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Looking out to my neighbor’s yard over coffee the other morning, I saw one of my favorite late-summer changes: a red maple leaf on their tree. Yes, I love the fall foliage in New England. No, Summer isn’t yet over, but the first red leaf, for me, is a sign.
It’s time to book my family’s annual ski trip. New England has incredible skiing for all ages and abilities, and my family loves taking a long weekend each winter to explore. Today, I will share with you the best New England ski resorts for families based on my personal experience so that all of us can have something to look forward to this dreary season.
Best New England Ski Resorts For Families
I will try not to bore you with too many personal details here, but despite growing up in Maine, I didn’t even attempt skiing until I was in my 30s, and I used to spend the entire Fall dreading Winter and then the entire Winter hating, well, Winter. It made for a rather depressing 9 months of my life each year.
At 32, my employer started hosting an annual ski trip for employees and their families. For one day, they would pay for your lift ticket, a 1/2 day ski or snowboarding lesson, or admission to the outdoor tubing parks. Seeing a lovely day and date night opportunity, my husband and I packed the kids off to the grandparents on year one and signed up.
We didn’t ski the first year; we went tubing, enjoyed the fully catered lunch with my peers, and then scooted out early to our hotel room with a fireplace for some bonding, but both of us had been struck. People seemed to have…fun skiing, so the next year, we brought our kids and signed up for lessons, and winter hasn’t been the same since.
Here’s what you need to know: Whether you’re a family of first-timers, a mix of pros and newbies, or a veteran, New England has a ski resort for your next winter getaway. While I will give you what I think are the best New England ski resorts for families, I encourage you to do your own explorations and report back on what you find to be the best first-timer family ski trips in New England.
Our Criteria For Best New England Ski Resorts For Families
My criteria for the best family-friendly ski resorts in New England is based on the following.
- The availability of spacious, family-friendly accommodations because when you’re traveling with children, certain requirements and amenities must be available for everyone to relax and enjoy the trip fully.
- The proximity to the mountain and the mountain’s ability to cater to learners of all ages through programs, lessons, and terrain. It’s great to get a ski lesson. It’s not great if you can’t enjoy the mountain’s terrain after the lesson because it’s too difficult for your ability.
- Available dining and non-ski-related activities in proximity to the hotel. Skiing is hard work. You need to fuel your body when you’re skiing and rest and recover at the end of the day. The best family-friendly ski resorts in New England offer ample opportunities for both while continuing to keep the kiddos engaged and having fun.
Loon Mountain, NH – The Best New England Ski Resort For Families Overall
Loon Mountain was where I learned to ski, and it’s become a perennial favorite for my family. Nestled in the sleepy little town of Lincoln, NH, deep in the White Mountains, Loon is a big mountain with a great mix of beginner and advanced terrain, making it one of the best New England ski resorts for families.
For the 2023/2024 season, Loon has announced a new expansion that will increase their beginner terrain by 50%, so soon, there will be even more to love about Loon.
Regarding family-friendly ski resorts in New England, especially first-timers, Loon is hard to beat. They offer a variety of lesson types for all ages and abilities, including private lessons, family lessons, small and large group lessons, and full and half-day sessions. Lessons include a lift ticket to the lower basin and beginner areas; rentals are available on-site.
For families traveling with little ones who aren’t quite ready for a full day on the slopes, Loon’s Winter Park offers 45-minute quick start lessons for kids 2-3, a tubing park, ice skating, and plenty of hot cocoa.
If this is your first family ski trip, you won’t be disappointed with Loon Mountain, but if you’re coming in from out of town, you’ll want to make lodging reservations in advance.
Family-Friendly Ski Accommodations Near Loon Mountain
If you’re planning a stay in Lincoln, NH, and want a luxury resort experience at a reasonable price, I can’t recommend River Walk at Loon enough.
This hotel timeshare condo is my go-to location whenever my family decides to ski Loon Mountain. Located less than 1 mile from the entrance, the hotel sits at the mountain’s base, providing stunning views all season long.
Constructed in 2016, this hotel/timeshare combo packs a luxurious punch with ample room options for families of all sizes. You can get anything from a deluxe studio with a fireplace at the foot of the bed to a multi-bedroom penthouse with a sprawling layout.
For my family of three, we prefer the 2 bedrooms as they have an additional bathroom and a bit more room for everyone’s ski gear to hang out to dry after a long day. All rooms here also come with full kitchenettes, perfect for families that want to cook breakfast before hitting the slope.
The beautiful rooms aren’t the only reason we think this is one of the best New England ski resorts for families. River Walk at Loon is also packed to the gills with family-friendly amenities like the indoor/outdoor pool that allows the little ones to enter the water in a nice heated room before ducking outside to experience the crisp New England weather while gazing up at the stars, the onsite arcade and game room, and the delicious onsite La Vista Italian restaurant.
With onsite laundry facilities and a shuttle service to and from the mountain, River Walk is about as turnkey as possible, a huge plus for first time family ski trips.
Downtown Lincoln, NH, also offers a tremendous breadth of visitor activities, including a bowling alley, a movie theater, and plenty of shopping and dining venues, and it’s only a few miles from New Hampshires Ice Castles, which are an immersive ice carving experience that comes to life each winter season.
Stowe Mountain Resort, Vermont
Our next pick for the best New England ski resorts for families is Stowe. Stowe Mountain Resort in Vermont proudly offers 116 ski trails for families to explore. These trails are conveniently spread across Mount Mansfield and Spruce Peak, providing a diverse range of terrains for skiers of all abilities, from tumbling tots to daring adults.
The resort stands out with its comprehensive amenities, perfecting your ski trip. The state-of-the-art ski and snowboard rental shop eliminates any equipment worries. You can rent the latest gear here, regardless of your experience and skill. Additionally, expert staff are always available to guide you, ensuring your family receives the right kit for the slopes.
After an action-packed day, retreat to the warm embrace of Spruce Peak at Stowe Mountain. This ski-in, ski-out luxury resort is within easy reach of the slopes, making it a dream accommodation for skiers. Indulge in a comforting pampering session in their acclaimed spa, or relax by the fireside in plush suites, fittingly themed around the serene winter forest.
Food and beverage options are plentiful and diverse at Stowe. Whether it’s a fireside hot chocolate, a quick lunch amid the action, or a gourmet dinner for the family, the resort’s restaurants serve up dishes to appease any palate and appetite.
While skiing and snowboarding are undoubtedly the main attractions, Stowe Mountain Resort also caters to other winter sports enthusiasts. There’s an abundance of ancillary winter activities to choose from – such as cross-country skiing, snowshoeing, or ice skating – ensuring there’s never a dull moment during your family’s stay.
For families with kids, Stowe truly shines. The resort’s Ski and Snowboard School runs a unique program designed for youngsters. Professional instructors teach children the ropes in a fun, safe environment, making their skiing debut memorable. This attention to family-friendly education demonstrates why Stowe Mountain Resort holds its place as an ideal skiing destination for families.
Cranmore Mountain Resort, NH
The next winner in our book is Cranmore Mountain Resort, located in North Conway, NH. In peak season, 36% of this mountain’s resort is dedicated to beginner trails, making it a perfect choice for first time family ski trips.
Cranmore’s Kids Ski School offers a range of lessons for adults and kids alike, with one-on-one options, small group, private family, and large group lessons for skiers of all ages. Unlike Loon Mountain, Cranmore is much more navigable. You’ll easily be able to find where you get your rentals, where to meet for lessons, and where you’ll want to meet up at the end of the day.
Its learning area is fairly compact, allowing everyone in the family to go at their own pace. On our last family trip, I stayed with my littlest one down at the base of the mountain while my oldest one was off on the lifts and exploring the greens around that area.
It had enough options that he wasn’t bored, and the space was small enough that I could easily pick him out of the crowd as he was coming downhill or waiting in line at the lift.
Family-Friendly Ski Accommodations Near Cranmore Mountain
One of my favorite things about North Conway, NH, is that it’s a year-round destination for families. While many other of our best New England ski resorts for families are really centered around the winter months, North Conway is not.
This also means an abundance of rentals available on Vrbo and Airbnb, so a trip to Cranmore will cost you a lot less than a trip to Loon, Stowe, or Killington will at peak season. Our most recent booking through Airbnb had us in a 4 bedroom, 3 bathroom home with a hot tub on the deck for less than $200 a night in peak season, so it does pay to shop around here.
While we felt there was a little less to offer in the downtown nightlight in North Conway, it’s easy to get to, and we enjoyed some fantastic skiing and a few of the local eateries.
Killington Mountain, VT
If you’ve been looking for family-friendly ski resorts in New England for any time, you’ve heard of Killington Moutain. Located in Killington, VT, Killington is often considered the best of the best of what New England skiing has to offer.
Killington is the last place I would bring my family, or any family, especially if this were one of their first time family ski trips. It’s not that Killington is a bad mountain, but it’s also not worth the cost.
At 4,100+ feet, Killington is a big mountain. While they have an excellent ski school with renowned teachers from across the world, it’s simply not worth the price of admission and the associated prices of equipment and lodging if your family can’t ski the black diamonds.
With that in mind, Killington is one mountain my family won’t be revisiting anytime soon.
What Are The Best New England Ski Resorts for Families?
The reality here is that I’ve given you my best options based on my family’s experience skiing mountains across New England, and there are many mountains that I think have value across the region that aren’t listed here. However, the three selections I’ve made should appeal to most families where ski ability is nonexistent or diverse.
While I’m sad that none of the resorts in Maine made it onto my family’s list, mostly due to family-friendly hotel/lodging considerations and proximity to modern amenities in town, I don’t want to discourage you from researching there.
Sunday River, Sugarloaf, Saddleback, and many other ski areas are the perfect option for first time family ski trips; they aren’t as appealing and flexible for our needs. So, if you are one of those who explore Maine as a ski destination – drop me a comment and let me know which of Maine’s ski mountains you would have added to this list.