This article originally appeared on Ski Mag

Some of the most useful information provided by our readers during the annual Resort Survey is around family-friendly skiing, and what people are looking for when it comes to taking their broods on a ski vacation. The comment section of the survey is filled with opinions on what makes a family ski trip hum smoothly, and top of the list is convenient lodging with amenities that kids love (pools, hot tubs, game rooms, free treats in the lobby). Also high up there is a variety of terrain that little skiers can improve their skills on, from kid-inspired adventure trails to long cruisers from the summit with all the views (hello photo op).

Also Read: This is How We Ranked Resorts in the 2024 Resort Guide

We combed through the survey results to identify the top resorts for families in the U.S., then did a deep dive into what makes them so, from the best family lodging to where to find the complimentary hot cocoa after the lifts stop turning. There are plenty of family-friendly ski resorts across the country, but if you're serious about making passionate skiers out of your kids, consider planning a trip to one of these resorts.

A Travel Guide to the Top Family Resorts in the U.S.

No. 10: Okemo Mountain Resort, Vt.

What Readers Say: “Great for families. My kids (4 and 9) still talk about the FunZone."

• Overall Rank: No. 14 in the East

• Other Strengths: Lodging, Grooming

Best Family Ski Terrain at Okemo

One thing that sets Okemo apart and makes it great for adventurous ski families is its selection of intermediate gladed terrain. Head to the Evergreen Summit Express chair and check out runs including Whispering Pines, Everglade, and Tree Dancer.

Best Family Lodging at Okemo

The condos at Adams House, on the Jackson Gore side, offer one- to three-bedrooms units with kitchens and plenty of room to spread out, great for families wanting to prepare meals and keep dining costs down.

Best Dining for Families at Okemo

Keep it simple with flat bread pizzas, apps, burgers, and selection of mac-n-cheeses at Okemo Taphouse. There’s also a kid’s menu.

Top Off-Slope Activities for Families at Okemo

The Spring House complex at the Jackson Gore base has a kid’s splash pool with mini slide and an ice rink for an easy day off of the slopes.

Pro Tip: Don’t miss the Waffle Cabin at the Jackson Gore base for light, crispy waffles topped with syrup or chocolate.

No. 9: Keystone Resort, Colo.

What Readers Say: "Keystone goes out of the way to create a nice envirnoment for families."

• Overall Rank: No. 30 in the West

• Other Strengths: Access, Grooming

Best Family Ski Terrain at Keystone Resort

For learners, the Mountain House base is a less-crowded spot for kids to comfortably slide around and get their ski legs under them. Once they're confidently stopping and turning, Endeavor, the learning area at the top of the gondola, serves up mellow terrain with all the views. For blue cruising, get off the frontside and lap the blues off the Outback Express.

Best Family Lodging at Keystone Resort

Our favorite lodge for families is The Springs, in the River Run base area with easy access to the River Run Gondola. The property has a heated outdoor pool with slide and hot tubs, and roomy units with one- to four-bedrooms with full kitchens. A less pricey option is staying in the Keystone's Forest Neighborhood condos, on the shuttle route. This is ideal for larger groups who need more space or people looking for a better bang for their buck.

Best Dining for Families at Keystone Resort

The expanded and improved LaBonte's Smokehouse, which added a 190-seat indoor facility a few seasons back, is at the base of North Peak and has such a great vibe and a delicious pulled pork sandwich. At the Mountain House base, Go Big Burger has a friendly vibe and great menu for families, from burgers of all stripes to boneless wings to loaded nachos. The thick shakes are not to be missed.

Top Off-Slope Activities for Families at Keystone Resort

Hands down, the coolest family activity at Keystone is ice skating at night on Keystone Lake in Lakeside Village. The Zamboni-maintained rink is five acres, and it's such a fun experience--just remember to bundle up! Skate and hockey stick rentals are available.

No. 8: Bretton Woods, N.H.

What Readers Say: "Bretton Woods is a special place … great for families and those who love groomers. Staff is wonderful!"

• Overall Rank: No. 4 in the East

• Other Strengths: Service, Grooming

Best Family Ski Terrain at Bretton Woods

Take High Ridge to Outer Bounds, off the the Fabyan Triple chair, for great views and a top-to-bottom experience with a gentle pitch.

Best Family Lodging at Bretton Woods

While the red-roofed Omni Mount Washington Hotel is the iconic lodging at the base of Bretton--and is very family-friendly despite its formal ambience--the resort also has many condos with slopeside or ski-in/ski-out access that offer families more room, as well as full kitchens. The Lodge and Townhomes at Bretton Woods are two- five-bedroom units with a short walk to the slopes.

Best Dining for Families at Bretton Woods

Fabyan’s Station is a casual dining spot located in the original train station. The family-friendly menu is burger-focused, but there’s also salads and a smokehouse selection, plus a kids’ menu.

Top Off-Slope Activities for Families at Bretton Woods

One of the few ski resorts to keep its canopy tour open throughout the winter, Bretton Woods’ treetop adventure features nine ziplines connecting 16 platforms between 10 and 70 feet off the forest floor.

No. 7: Sun Valley, Idaho

What Readers Say: "Great for families and anyone tired of lift lines and crowds."

• Overall Rank: No. 3 in the West

• Other Strengths: Grooming, Lodging

Best Family Ski Terrain at Sun Valley

While Dollar Mountain, two miles away, is known as the beginner hill, there's plenty for skiing families at Sun Valley's main Bald Mountain. The Broadway Minicross course is a hoot, with berms and rollers to careen around while getting little legs warmed up. Find it off the Seattle Ridge lift, at the top of the Broadway run. For families with kids who love to rip groomers, head to the new extended terrain of lower Broadway--it's a great first stab at Baldy for skiers of all levels.

Best Family Lodging at Sun Valley

Sun Valley Lodge is the most convenient for skiing families, located at the base of Bald Mountain in walking distance to the village. The massive lodge pool and hot tubs are a hit with the younger set. In town, the Limelight Ketchum is a hub for all types of visitors, but especially kids with a game room, heated outdoor pool, mountain shuttles, and complimentary daily breakfast. For room to spread out, or for extended families, check out the Sun Valley Condos or Cottages. These condos and private homes range from two to seven bedrooms with plenty of communal spaces and amenities such as hot tubs, fireplaces, and full kitchens, all a snowball's throw from the village.

Best Dining for Families at Sun Valley

The taco bar at Lookout Day Lodge, at the top of Bald Mountain, is always a winner with the kids. With plenty of toppings and salsas, this DIY lunch option ensures that even the pickiest eaters always find something to fill their bellies. In Ketchum, Whiskey Jacques may be known for its late-night hijinks, but they keep it clean during family dining hours with air hockey, pool, and arcade games.

Top Off-Slope Activities for Families at Sun Valley

If anyone in your brood has a hankering to try sliding on a different type of equipment, the Sun Valley Nordic Center has 40 kilometers of meticulously groomed cross-country trails and rents all sizes of equipment, plus Chariot carriers for wee ones too young to go it alone. It's a great way to see the Wood River Valley from a different perspective.

No. 6: Holiday Valley, N.Y.

What Readers Say: "Holiday Valley has quite a bit of variety for the vertical they have. For a family with children it can be a great place to spend several days and keep everyone happy."

• Overall Rank: No. 12 in the East

• Other Strengths: Lifts, Dining

Best Family Ski Terrain at Holiday Valley

The whole mountain is perfect family ski terrain, but if we had to choose, the Tannebaum area, with its pretty glades and long runs off its own chairlift, is perfecto.

Best Family Lodging at Holiday Valley

The Tamarack Club is a condo property with easy access to the slopes, plus the family-coveted indoor/outdoor heated pool.

Best Dining for Families at Holiday Valley

The Ellicottville Depot, right across from the ski area, is a great family spot for pizza, wings, and a welcoming vibe.

Top Off-Slope Activities for Families at Holiday Valley

Take the kids tubing during a day off from the slopes. The resort’s tubing hill has 20 lanes and 100-foot vertical drop, but if that’s too intense for the littlest ones in your crew, there’s a Li’l Tubers area that’ll fit the bill.

No. 5: Beaver Creek, Colo.

What Readers Say: "I felt so incredibly spoiled at this resort, everyone was super friendly and it’s a very family friendly place. Lovely people here!"

• Overall Rank: No. 19 in the West

• Other Strengths: Grooming, Lodging

Best Family Ski Terrain at Beaver Creek

McCoy Park opened two seasons ago, and serves up a mountaintop experience for beginners that clues them into why we love skiing so much in a low-consequence, stress-free environment. McCoy has its own express lift along with a handful of well-groomed, mellow slopes and even a chance to dip into some wide-spaced glades for those who are so inclined.

Best Family Lodging at Beaver Creek

We’re a big fan of condos for family travel, both for the extra space and the convenience of full kitchens. The Arrowhead Village Condos, at the far-west Arrowhead base area, are quiet and offer larger units at lower prices. But if you’re in it for convenience and amenities, you can’t do much better than The Osprey, literally steps from the Strawberry Park Express chair.

Best Dining for Families at Beaver Creek

There are plenty of family-friendly spots in the village ranging from more upscale to casual. Blue Moose Pizza is a casual pizza joint where you don’t have to worry about kids making a racket. For a treat, Beano’s Cabin, located mid-mountain via a sleigh ride, has a family menu and is unforgettable experience.

Top Off-Slope Activities for Families at Beaver Creek

The village ice rink is located right in the middle of the village. Kids can rent skates as well as ice bikes for slightly different experience.

No. 4: Mad River Glen, Vt.

What Readers Say: "You feel safe on the slopes, slopes are actively patrolled, and everyone cares about everyone else. Runs are not crowded, people are not flying down the runs at high speed and not having snowboarders is a plus."

• Overall Rank: No. 1 in the East

• Other Strengths: Local Flavor, Challenge

Best Family Ski Terrain at Mad River Glen

MRG is considered an expert’s heaven, but that should deter beginners and intermediate from checking it out. First, MRG is pretty compact and feels very manageable for families. Advanced and adventurous intermediate kids will love all of the little side trails off the main route, and the amazing glades they can pick their way down. And at the base, the rope town and small gates course are an easy and accessible way to get your ski legs under you.

Best Family Lodging at Mad River Glen

The closest lodging is in nearby Waterbury and Waitsfield, most of which are charming Vermont-style bed and breakfasts. The 1824 House is kid-friendly, with sledding hill, games, and a relaxing, not stuff, vibe.

Best Dining for Families at Mad River Glen

Stark’s Pub is the original, the best, and one of the only spots to refuel at the resort. It’s lively atmosphere and tasty grub--from poke bowls to grilled cheese--satisfies all members of the family, from the pickiest on up.

Top Off-Slope Activities for Families at Mad River Glen

Skatium, a natural outdoor ice rink, is located in Waitsfield, and worth hitting up for an evening skate followed by a stroll through town.

No. 3: Deer Valley Resort, Utah

What Readers Say: "This is a great family resort. World class ski school that knows how to keep the little ones having fun and learning to sk. Beginners and hard chargers both would have fun. Daly shoots, Empire, and May flower are challenging and fun. The groomers are best in the business. So many great hotels, especially for families with full kitchens, pools, and even some with game rooms."

• Overall Rank: No. 9 in the West

• Other Strengths: Grooming, Service

Best Family Ski Terrain at Deer Valley

Close your eyes and choose a spot on the trail map. Just kidding, but the fact is that five of Deer Valley's six peaks boast green cruisers from the top, so the odds of finding enjoyable groomed terrain are pretty good wherever you land. What's more, Deer Valley's kids adventure zones--Bucky's Backyard, Silver's Aspen Slalom, Ruby's Tail and Quincy's Cabin--short trails through the woods or banked slaloms designed for small skis to navigate easily.

Best Family Lodging at Deer Valley

We love the Lodges at Deer Valley, at the Snow Park base. The outdoor pool and hot tubs, complimentary buffet breakfast, and on-site rental shop make it such a convenient base camp for families, especially if they're attending ski school or daycare. There's also provide cookies and hot chocolate in the lobby after skiing every afternoon. Enough said.

Best Dining for Families at Deer Valley

For a family treat, Fireside Dining is worth the splurge, and gives restless kids the chance to get up and stretch their legs as they move through the different dining stations, including Swiss Raclette, a carving station, and an amazing chocolate fondue setup. An optional sleigh ride seals the deal. In Park City, two miles down the road, the legendary No Name Saloon debuted its new Annex Burger joint next door, offering a full slate of burgers and a dedicated kids menu with finger favorites from corn dogs to quesadillas. .

Top Off-Slope Activities for Families at Deer Valley

Hands down, the best family activity off the slopes at Deer Valley is the Snowshoe to S'Mores Tour, an hour-long jaunt combining a short snowshoe adventure to the Deer Valley Gazebo for homemade S'Mores and cocoa around the firepit. Just the right amount of sweat and sweets.

No. 2: Smugglers’ Notch, Vt.

What Readers Say: "The resort has great options for the whole family. The kids have plenty of beginner terrain, hard chargers can get challenged on Madonna and the woods off of Sterling will keep anybody entertained all day."

• Overall Rank: No. 2 in the East

• Other Strengths: Value, Challenge

Best Family Ski Terrain at Smugglers’ Notch

For a family resort, Smuggs has a lot of challenging terrain, especially off 3,640-foot Madonna Mountain. The best place for novices to get their ski legs under them is on Morse Mountain, where three lifts serve about a dozen gentle, winding trails. When you’re ready, Upper Chilcoot, off the Madonna 1 chair, is a long, blue cruiser.

Best Family Lodging at Smugglers’ Notch

The North Hill Community’s one- through four-bedroom condos are the newest lodgings at Smuggs, with their own aquatic center and splash pool. There’s a convenient free shuttle to the main village.

Best Dining for Families at Smugglers’ Notch

Martell’s at the Red Fox, in the town of Jeffersonville, is a must-try for families, with a casual, jovial vibe with live music and a large menu with something for everyone.

Top Off-Slope Activities for Families at Smugglers’ Notch

Aside from the Fun Zone, Smuggs’ 26,000-square-foot arcade and family-fun hub, another off-slope diversion worth checking out are the early-evening snowcat tours up the mountain. The Thursday tour features a fireworks display at the top of Morse Mountain.

No. 1: Steamboat Resort, Colo.

What Readers Say: "We ski at Steamboat over the Christmas holiday every year. It never fails to deliver on a spectacular time. There are plenty of options for families, which has served us well as our kids have grown into young adults who are now in college."

• Overall Rank: No. 11 in the West

• Other Strengths: Lodging, Local Flavor

Best Family Ski Terrain at Steamboat Resort

Rough Rider Basin is kid's-only territory with its own surface lift, ski-through teepees, a log cabin playhouse, and a sweet vibe. For older kids, the Sunshine family trail takes groms on a jaunt through the trees in Sunshine Bowl between the Flintlock and Sunshine Lift Line runs.

Best Family Lodging at Steamboat Resort

One of our favorite spots for families, hands down, is Trappeur's Crossing. It's a sprawling property with so many lodging options for groups of different sizes, all with full kitchens, fireplaces, shuttle service to town, and access to a heated indoor/outdoor pool, 10 hot tubs, and a fitness center. The lodge is two blocks from the gondola.

Best Dining for Families at Steamboat Resort

Let the kids help hunt down the Taco Beast snowcat on mom or dad's phone (follow @TacoBeastSBT on Twitter), then celebrate their success with one of four types of the delicious street tacos washed down with a Mexican soda. In town, Dude & Dan's is a welcoming, often raucous spot with flat screen TVs on the walls and a kid-friendly menu with build-your-own mac-n-cheese and a chicken finger basket. You won't have to worry about your brood being too loud here.

Top Off-Slope Activities for Families at Steamboat Resort

Embrace Steamboat's Western vibe with a horseback tour through the woods at Saddleback Ranch; kids must be at least 8 years old for the two-hour trail ride through the ranch's pristine, snowy landscape. For the younger set, the ranch's three-lane snow tubing hill is open to all ages, and littles 4 and under are free.

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