We're planning a ski trip next winter break - 4 adults and 4 kids. Only one adult has skied before, no one else in our group ever has. We are totally open on location, we just want to find the best bang for our buck and a good ski school, especially for the kids. What are your recommendations for best ski location and even specific resorts for beginners and families?

In my research so far I'm seeing Angel Fire, Keystone, and Park City a lot.

Steamboat, huge mountain, great town, good school

I like Keystone or Breckenridge.

Be sure to pay for a lesson. If you've never skied before, you should be able to cruise some green runs after a full day lesson. If you try snowboarding, it will be three days of intense pain and suffering before you "get it" and find the heel and toe edges. But, after the three days of pain, it will be fun.

If your kids are skiing, I recommend that you ski also. I've found it impossible to snowboard with the kids while they're skiing. Kids will pick it up much faster than you will because they're probably in better shape but most importantly, they're closer to the ground and don't have as far to fall.

One other tip, if anybody has issues with altitude, a heart condition, etc., I recommend trying a place at lower elevation like Alyeska resort outside of Anchorage, AK where the runs end just above sea level. One of the main challenges with Summit County, Colorado for most flatlanders is the altitude. At Keystone/Breckenridge, base elevation is over 9,000 feet and by the time you get to the top of the mountain, you're looking at 11,000 - 12,000 feet. If anybody is not in good physical condition, that altitude will kick your butt.

Also, don't know how hard you're planning to party but... be sure to drink water and limit the amount of Colorado Kool-Aid you drink. Even when you're cold, you still need to be drinking water. Colorado is very dry and the altitude and sun will really take it out of you.

Also, goes without saying, in a large group, somebody is going to have an incident. Be sure everybody has everybody else's contact details, and be sure everyone has their health insurance details.

Lastly, shop around for deals. When I took my kids to Alyeska, I found an amazing late season deal through Costco. We were living in California then so our Spring Break wasn't until the first week of April.

Otherwise, enjoy!

I'd recommend everyone get a Camelback with insulated tube, and pack things like fruit snacks, protein or fruit bars, and sandwiches in your pants/jacket pockets. On mountain concessions are outrageous.

Breck is good, but things to keep in mind are 1.) It's close to Denver and 2.) Something called induced demand. It was already super crowded so they built a new peak. If you know anything about widening highways, you know that doesn't relieve crowding but just welcome more people.

Park city
Close to airport
Lots of activities for kids
Plenty of green runs
Nightlife and food all walking distance

Breckenridge is only like 10% green.. It is not a good mountain for a bunch of first timers, especially combined with its altitude, as it's one of the highest in CO.

I learned to Ski at Alta it is located in Salt Lake City.. One of view places in the country that is a skiers only. When we go we just stay in salt lake and make the 30-40 minute drive up the mountain. Can get really reasonable cabin rates staying in the city.

I've been taking my 3 yo to Keystone this season. Don't have him in ski school, so can't speak to that. It's been great as far as small amenities that make it nice: free parking and family parking up front, wagons to haul gear, gondola to get up, ice fort for the kids, etc. We have just done the magic carpet and bunny slopes right off the gondola so far. In a couple years I'll get him in ski school. We're actually gonna take him on one of their snow cat tours on the back bowls later this month, which I am sure he will love!

Overall my favorite place that I always recommend is Breck. Just a great all around town. Plenty of beginner runs (you don't need a lot). We also love Carter Park for sledding - great times. Couple days at both Breck and Keystone is my recommendation.

Planning this far out i'd skip angel fire because the snow is less predictable, this year has been rough. Any of the others here suggest are probably good. Look at air bnb/vrbo for potential good deals on housing. If you go the colorado route, the cities frisco/dillon etc have good bus systems that will drop you off at the resort. No clue if it is manageable with 4 kids, but an option to look at that i've done before.

I would say the answer changes depending on whether you are flying or driving.

If driving I would recommend Angel Fire and Durango for a few reasons.

1) They are a bit closer than the other resorts in CO.

2) They are a good bit cheaper than some of the big places listed in this thread.

3) They are good family friendly mountains that have a good variety of skiable terrain for beginners to more advanced skiers.

4) Both have a good ski towns. For Angel Fire there is a whole town at the base. For Durango, there is a ton of ski-in ski-out options at the base of the mountain and then it is hard to beat the town of Durango (which is a roughly 30 min drive from the mountain).

If Flying the easiest options would be flying into Denver. From there you would have access to Breck, Vail, Keystone, Beaver Creek, Copper Mountain, etc, etc. Vail and Beaver are very nice but also very pricy. Breck has one of the best mountain towns you will ever find. However, it has limitations like fewer beginner runs, large lift lines for lower lifts that are frequented by beginners, etc. Keystone and Copper are both probably better options as they are a bit more beginner friendly and a bit cheaper. For copper you can stay right on the mountain or in Frisco which is a short 10-15 minute drive from the mountain. Frisco is a very quant little mountain town.

I think Beaver Creek fits the bill the best with one exception (cost). You can fly directly to EGE and be in Beaver Creek in less than 30 minutes door to door. They've always had a good beginner area but they reworked the top of the mountain and rebranded it Red Buffalo Family Park or something like that. Lots of greens right by each other and they just opened the new Red Buffalo Express lift which replaced the last slow fixed grip lift in Beaver Creek. There are terrain parks up there, some easy fun treed runs, a revamped run dedicated to practicing various skills and with that new lift you avoid having to take catwalks down to the other lift. They also have a fun thing on Thursday nights when you can do a run while fireworks are going off.

Plus you get the free cookies and hot chocolate on the slopes every day at 3:00.

My kids have been in the youth development program there for the past couple years so Im a little biased but I was just up there last week to check out the new stuff and was pleasantly surprised.

I think the Beaver Creek is doubling down on the family aspects because they recently announced a whole new family area on the other side of the resort by the Candy Cabin that is currently snow shoeing trails. I don't know if its opening next season or the one after.

Red river NM was a great time for our family learning to ski. Very small community.

Thanks for all the suggestions! One follow-up question - should we try to buy clothes second-hand or rent at the resort? I've found several places with really cheap new gear, but would hate to get there and have it be bad quality.

The hard part with gear is that its so dependent on the weather. For just one vacation you should be ok buying cheaper stuff. Another option is to go to Walmart when you get into town. The one around my house always has a ton of gear. Local Costco's also have quality stuff not too expensive.

I think Academy has decent stuff that should work.

Craigslist or second hand for the kids maybe.

WinterPark.

I second Steamboat Springs. Being a Texan, I just like that town. It's got a great western small town vibe. The people don't seem to resent Texans like they do in some of the other Colorado places. It's far enough away from everything that crowds are less. Kids like the hot springs water slides in town also.