When cabin fever sets in, a winter family vacation can be just what you need. The best family-friendly destinations provide plenty of seasonal activities suited for all ages. This allows parents, kids, teens, and grandparents alike to embrace the spirit of the season together.
Salt Lake City, Utah
The snow-covered Wasatch Mountains provide the picture-perfect backdrop to Utah’s capital city of Salt Lake. Families can hop on the ski lifts just 30 minutes outside downtown to hit the world-renowned slopes of Park City, Deer Valley, Snowbird and Alta resorts. The Salt Lake City ski rentals team at Canyon Sports say that you should make sure to book ski rentals and winter attire in advance to fully enjoy outdoor time in the cold temperatures.
Back in the city, lace up your skates and take to the Olympic Oval where speed skating records have been broken. Don’t miss the exciting live hockey games by visiting during the college league’s winter season. When you need some indoor fun, the Loveland Living Planet Aquarium allows kids the chance to come face-to-fin with sharks and stingrays. And you can let little ones burn off extra energy playing on America’s largest indoor interactive playground at the City Creek Center downtown. With an abundance of kid-friendly dining options nearby, Salt Lake City makes hitting the slopes, the ice, or just snuggling in by the fire an easy family affair.
Yellowstone National Park
Yellowstone National Park offers stunning and unique winter scenery through snow-covered landscapes and steamy geysers. Hop on guided tours by snowcoach or snowmobile to spot wildlife like bison, moose and bald eagles roaming majestic backdrops. Try your hand at snowshoeing or cross-country skiing on flatter terrains around Old Faithful and the Grand Canyon of Yellowstone. Little ones will love building snowmen and families can partake in ranger-led programs on winter ecology. With kid-friendly lodges and wintry sights everywhere you look, Yellowstone makes for an unforgettable winter trip.
Smugglers Notch, Vermont
For families who live to hit the slopes, Smugglers Notch Vermont is widely considered the East Coast’s best kid-friendly ski destination. Its reindeer mascot “Snowmeister” greets tiny new skiers at fun learning zones with playful characters and medals rewarding their progress. The ski school splits students not just by age, but also ability level within their age group, ensuring appropriate instruction. Family-only ski areas help parents work one-on-one with little ones to practice without interference from the general public. The “Morning Magic” program buys parents time on the slopes solo while children play with trained camp counselor instructors. Off the mountain you will find indoor waterparks, ice skating and winter ziplining across snowy forests.
Leavenworth, Washington
For families enthralled by the magic of the holidays year-round, visiting Leavenworth Washington is like stepping into a Bavarian Christmas town even in mid-January. This charming village is adorned with millions of twinkling lights, lantern-lit streets, gingerbread trim houses, and European-style chalets. Take a horse-drawn sleigh ride, watch Saint Nicholas roam town, sample German sweets and cuisine and enjoy the endless festive backdrop however you choose. When not embracing the quintessential Christmas vibes, partake in typical winter fun like sledding down nearby hills, snowshoe tours along the river trails or ski days at the Stevens Pass resort just twenty minutes outside of town. With plenty of lodging options catering to multi-generational travel, Leavenworth delights kids and kids-at-heart all winter long.
Conclusion
A family winter vacation allows you to put aside school, work, and household tasks to simply enjoy your loved one’s company while playing in snowy paradises. These destinations take winter fun up a notch, offering activities and entertainment tailored specifically to vacationers of all ages.
