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Some of my absolute favorite memories growing up were created on the ski slopes with my family. And when I say family, I don’t just mean my parents and siblings—I mean my grandparents, aunts, uncles, and cousins. We’d all pack our gear and head to the mountains for a week of skiing, laughter, and memories that would last a lifetime. My grandma would whip up a huge pot of chili for lunch, while my cousins and I raced down the slopes and fought over who got to ride the lift with Grandpa. It was pure magic.
Now, as a mom of five, I’ve carried on this tradition. Every year, we ski with extended family, and watching my kids bond with their grandparents, uncles, aunts, and cousins on the slopes is just as magical. If you’re considering planning a multigenerational ski trip, I can tell you from firsthand experience—it’s worth it. Here’s how you can make it work smoothly and create those cherished memories for your family, too.
1. Choose a Ski Resort with Discounts for Kids and Seniors
When planning a multigenerational trip, it’s important to choose a ski resort that caters to all age groups. Start by looking for resorts that offer both child and senior discounts. Skiing can be expensive, so finding a resort that provides affordable lift tickets for the whole family can save you a lot of money.
Many resorts have special packages for families or offer free skiing for young kids and discounts for seniors. These deals help reduce costs, especially when you’re skiing with a large group. The key is to book as far in advance as possible to lock in the best rates.
For our family, we’ve found that smaller, family-oriented resorts often offer better deals. Plus, they tend to be more laid-back, which makes it easier for a large group to stay connected on the mountain.
2. Find Lodging that Works for Your Group
Accommodations can make or break your multigenerational ski trip. The best lodging setup depends on the size and dynamics of your group. Here are two great options:
- Rent a large Airbnb cabin: This gives your family plenty of space to gather, cook meals, play games, and relax together after skiing. Plus, everyone stays under the same roof, which makes it easier to spend time together in the evenings.
- Adjoining rooms at the resort: If you prefer more privacy or don’t want to cook, booking adjoining rooms at a ski resort is another great option. Each family gets their own space, but you’re all close enough to easily meet up for meals or activities.
Last winter, we stayed at a large cabin rental at Brian Head ski resort, and it was perfect. Every evening, we gathered in the kitchen for dinner, swapping stories about the day’s adventures while the kids played board games. Having everyone together under one roof created an atmosphere that made the trip even more special and fun for everyone.
3. Plan Time Together and Time Apart
One of the secrets to a successful multigenerational ski trip is finding a balance between group time and family time. Plan set times for everyone to be together—like breakfast, lunch, or dinner—but allow plenty of time for each family to do their own thing.
For example, my family typically starts the day skiing together. After lunch, we often split up—some of us go for harder terrain, while others might hang out in the lodge with the little ones or take a few easy runs. This way, everyone gets to enjoy the day at their own pace, and no one feels pressured to do activities that don’t suit them.
Our breakfast, lunch and dinner ski recipes make those meal times a cinch!
4. Discuss Expectations in Advance
Speaking of setting expectations, communication is key to a smooth trip. With so many family members involved, it’s important to talk about what everyone wants out of the trip before you hit the slopes. Maybe you really want Grandpa to take a few runs with your son while you video them skiing together, or maybe Grandma wants to spend more time in the lodge with the younger kids. Discuss these hopes in advance so no one is disappointed later.
If you don’t talk about your expectations, certain moments might not happen. I’ve found that clear communication avoids any misunderstandings and ensures that everyone gets the quality time they want. Setting expectations in advance is especially important if you have young kids who might not be skiing the whole time. If everyone knows the plan for who is staying in with the younger ones, it simplifies everything.
5. Decide Upfront How Costs Will Be Split
Ski trips can add up quickly, and money can be a touchy subject, so it’s best to decide upfront how costs will be split. Will each family pay for their own lift tickets and rentals, or will you pool your funds for shared expenses like lodging and meals?
For our family, we often split the lodging costs evenly and then let each family handle their own lift tickets, rentals, and other personal expenses. This makes things simpler and avoids any awkward conversations or hurt feelings during the trip.
6. Choose a Resort with Terrain for All Skill Levels
One of the challenges of a multigenerational trip is finding a resort with terrain that suits everyone—from beginner skiers to those who love black diamond runs. Look for a ski resort that has a mix of terrain, including beginner-friendly slopes, more challenging areas for experienced skiers, and nearby lodges or childcare options for non-skiers or young kids.
For example, when we ski at Solitude, the kids love showing off their favorite easy trails to their grandparents. Meanwhile, my brothers and I hit the steeper runs for a little adrenaline rush. It’s the perfect balance because we’re able to ski as a family but also enjoy the runs that suit our individual skill levels.
7. Plan Activities Off the Slopes
Not everyone in your group will want to ski all day, every day, and that’s okay! Planning a few off-slope activities gives the whole family something to enjoy. Whether it’s sledding, snowshoeing, ice skating, or just relaxing in the lodge with a warm drink, having alternative activities ensures that no one feels left out.
We typically recommend no more than 2-3 consecutive days of skiing for kids, so if you’ve got an entire week, this gives you plenty of time to do non-skiing activities as well.
8. Choose an Easy-to-Access Resort
When traveling with a big group, logistics matter. Choosing a resort that’s easy for everyone to reach can make the trip much less stressful. Driving is always simpler than flying with ski gear, so keep that in mind.
Smaller mountains tend to have fewer crowds, easier parking, and less chaos overall, making them ideal for larger groups.
9. Book in Advance
Booking early is essential when planning a multigenerational ski trip. Not only will you save money on lift tickets and lodging, but you’ll also have a better chance of finding accommodations that suit your group. Popular ski resorts tend to fill up fast, so lock in your plans as soon as possible. We recommend booking lodging 9-12 months in advance and lift tickets and ski lessons up to 6 months in advance.
10. Consider Group Ski Lessons
While we don’t recommend mixing kids and adults in the same lesson, booking group lessons for different family members can be a fun way to learn together. For instance, all the cousins could take a ski lesson together, or the adults could sign up for a group lesson while the kids are in ski school. It’s a great way to improve skills and bond as a family.
Or if you’re lucky, maybe you have an expert in the family who can take some of the less experienced skiers out and teach them to ski!
Some of Our Favorite Ski Resorts for MultiGenerational Ski Trips
We live in Utah and are so spoiled with the number of amazing ski resorts here and within driving distance. In the last 6 years, we’ve been able to take a multi-generational ski trip every year, and it’s one of our kids favorite traditions (especially our teens!). Here are some of our favorite resorts for skiing with a large family:
Snowbasin Resort, Huntsville Utah
We love Snowbasin for it’s combination of great terrain, fun features, and luxury lodges. The grandparents are more than happy to sit out a run with a toddler in the 5 star lodge, and even the older kids are happy to take a run on the bunny hill since it has a mini-terrain park in it.
Nordic Valley, Eden Utah
Nordic Valley is a small little local hill and we went here for a budget family ski trip. Nordic Valley is part of the Power Pass so kids 12 and under ski free and other lift tickets are incredibly affordable. While the terrain is pretty limited, it was great for having lots of little skiers who were just learning.
Grand Targhee, Alta Wyoming
Grand Targhee has incredible facilities for families. The ski-in ski-out lodging is really affordable and is right next to the beginner hill so it’s perfect for kids. The ski school is outstanding and the views and expert level terrain are hard to beat.
Brian Head, Utah
Brian Head is another Power Pass resort (kids 12 and under ski free), but it’s got a lot more terrain than Nordic Valley. We hit it on a powder week and were skiing fresh tracks with no lift lines every day. Brian Head is great because there is both a beginner area and a more advanced area, so it’s easy to pick a base area with the terrain that’s best for your group. It also has some of the most affordable ski-in ski-out lodging we’ve ever seen.
Multigenerational ski trips are an amazing way to create lifelong memories with your extended family. By planning ahead, setting expectations, and finding a resort that works for everyone, you can ensure that your trip is both fun and stress-free. Whether it’s the kids racing down the slopes with their uncles or sharing a hot meal with grandparents at the lodge, these moments are ones your family will cherish forever.