For an updated list of family ski resorts for 2019, check out The Best Family-Friendly Ski Resorts in Upstate New York
Thunder Ridge Ski Area (Patterson, NY)
Just 75 minutes from NYC, Thunder Ridge features 30 trails of varying difficulty. Three-hour lessons for children ages 5-12 are offered on weekends and holidays, and in a new program aimed at the preschool-kindergarten set, little ones can learn the basics, too. Without a car? Ride the Metro-North Railroad. And on Saturdays and Sundays through March, enjoy free shuttle service between the Patterson train station and the slopes. thunderridgeski.com
Hunter Mountain (Hunter, NY)
With 240 skiable acres, 11 lifts, 55 trails and nine snow-tubing chutes, this resort is an exciting and not-too-far-away option. Programs are available for children ages 4-17 in skiing and snowboarding, and daycare is available for children six months through six years. huntermtn.com
Whiteface Mountain (Lake Placid, NY)
Rated the No. 1 ski resort in the Northeast by the readers of SKI Magazine, this winter paradise encompasses the slopes used at the 1980 Winter Olympics in Lake Placid. Adventure-loving fams can try their hands (and feet) at the Gold Medal Games Family Edition, where a few of the adrenaline-pumping activities include bobsledding and speed skating. whiteface.com
Windham Mountain (The Catskills, NY)
A local family-friendly mountain only two-and-a-halfhours from the city, Windham boasts an abundance of trails for all levels, an ice-skating rink, and a daycare program. There are also group and private lessons available for both kids and adults. Families can stay at the Winwood Inn or in condos. The resort is also home to the Gwen Allard Adaptive Sports Center, where children and adults with disabilities can learn to ski or snowboard. windhammountain.com
Woodloch Resort (Hawley, PA)
Sitting on 1,000 acres in the heart of northeastern Pennsylvania’s Pocono Mountains, Woodloch is a
four-season retreat that stays abuzz all winter long. A few of the many cold-weather activities guests can enjoy are snow tubing, ice skating and snowmobiling. Purchase a Woodloch VIP pass for quicker access to the 18 trails at neighboring Ski Big Bear at Masthope Mountain. woodloch.com
Ski Butternut (Great Barrington, MA)
Beginners on these Berkshire slopes can breathe easy. Three trails are designated Slow Zones, where speedy skiing is prohibited. Novices ages 4-12 can receive full- and half-day instruction on weekends and holidays. For longer-term vacations, mid-week ski-and-stay packages are a steal. skibutternut.com
Jiminy Peak Mountain Resort (Hancock, MA)
This popular Berkshires resort boasts top-rated instructional programs, such as its KidsRule Mountain Camps for children ages 4-14 (there’s even a program for three-year-olds!). Little ones six months and older can enjoy indoor play in the Cub’s Den playroom while parents take to the slopes. jiminypeak.com
Smugglers’ Notch Resort (Smugglers’ Notch, VT)
Cruise any one of this award-winning ski spot’s three mountains, then trek over to the FunZone, a kid-friendly recreation center complete with an indoor playground and a mini-golf course. Condominiums come equipped with kitchens, Internet access and in-unit or nearby laundry facilities. Free lift tickets are available for kids ages 5 and under. smuggs.com
Okemo Mountain Resort (Ludlow, VT)
Head to Vermont to experience one of the best ski resorts in the Northeast. Featuring slopeside lodging (free for kids), free skiing and riding for children under six, a daycare center for children and private lessons for those as young as two, this resort is truly family-friendly. Okemo even offers Young Adult slopes for teens and a special Kids Night Out that indulges children in pizza parties, movies and fun activities while parents enjoy the slopes solo. okemo.com
