Hello,
I am responding to your question regarding ski resorts in North
America. I have listed websites for the top ten ski resorts in North
America and I have selected a few of these to go into detail. I
selected Mont-Tremblant in Quebec because Mont Tremblant has been
voted #1 Ski Resort in Eastern North America for the 9th consecutive
year by Ski Magazine. They also have a snow school and day care. There
are several websites that list and review ski resorts, including the
About.com site, which are hosted by guides who are knowledgeable in
the topic and research and review resources. I include their "Travel
with Kids" guide's subtopic site on Ski Resorts, with links and
descriptions of programs, prices, how to get there and distances from
the nearest airport and other transportation. A similar resource I
include is Pamela Lenier's Family Travel - FamilyTravelGuides.com -
Skiing with Kids.
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Top ten ski resorts in North America by Forbes.com:
All the resorts included here, however, have been selected as much for
the comfort and luxury of their lodges as for the quality of their ski
runs.
http://www.forbes.com/2001/11/08/1108feat.html
This site is from Forbes listing the top ten ski resorts in North America:
"If what you really want to do is go skiing in the French Alps but
don't want to travel that far, visiting the Mont-Tremblant in Quebec
is the next best thing. Situated at the foot of the Laurentian
Mountains, the lodge overlooks a pretty little village full of
ersatz-Gallic charm and cobblestones. Part of the Fairmont chain, the
lodge also capitalizes on the region's historical association with
French fur trappers, with plenty of snowshoes and animal pelts hanging
artistically from the walls. The lodge offers ski-in/ski-out
capabilities to its guests, who are literally able to walk out the
back door and find themselves being whisked to the top of the ski run
within minutes."
"Resort Information
Average Snowfall 381 cm
Summit Elevation 875 m
Base Elevation 265 m
Skiable Area 246 hectares
Vertical Drop 644 m
Expert Runs 25%
Advanced Runs 25%
Intermediate Runs 33%
Beginner Runs 17%
Total Runs 92
Total Lifts 13
http://www.forbes.com/2001/11/08/1108feat_7.html
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From the official Mont Tremblant site:
"More than 300 professional ski and snowboard instructors! With
Tremblant's Snow School; you're sure to find a weekend program that
meets your needs.
Choose the one that's right for you, and get ready for a great season
at Tremblant. Your success is important to us!
http://www.tremblant.ca/rentalsandlessons/snowschool/seasonal/index-e.htm
Kids can also experience Tremblant!
The Kids Club is the meeting place for 1 to 6 year-old non-skiers.
Treat yourself to freedom and peace of mind while we care for your
children. Guaranteed fun and safety. Early reservations are
recommended.
http://www.tremblant.ca/activities/kidz/index-e.htm
Glide into winter 06/07
Our BIGGEST and BEST deal of the year is back!
Save up to 30% on both your lodging and your lift tickets! It's
simple, make your bookings by November 15, 2006 and take advantage of
HUGE savings on every trip you book to Tremblant for the upcoming
winter season - as long as you make your booking by Nov. 15, 2006.
This offer includes:
Minimum 3 nights lodging
Minimum 3 days of skiing
Guided tour of the mountain on skis or snowboard
Parking
BOOKING DEADLINE : NOVEMBER 15, 2006
Early Booking - Deal of the Year
SAVE 30% on Ski & Lodging
Valid from opening to December 21, 2006
Regular price: $129 CAD ($125 USD)
Starting from
$89 CAD
$85 USD
/pers./night
Double. Occ.*
For prices:
http://www.tremblant.ca/offers/winter/package_00/index-e.htm
You can fly into Montreal or Mont Tremblant airport:
Air Travel and Flights to Mont Tremblant
Mont Tremblant is located just 90 minutes north of Montreal. You can
easily get to the #1 Ski Resort in Eastern North America with any
flight to Montreal or directly to the new Mont Tremblant International
Airport.
http://www.tremblant.ca/gettinghere/air/index-e.htm
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Travelers Digest has listed the worlds top ski resorts:
Food is key after partaking in the activities that really make
Whistler legendary. Whistler quickly rose through the ranks to become
one of the strongest contenders for the much-disputed title of
"world's greatest ski resort." Over the past decade, Whistler was
consistently voted "Best North American Ski Resort" by North Americans
& the Japanese repeatedly rank it as their favorite international
destination.
Pan Pacific Whistler Mountainside was voted the best Whistler Ski
Resort location by Conde Nast Traveler Magazine. This award-winning
hotel offers an intimate luxury ambience with well-appointed suites
complete with kitchen, fireplace, balcony, and spectacular views of
Whistler and Blackcomb mountains. Amenities include outdoor heated
pool, outdoor hot tubs, fitness centre, spa, and steam room.
http://www.britishcolumbia.com/Ski/resorts/?id=8
With over 115 hotels and resorts in Whistler to choose from, Pan
Pacific Whistler Mountainside is number one for your British Columbia
vacation and is unlike any other Whistler accommodation. This award
winning hotel offers an intimate Whistler luxury ambience while
featuring well-appointed hotel suites complete with full kitchen,
fireplace, balcony, floor-to-ceiling windows and deluxe Aveda salon
amenities. You can relax poolside at Pan Pacific Whistler
Mountainside's year-round outdoor heated swimming pool, or enjoy one
of the hotel's two outdoor hot tubs, all with spectacular views of
Whistler and Blackcomb mountains. Pan Pacific Whistler Mountainside
also offers a cardio / weight room, spa facility and steam room. Allow
the hotel's 24-hour Concierge and Front Desk associates to pamper you
and your family and assist by recommending and organizing activities
and dining arrangements so that as guests of the hotel you can fully
experience all the magic that a Whistler vacation has to offer. We are
not your standard Whistler hotel & resort, we are Pan Pacific.
Voted the best Whistler Ski Resort location by Conde Nast Traveler Magazine:
http://www.whistler.panpacific.com/
"Children are welcome at Pan Pacific Whistler and if under 18, they are free."
http://www.whistler.panpacific.com/hotel/leisure.html
There are numerous packages and here is an example of price:
Summer Family Adventure Package
Starting at C$1999.00/stay
US$1739.00/stay
"Summer is a magical time in Whistler with so much to experience. Pan
Pacific Whistler Mountainside has an exciting package to entertain the
whole family! Your family will experience five (5) luxurious nights in
a Two Bedroom Suite complete with a full kitchen, living room, two
bedrooms and two full bathrooms, gas fireplace and balcony all with
great views of the surrounding mountains and village. Enjoy Whistler's
only salt water pool and the most enviable pool deck that over looks
the Whistler Mountain Bike park and all the action of the village
square below. This package has four fun filled activities for the
entire family to enjoy."
http://whistler.panpacific.com/hotel/offers_05.html
Hotel Location
The Pan Pacific Whistler Mountainside resort hotel is located in the
heart of Whistler Village, set at the base of the Whistler and
Blackcomb Mountains. There is access to 7000 acres of skiing
stretching over eight miles, including North America's steepest mile
vertical drop, and to four award-winning golf courses. The hotel lodge
is within a few paces of Whistler Village Gondola and Blackcomb
Excalibur Gondola base stations.
Vancouver International Airport - 2.5 hours (scheduled daily bus service).
Vancouver - 75 miles / 120 kilometres (scheduled daily bus service).
http://whistler.panpacific.com/hotel/location.html
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This site lists top ten North American ski resorts:
"As any Letterman writer will tell ya, putting together a Top Ten list
ain?t always the easiest thing to execute. And when it comes to
skiing, personal preference and geographic prejudice usually outrank
what some media outlet dictates. With those considerations in mind,
our list of the top North American resorts stretches across the four
corners of the continent, from Whistler/Blackcomb in the north to Taos
in the south, from Killington in the east to Squaw in the west. Some
are bona fide institutions with something for everyone, while other
are light on crowds and weighted toward the experts among you. Only
one thing is assured: Choose one of these resorts and a one-season
try-out trip may become an annual pilgrimage."
http://away.com/skiing/ski_best_for.tcl?Top_Ski_Resorts_for_North_American&id=293362
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Ski Magazine lists top resorts, and the #1 listed Deer Valley is also
listed on the websites for top family ski resorts:
"Boulder, Colo. Sept. 14, 2005?SKI Magazine?s annual ?Top 50 Resort
Guide,? the definitive ranking of North American ski resorts, names
Deer Valley, Utah as the No. 1 ski resort in its October issue, on
newsstands mid-September. Deer Valley takes the top spot after being
ranked second in last year?s survey. Perennial favorite Tremblant,
Que. is ranked No. 1 on the East Coast for a record-setting ninth
consecutive year.
SKI?s readers move Deer Valley to the No. 1 spot on the 2006 survey,
awarding the resort top marks for service, on-mountain dining,
grooming and access. The resort, which is celebrating its 25th
anniversary this season, is described by one SKI reader as, ?posh and
wonderful,? while another claims, ?the service is so outstanding that
you may be able to pay someone to wipe out for you.?
http://www.skimag.com/skimag/travel/article/0,12795,1105246,00.html
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Telluride is not only a top resort but has many programs for children
and is also listed on sites for top family resorts:
TELLURIDE CHILDREN'S PROGRAMS
"The Telluride Children's Ski Program and Nursery provide the perfect
solution for parents seeking skiing options for the whole family. The
programs allow parents to explore the mountain while entrusting their
children with quality ski instructors and nursery staff. Not only are
the kids intensely supervised, but they're learning skills to enable
them to join their parents on the mountain and enjoy skiing for a
lifetime. The nursery provides one caregiver for every two infants
(two months to one year old) and one caregiver for up to five toddlers
(one to three year olds). Day care is from 8am-4:30pm and includes
healthy snacks in the morning and afternoon for toddlers along with
lunch. Parents of infants should provide formulas, bottles and baby
food. All
nursery staff have reputable and documented child care experience,
including CPR certification. The Children's Program consists of over
50 instructors, many of them certified by the Professional Ski
Instructors Association (PSIA). Located in the Le Chamonix building,
the ski school uses a learning theme based on Tellurides' heritage of
mining, Ute Indians and skiing.
Telluride's instructors help children build their skiing level by
integrating the region's history, flora, fauna and geography into
every lesson. The program is open to 3- to 12-year-old kids and offers
instruction in alpine and Nordic skiing, as well as snowboarding.
Group and private lessons, by the hour or by the day, are available
for children of all ability levels. Baby-sitting
services are also available for after ski care. In addition, the
Telluride Ski School's complimentary Adventure Club provides
supervision before and after ski school for children registered for
full-day lessons. This supervised program includes transportation to
and from the Coonskin chairlift from the Le Chamonix building and
indoor/outdoor play."
http://www.familytravelguides.com/articles/skiing/tellurid.html
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The About.com sites are hosted by guides who are knowledgeable in the
topic and research and review resources. Here is their guide's site
subtopic of Ski Resorts in the topic section for "Travel with Kids",
with links and descriptions of programs, prices, how to get there and
distances from the nearest airport.
About.com - Travel with Kids - Ski Resorts
"From Teresa Plowright,Your Guide to Travel with Kids.
Below are great ski resorts for families. See also Tips and Advice for
getting the family on the slopes."
http://travelwithkids.about.com/od/skiresorts/
This site includes many resources, including this listing of 20 top
family ski resorts, with reviews and links for each:
Ski Resorts A to Z - Top Family Ski Resorts
Find ski resorts for families, in many areas.
http://travelwithkids.about.com/cs/skiresorts/l/blskiresortsaz.htm
And lists this gateway site:
Kidz'N'Snow: Ski Resorts
This excellent site has coverage of many great spots, with attention
to details such as kids' programs, kids' ski runs, child-care, parent
tips, more.
http://www.kidznsnow.com
The About.com guide's main page lists these selected family ski resorts:
All-inclusive ski resort!
Club Med Crested Butte in Colorado is North America?s only
all-inclusive ski resort: but that?s not the only reason to visit.
The(all-included) lessons are excellent; kids programs -- on and off
the slopes-- are first-class; and Club Med ambiance is the
friendliest. "All-inclusive" includes lift tix, ski and 'board
lessons, in addition to meals, snacks, drinks, kids programs, and all
the usual.
http://travelwithkids.about.com/b/a/243873.htm
http://travelwithkids.about.com/od/coloradoskiresorts/fr/Club_Med_Creste.htm
Big Bear Lake
Less than two hours from Los Angeles and four hours from Las Vegas,
this family-friendly ski resort offers 75 trails with 23 lifts, and
snow-tubing with a "moveable" sidewalk up the hill. Gliding down the
snow-covered slope repeatedly, made especially for tubing, children
squealing with glee, it is not hard to see why one of California's
biggest secrets is a blast for families - and all in a quaint mountain
community with family owned small hotels and cottages. The Alpine
Slide at Magic Mountain offers unlimited all day passes for $20. Night
tubing is also available from 5 pm - 9 pm on Friday, Saturday and
holidays for $14.
http://travelwithkids.about.com/od/skiresorts/a/bigbear.htm
Smuggler's Notch, VT
This well-known year-round resort has been voted a top family resort
so many times, it isn't funny.
http://travelwithkids.about.com/cs/skiresorts/a/smuggs.htm
Whistler-Blackcomb Ski Resort, BC, Canada
One of the world's top-rated ski resorts, Whistler-Blackcomb (near
Vancouver BC) has two giant mountains, special kids areas, daycare,
adventure camps, apres-ski for kids, and stays open 'til June.
http://travelwithkids.about.com/od/skiresorts/l/blwhistlerski.htm
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This site has an article on "Skiing with Kids" and in the righthand
column, links to reviews of top family ski resorts:
Pamela Lenier's Family Travel - FamilyTravelGuides.com - Skiing with Kids
http://www.familytravelguides.com/articles/skiing/
Including:
Cataloochee Ski Area, Magic Valley, NC
Crystal Mountain Resort, Thompsonville, Michigan
Deer Valley, Park City, Utah
Grand Geneva Resort & Spa, Lake Geneva, Wisconsin
Holiday Valley, Ellicottville, New York
Northstar at Tahoe, Truckee, California
Paoli Peaks, Paoli, Indiana
Smugglers' Notch Resort, Vermont
Taos Ski Valley, New Mexico
Telluride Ski Area
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I hope this is useful. Please let me know if I can be of further assistance. jdb-ga |
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