There are few activities a
family can enjoy together that compare to spending a day
skiing/riding on the Aspen/Snowmass area mountains. Many say that
the gift of skiing/riding is one of the greatest life-long
pleasures a parent can give to their child. In addition to the
wonderful programs provided by the Ski & Snowboard Schools of
Aspen, Aspen/Snowmass offers nonstop fun and entertainment
morning, noon and night. Aspen/Snowmass provides countless
opportunities for adventure and winter magic both on and off the
slopes.
Family adventures
At Aspen/Snowmass it is easy for families to enjoy the
mountains together. "Family Zone" at
Snowmass provides a fun way to ski/ride with the family. Located
on terrain accessible by the Burlingame lift, the Family Zone is
complete with adventurous kids’ trails and a terrain park.
Families with small children will find surprises and secrets as
they explore each mountain. At Snowmass, Burnie the Bear is the
host. Burnie gives kids the inside scoop on secret paths through
the trees and popular meeting places. Ski or ride to the end of
Rudolph’s Run and find a big surprise - live reindeer. Kids can
test their skills at Jaws and Skateboard Alley. Children can
explore tree trails, such as King Louie’s Traverse, Pinball
Alley and Lizard Lane, and interactive snow-sculptures are built
for everyone in the family to explore.
Later in the day, join Family Fun and Disney
Adventure magazines for a free and fun-filled winter
carnival and slope-side barbecue party. Activities include outdoor
carnival games, snowcat rides, talking to patrol and meeting
avalanche rescue dogs, family photos with Burnie the Bear, food,
music, giveaways, prizes and more. The carnival will be on select
Thursdays in Feb. and March at the end of the Snowmass Village
Mall in the Bear Den Corral. The party is FREE and is open to
families with children of all ages.
At Buttermilk, Max the Moose welcomes kids to the
mountain. His purple bus picks up children at the Gondola Plaza in
Aspen and transports them to Buttermilk. Once kids are at the
mountain, they can explore Fort Frog - a child’s adventure
center featuring a western-style fort and Native American village.
Kid’s can also race against Max and participate in his weekly
treasure hunt.
Families and children of all ages will enjoy the terrain parks
and halfpipes located on the mountains of Aspen/Snowmass. Ajax has
the world’s only skier-only terrain park. Snowmass and
Buttermilk have terrain parks and halfpipes that are fun for both
skiers and snowboarders. Additionally, Snowmass and Buttermilk
also have smaller, learning parks and pipes. These parks and pipes
provide a mellower environment for children and those just
learning.
There are many ways to spend the day together but sometimes it’s
fun to explore. Families can keep in touch by renting cell phones
or pagers arranged at the concierge desks at the base of Ajax and
Snowmass. FREE shuttles are offered between all four mountains for
everyone in the family and intermountain equipment transfer is
available at all mountains. Parents and children can explore the
four mountains separately and meet up for lunch or ski/ride
together later in the day. Equipment transfer is free when renting
from any Pro Mountain Sport shop.
Ski & Snowboard Schools of Aspen offer special programs for
infants, toddlers, kids and teens that operate every day of the
season.
Adventures in nature
It’s fun and educational! Honest. On Tuesdays at 3:30 p.m.,
children are welcome to test their skills and stamina in Snow
Games with Burnie the Bear. Outdoor games include snowman
building, obstacle course, relay race, snow tug-of-war and snow
olympics. All ages are welcome and it’s free.
Families can enjoy Fresh Tracks snowshoe adventures
together. These two-hour snowshoe tours are lead by a naturalist
guide from the Aspen Center for Environmental Studies (ACES).
The tours allow guests to discover mountain ecology, local flora
and local fauna. Cost is $39 for adults and $25 for ages 8 through
19 and 65 and older. Cost includes a foot pass, equipment, guide
and a snack. Tours leave from the top of Ajax and from Two Creeks
at Snowmass at 10 a.m. and 1 p.m. daily.
Families meet at the Wapiti Wildlife Center at
the top of Elk Camp on Snowmass for Fresh Tracks downhill tours. A
guide from ACES leads a nature tour down Elk Camp. Tours leave at
11 a.m. and 1 p.m. Monday through Friday and are FREE. Tours are
also offered at Buttermilk on Tuesdays and Thursdays at 11 a.m.
and 1 p.m. Guests should meet at the information booth at the top
of the mountain.
Children can also experience the "Winter Wild Things"
Nature Experience offered by the Ski & Snowboard Schools of
Aspen and ACES. The program is available to children participating
in ski and snowboard school classes on Wednesdays and Fridays in
Snowmass and Tuesdays at Buttermilk. Children meet with "Westy,
the Wild Thing" from ACES, to learn about and explore winter
animal facts, tracks and habitats. The program is FREE.
More Adventures at the end of the day
The new tubing hill at Snowmass is fun for the entire family. Tube
Town located on Assay Hill operates from noon to 8 p.m.
daily. The tubing course is designed to provide thrills for
everyone. Guests pay $12 for unlimited runs and the use of a
specially designed tube is included. Children under 4 are not
allowed in the tubing area and children ages 4, 5 and 6 must be
accompanied by an adult. Tickets can be purchased at the Tube Town
Yurt.
A favorite family tradition is "Storytelling by the
Campfire." All ages are welcome to join Snowmass Village
local, Chuck Barth, every Monday and Wednesday for an evening of
great tales of ice and snow. Roasting marshmallows for s’mores
and drinking hot chocolate will help families stay warm during
this outside adventure. The fire-pit is located in Snowmass
Village across from the town shuttle on Daly Lane, next to the
Pokolodi Lodge. FREE for all ages.
Other activities include a FREE Piñata Bash
every Wednesday at 3:30 p.m. in the middle of the Mall outside of
Christy Sports. Search the Mall for crazy clues leading to great
prizes from participating stores and restaurants during the
Scavenger Hunt every Thursday at 3:30 p.m. Meet at the Big Clock
on the Mall by Paradise Bakery. Also, at the end of every day
experience the excitement of riding in a snowcat and see how the
slopes are groomed. Limited space available, guests should sign up
in the Snowmass ticket pavilion. These activities are free and
have been created with the whole family in mind. Call 970/923-2000
for more information.
Adventures at night
The family twilight snowcat ride and dinner is a special way to
highlight a vacation. This family adventure begins with a snowcat
ride up Snowmass to the Burlingame Cabin. Families are treated to
an evening of live entertainment and a cozy family-style feast.
Activities include a sing-a-long, magicians, storytelling and
more. Dinners are every Tuesday from 5 to 7:45 p.m.
Dozens of restaurants in the Aspen/Snowmass area cater to
families. Family-friendly restaurants in Aspen
include the Hard Rock Café, Su Casa for Mexican food and don’t
forget to ask about the children’s menu at the Chart House.
Teens also love to hang out at New York Pizza on the Hyman Avenue
Mall where a slice of cheese pizza is only $2.50. A family
favorite in Snowmass is Mangia, Mangia. The crew is happy to
deliver a bucket of pasta right to a hungry family’s door. Pasta
is priced by the gallon and delivery is free in Snowmass after 5
p.m.
For Teens
Teens can leave their parents at home for a night out at the Tubing
Hill. The evening includes dinner, drinks and tubing for $20
and is offered to teens ages 12 to 19. Teen night is on Tuesdays
at 5:30 PM; Dec. 26, Jan. 2, Feb. 20 and March 20 and 27. Teens
should meet at the Big Clock on the Snowmass Village Mall. Call
the Snowmass Village Resort Association at 970/923-2000 for more
information. Also, on designated nights throughout the season the
Cirque Café in Snowmass will be open to teens only. The night
will include a dee jay or live music, food and non-alcoholic
drinks.
Other options for teens are the Aspen Youth Center
movies at Stage 3, Movieland or the Isis . Indoor and
outdoor ice skating at the Aspen Ice Garden or the Silver
Circle Ice Rink.