While most people think of ski resorts as great winter vacation destinations for families, many of the best ski resorts are just as fun in the summer. When the snow melts and the temperatures warm up, these ski resorts are bustling with summer activities and events. More adventurous families can enjoy activities like mountain biking, ropes courses, and ziplining, while there are plenty of low-key activities for the more laid back travelers. Read on for our picks of some of the top North America ski resorts for families in the summer.
The Best North America Ski Resorts for Families in the Summer
Jackson Hole, Wyoming
Jackson Hole is unlike any mountain destination with its location near two of America’s most renowned national parks, Grand Teton National Park and Yellowstone. Families could spend a week between the Tetons and Yellowstone and just scratch the surface. Yet Jackson Hole Mountain Resort is a great family destination in and of itself.
Younger kids can run wild at the Wild Woods Playground, which is unlike any playground your kids have ever seen, with fun ropes course features, several slides, and more. You’ll just need a sightseeing ticket, and then ride to Sweetwater Gondola to mid-station. Other fun activities for kids at Jackson Hole Mountain Resort include a bungee trampoline, climbing wall, and an aerial adventure course called The Ropes. If you’re visiting during the week, then drop your kids off at the Grand Adventure Camp, while you adventure around Jackson Hole on your own. There’s a preschool camp for ages 3-5, while the Grand Adventure Camp is for kids 6-12. Jackson Hole Mountain Resort also has bike camps for little rippers between the ages of 7-12.
Adventurous activities abound for families to do together. Start at the base of Teton Village or ride up the gondola to access stunning hiking trails. Afterward, enjoy hike-to restaurants including Piste Mountain Bistro, The Deck @ Piste, and Off-Piste. If you’d rather appreciate the view with less effort, the tram is open for scenic rides up to the summit. Top it off with a brown sugar butter waffle from Corbet’s Cabin. When you need a break from the sun, head into town to Jackson Hole Children’s Museum.
» View Jackson Hole Summer Lodging Options
Park City, Utah
Consistently rated as one of the top winter ski destinations, Park City has just as much, if not more, going on during the summer with adventures like fly fishing in the Provo River, hundreds of miles of hiking trails, biking, horseback riding, and scenic chairlift rides. Park City is also home to Utah’s largest mountain coaster at Olympic Park. The coaster meanders at 25 mph, so it’s suitable for both kids and parents alike. For double the fun, Olympic Park offers the Double Play special to experience both the Mountain Coaster and their Alpine Slide.
Families can also enjoy the free Olympic Museum at Olympic Park, which is full of winter sports history and ski fashion. Olympic Park also has a ropes course with three different levels for kids of different ages and abilities. The Discovery Course is a great beginner area for young kids. Next to it is a climbing playground ideal for younger kids ages 2 and up. There is also a summer bobsled experience, where teens 16 and up can join a professional driver for a ride down the bobsled course. Teens and more adventurous kids will enjoy Woodward Park City, which is an action sports complex with skateboarding, parkour, and mountain biking. Woodward also has weeklong summer camps for those staying in the area longer.
For softer adventures, Park City Mountain Adventure Park makes for a fun day of gem panning and putt-putt on its 18-hole mini golf course. Two ziplining experiences — the seated Flying Eagle and the more intense Ziprider — provide options for high-flying fun over Park City’s ski slopes.
» View Park City Summer Lodging Options
Aspen Snowmass, Colorado
Aspen has just as much to offer its visitors in the summer as in the winter. The Lost Forest Adventure Park is fun for people of all ages and sizes. Ziplining, ropes courses, the Breathtaker Alpine Coaster, disc golf, paintball, and climbing are just some of the activities to be found. Snowmass has nearly 25 miles of stellar hiking trails that reward you with views of the Rocky Mountains.
Camp Aspen Snowmass is a great place for kids over the summer with tons of activities. Their website describes the camp as “the epicenter for a summer season brimming with boundless discovery.” Camp Aspen Snowmass runs from early June to the end of August, offering single and multi-day options for kids from ages 6 to 15. Single-day campers can pick from a range of activities to focus on such as paintball, bungee jumping, riding an alpine coaster, climbing, and more. Multi-day packages include Rocket Camp, Mountain Skills, Eco Art Camp, and mountain biking camps, while there are private options for parents who want to customize the activities kids do each day. Camp Aspen Snowmass also offers childcare for young kids.
» View Aspen Summer Lodging Options
Winter Park, Colorado
While Winter Park was recently named the Best Family-Friendly Ski Resort by OnTheSnow users, the fun family activities continue into summer. Winter Park offers a wide-range of activities, including mountain yoga, mini golf, a climbing wall, guided painting hikes, Friday night movie nights in the village, rafting tours, ATV tours, astronomy tours, and so much more. Families can soak up stunning views of the Rocky Mountains with access to tons of activities at one of Colorado’s best four-season resorts.
Hiking and mountain biking are offered in abundance with guided panoramic hikes of the Fraser Valley and Continental Divide. These hikes can be anywhere from three to seven miles long, or you can embark on a solo journey to explore any one of the many trails across the resort. Mountain biking trails and tours span Winter Park, with Trestle Bike Park featuring an incredible 40 miles of lift-served trails.
Finally, younger kids will love the Camp Robber Ropes Course complete with airborne adventures for all abilities, while little ones ages two to six can explore the nearby Chickadee Course.
» View Winter Park Summer Lodging Options
Palisades Tahoe, California
Palisades Tahoe draws travelers from around the world during the summer, thanks in part to its location near North America’s largest alpine lake, Lake Tahoe. The Lake Tahoe region is packed with activities for families, from miles of hiking trails to bike paths to boating and much more. Palisades Tahoe is a destination itself with activities and amenities like yoga, the Olympic Museum, a Via Ferrata, ropes courses, hiking trails, disc golf, and a golf course.
While the adults are exploring the mountain, the kids can play at the Kids Adventure Camp. Offered during the week, this day camp is the perfect place to encourage exploration through outdoor activities and art. Counselors guide kids through experiences in the wilderness that will last a lifetime. Advanced and walk-up reservations are available, with lunch and snacks provided for kids.
» View Palisades Tahoe Summer Lodging Options
Mammoth Mountain, California
California has no shortage of summer destination spots, and Mammoth Mountain is no exception. While it’s a little further away from California’s major cities, the drive and adventures once in Mammoth are so worth it. One of the top draws is Mammoth’s stellar high-alpine mountain biking park. It has trails for all levels with more than 80 miles of terrain with an abundance of jumps, berms, and drops. Adrenaline seekers can go on guided climbing tours of the area’s famous jagged cliff faces.
Younger kids will love the classic Adventure Center complete with ropes courses, archery lessons, bungee trampolines, ziplines, and other fun activities. The resort also has guided bike tours or bikes for rent if you prefer to explore on your own. Further in Mammoth Lakes, families can spend the afternoon at the Mammoth Rec Zone, featuring pickleball, volleyball, and basketball courts.
» View Mammoth Summer Lodging Options
Whiteface, New York
Whiteface Resort and the town of Lake Placid, which played host to the 1932 and 1980 Winter Olympics, are brimming with Olympic history. The Olympic Museum showcases tons of Olympic paraphernalia, while Mt. Van Hoevenberg’s cliffside coaster takes riders down the historic 1980 bobsled track. This coaster is suitable for those ages 9 and up, while riders 3 and up can ride with an adult. The Sky Flyer Zipline lets guests experience the exhilaration of ski jumping, replicating the feeling of the 100-meter ski jump, reaching speeds up to 30 mph. During the summer, Whiteface Resort, technically located in Wilmington, offers a number of great outdoor sports and adventures, including nine-hole disc golf and hiking trails.
Whiteface Resort also offers a variety of summer programs for children of all ages. For those interested in climbing, Wee Climbs has programs where kids three to five will learn to boulder and start understanding the movements of climbing. They also have the more advanced Dynos (ages 6 to 12) and Senders (13+) programs, in which participants are introduced to some of the more technical elements of top rope and lead climbing. Whiteface also offers similar summer programs for both running and biking.
» View Whiteface Summer Lodging Options
Killington, Vermont
Killington has put a lot of resources into building up its summer offerings in recent years. The Snowshed Adventure Center features a bungee trampoline, ninja obstacle challenge, 42-foot ropes course, zipline racer, 5,000-square-foot maze, and more. The Beast Mountain Coaster, aptly named for the resort’s nickname, is a 4,800-foot coaster that’ll give you as much, or more, of an adrenaline rush as skiing. Elsewhere, Snowshed Pond offers paddling and kayaking, making for a great way to cool off on a warm summer day. Three of Killington’s lifts offer service to 30 miles of downhill mountain biking trails for all levels.
Killington also has weekly and season-long summer camps. They offer four tiers — the Little Explorers (ages 4-5), the Junior Explorers (ages 6-7), the Active Explorers (ages 8-9), and the Green Mountain Movers Camp (ages 9-13). Each tier has themed activities that make use of the prime mountain location like swimming, arts and crafts, and tons of outdoor adventures.
» View Killington Summer Lodging Options
Bretton Woods, New Hampshire
The famed Omni Mount Washington Hotel at Bretton Woods is bustling in summer with activities like tennis, hiking, fly fishing, disc golf, horseback riding, mountain biking, and a high-flying zipline tour that provides premiere views of the forest surrounding Mount Washington. Bretton Woods’ gondola remains open during the summer for guests to use for easy access to stunning views. All this, plus the neighboring areas, offer even more hiking, swimming pools, and unique activities like Mount Washington Cog Railroad’s ride up the tallest peak in the East.
The Omni Mount Washington also has a kids club available to resort guests and members. This kids program is for ages 5 to 12, and invites kids to make new friends and memories while taking part in a number of different activities. The program utilizes the resort for outdoor adventures, arts and crafts activities, and more. Note that the Kids Club does not include lunch or dinner, though kids can be picked up for lunch.
» View Bretton Woods Summer Lodging Options
Whistler Blackcomb, British Columbia
This iconic Canadian ski spot boasts as much fun in the summer as it does in the winter. Whistler Blackcomb is home to tons of hiking and running trails that give guests a peek into the area’s natural beauty. If you plan your trip at just the right time, you’ll be able to catch the stunning views of the wildflower season. Lasting just two to three weeks in mid-summer, this is the best time to hike some of the 50+ km of trails spread across two mountains.
For those families who like to hit the trails together, you can treat yourself once you reach the summit of Whistler Mountain at the Roundhouse Lodge Umbrella Bar. Or, continue to take in the views with a walk across the Cloudraker Skybridge. Whistler Blackcomb guests are near a number of beautiful lakes. Lost Lake, located within walking distance of the Upper Village, provides all the scenic fun a lake has to offer, while Rainbow Lake has a beach volleyball court and tons of spots for lounging and cooling off during the hot summer months. Wayside Park also offers BBQs and kayak rentals.
The Family Adventure Zone is located at the base of Blackcomb Mountain with a ton of activities for kids like ropes courses, bouncy castles, rock climbing walls, glitter tattoos, and more. New this year to Whistler Blackcomb are STACYC e-bikes and a pump track at the Whistler Blackcomb Adventure Zone. This activity is hailed as a great one for kids looking to get a feel for mountain biking features. Kids ages 5-12 can ride the 12, 14, 18, or 20-inch throttle e-bikes and the mountain rentals will supply padding and a full-face helmet. Whistler Mountain Bike Park is one of the top mountain biking parks in North America, home to more than 120 trails spread over four distinct mountain zones.
» View Whistler Blackcomb Summer Lodging Options
Panorama, British Columbia
This smaller British Columbia ski resort has announced two new attractions coming to the mountain this summer. As part of a multi-million dollar upgrade to the mountain, Panorama will be adding a mountain coaster and aerial adventure park to the resort. The coaster, designed by Austin-based group SunKid GmbH, starts off of the Discovery Chairlift and takes riders down 561 feet of twists, turns, and speeds back to the base village. The aerial adventure park will feature massive structures with ropes obstacles, zip lines, swinging bridges, and other climbing elements. These two additions will elevate Panorama’s summer activities, and make these must-do attractions for years to come. Other activities at the resort include downhill mountain bike parks, whitewater rafting, ATV tours, a resort pool complex, full-sized tennis and pickleball courts, and the award-winning 18-hole Greywolf Golf Course.
Panorama also offers children’s summer camps for 1 to 5 days. The PanoKids Summer Camps take kids across the resort to experience all that it has to offer. From bouncing on the Eurobungy to Splashing in the Springs pools, they will be able to explore and learn about the natural Canadian wilderness in the area.
For the best resorts for families and kids to visit in the winter click here.
Header image ©Palisades Tahoe
July 16, 2024
