabled with many programs for those with physical and mental challenges.
IN MAINE
At Sunday River, kids 5 and under ski free every day, and during the kid’s ski free week and the children’s festival, kids aged 3-12 ski free, stay free, and receive free lessons and rental equipment.
IN IDAHO
Check lodging packages at Sun Valley that include kids ski free. Those four and under always ski free.
IN NEW HAMPSHIRE
Kids ski free at Waterville Valley resort (ages 6-12) with the purchase of an adult season pass
IN NEW MEXICO
TAOS SKI VALLEY , home to one of North America’s highest lifts and is the best known among New Mexico’s eight alpine and three Nordic ski areas, welcomes kids six and under to ski free with a paying adult. Those 80 and older also ski free! Take advantage of a snowcat-pulled sleighride to dine at The Bavarian. As the only B Corp ski resort in the world, Taos also announced another sustainability milestone last year – the resort is fully certified Carbon Neutral, and on track to be net zero by 2030.
IN NEW YORK
At Hunter Mountain, kids 6 and under ski free during the week and for $10 with the purchase of an adult ticket on weekends and holidays.
IN OREGON
MOUNT BACHELOR With over 4,300 acres of lift-accessible terrain, Mt. Bachelor is the 6th largest ski resort in North America, and the largest in the Pacific Northwest. Located on the eastern flanks of Oregon’s Central Cascades, Mt. Bachelor is known for its light, dry snow, diverse terrain, family-friendliness, and one of the longest seasons in the country. Buy a 3-of-3- day lift ticket at least a week in advance for Mt. Bachelor in Bend, Ore, kids 12 and under will ski free (one kids’ ticket per paying adult.) . Read more about Mt. Bachelor and Bend Oregon here.
IN UTAH
BRIAN HEAD SKI RESORT, near Cedar City, Utah touts their “Free On-Snow Experience” for those 13 and older, a step-by-step, self-guided clinic to better prepare first-timers on their big day. Kids 12 and under ski free with a Power Kids pass good at any Power Pass Mountain. Check Ski Utah to see other resorts where kids, especially those under 6 ski free.
EAGLE POINT RESORT allows kids to ski free as does Nordic Valley. Both of those resorts are operated by Mountain Capital Partners and require children to obtain a free Power Kids season pass, which is good at any MCP-run resort.
SNOWBIRD in Utah offers a Kids Freeloader Pass; Anyone under the age of 18 will qualify for a FREE Snowbird season pass when linked to an Adult, Military, Senior Snowbird Summit Pass or ALTA-Bird PASS. Families and support systems come in all forms, so the Kids Freeloader Pass is meant to be inclusive while fostering the future generations of skiers and shredders.
IN WYOMING
GRAND TARGHEE in Alta, Wyoming is only 50 miles from Jackson Hole but it’s worlds away in style and ease of access. Families love the moderate rates, friendly staff, and tender childcare, again open (by reservation) for infants and toddlers 2 months to 5 years. If your little one is ready to learn to love skiing, you book childcare + alpine skiing (ages 3-5) or book a private Mini Moose lesson. It’s hard to get lost in the compact base village no matter your age. Note that under-5s always ski free and they sell half and full-day lift tickets. See our review of Grand Targhee Resort.