If you need a little encouragement from those who have made the leap to skiing with kids, consider Trea Diament, who instructed 7-year-olds as part of Crystal Mountain's Alpine Club. The most important thing for new, small skiers, she says, is that they have fun. "Hot chocolate and snowball fights are every bit as important as a good wedge or weighting your ski."
As soon as a kid can stand up, she can strap on skis. What a gift to give your children, to learn to appreciate the active outdoors in our region of mountain abundance! Over a long winter, getting outside can be more than another adventure; it can be a sanity-saver, the perfect antidote to cabin fever. Best of all, it is an activity the whole family can enjoy together.
Susie Martin, who grew up skiing with her family and is passing her love of the sport to her 7-year-old twins, agrees. "There's no need to ski the whole day," she says. "It's all about having fun." Her recommendations: "Step one is to teach your little skier how to fall and get back up. Celebrate the falls and recoveries more than the skiing."
A little bit of advance planning can save you extra money. Consider delaying your trip until after mid-March and save on lodging as rates come down. Midweek rates are also consistently lower. If you have the flexibility, check lodging websites for deals a week before you travel. Many lodging options close to ski areas offer package deals with discounted tickets. And bringing food with you for the mountain, or cooking in a condo for breakfast and dinner, is a great way to stay healthy, nutritionally and financially.
Local ski areas offer fun and reasonable alternatives to what can be a long day trip with little ones. Here are three great ski weekends.
Mission Ridge
This resort, east of the Cascades, offers up lots of dry snow and more sunshine than its westerly neighbors. Twelve miles from Wenatchee, Mission Ridge is a longer trip from Seattle, but there are some great package deals that make it worth the trip. www.missionridge.com.
Tickets
Children under 10, $10; kids ages 10-17, $54; youth 18-24, $64, adults 25 and older $74.
Fifth- and sixth-graders are eligible for a free beginner package, and students in grades seven through 12 demonstrating a 3.0 GPA or better can get lift tickets for $35 all season (see website for details).
Gear Rentals
Children under 10, $30; kids ages 10-17, $35; youth ages 18 through 24, $40; and up and adults 25 and over, $45.
Lessons/Packages
Half-day lesson for kids aged 4-12: $61 , or $94 with lift ticket and rental. Full day lesson for kids aged 4-12, $94, or $126 with lift ticket and rental.
Lodging
Wenatchee offers a variety of options. At the Avenue Motel, kids under 12 stay free. On weekends, $129 gets you a room and two lift tickets to either Mission Ridge or Stevens Pass. Most Wenatchee lodgings offer packages including lift tickets, and many offer free stays for children.
Budget Tip
Look for a Wenatchee hotel where the kids stay free, the lift tickets are included and the price is right.
Mount Baker
This is one of the last family-owned resorts in Washington state, known by snowboarders around the world, and boasts the highest annual snowfall in the state. Located east of Bellingham, Mt. Baker has great terrain at a low price, making it a perfect destination for a family weekend. www.mtbaker.us.
Tickets
Children ages 6 and under ski free; kids ages 7-10, $27.80; fifth graders ski free (see website for details); kids 11-15 $38, Age 16 and up $60.01.
Gear Rentals
For a basic ski package (skis, boots, poles): Kids 6 and under, $18.54; kids 7-10, $27.02; kids 11-15, $26.88; 16 and up, $37.07.
Lessons
For kids ages 7 and older: beginner lift ticket, rental and lesson $49.17. Baker offers a variety of lessons for different ages and levels.
Lodging
Lodging is all located in the town of Glacier at the base of the mountain or between Glacier and Maple Falls. Glacier Guest Suites run from $79-$145 a night. The area is short on hotels, making renting a condo a good option.
Budget Tip
Baker has some of the best rental, lift ticket and class rates around. Save on lodging by going in on a condo with one or two other families.
Crystal Mountain
Crystal is the largest ski area in Washington and a Seattle favorite, located next to Mount Rainier. With endless options for beginners through expert skiers, and lodging options right on the slopes Crystal is an ideal family destination. crystalmountainresort.com
Tickets
Children ages 0-10 ski free; prices for others depend on the timing of your trip. Youth ages 11-17 range from $49-$69; adults range from $59-$99.
Gear Rentals
Ski package (skis, boots, poles) for children ages 3-10, $27; kids aged 11-17, $37; adults, $47.
Lessons
For kids aged 4-6, a half-day lesson is $138 and a full day lesson is $178, including lunch. For everyone else, a half-day lesson is $128 and a full-day lesson is $168, lunch not included.
Lodging
Crystal has options at the mountain or at the base of the access road.
Budget Tip
Check out the many specials, including last-minute deals, at Alta Crystal Resort. Crystal Hotels has a "specials" page on their website.
Shannon Huffman Polson is a writer focusing on the natural world and family. She is mom to son, Sam, who did his first snowshoeing trip at 6 weeks, backpacked in the rain with an overnight in a tent at 6 months, and traveled to Alaska twice in his first year.
