At this point, I’ve traveled extensively with my teens and tween and unfortunately, I know firsthand how stressful things can suddenly become because they are not having a good time on the trip. There are few things worse than a moody teenager on vacation that does not want to participate in any of the activities.

For a while, I gave up and let my oldest kid sit in the hotel room while the rest of us had fun, but eventually, I realized I needed to change the type of trips we were taking. Our trips needed to be way more exciting and physically active, especially if they’ve been stuck in the car on a road trip. With these two things in mind, here are my picks for the top US vacation for teens and tweens.

Top 9 Destinations for Teens and Tweens in the United States

Oahu

Oahu is an epic place to take tweens and teens year-round. The weather is consistently good and there is much to do, especially if your family enjoys water sports. Some suggested activities in Oahu that teens will likely appreciate are:

• Para-sailing
• Visiting North Shore and learning to surf
• Paddle-boarding up the Anahulu River to watch the sea turtles
• Hiking to the top of Diamond Head
• Kayaking from Lanikai Beach out to Moku Nui Island and back. 
• Hike Maunawili Falls – This hike takes you deep into the jungle, where you cross a river twice, and at the end, you are rewarded with a waterfall, and if they are brave enough, cliff jumping.

If possible, I highly recommend staying at Disney’s Aulani Resort and Spa. This resort has a teen program that your kids will actually want to go to. They get to participate in physical challenges, take animation classes, learn to play the ukulele, have parties just for them, and more. While your kids are off doing their own thing, you have peace of mind knowing that they are safe and having fun.

See our Oahu Travel Guide to help you plan your entire trip! If you are staying in Waikiki check out our 4 Days in Waikiki itinerary.

Kauai, Hawaii is also fantastic if you want something less mainstream.

Vail

Whether you visit in the summer or in the winter, tweens and teens will love Vail, Colorado.

In the summer, teens can zip line and adventure through multiple ropes courses at Epic Discovery up on the mountain. Plus, there are other activities like horseback riding, white water rafting, and mountain biking.

During the winter, tweens and teens can spend their time skiing and snowboarding across the massive mountain. Vail has free public transportation that’s easy to use, allowing kids to have a little independence roaming around on their own.

See our Vail, Colorado Travel Guide to help you plan your trip or our 4-Day Vail Itinerary. Our favorite place to stay in Vail is Sonnenalp Hotel. 

Universal Orlando

Universal Orlando houses many of the best roller coasters in the United States and has two extensive Harry Potter areas. Teens and tweens will love riding all the intense roller coasters. If your kids are like mine and want to ride the same roller coaster over and over, consider purchasing an Express Pass. This line pass will allow you to bypass almost every line there is in all three of the parks, which means there will be plenty of time to ride everything at least twice.

Recently, Universal Orlando added a water park, Volcano Bay. There are rarely any lines and you do not have to cart around your own raft or tubes for the slides. They’ve made using the water park easy, and with teens and tweens, the easier the better!

A nice plus is the city of Orlando, because when you are done hanging out at Universal, Orlando has lots of other things to do. Kids of all ages will get a kick out of taking a Wild Florida airboat out on the swamps and seeing alligators. Oh, and there’s always Disney World.  

Las Vegas

Las Vegas is not somewhere most think to take teenagers, but it is one of the most visited tourist destinations in the United States and there’s lots to do for all ages. Give the kids a thrill at the indoor skydiving facility or zip lining off the Rio casino at VooDoo Zip.

Other fun things to do include Gameworks, the massive indoor gaming facility, rocking climbing out at the Red Rocks, ATVing, and hanging out at some of the incredible hotel pools. The Wet N’ Wild in Las Vegas also has some extreme water rides. Teens will also like most of the Cirque Du Soleil shows in town. You can currently get Cirque Du Soleil discount tickets up to 50% off one of their shows in Vegas.

For more recommendations on planning a trip to Vegas with kids, see my article: Tons of Activities for Teenagers in Las Vegas.  Here is a sample itinerary: Five Days in Las Vegas with Kids, our extensive Las Vegas Travel Guide, and our hotel recommendations 11 Best Kid-Friendly Las Vegas Hotels.

San Antonio

San Antonio, Texas is jammed packed with activities. They have two major theme parks, Six Flags and Sea World, not to mention one of the most extensive water parks in the world, Schlitterbahn. The nice thing is, teenagers can basically run off and do their own thing in all of these theme parks. Even along the River Walk, kids can go explore all on their own. While they shop around, parents can take a break over a drink and enjoy the River Walk in a slightly more grown-up way.

San Antonio also has a fantastic zoo, but you will want to skip it if the temperature is over 100 degrees outside. Instead, lather on the sunscreen and go float down the Comel River or Guadalupe River.

In San Antonio, I recommend staying at Hotel Emma.

Plan your entire trip with our San Antonio Travel Guide.

Panama City Beach

Another teen favorite in Florida is Panama City Beach. The beach has soft, powdery, white sand. It isn’t as big as many of the beach towns, but that doesn’t mean there isn’t a lot to do.

Go mini-golfing and go-carting, spend the day at the beach, or shop around at Pier Park. Spend one day bopping around Scenic 30A, where you will find tiny beach towns like Seaside or Rosemary. Renting some bicycles is a perfect way to explore this area. Another interesting spot worth venturing out to is Sandestin’s Baytowne Wharf. Here, families can indulge in boutique shopping, zip-lining, ropes courses, an arcade, and unique eateries.

Use our Panama City Beach travel guide to plan your entire vacation.

Bend, Oregon

Bend, Oregon is another destination that is fantastic in the summer and in the winter. Year-round they have some of the best off-roading in the state!

During the summer, families will get a charge out of kayaking, white water rafting, and hiking. If your kids have never white water rafted before, take them down the Big Eddy. They will get a small taste of major rapids without being tossed around too terribly. Nearby, in Sunriver, there is a small water park and a little village to shop in.

During the winter you can ski and snowboard on Mt. Bachelor, and there’s an outdoor ice skating rink in Sunriver.

Read our Bend, Oregon Travel Guide to help plan your family vacation. Tetherow Lodge is our favorite place to stay in Bend.

NYC

There are a lot of things to do for this age group in New York City year-round. During the winter season, everyone can ice skate for free in Bryant Park and shop at all the little shops that are set up temporarily. Plus, you can witness the acclaimed Rockettes performing and many other Christmas shows.

All year long, visitors can enjoy the major landmarks and attractions here, like seeing the Statue of Liberty or visiting Ground Zero. Once kids are age 10 and up they are old enough to go through the September 11th Memorial, and old enough to appreciate, or at least sit through, a Broadway show.

We’ve been to NYC more times than we can remember. Check out our New York City Travel Guide to help you plan your own epic NYC getaway! I’ve also put together a 3-Day NYC Itinerary with Teens and a Mother Daughter New York City Weekend Getaway guide.

Palm Springs, California

Take teens on an adventure trip in Palm Springs with activities like four-wheelers or Jeep tours. Despite it being almost 100 degrees outside all three of my kids loved going on a Jeep tour of the San Andreas fault. Families can hike out at Coachella Valley Preserve or take the Palm Springs Aerial Tram up to Mt. San Jacinto State Park to hike in cooler temperatures.

I recommend staying at Omni Rancho Las Palmas near Palm Springs. They have several swimming pools and a lazy river.

Use our Palm Springs Travel Guide to help you plan your family vacation.

Conclusion

This list could undoubtedly keep going with the abundance of diverse destinations found across the United States, but hopefully, these 9 are enough to get you started on planning a successful trip with your teens!

For more ideas on places in the United States on vacation see our 22 picks for a spring break trip, Best Lake Vacations in the United States or our post on 13 Insanely Affordable Vacations in the United States.

Read Next:

• 10 Best Places in Asia for Teens and Tweens
• Best Places in Mexico for Teens and Tweens
• Best Places in Europe for Teens and Tweens
• 23 Best All-Inclusive Resorts for Families
• 15 Cool Hotel Rooms for Kids

Get Travel Insurance

Unfortunately, there are a lot of things that can go wrong on any trip. Be prepared for the worst with travel insurance. We use Travelex or Safety Wing (often cheaper).

Book Flights

I use Skyscanner to find flights. I use it so much, I wrote an entire guide to finding cheap flights with Skyscanner! Another option for finding deals is FlightHub.

Book a Place to Stay

I recommend using Expedia.com or Hotels.com for most hotel bookings. I prefer to book directly with Marriott when I stay there because of their excellent military discount.

If you prefer staying in a vacation rental instead, I recommend VRBO. If you are looking for a hostel, I use HostelWorld.

Choose Activities and Tours

To find great activities in any area I use Viator. If we are visiting a city with lots of popular attractions I always check CityPass, PogoPass, and GoCard to see if they have discount cards available. Groupon also tends to have a lot of local travel deals.

When I want to book a full-on multi-day tour I use TourRadar. They’ve got fantastic weekly deals. If going somewhere in Mexico or the Caribbean, I use Apple Vacations.

Rent a Car or Get a Lyft

More often than not, Lyft is cheaper than Uber. Use my Lyft link for an $18 credit! For a car rental in any country, I recommend Hertz or Discover Cars.

Save Money on Gas

Upside a free app gets you cash back on gas! Use promo code RV2Q2 to get an extra 15¢/gal bonus on your first purchase.

Get a Visa

I use iVisa to get all of my Visas.

Travel Printables

If you found this information helpful consider buying me a cup of coffee aka helping me pay to put kids through college! Just scan the QR code or click the link. As always, thank you for your support!

Disclosure: This post contains affiliate links, which means we may receive a commission if you click a link and purchase something that we have recommended but doesn’t cost you any extra. Please check out our disclosure policy for more details. Thank you for your support!

Disclosure: This post contains affiliate links. 

The post Top 9 Destinations for Teens and Tweens in the United States appeared first on Mommy Travels.

Noah, Eden, and Jonah have been traveling with me their entire lives. So far the three of them have been to at least 22 countries, 4 continents, and almost every state in the United States. Needless to say, when I ask them what the best family vacations were, they had more than a few opinions! 

They quickly fired off an assortment of places we have been. It was interesting to hear what they picked, some of them I knew, but other ones were a complete surprise. After some serious conversation with them, we’ve narrowed it down to 17!

Top 17 Family Vacations You will Never Forget!

1. Singapore

Singapore is in all of our top ten picks. My oldest, Noah considers Singapore to be a utopia because of its cleanliness and orderliness. Oddly enough, we were only in Singapore for two days, making it one of the shortest stays we have done anywhere. It only took one day for us to fall in love with this city. We recommend walking around Marina Bay where the architecture is insane and definitely visit some parts of the Marina Bay Gardens. I can assure you that your kids have never seen anything else like this! The kid’s favorite hotel here is the Fairmont Singapore. For more ideas on what to do and where to find the best milkshake see my article: Singapore Travel Guide.

2. Cancun

Cancun has so much going on, and don’t worry, it’s safe. We spent a week there and basically had a non-stop adventure! The entire area is set up well to accommodate any kind of family and literally any type of budget. Families will appreciate luxurious, all-inclusive resorts with kid’s clubs and teen clubs. While the kids are off doing their own thing parents can head to a spa or the bar. There isn’t a bad beach anywhere in the area, so plan to spend at least two full days beach bumming.  While you are there, be sure to see Mayan Ruins, swim in a cenote, eat lots of Mexican food, and go ATVing. 

For a list fun family things to do in Cancun check out this post: 12 Adventurous Things to do in Cancun. I recommend staying at The Grand in Cancun or at another one of the  11 Best All-inclusive Resorts in Cancun for Families.

If at some point you head over to Cozumel (you totally should), check out my post: 13 Things to do in Cozumel. I recommend staying at Allegro Cozumel.

3. Thailand

Thailand is absolutely incredible and I wasn’t surprised it landed in my kids top three places. You can basically go anywhere in Thailand and have an interesting experience. I recommend visiting at least these three places when you go: Phuket, Bangkok, and Chiang Mai. Although they each have some similarities they are completely different experiences.

Phuket

Phuket is one of Thailand’s islands and it’s extremely kid friendly. My kids thought taking a Thai cooking class was cool and they loved going to the beaches and interacting with elephants and tigers. To find the elephants on the beach check out my post: Swimming with Elephants in Thailand. And for more help planning your trip to Phuket see my article: 5 Day Phuket Itinerary with Kids.

Bangkok

Bangkok is massive so there are loads and activities. The kids loved biking through the city despite the heavy traffic and they were thrilled when we stumbled across monstrous milkshakes. To read more about taking Bangkok to kids, check out my article: Two Days in Bangkok with Kids.

Chiang Mai

Chiang Mai is an easy city to get around and it has tons to see and do. The city has an incredible night market where you and your kids could shop for hours. Here you will find interesting things to purchase like leather journals, bracelets, and tuk-tuks made out of soda cans. There is an elephant sanctuary where families can care for elephants and of course the food is outstanding! I recommend staying at the Shangri-la and taking a food and city tour by bike. Learn more about visiting Chiang Mai with kids in my article: 4 Things to do in Chiang Mai with kids.

4. New York City

New York City is currently Noah’s #1 and in Eden’s top 3 and in my top 15. The kids love the many dessert experiences here like Serendipity and  Black Tap. Both places have outrageous over-the-top desserts. They all enjoy hanging out in Central Park and Bryant Park, both parks have lots of free activities. At Bryant Park, kids can play kubb, while parents grab a drink at the little outdoor bar there. In Central Park, there are multiple playgrounds.

Visiting the 9/11 memorial is a must and if the kids are 10 or older tour the museum. Kids enjoy touring the Statue of Liberty, but not necessarily Ellis Island. If you do, go to Ellis Island to look for your family’s name on the wall. If you want to do a bus tour I recommend The Ride, especially if your kids are teens or tweens. I think going to a Broadway show is a must, but this is expensive and not worth it if your kids hate musicals or might possibly sleep through it. Good plays for kids are Wicked, Lion King, and Phantom of the Opera.

Remember the further out you can plan a trip to New York the cheaper the trip will be. Here are 15 Ways to save money in NYC.

We’ve been to NYC more times than we can remember. Check out our New York City Travel Guide to help you plan your own epic NYC getaway!

5. Oahu, Hawaii

Hawaii is another place that all three kids agree on and Oahu is their top island followed by Kauai. On Oahu, their favorite thing to do is sit at the pool or sit on the beach.

The kids recommend hanging out at the beach on North Shore to check out the waves and do some shopping. While you are up there have shrimp from Giovani’s Shrimp truck and get shaved ice at Matsumoto Shave Ice. If you feel like getting active rent a paddleboard at Sea N Surf and paddle up the Anahulu River and look for sea turtles. The last time we went we saw five huge sea turtles.

Also, fun in Oahu is parasailing in Waikiki and hiking to the top of Diamond Head. When you get done hiking Diamond Head, stop by Shimazu Shave Ice for massive shaved ice.

For more help planning your family’s Oahu vacation read our Oahu Travel Guide. 

I highly recommend staying at Disney’s Aulani if possible. 

6. Orlando

Orlando would probably make any kid’s list. With it being home to Disney World, Sea World, Discovery Cove, and Universal Studios a family could spend a month and do something different every single day. Universal Orlando is a must once each kid is tall enough to ride all the roller coasters and the new water park, Volcano Bay is fantastic. Besides the theme parks, there are all sorts of other fun things to do like swamp tours through alligator-infested waters, knight tournaments at Medieval Times, and within a short drive lots of beaches.

7. London

London also made it high on the list of the kid’s favorite places. We visited during Thanksgiving a few years ago and everything we did was awesome. There is so much to see and do that you can easily spend a week or two here and never run out of activities. Some of their favorite things were seeing the play Charlie and the Chocolate Factory, eating at Borough Market, and doing the Tower of London tour. Both boy’s least favorite thing to do is the bus tours. I personally appreciated how many free things there were to do in London. For more London ideas and tips, see my article: London with Kids.

8. Negril, Jamaica

Negril, Jamaica is Jonah’s #1 pick, and if I was his age, I think this would possibly be my #1 too. We recommend staying at Beaches Negril. This is an all-inclusive resort geared specifically for families. Highlights of staying here include:

• Sesame Street parade and BBQ party where families can dance with the characters, DJs lead dances, flame throwers perform, and more.
• Ice Cream Machine – The kids loved the ice cream machine which they visited a minimum of three times a day. (Don’t judge me, it’s vacation!)
• Snuba – Even kids can snuba at Beaches Negril and they do not have to have any experience to do this. The instructors are fabulous and it’s an activity the kids will never forget.
• Multiple pools, a lazy river, a water playground, and hot tubs.
• Miniature golf
• Video game lounge
• Kid’s club

9. Vail, Colorado

Vail, Colorado is another destination that is enjoyable year-round. During the summer the kids enjoy biking around town, riding horses around the mountain, and visiting the Epic Discovery adventure park set up on the mountain. In the winter the skiing is excellent. My kids have skied since they were little and appreciate the extensive skiing found in Vail. If you do not ski, this is a great place to learn.  For more info, check out our Vail Travel Guide. 

10. Silvies Valley Ranch

Visiting a dude ranch is a completely unique vacation. You can have an experience as a family that just can’t be had unless you are on a working ranch. Here you can shoot guns, interact with baby goats, hit the spa, experience gourmet dining, participate in a cattle round-up, and much more. They even have four golf courses on the ranch. Golf lovers will flip out over the reversible golf course that’s right I said reversible! With a little bit of everything, your family is sure to have an incredible time. To get a feel of the overall ranch read about our Silvies Valley Ranch Experience.

11. Greece

Greece is an epic experience because let’s face it, there’s no other place on earth like it. It basically doesn’t matter what part of the country you visit, you will never have a bad meal, you will experience history and culture like never before. I can state this as a fact because we’ve traveled all over Greece and it’s all been wonderful. 

Athens

Chances are high that one way or another a Greek vacation is going to take you through Athens at some point. Plan to spend at least a day here so you can visit the Acropolis before heading out to the islands. At night during the sunset dine at Savvas, their rooftop overlooks the Acropolis. Hotels can be difficult to get for a family, you may want to stay in an Airbnb.

Mykonos

A one of a kind city and gorgeous beaches await you in Mykonos. Teens and parents alike will love Mykonos City full of white-washed buildings. Also, if you can get a sitter or if your kids are old enough to stay at the hotel alone plan to go out. Mykonos has one of the best nightlife experiences in the world.

• For more advice, check out my post: Mykonos with Kids

Santorini 

Here you will have the opportunity to see things you’ve never see before like Red Beach. Perissa, the black beach is also worth visiting if you’ve never seen one before. There are two towns built into the sides of the island, both of which are worth spending time in, Fira and Oia. In Oia, you will see one of the greatest sunsets in the world. 

• For more things to do and where to stay check out my post: Santorini on a Budget. 

Thessaloniki

Thessaloniki is from biblical times and many of their historical sights have withstood the test of time. (Okay, I know what you are thinking. Yes, all of Greece is from biblical times.) They basically have ruins or a gorgeous church around every corner. The food scene is excellent here. For a list of things to see and do check out my post: Thessaloniki on a Budget. 

Kassandra

Can’t afford to splurge on the islands? Head here instead. Here you will be greeted with that famous aqua water and glorious beaches. Go shopping in Pefkochori and grab lunch at Agora Beach Bar. I highly recommend staying at Alexander the Great Beach Resort in this area. 

12. Australia

If you can get yourself to Australia, do it! Australia is just as fabulous as everyone says it is. There are so many varied experiences to be had throughout the country.  Try to plan a minimum of 9 days in the country. More than two weeks would be better. 

Whitsunday Islands

If swimming the Great Barrier Reef is on your bucket list, then this should be your first stop. Whitehaven Beach should also be on your bucket list. It’s one of the most beautiful beaches in the world. 

Melbourne

If you’ve got a family of foodies, Melbourne is sure to delight. They have the most over-the-top, whimsical food creations you’ve likely ever seen. In between beautiful meals stop by the Brighton Beach Bathing Boxes and the graffiti alleys. The alleys in Melbourne are really cool. 

• Where to eat in Melbourne

Great Ocean Road 

One of the top road trips in the world is driving the Great Ocean Road. Along the way, you can stop at dozens of scenic overlooks and take in the magnificent rock formations like Loch Ard Gorge and the 12 Apostles. You can enjoy one of the many nice beaches where kids can swim and play in the sand. Plus, there are animal encounters. Pull over to look for koalas in the trees and feed the birds at Kafe Koala. Be sure to stop at the Great Ocean Road Wildlife Park, where you can hand-feed kangaroos. 

13. Texas

We are originally from Texas so it was no surprise that Texas made the list. The kids have been all over Texas and they recommend eating lots of Tex-Mex food and visiting the following cities: Dallas/Fort Worth, Austin, San Antonio, and Corpus Christi.

San Antonio

San Antonio has a ton of stuff for families to do. Here you will find a massive zoo, Fiesta Texas theme park, the famous San Antonio River Walk, and just outside of town is Schlitterbahn the #1 water park in the world. When visiting plan at least one full day at Schlitterbahn, half a day at the river walk, and float the Comal river. Our favorite restaurants in San Antonio currently are Ocho, Toro Kitchen + Bar, and Rita’s on the River. 

In San Antonio, I recommend staying at Hotel Emma.

Plan your entire trip with our San Antonio Travel Guide.

Dallas/Fort Worth

The Dallas, Fort Worth area is packed with stuff to do for families. Over in Fort Worth will love the rodeo at the stockyards. Be sure to go when they have bull riding. Also found in the stockyards is a fun maze and Texas-themed shopping. Plus, they do a daily cattle drive. Our favorite restaurants in Dallas include Meso Maya for dinner and El Jordan Cafe for breakfast. Just north of Dallas is Addison, TX which is jammed packed with great restaurants. 

14. Honduras

Honduras is easily one of our top vacations, according to me. Unfortunately, the kids remember very little of the trip. I recommend going to Roatan and Copan. These two places are no where near each other and two extremely different experiences. What they do have in common is affordability!

Roatan

Roatan is one of the Bay Islands and along the 2^nd best barrier reef in the world. The reef is near the shoreline making it extremely easy for kids to snorkel. Jonah was 4 when we visited and he was able to snorkel. Also fun here is zip lining and paddleboarding.

Copan

Copan is a Honduran city that borders Guatemala. Here you can go horseback riding up a mountain, go zip lining on one of the longest zip lines in the world, and visit an incredible hot spring.

15. Panama City Beach

Another family favorite in Florida is Panama City Beach. The beach has soft, powdery, white sand. It isn’t as big as many of the beach towns, but that doesn’t mean there isn’t a lot to do. Go mini-golfing and go-carting, spend the day at the beach, or shop around at Pier Park. Spend one day bopping around Scenic 30A, where you will find tiny beach towns like Seaside or Rosemary. Renting some bicycles is a perfect way to explore this area. Another interesting spot worth venturing out to is Sandestin’s Baytowne Wharf. Here, families can indulge in boutique shopping, zip-lining, ropes courses, an arcade, and unique eateries.

Use our Panama City Beach travel guide to plan your entire vacation.

16. Costa Rica

Costa Rica is super cool country with a wide variety of things to do. The food was consistently good, the activities were exciting and the people were so nice. Whether rafting down a volcano’s raging rivers in a tube near La Fortuna to chilling at a beautiful beach on the Pacific or the Atlantic everyone is going to enjoy the country. Costa Rica Travel Guide

17. La Paz

La Paz features miles of white sand beaches and endless opportunities for outdoor adventure including paddle boarding, kite surfing, kayaking, SCUBA diving, whale watching, swimming with whale sharks, sportfishing, hiking, mountain biking, and much more. If you want your kids off their devices and outside doing stuff you will love it here. Plus, the food is unbelievably good. 

Plan your own trip with our La Paz Travel Guide for Families. Plus, Best Places to Stay in La Paz, Mexico and Best Beaches in La Paz.

Conclusion:

So, there you have it, the best of the best family travel locations. There are hundreds of other places that could have made the list but didn’t. These were ones that just barely missed making our list: Las Vegas, Bavarian Alps in Germany, Paris, and house boating on Lake Shuswap in British Columbia. Like Honduras, my kids do not even remember house boating up in Canada, but if they did (well not Jonah, he had yet to be born), I am sure it would have made it onto the list.

Where are your favorite places to take your kids on vacation? We are always taking recommendations and planning our next family vacations. Yes, plural. Why take just one vacation? I think you should take as many as possible, big trips, weekend getaways, family reunions, you name it. These are all opportunities to have fun, spend time together and make the most memories possible. And don’t delay. Noah’s a high school senior and he’s about to move on with his life. (Oregon State University #Bragging) And y’all, I straight up ran out of time with him. You will run out of time, so make today count.

Read Next:

16 Insanely Awesome Girl’s Trips

11 Best Places to Snorkel with Kids Around the World

The post 17 Incredible Family Vacations appeared first on Mommy Travels.

Vail, Colorado is a world-class ski resort in the Rocky Mountains. Pretty much everyone knows that skiing in Vail is amazing. But did you know that Vail is just as wonderful in the summer? There is just as much to do in Vail during the summer as there is in Vail during the winter. Keep reading to find out everything you need to know to plan your own Vail, Colorado family vacation with our Vail, Colorado travel guide.

Vail, Colorado Travel Guide With Kids

The kids and I were lucky enough to be invited to visit Vail, Colorado this summer and it was one of the best trips we’ve taken in a long time. Keep in mind, we take lots of great trips, so for one trip to go above and beyond every single one of our expectations is surprising. Every meal we had was fantastic, it was easy to get around the city, our hotel was spacious, and the activities were perfect for families.

Here is a rundown of the activities, restaurants, and the hotel we enjoyed the most!

Vail, Colorado Family Vacation Activities

Epic Discovery

Up on the mountain is Epic Discovery, accessible by the Eagle Bahn Gondola in Lionshead. There are all kinds of fun things to do there. We spent most of one day there and we didn’t do everything that was offered. You could easily spend the entire day here as a family. There are multiple rope courses, bungee trampolines, a rock climbing wall, summer tubing, an alpine coaster, and more.

You can pick and choose which activities you want to do or you can buy them in bundles. We had the Unlimited Adventure passes with unlimited all-day access to activities.

Ultimate Adventure Pass –  $94

Our passes didn’t include the zip-lining. Families can zip line for an additional cost. Unfortunately for us, the zip lines were not open during our visit. I heard they are really good.

They have two ropes courses and then a mini one for little kids. We went with the one that looked the most difficult. It was super difficult for me cause I hate heights and for Jonah because he could barely reach the ropes to clip on and off. Noah and Eden on the other hand sailed through it.

On the ropes course and the Forest Flyer (Alpine coaster), they would only allow cameras attached to you. We put one GoPro on a chest harness and one on a helmet with the hat mount. They also required closed-toe shoes. I recommend wearing tennis shoes.

Here is a video for the Forest Flyer Mountain Coaster on Vail mountain. This is just the first half.

Horseback Riding

My favorite thing we did while we were in Vail, Colorado was horseback riding with Vail Stables. We did the Dark Timber trail and it was awesome. We rode for about 2 hours and saw all kinds of different areas of the mountain. It is $100 – $120 per person to do the Dark Timber trail, but it is well worth it. Unlike many places that offer dinky trail rides where you basically go in a circle this trail ride has you all over the mountain. In the first 30 minutes, the horses climb over 1000 feet in elevation.

What you need to know before horseback riding:

• What to wear: Jeans, tennis shoes, and sunglasses

• Helmets are provided

• Take a camera, water, and sunscreen. There is a place on the saddle to keep your things.

My kid’s favorite thing happened at Vail Stables, but it was riding horses. When we got back from riding they ask the kids to help herd goats. My kids had a blast chasing those goats and getting to pick them up! The goats are there on-site for goat yoga. Next time we visit Vail we are definitely going to try that!

Family Friendly Lodging in Vail, Colorado

Sonnenalp Hotel

We stayed at a locally owned boutique hotel, the family friendly Sonnenalp and we enjoyed it immensely. The rooms are gorgeous and they were huge, we were easily able to spread out.

The property is beautiful and filled with flowers. On-site is a spa, an indoor/outdoor pool and 3 hot tubs and daily yoga. It was so nice to be able to swim whenever we wanted to and I definitely appreciated the hot tubs after horseback riding. Also at the hotel are multiple restaurants. I liked having so many good food options available right there. It also didn’t hurt that they have a kid’s club!

I loved having a Nespresso machine in the room. I also loved that the mini-bar had champagne!

You can check current rates for the Sonnenalp here. 

Here is a tour of our room. Not shown in the video are the glasses and silverware I later found and the microwave. I do not know how I missed this in my walk thru.

Other places to stay in Vail:

Family Friendly Restaurants in Vail

Every single meal we ate while we were in Vail was good and all three kids enjoyed eating at all of them. If you’ve traveled with three kids you know it can be difficult to find restaurants that they will all like.

Lunch Restaurants: For lunch we tried Blue Moose Pizza and Los Amigos.

• Blue Moose Pizza is totally kid-friendly with crayons and paper table clothes kids can draw on. They have a nice outdoor patio you can enjoy with views of the ice rink in Lionshead where in the summer there is no ice rink. Instead, families play corn hole, frisbee, and other fun games. We only tried one pizza, but it was excellent! We will definitely eat here again.
• Los Amigos is also kid-friendly and if you couldn’t guess, it’s a Mexican food restaurant. Since we feel it is our duty to always seek out good Mexican food we choose to eat lunch here one day. We sat out on their long patio with mountain views. The salsa and queso is good. We got the large order of queso that is overpriced in my opinion and it was too much for the four of us. We should have gotten the small queso.

Dinner Restaurants: For dinner, we tried the Vail Chophouse, Mountain Standard, and Bully Ranch.

• Bully Ranch was the first restaurant we tried when we arrived in Vail. It was located in our hotel which was too convenient to pass up. Bully Ranch has excellent burgers and salads. This is definitely the place to go to if your family wants burgers. On some Sundays they offer live music on their patio from 4-7.
• Mountain Standard impressed all of us and they were incredible when it came to my daughter’s food allergy. All the food we ordered was fantastic and presented beautifully.
• Vail Chophouse is the place to go on Wednesday nights with the kids. On Wednesday nights they have a magician floating from table to table performing up-close magic and he’s so good! 

Breakfast Restaurants: For breakfast, we stuck with the breakfast buffet at Ludwigs. This is another restaurant located in the hotel we stayed in.

• Ludwigs breakfast buffet offers a variety of foods, including fruit, cereal, eggs, bacon, pastries, and more.

If you need more places to eat, check out Beaver Creek Resort nearby.

Vail Transportation

How to Get to Vail:

We flew in and out of the Denver airport, which I think most would. Instead of renting a car, we took a shuttle to Vail and back. We didn’t need a car, so it didn’t make sense to me to rent one. We took the Colorado Mountain Express. They have large vans that operate between the Denver airport and the various ski resorts in Colorado. They have free wifi on board which is great for getting some work done and keeping kids happy!

How to Get Around Vail:

• Bus: Vail has one of the largest free transportation systems in the country. Buses are constantly running between Lionshead and Vail Village.
• Bicycle: Vail is incredibly biking-friendly. We got bike rentals from Venture Sports and they came with helmets. They dropped our bikes off at our hotel for us and then they picked them up when we were done. 
  

Vail, Colorado is a wonderful experience for families. No matter how you spend your time in this little European-like village you are guaranteed to have a delightful time with your loved ones.

Read Next:

4 Day Vail Itinerary

The Ultimate Ski Road Trip

Get Travel Insurance

Unfortunately, there are a lot of things that can go wrong on any trip. Be prepared for the worst with travel insurance. We use Travelex or Safety Wing (often cheaper).

Book Flights

I use Skyscanner to find flights. I use it so much, I wrote an entire guide to finding cheap flights with Skyscanner! Another option for finding deals is FlightHub.

Book a Place to Stay

I recommend using Expedia.com or Hotels.com for most hotel bookings. I prefer to book directly with Marriott when I stay there because of their excellent military discount.

If you prefer staying in a vacation rental instead, I recommend VRBO. If you are looking for a hostel, I use HostelWorld.

Choose Activities and Tours

To find great activities in any area I use Viator. If we are visiting a city with lots of popular attractions I always check CityPass, PogoPass, and GoCard to see if they have discount cards available. Groupon also tends to have a lot of local travel deals.

When I want to book a full-on multi-day tour I use TourRadar. They’ve got fantastic weekly deals. If going somewhere in Mexico or the Caribbean, I use Apple Vacations.

Rent a Car or Get a Lyft

More often than not, Lyft is cheaper than Uber. Use my Lyft link for an $18 credit! For a car rental in any country, I recommend Hertz or Discover Cars.

Save Money on Gas

Upside a free app gets you cash back on gas! Use promo code RV2Q2 to get an extra 15¢/gal bonus on your first purchase.

Get a Visa

I use iVisa to get all of my Visas.

Travel Printables

If you found this information helpful consider buying me a cup of coffee aka helping me pay to put kids through college! Just scan the QR code or click the link. As always, thank you for your support!

Disclosure: This post contains affiliate links, which means we may receive a commission if you click a link and purchase something that we have recommended but doesn’t cost you any extra. Please check out our disclosure policy for more details. Thank you for your support!

The post Vail, Colorado Summer Travel Guide appeared first on Mommy Travels.

Vail is known for being a premier winter destination and offers a spectacular atmosphere for outdoor enthusiasts, families, and individuals alike looking to explore the beautiful winter wonderland atmosphere of Vail. 

Whether you are looking to ski or snowboard at one of the best resorts in the United States or you are looking to take in the views and explore the shopping and dining throughout the village, Vail during the winter season has something for everyone to enjoy!

Best Things to Do in Vail in Winter

1. Ski or Snowboard

Vail is known for its world-class skiing and snowboarding. Whether you are a beginner or an expert, Vail Mountain offers a wide variety of trails catering to all skill levels. 

From the beginner-friendly areas like Golden Peak to the more challenging legendary back bowls of Blue Sky Basin, there is a slope for everyone to enjoy when exploring Vail Mountain on skis or a snowboard! 

For those just starting out, Vail has a phenomenal ski school with excellent instructors that are eager to teach you all of the tips and tricks you need to ski down slopes. 

2. Indulge in Après Ski

Vail has a fabulous Après ski scene that offers the perfect combination of relaxation and indulgence. Whether you are a skier or snowboarder looking to indulge in some slopeside cocktails and appetizers or you are someone just looking to kick back and enjoy the delicious food, drinks, and live music, Après Ski is perfect for anyone wanting to indulge and enjoy tasty beverages and foods at a lively restaurant or bar. 

We recommend checking out The Remedy Bar for those looking for a great Après ski experience. Be sure to try their delicious hot chocolate or their tasty old-fashioned! 

3. Relax and Have a Spa Day

Whether you have been walking around exploring the Vail Village or you have been outdoors participating in snow sports, make sure to treat yourself to a spa day at one of Vail’s luxurious spas in order to unwind, relax, and rejuvenate your body.

The RockResorts Spa is one of the best spas in the area and they offer a variety of services from massages to saunas and everything in between. This is a great place to visit for those looking to get pampered and rest for a bit.

4. Go Snowmobiling 

Snowmobiling is another excellent option for the best things to do in Vail in winter. This is an excellent opportunity to explore Vail’s backcountry and create some truly unforgettable memories without having to strap on skis or a snowboard. 

Going on a snowmobiling excursion offers a thrilling adventure that allows you to take in the beautiful mountain landscape around you as you speed through snowy trails. 

Snowmobiling is a great winter activity to embark on for individuals, couples, and families alike. Whether you would like to take it slow and take in the scenery or you would like to get an adrenaline rush and speed through snow and nature, snowmobiling is a great hobby for anyone to try when visiting Vail in the snowy months. 

5. Try Ice Skating

The Solaris Plaza in Vail Village features a beautiful ice skating rink. Ice skating is the perfect hobby to try and one of the best things to do in Vail in winter because it allows you to spend some time outside, take in the incredible mountain views surrounding you, and makes for a memorable experience. Whether you are a beginner or an expert, ice skating must be on your Vail winter bucket list.

6. Take in the Views from a Gondola Ride

Taking a Gondola Ride up Vail Mountain is the perfect way to experience gorgeous views of Vail and the surrounding mountains. This is an awesome opportunity to see panoramic views of snow-covered mountains, and the village down below, and take in the slopes from a new perspective. 

7. Go Tubing

Snow tubing is the perfect Vail adventure for individuals, couples, and families alike. This is an awesome activity to do outdoors and does not require any special equipment or skills. It is the perfect winter activity for those looking to create some memories, experience a bit of a rush, and take in the beautiful Vail landscape. 

8. Drink Craft Beer

Colorado is known for having an incredible beer scene and hundreds of breweries throughout the state. When it comes to drinking craft beer in Vail, there is an abundance of bars and breweries to pick from. Whether you are looking to enjoy a pint or two at a local bar or you are looking to hit a brewery in the area, drinking craft beer must be on your list of things to do when visiting Vail in the winter. 

For those looking to check out a local brewery, you must stop by Vail Brewing Company for some truly delicious craft beer. We recommend any of their Pale Ale’s or IPA’s but they also serve up some tasty Porters.

9. Go on a Snowshoeing Adventure

For those that would rather skip the thrill of snowboarding or skiing, consider going on a more relaxing outdoor excursion such as snowshoeing! 

Vail has excellent terrain for those looking to snowshoe around and it is the perfect activity to embark on for those looking to gain a bit of exercise and take in the surrounding alpine meadows and snow-covered forests in the area. 

10. Explore the Shops and Dining in Vail Village

Vail Village is full of shops, restaurants, bars, and art galleries. Whether you are looking to take in the mountain architecture, go shopping at name-brand and local boutique shops, or you are looking to grab a bite to eat or something delicious to drink, exploring Vail Village is one of the best things to do in Vail in winter. 

For art enthusiasts, be sure to stop by the Vail Village Arts. This art gallery displays countless paintings and sculptures and is an excellent opportunity to take in the local art scene and admire the craftsmanship of some remarkable artists in the area.  

11. Catch a Thrill on an Alpine Coaster

For those looking for something unique and exciting to do in Vail in winter, consider trying out their infamous Alpine Coaster. 

Similar to a roller coaster, the Vail Alpine Coaster twists down tracks and gives you a sense of adrenaline but with beautiful mountain and alpine scenery surrounding you. 

This is the perfect adventure for adults and children alike and a unique experience that is sure to create some lasting memories. 

FAQs About The Best Things to Do in Vail in Winter

Is Vail worth visiting in winter?

Vail is definitely worth visiting in winter! It is the perfect place to hit the slopes for those interested in skiing or snowboarding, the Vail Village is picturesque and the perfect place to stroll around for shopping and bites to eat, and the views are truly remarkable when visiting Vail in the winter season. 

Can you ride the gondola in Vail without skiing?

Yes, both skiers and nonskiers alike can ride the gondola in Vail without skiing. This is the perfect activity to do for those looking to gain incredible views of the snow covered Colorado mountains. 

How do I spend a day at Vail?

We recommend starting off the day hitting the slopes whether you are an expert or a beginner. If skiing is not your thing, we recommend participating in one of the many outdoor recreational activities such as snowshoeing, tubing, or ice skating. 

Once you have finished your adventure for the day, we recommend heading into the Vail Village for a bite to eat and exploring the endless shops and galleries.

From there, be sure to check out one of the many fabulous spas in the area or relax slopeside and enjoy some Après ski. 

Where should we stay in Vail?

Final Thoughts: Best Things to do in Vail in Winter

Vail comes to life during the winter season and offers so much for visitors of all ages and interests. Whether you are looking to hit the slopes, explore the village, take in the beautiful snow capped scenery, or looking to unwind at one of the spas, Vail in the winter is simply unmatched and must be on your bucket list.

Read Next:

Summer Things to do in Vail, Colorado

4 Day Vail Itinerary

Find Out Why Our Family Fell in Love with Vail, Colorado and Start Planning Your Own Family Vacation

Get Travel Insurance

Unfortunately, there are a lot of things that can go wrong on any trip. Be prepared for the worst with travel insurance. We use Travelex or Safety Wing (often cheaper).

Book Flights

I use Skyscanner to find flights. I use it so much, I wrote an entire guide to finding cheap flights with Skyscanner! Another option for finding deals is FlightHub.

Book a Place to Stay

I recommend using Expedia.com or Hotels.com for most hotel bookings. I prefer to book directly with Marriott when I stay there because of their excellent military discount.

If you prefer staying in a vacation rental instead, I recommend VRBO. If you are looking for a hostel, I use HostelWorld.

Choose Activities and Tours

To find great activities in any area I use Viator. If we are visiting a city with lots of popular attractions I always check CityPass, PogoPass, and GoCard to see if they have discount cards available. Groupon also tends to have a lot of local travel deals.

When I want to book a full-on multi-day tour I use TourRadar. They’ve got fantastic weekly deals. If going somewhere in Mexico or the Caribbean, I use Apple Vacations.

Rent a Car or Get a Lyft

More often than not, Lyft is cheaper than Uber. Use my Lyft link for an $18 credit! For a car rental in any country, I recommend Hertz or Discover Cars.

Save Money on Gas

Upside a free app gets you cash back on gas! Use promo code RV2Q2 to get an extra 15¢/gal bonus on your first purchase.

Get a Visa

I use iVisa to get all of my Visas.

Travel Printables

If you found this information helpful consider buying me a cup of coffee aka helping me pay to put kids through college! Just scan the QR code or click the link. As always, thank you for your support!

Disclosure: This post contains affiliate links, which means we may receive a commission if you click a link and purchase something that we have recommended but doesn’t cost you any extra. Please check out our disclosure policy for more details. Thank you for your support!

The post 11 of The Best Things to do in Vail in Winter appeared first on Mommy Travels.

Thanks to a great Ski and Snowboard School and an unmatched vertical descent, the Aspen Snowmass Ski Resort is the best Colorado ski resort for families. However, there is hot competition with nearby resorts offering unique experiences too. 

If you are road-tripping to a resort from Denver, your mountain adventure officially begins in Golden, CO – the closest mountain town to Denver. There are plenty of memorable things to do in Golden to kick your trip off right.

But for now, we take to the slopes and discuss the top family-friendly ski resorts in Colorado below.

Best Family Ski Resorts in Colorado

The availability of gear rentals, ski instruction, and the number of low-difficulty routes are all things you should consider when looking for a family-friendly ski resort. We dive into the best ski resorts in Colorado, focusing on green, blue, and red routes. 

However, if your family enjoys tackling black diamond routes, there are a handful at each resort. Grab your ski poles, and let’s go!

Aspen Snowmass

This ski resort is made up of four expansive ski areas in the Rocky Mountains. While there are no green runs on the mountain, your children will be ready to tackle the blue slopes after their first ski lesson. Alternatively, the Buttermilk ski area within Aspen features miles of beginner-friendly trails and terrain parks for the pros.

A major factor that attracts skiers to this area is the ski-in ski-out lodging and ease of traveling around. You and your family can effortlessly move between the four mountains to explore across the valley with access to more than 3,000 acres of excellent ski terrain.

The Little Nell is Aspen’s only Five-Star, Five-Diamond, ski-in/ski-out hotel. It features luxurious amenities, personalized service, breathtaking mountain views, renowned dining, and spacious accommodations. 

Keystone

This resort is ideal for beginners, thanks to the groomed slopes and professional yet light-hearted ski instruction. If you are one for early morning and late-night skiing, Keystone offers the longest ski day in the state of Colorado.

The resort offers access to three mountain peaks tucked away in the White River National Forest. You can explore over 3,000 acres of skiable terrain across 128 runs. The resort features 20 lifts, five bowls and is less than two hours from Denver International Airport.

In addition to great slopes, snow tubing, and ice skating, Keystone has the world’s largest snow fort that consists of tunnels, slides, and mazes. And if you and your family members are experienced skiers, you can also enjoy the A51 Terrain Park. 

Consider staying at the resort’s lodging for more than two nights to enjoy free ski passes for your kids. You can also find plenty of incredible Colorado cabins with hot tubs for a relaxing soak after a long day on the slopes.

Beaver Creek

Beaver Creek offers families an entertaining vacation with weekly fireworks to celebrate the ski season! The Haymeadow learning area is perfect for beginners, and there are 150 runs across more than 1,800 skiable acres for intermediate and advanced skiers. The snowmaking system at Red Buffalo Park and the ski school keep the beginner slopes in excellent condition.

You can choose between ski-in/ski-out accommodation or staying in the suburbs and using the free shuttle bus system to the main bus stop. Beaver Creek is only a two-hour drive from Denver and offers long, well-groomed runs accessible by fast lifts.

Looking to unwind? Visit the Beaver Creek Village performing arts center for an entertaining show or a skate at the ice rink. 

Winter Park

As Colorado’s longest continually operated ski resort, Winter Park offers history alongside state-of-the-art ski equipment. You can explore more than 3,000 skiable acreages on 166 runs using 25 lifts. As one of the skiing resorts nearest to Denver, it is easily accessed via the express train with a  two-hour trip.

Winter Park has plenty of beginner runs and progressive terrain for all skiers. Is this your first family ski trip? Join a private lesson, and you’ll quickly progress from green routes to blue and even red ones. The resort has a tubing park, ski-in ski-out lodging, restaurants, and shops to help round out your incredible trip! 

The high-speed Sunnyside Lift on the backside of the mountain can comfortably carry a family of up to six to the top. The resort has snow-making machines which keep the main slope in tip-top shape. A notable part of Winter Park is its longest run, covering 5.1 miles over a descent of 2,610 ft.

Vail

Vail is the largest ski resort in Colorado with over 5,200 skiable acres. But the wide groomed terrain with distinct learning zones makes it a perfect resort to learn to ski. Note that the ski school, however, only teaches children seven and older. Vail has three different villages and is about two hours drive from Denver.

After skiing, you can enjoy the ice rink, snow tubing, or a trip on the gondola. The best part of Vail Ski Resort is the free snowshoeing tours for ages ten and up from the Nature Discovery Center. Here you’ll learn about the natural surroundings and the Rocky Mountains. 

Manor Vail Lodge is a condominium hotel, is located just steps from the slopes of Vail Village and Golden Peak. The lodge includes a complimentary ski valet, 20% off ski rentals, and daily breakfast, hot cocoa, and cookies.

Tivoli Lodge has the slopes at its backdoor and guests will find easy access to Vail’s winter fun, from snowshoeing to snow tubing, ice skating, and more. After a day on the slopes, enjoy the lodge’s afternoon tradition of complimentary fresh baked cookies, hot chocolate, hot cider, and tea. Guests also have daily access to Dryland Fitness & Spa with fitness classes.

Copper Mountain

Only an hour and a half from Denver, Copper Mountain offers an affordable ski holiday for your family. There are more than 25 beginner trails and more than 30 intermediate ones. If you are an experienced skier, there are more than 70 advanced and expert runs to tackle.

At the base of the resort, you’ll find the tubing carousel, mini tubing hill, and the Rocky Mountain Coaster. There is also a snow den with tunnels for children to explore. A Kids Night Out program offers three hours of childcare to give parents a well-deserved rest in the evening.

If you want to share an experience with your family, visit the West Lake ice skating rink or try the Alpine Rush Zip Line 30 feet in the air.

Steamboat Springs

Steamboat Springs offers just under 3,000 acres of skiing and some incredible thigh-burning long runs. Here you can enjoy night skiing, natural hot springs, tubing, ice skating, and a mountain coaster with your family.

Book a full or half-day private lesson to get your family skiing in no time. Each Friday night during the ski season is celebrated with fireworks.

No matter where you stay, you can conveniently reach the slopes using the Red Wagon program. Set off on a four-hour drive to the resort from Denver or fly directly to Steamboat Springs Airport. 

Purgatory 

Located in Durango, Purgatory Ski resort offers an incredible festive season experience. After skiing on the slopes, your children can climb aboard the train for a trip to the ‘North Pole’. This Christmassy ride includes hot cocoa and a reading of the Polar Express. 

You can also take a sleigh ride behind a draft horse through a snow-covered forest with stunning mountain views.

Plus, for every paying adult, a kid under the age of 12 can ski for free.

Breckenridge

Breckenridge is less than two hours from Denver and offers beginner skiers gentle green trails at the base of Peak 8 and Peak 9. The relaxed pace is ideal for families learning to ski together. There is a great daycare service for those youngsters who are not yet ready to hit the slopes. 

The resort has an ice-skating rink, sled hill, and an alpine slide. The resort is located at a high altitude and covers 2,908 acres of skiable terrain with 187 trails with 34 lifts. Your intermediate and expert family members will be kept busy with a seemingly limitless amount of blue runs.

Sunlight Mountain Ski Resort

Is your family superstitious? Alongside comfortable ski slopes, slope-side lodging, and a hot spring, there are ghosts to discover near Sunlight Mountain Ski Resort. Consider staying at the haunted Hotel Colorado during your visit to Glenwood Springs on your family ski trip. 

Often a family ski trip will set you back a pretty penny! But Sunlight Mountain Ski Resort is one of the most affordable ski resorts in Colorado. It is 170 miles from Denver and offers affordable lessons, too. In fact, for every paying adult, a child 12 years old and under can ski for free!

Telluride

This Ski Resort is set in the San Juan mountains near a historic mining town. While getting there requires a six-hour drive from Denver, this remote area of Colorado is spectacular and a great option for families traveling from Texas.

It is an ideal ski resort for kids and families of all skill levels. Telluride offers routes for all abilities and has a continuous descent of more than 4,000 feet from the top of Gold Hill.

When to Visit Family-Friendly Ski Resorts in Colorado

While winter is the obvious choice of season, many of the ski resorts on our list offer summer activities too! The school holidays during fall break, Thanksgiving break, and Christmas break are typically the busiest periods.

Opening and closing dates change annually depending on snowfall. Typically, Keystone ski resort is the first to open during October, and Sunlight Mountain ski resort is the last to open during December. If the snowfall is slow to arrive, ski resorts may limit access to some ski lifts during November. 

Final Thoughts on Colorado Ski Resorts for Families

When looking for a family-friendly ski resort in Colorado you are spoilt for choice. If you are aiming for just a weekend away, consider some of the fantastic options near Denver mentioned above. 

Most importantly, remember to book your ski passes ahead of time to ensure you have access to the best slopes!

Read Next:

Ski Trip Packing List for Families

Pomerelle Ski Resort in Idaho

The post Best Colorado Ski Resorts for Families appeared first on Mommy Travels.

4-Day Vail Itinerary for Families

On our last trip to Vail, we spent three nights and it felt a little rushed, so I’ve put together a 4 day Vail itinerary. This way you can have a lot of fun but you will not feel rushed. I always rather do too little than too much, especially when the kids were little. If you are looking for winter things to do in Vail, just click here. Or if you want to includ the nearby Beaver Creek, check out our article Beaver Creek Resort with Kids: Summer Mountain Magic.

Day 1: Arrive, Biking, and Have a Nice Dinner

Denver is a hub for United Airlines, so there are direct flights from many cities throughout the United States. Try to arrive in Denver as early as possible to avoid mountain traffic. 

Once you get to Denver you will need to take a shuttle to Vail. It’s a long drive around two hours, so if you are hungry, grab food at the airport before getting on the shuttle.

Collect your luggage if needed and head to the Colorado Mountain Express kiosk to check in for shuttle transportation to Vail. CME is located on Level 5 near the baggage claim.

You could also rent a car, but once in Vail, you will not need one. The Town of Vail is home to one of the largest free transportation systems in the country and there is a convenient stop by Sonnenalp Hotel. Buses are constantly traveling between Lionshead and Vail Village. Bus schedules can be found online at VailGov.com.

Check into the Sonnenalp upon arrival located at 20 Vail Road, Vail, CO 81657. This is a locally owned boutique hotel that has been run by the same family for four generations and it is super family-friendly. The rooms are gorgeous and they were huge, we were easily able to spread out which is why it’s our personal favorite. 

The property is beautiful and filled with flowers. On-site is a spa, an indoor/outdoor pool, and 3 hot tubs, and daily yoga. It was so nice to be able to swim whenever we wanted to and I definitely appreciated the hot tubs after horseback riding. Also at the hotel are multiple restaurants. I liked having so many good food options available right there. It also didn’t hurt that they have a kid’s club!

Other places to stay if you can’t book Sonnenalp:

Afternoon/Early Evening: Once you’ve arrived let the bicycle company know you are there and ready for your bicycles. You can also have them delivered before you get there. There are a lot of places to ride bikes around Vail. You can spend the afternoon biking around exploring or you can relax at the hotel pool. 

Dinner: Tonight dine at the hotel’s restaurant, Bully Ranch. They’ve got tasty burgers and salads. This is the place to go to if your family wants burgers. On some Sundays, they offer live music on their patio from 4-7.

After dinner chill out at the hotel’s hot tub. 

Day Two: Adventure

Breakfast: Westside Cafe and Market

Epic Discovery

After breakfast, head up the mountain to spend the day doing an assortment of activities at Epic Discovery. You will be in the sun all day, so do not forget to apply sunscreen and bring it with you. I also recommend wearing a hat of some sort to protect you from the sun. 

You will need to purchase your tickets for Epic Discovery at the base of the Eagle Bahn Gondola, located in Lionshead. From Sonnenalp the walk to Lionshead is about 20 minutes or there is a bus stop near Sonnenalp.

Once you have tickets you will take the Eagle Bahn Gondola up the mountain. There are all kinds of fun things to do there. We spent most of one day there and we didn’t do everything that was offered. You could easily spend the entire day here as a family. There are multiple rope courses, bungee trampolines, a rock-climbing wall, summer tubing, an alpine coaster, and more.

You can pick and choose which activities you want to do or you can buy them in bundles. We had the Unlimited Adventure passes with unlimited all-day access to activities.

Ultimate Adventure Pass –  $94

Lunch: Have lunch up on the mountain at the BBQ tent Sarge’s Deck

After lunch, continue having fun and spend time doing all the activities you haven’t been able to do yet. Try to make sure you’ve left enough time to do the Forest Flyer more than once. 

Dinner: Tonight have dinner at Mountain Standard and if you like dress-up a bit. It’s a busy place so there might be a bit of a wait. If you know how your day will be going try and make a reservation in advance. 

Day 3: Horseback Riding and Magic

Breakfast: Hit the breakfast buffet at Ludwig’s located inside Sonnenalp.  They offer a great selection of fruits, cereals, breads, pastries, parfait, eggs, bacon, etc.

Afternoon: Enjoy horseback riding at Vail Stables. I do not always recommend horseback riding. In fact, I almost never recommend this, but in Vail it is phenomenal. We did the Dark Timber trail and it was awesome. We rode for about 2 hours and saw all kinds of different areas of the mountain. It is $100 – $120 per person to do the Dark Timber trail, but it is well worth it. Unlike many places that offer dinky trail rides where you basically go in a circle, this trail ride has you all over the mountain. In the first 30 minutes, the horses climb over 1000 feet in elevation. Never been horseback riding? Do not let that stop you. Here are some things you should know before your first time riding a horse. 

What you need to know before horseback riding:

• What to wear: Jeans or other long pants, tennis shoes or boots, and sunglasses
• Helmets are provided
• Take a camera, water, and sunscreen. There is a place on the saddle to keep your things, but it’s small so do not plan on taking much with you.

Lunch: Have lunch today at Los Amigos, a delicious Mexican restaurant with glorious views of Vail Mountain.

Dinner: Ride your bikes over to Lionshead Village and enjoy a lovely dinner at Vail Chophouse. 

If at all possible visit on a Wednesday night when they have a magician. You can swap out this dinner with any of the other places I recommend to be there on a Wednesday. The magician does up-close magic and he’s amazing! This was our first time experiencing up-close magic.

Day 4: Shop, Eat, and Bowl

Check out of your hotel, but leave your luggage there so you are free to do a little more roaming before heading back to the airport after lunch. 

Breakfast: Enjoy breakfast at locally owned Big Bear Bistro. Big Bear strives to use locally-sourced, natural, or organic ingredients.

After breakfast walk around the European-inspired village. They’ve got lots of little shops. 

Lunch: Blue Moose Pizza is a lively Italian eatery and an excellent family-friendly option in Lionshead. Eat on the patio so your kids can play corn hole or giant chess out on the plaza area.

Dinner: Tonight your dinner and entertainment will be combined. Head to Bōl, it is a full restaurant, bar, and bowling alley in one. You can have fun bowling as a family and have dinner while you bowl. Don’t forget to bring socks.

Day 5: Head Home

Breakfast: Have a quick breakfast at Loaded Joe’s. It’s a cozy, casual venue with coffee, smoothies, breakfast sandwiches, burritos, and bagels. 

Colorado Mountain Express will pick you up at The Sonnenalp for transportation back to Denver International Airport.

Other Vail Restaurant Recommendations

Just in case the other recommendations I made do not sound appealing here are some alternatives. They are all excellent as well. 

• Tavern on the Square: A family-friendly restaurant featuring Colorado-sourced ingredients.
• Moe’s Original BBQ: Home-cooked BBQ served in a relaxed and vibrant environment.
• Expert Burger: New to Lionshead Village, this fast-casual burger joint uses only “never-ever” beef (no antibiotics or growth hormones added) from Colorado that has been genetically verified as heritage Angus.
• Bart and Yeti’s: This longtime institution serves traditional pub grub that can be enjoyed on their outdoor deck. 
• Red Lion: Vibrant spot for live entertainment and American cuisine.

I hope this Vail itinerary helps you have an incredible trip of your own. 

Find Out Why Our Family Fell in Love with Vail, Colorado and Start Planning Your Own Family Vacation

Get Travel Insurance

Unfortunately, there are a lot of things that can go wrong on any trip. Be prepared for the worst with travel insurance. We use Travelex or Safety Wing (often cheaper).

Book Flights

I use Skyscanner to find flights. I use it so much, I wrote an entire guide to finding cheap flights with Skyscanner! Another option for finding deals is FlightHub.

Book a Place to Stay

I recommend using Expedia.com or Hotels.com for most hotel bookings. I prefer to book directly with Marriott when I stay there because of their excellent military discount.

If you prefer staying in a vacation rental instead, I recommend VRBO. If you are looking for a hostel, I use HostelWorld.

Choose Activities and Tours

To find great activities in any area I use Viator. If we are visiting a city with lots of popular attractions I always check CityPass, PogoPass, and GoCard to see if they have discount cards available. Groupon also tends to have a lot of local travel deals.

When I want to book a full-on multi-day tour I use TourRadar. They’ve got fantastic weekly deals. If going somewhere in Mexico or the Caribbean, I use Apple Vacations.

Rent a Car or Get a Lyft

More often than not, Lyft is cheaper than Uber. Use my Lyft link for an $18 credit! For a car rental in any country, I recommend Hertz or Discover Cars.

Save Money on Gas

Upside a free app gets you cash back on gas! Use promo code RV2Q2 to get an extra 15¢/gal bonus on your first purchase.

Get a Visa

I use iVisa to get all of my Visas.

Travel Printables

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