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Winter Park Resort has become our family’s first actual skiing experience and it’s going to hold a place in our memories for a long time. We arrived with just a little cross country ski experience and left as confident downhill skiers, rejuvenated about winter and reconnected with one another. If you ever aren’t sure where you stand with your teenager, take them skiing for the first time and your relationship will be laid bare in the best way. If nothing else, our four days at Winter Park Resort in Colorado brought friendship back into our family where teen-parent qualms were winning out.
I know that sounds like something not a lot of people would connect with, but I must say that the family element of being in a new place in an environment that’s completely foreign to us and learning a skill that NONE of us had before, it absolutely brought a common denominator to our trip. I’m going to share all about our time at the Winter Park Resort and how YOU can have a wonderful experience too. If you have any questions about the things we did at Winter Park or how to plan your own trip, please leave a comment or send us a note. We’re always happy to share more.
Winter Park Resort (WPR) invited us to share about our experience and we’re happy to do so. All opinions are our own and have NOT been influenced by the WPR. Affiliate links may be present in this and other features across this website.
Why Winter Park Resort for Family Skiing?
A few things have kept us from skiing over the years, including the cold, the logistics of gear, patience with kids and overall cost. When Winter Park Resort invited us to come visit and share the experience, I was skeptical and actually pushed back saying that it wasn’t our thing. After talking me down from my ski-ledge we got the kids onboard and planned the trip. I approach everything with the motto of “high hopes and low expectations” which sounds completely lame, but it really helps us have the best time possible. Winter Park Resort far surpassed our expectations and hopes… and now the kids want to have more ski trips in the future.
What made it so special and ideal for us as first time skiers was how flexible and family friendly everything was. From flexible rentals to ski lessons for ALL of us, the complexity of planning a ski trip was gone. And when it comes to being inclusive of teenage travelers, Winter Park Resort also provided the flexibility of working with kids who “know best” or just aren’t into participating in a family experience. If you’ve followed our blog over the years, you know that we’re a very close family but that I don’t talk a lot about the parenting struggles, which we do indeed have. Skiing together and having downtime at the resort was special and something I’ve missed in recent years. More on that below.
We stayed at the Zephyr Lodge right at the base of the slopes, which was ideal for being able to quickly transition from ski mode into relaxing. Keeping things smooth is paramount for us, especially when it’s a new experience.
Book the Zephyr Lodge at Winter Park Resort here!
Beginner Skiers Can Thrive at Winter Park – Ski Lessons
Being a beginner at something is nothing our family is used to. We try new things, but it’s usually a new food or board game. Trying skiing was new for all of us, so going into a very physical activity but something so popular felt weird. We agreed in advance that we’d all try skiing at Winter Park Resort with an open mind and that we would be patient with each other and just go with it. Starting with a ski gear fitting and then ski lessons was definitely the way to go.
When you’re engaging with people whose sole job is to help somebody who is a 100% novice, they know how to both set you at ease and explain the ins and outs like you wouldn’t even realize that you don’t know. For us, accepting that we had zero knowledge and experience was key to making just through our ski gear fitting. And then when we met our ski instructor to learn the basics, something as simple as putting on our skis, again that was something where we needed to just surrender and go with it. Trust is a huge part of skiing apparently, and we committed to trusting people to make this happen.
After basic ski lessons (more on that below) we got to go up on the mountain at Winter Park Resort to actually try some ski runs. Of course we started with the practice hills, but once we had our confidence we were able to branch out, to a point actually where we were racing each other by our last day. We even got enough practical time that we were able to take the Gondola up to the top of Winter Park Resort and go all the way down along the long ski trail on the backside to the base of the resort. There are enough “green” ski trails at the Winter Park Resort that we, a brand new skiing family, got to explore more than the bunny hill on our own.
What are Family Ski Lessons Like?
Real talk: the thing I was most nervous about with our Winter Park Resort trip was actually family ski lessons. As I’ve said, having a teen is a tenuous situation and feedback or instruction is not welcome. Ski lessons at Winter Park were a new thing for all of us and we all were at the same level. I was hesitant to do family lessons because I didn’t want having parents around to impact the kids’ experience and their openness to learning something new, but it was okay.
Our ski instructor was so great with the kids. Lily, our instructor, knew just how to phrase things so the kids understood what they needed to do, but also knew how to speak to them at their level so they didn’t feel condescended upon or not open to coaching. She also could see their skills and praise those, keeping them going, trying new skills. Have you tried turning around in skis while not moving? That’s something you might not think to teach a kid, but it’s actually a really frustrating movement and having a good instructor worked us past this obstacle.
For us adults, we just absorbed everything directed at the kids as it all applies to adults too. If you’ve not considered family ski lessons, it is very much worth the time and cost. Being up on the mountain and unable to enjoy your ski down because you don’t know how to control yourself, you have fear of speed or you just lack the confidence to go beyond the training slopes can make the trip not all that it can be. Fun and safety are equally important when you’re skiing (safety moreso) so doing family ski lessons is perfect for laying that groundwork.
“We don’t have Ski Gear. Is that a problem?”
Not having ski gear has always been an obstacle for us when it comes to skiing, and was one of the main reasons we never really considered a trip like heading to the Winter Park Resort for our family. It turns out that you can very easily rent the right gear and the crew, either through the resort’s rental office or other services (we used Ski Butlers), really wants you to be successful so they make sure you’re set up correctly. It behooves nobody to have skiers using the wrong gear and telling others of their trials, so everyone works hard to make sure you’re good to go.
Ski Butlers, the service we used, came directly to our condo unit at the Winter Park Resort’s Zephyr Lodge. They showed up with the equipment they figured we’d need based on the size information we provided in advance, then they had extra boots and such to make sure that we had the correct gear for each of us. Truth be told we had to try a few different boot sizes until we were set. It was so easy though!
Storing Ski Gear at Winter Park Resort
Whether you’ve brought your own gear, done the Ski Butler or rented from the office at the Winter Park Resort, there are lockers at the lodges to store your gear. We stayed at the Zephyr Lodge where the ski lockers were on the first floor, accessible from the outside or lobby. This was great because when we were done for the day we could just walk in, leave our boots and whatnot, and then head back up to our condo unit. Super easy and it kept our accommodations tidy.
The other option for storing ski gear on-site is the ski valet. Located just at the end of the slopes at Winter Park Resort, you can use the ski valet to hold your skis, poles and snowboards. This is an additional cost, but it’s super easy and convenient, especially if you’re not staying directly at the base.
Other Activities at Winter Park Resort
So what else is there to do when you bring your family to Winter Park Resort? My kids would say that you can have some great downtime in your resort condo with the fire going and snow falling outside while you read or play games, which is true, but there’s more to it than that. We were sure to keep active even though it would have been so easy to just chill between ski runs.
Snow Tubing at Winter Park Resort
Being a non-skier most of my life, inner tubing has always been my top pick for being in the snow. Our first night at the Winter Park Resort we actually went snow tubing before we even had skis on our feet. Located near the Vintage Hotel (part of the resort) the inner tubing hill has several runs on it, as well as a magic-carpet style lift/ramp to get you back up to the top of the run, which if you grew up in my area, this is luxe compared to hauling the tube back up the hill yourself.
We did both Glow Tubing and daytime snow tubing. I think we collectively decided we like the nighttime Glow Tubing more. With fun music, colorful disco lights and cool lighting in the magic-carpet transport, it was a party in the snow. For our kids, doing this on our first day was a great way to get them in the mood for upcoming skiing and more snow-play. Remember, we live in Florida so being in the snow is a complete mind shift for us.
If you haven’t been snow tubing, it might look unusual or like it’s going to be physically rough. It’s actually not. It’s as simple as sitting on the inner tube and allowing one of the tube run staff to send you down the hill. You’re not going off jumps or stopping dramatically, so it’s a smooth, fun experience. When you’re at the age that you feel like you don’t physically recover as fast as you used to, an activity like snow tubing is a great option for having winter fun.
Snow Cat Tours atop Winter Park
Since you can’t ski at all times, it’s good to have other fun activities to do, especially after dark. On our second night at the Winter Park Resort we headed out on a snowcat tour up into the ski runs. A snowcat, if you’re unfamiliar as we were, is a big tractor/snow plow that can traverse the mountainside and has a cabin for transporting passengers. We bundled up and rode the gondola to the top of the mountain where we boarded our snowcat tour.
Navigating the slopes at sunset and then after dark, it was a very different sort of snow experience. After hearing the history of the area and learning about the snow making process and how they manage the slopes, we stopped into Lunch Rock, a lodge along one of the upper runs. Here we had hot chocolate and wine, and then we did s’mores outside as the snow came down. It was a great evening experience, and our kids said they enjoyed this more than even skiing, which they loved. Again, finding something that connected us and that WE ALL enjoyed was special.
Ice Skating at Winter Park Resort
We tend to go ice skating when we’re visiting cities in the winter, like New York City at Christmas, as they set up large ice rinks and rent skates for visitors. Up here in Winter Park, the ice skating is actually on a frozen pond. Renting skates a few yards away at the Adventure & Supply Co, we were able to get out on the ice just beyond our lodge accommodations.
Ice skating on a frozen pond seemed uncertain to me, but it’s so cold up at Winter Park Resort that the ice is frozen thick and it’s very safe. Being managed by the resort, they wouldn’t open the pond for ice skating unless it was truly good to go. It was fun being on a pond vs a rink because it’s just like what you see in iconic winter scenes. The snowbanks all around, the slightly bumpy ice; it’s great.
Après Ski on the Mountain Top
If you ride the Gondola from the base up to the top you come to the Lodge at Sunspot. It’s a combination of dining, relaxation, giant warming hut and lounge. While the lodge is open all day for those heading up the Gondola, either with their lift ticket or specific gondola ticket, after 4pm it’s open access to anyone and no ticket is required. This is a great place to get one of the signature cocktails, spiced wine, hot chocolate or dessert and listen to live music.
While us parents were enjoying the adult offerings of Après Ski up at the Sunspot, the kids became full fledged fans of Mary’s Mountain Cookies. Apparently these cookies have been a hit in Winter Park for some time and now they’re available at the top of the mountain. My personal favorite is the lemon snickerdoodle, but there are so many options you can get a cookie each evening (or before you ski down the mountain) and never get the same cookie twice. I know most people think of Après Ski as a cocktail and app thing, but for us it was all about cookies and reconnecting at the end of the day.
Where is Winter Park Resort?
We love Colorado and have spent lots of time here, but typically in the summer or late spring, so being here in the winter is a new experience for us. Denver is such a great city and we always enjoy spending a few days there, and then heading to the mountains somewhere, whether that be Estes Park, Breckenridge or Winter Park. Denver is already the “Mile High City” so as you head up out of Denver you really climb in elevation.
Winter Park is located west of Denver, between Breck and Estes Park near the town of Fraser up in the Rocky Mountains. As you climb another 5k feet in elevation from Denver you need to keep in mind how that can affect you. For us, we know that we need to drink a lot more water and Gatorade, and also that we need to give ourselves a day or two before physically going for big activities. Not everyone is impacted by elevation, but for us Florida folks, being in the mountains can be heavy, so we take our time and enjoy the slow ease into the fun.
For people who spend a lot of time in the mountains, they may not take it too much to heart, but we’re careful about preventing altitude sickness. We did a trip to Peru and whewf! The Andes mountains got us, and Winter Park Resort is at the same elevation and higher than much of what we did there. Moral of the story: it’s gorgeous and fun, but be smart and ensure you can have the best time by taking care of your body as you go up in elevation.
Riding the Amtrak Ski Train, the Winter Park Express
Any chance we get to take the train instead of driving somewhere we do. The Amtrak Winter Park Express is a great option for getting to the Winter Park Resort and they even call it the “Ski Train.” Going from Denver’s Union Station downtown and making no stops along the way, the Winter Park Express is a beautiful, fun train ride that takes the stress of driving in the snow away. We did it with our two kids which meant that we actually got to hang out together instead of focusing on driving. Each time I think about this trip I find another way that our family got to bond out of the ordinary.
The Ski Train is just like taking Amtrak anywhere else in the USA in that there are passenger cars and a lounge car, so you have access to quiet seating and a fun, dome-style scenic car for your passage. While it’s not as luxurious as riding the Rocky Mountaineer, it’s definitely a welcome way to get to Winter Park instead of driving. There is a stop at the Winter Park Resort and then another stop in the town of Fraser, so whether you’re staying at one of the resort lodges or in the town, the ski train is an option for you.
Driving to Winter Park, Colorado
If you want to drive to Winter Park Resort for your family ski trip, you definitely can and there are some benefits to it. It does take less time to drive from Denver to Winter Park than riding the Ski Train, but once you get here, you won’t likely need your car again until you leave. Yes, it would be easier to drive your own car into Fraser to get groceries or have meals in town than using the bus system, but the rest of the time your car will just sit.
The time to drive the 70 miles or so is less than an hour and a half. In the summer this is great because there are some fun stops to make on the way to Winter Park, but in the winter it’s just a straight shot. If you choose to get a rental car to drive to your ski trip, make sure you know how to drive in icy conditions, including when it’s actually snowing. I am out of practice for snow driving, so for our family the Ski Train was truly the best option.
Winter Park / Fraser Lift Bus System
Once you’re at the Winter Park Resort there is actually a free shuttle bus system that goes all around the resort area and down into the towns of Winter Park and Fraser. Some guests don’t stay in one of the lodges at the base of the mountain, so if that’s you, take advantage of the bus service between the towns (which have lodging) and the ski slopes. The Lift, as the buses are called, is very reliable and easily gets you between the ski resort and the restaurants in town, as well as it has a stop in front of Safeway (the grocery store). We used the Lift to visit the store and stock our fridge, as well as enjoy a few meals away from the resort.
I’m so glad that we took the plunge and did a family ski trip to Winter Park Resort. I don’t know why I was so nervous about it in retrospect, but it was so special for us and unforgettable. If you have any questions about planning a family ski trip, specific questions about skiing at Winter Park Resort or need some advice about making travel with teens more engaging, please leave a comment or send us a note. We’re always happy to share more, especially about things we enjoyed as much as this!
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