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Family Skiing

- Five Reasons Snow Holidays Are Great for Families

By , About.com Guide

Peaks at Alta ski resort. Photo ©  Teresa Plowright.

Family ski getaways are peak experiences!

Photo © Teresa Plowright.

Besides the sheer wholesomeness of being outdoors, exercising, and not sitting in front of computer or tv screens, family ski holidays have some special benefits.

1. Fun for all-- including teens and tweens
As kids get older, parents often find it harder to pull the family together for fun that all ages enjoy. Skiing/snowboarding is exciting for everyone.

2. Programs for wee ones
Meanwhile, for the younger set, virtually every ski resort has programs for ages three and up, usually with a mix of indoor fun plus beginning ski instruction. Some also have nurseries and child care.

3. A lifetime sport, for your kids
The earlier kids start skiing, the easier the sport will be for them: by the tween years, they'll be proficient, and the fun just gets better through their teen and young adult years.

4. It's easy!
With today's equipment, anyone --yes, even Mom or Dad-- can learn to ski. Most mountains offer many options for lessons: drop-in, private, multi-day groups... Older kids may prefer to learn snowboarding; all family ski resorts offer lessons.

5. Other Fun In The Snow
If skiing or 'boarding just isn't your thing, you might be tempted by tubing, tobogganing, snowbikes, dog-sledding or snowscoots. Family ski resorts offer a range of other snow fun.

Family pricing
Family skiing is, unfortunately, a costly type of getaway; even if you can drive to ski slopes for a day outing, the lift tickets alone are a hefty price. Look for places that offer family pricing schemes; also, quite a few ski resorts let kids ski free up to a certain age (- and sometimes that age is as old as ten or twelve.)

See also: money-saving tips for family skiing.

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