USA: Free or Almost Free – Seven Great Ski Vacation Deals for Families.
We are watching for the season’s best snowy family vacations and the latest ski deals for families including ski free days, kids fly free, kids stay free, and free snow tubing times.
Here’s the scoop. Kids ski free or fly free, really? Yes, really. Even with our economy is sluggish mode many destinations have created excitement with extra travel benefits for just about everyone including families. I have assembled a few that show promise even if the fine print includes some blackout dates.
Maine: Newry, Sunday River Resort - Kids Stay and Ski Free. This popular mega resort spans three miles long from White Cap to the Jordan Bowl and includes eight interconnected mountain peaks. Each January Sunday River reserves an entire week just for families. The time is known as Sunday River Children's Festival and includes fireworks, fire dancers, scavenger hunts, live family entertainment, snow tubing and ice skating parties, family festival night, movies, and themed Perfect Turn kids’ lessons.
Here’s the deal: During Sunday River Children's Festival each January kids ages four to 12 stay and ski and snowboard for free, and may also learn to ski for free.
Bonus points: Children of participating families eligible for free rentals and Perfect Kids clinics when staying three nights or more with their parents during the Children's Festival.
Vacation planning details: www.sundayriver.comNorth Carolina: Maggie Valley, Cataloochee Mountain Kids Ski Free. Located in the heart of Western North Carolina “where the sun rises on the Smokies”, Haywood County offers families four seasons of vacation fun. Cataloochee Mountain ski area, at the heart of the region anchors the fun. No need to worry about bare slopes when Mother Nature is too busy to scatter the needed white stuff the elves at Cataloochee make their own.
Here’s the deal: Participants must be staying at a participating Haywood County accommodation to receive the voucher to be redeemed at Cataloochee. Any child, 17 or younger will receive a free lift ticket at Cataloochee on any non-holiday Monday through Friday, when a parent or grandparent purchases a full-price adult day, twilight, or night lift ticket.
Bonus points: Snow tubing is also a popular activity in the area and at Tube World one child may slide for free with paying adult any non-holiday Monday through Friday.
Vacation planning details: Visit
North Carolina Smokies and
www.tubemaggievalley.com
Colorado: Steamboat Springs Kids Ski Free. This vintage western town with a contemporary atmosphere espouses a grand skiing heritage. The town is home to more winter sports Olympians than any other place in the U.S. It is known for Champagne Powder® snow, innovative family programs, Kids Vacation Center, unique off-mountain activities, and family-friendly lodging options.
Here’s the deal: Steamboat Springs, Colorado has been offering free skiing benefits for kids since 1982. So of course they are once again offering Kids Ski Free for 2012. Steamboat’s Kids Ski Free™ and Grandkids Ski Free programs allow children 12 years of age and younger to ski free the same number of days as their parents and grandparents when parents and grandparents purchase a five-day or more regular-priced adult lift ticket prices.
Bonus points: Children participating in the Kids Ski Free™ lift ticket program will also receive free ski rentals and Teen Ticket participants will receive discounted ski rentals at all Steamboat Ski & Sport® locations and RideSports when parents rent skis for five days or more.
Vacation planning details: www.steamboat.comColorado: Created Butte Mountain Resort – Fly Free. This small historic town with a premier ski mountain, dramatic Alpine views and friendly people is a nice fir for a winter family vacation.
Here’s the deal. Crested Butte, Colorado once again is partnering with American Airlines to offer “Kids Fly for Free” which has obvious advantages for parents traveling with children aged 12 years or younger. The deal is actionable between 01/04/2012-03/09/2012 with some selected blackout dates. Bonus points: CBMR’s “Ski Free on Your Birthday” offer is valid throughout the 2011-2012 winter season. So if you or a family member were born in a snowy month you are in luck.
Vacation planning details: www.skicb.comColorado: Granby, 
Framed by the impressive Rocky Mountains, time together at Snow Mountain Ranch makes sharing experiences and creating memories easy for all ages. Snow Mountain Ranch is the perfect setting for families and friends to spend quality time together. The property spans 5,200 acres of mountain meadows at an altitude of 9,000 feet. For downhill skiers and snowboarders, it is not far to the resorts of Winter Park and Sol Vista. But perhaps the best is on site with winter activities including ice skating pavilion, a lighted sledding and tubing hill, and miles of well groomed trails ideal for cross-country skiing and snow shoeing.
Here’s the deal: With the YMCA Winter Fun Pack families stay in a cabin, lodge room or yurt at Snow Mountain Ranch and receive a free trail pass for cross-country ski and snowshoe trails, plus free ice skating, sledding and tubing at our Winter Fun Park.
Vacation planning details: Snow Mountain Ranch 1101 County Road 53 Granby, CO 80446. Toll-free 1-800-777-9622 or
www.ymcarockies.org Utah: Salt Lake City Ski Free with Southwest Airlines. Salt Lake area ski resorts receive approximately 500 inches of snow annually, with close to 7,000 skiable acres. With the Greatest Snow on Earth™, and the Alta, Brighton, Snowbird, and Solitude Resorts all being less than one hour from Salt Lake City International Airport, it is possible to land in the morning and ski the same day.
Here’s the deal: Travelers booking a Salt Lake City ski vacation, including flight and hotel for four or more nights, can receive an $80 per reservation discount with promotion code SKISLC80. This package discount is valid at any hotel Southwest Airlines Vacations offers in Salt Lake City. Plus, travelers will receive a free ski day when adding a “Four-day at Three-day Rate Ski Salt Lake Super Pass” adult lift ticket, as part of the Salt Lake City ski vacation package. The offer is valid for booking between December 9, 2011 and January 19, 2012 with travel through April 15, 2012.
Bonus points: skis and snowboards fly free with Southwest Airlines Vacations, a savings of up to $120† per person, roundtrip.
Vacation planning details: www.southwestvacations.com Utah: Park City - Ski and Ride Free. From the Salt Lake City Airport it is possible to reach 11 major ski and snowboarding resorts within an hour. So, for families with teens this free ski advantage may be a perfect fit.
Here’s the deal: The Park City Quick START (Ski Today and Ride Today) Vacation lets you convert your airline boarding pass into a same-day lift ticket to the Park City resort of your choice - Canyons Resort, Park City Mountain Resort or Deer Valley Resort the deal is valid from now until close of ski season in mid April with customary blackout days scattered along the way.
Vacation planning details: Park City Quick Start
More snowy winter family vacation ideas. In addition to vacation package our
SnowPlaces showcases oodles of winter family vacation ideas, travel advice, vacation planning and destination information for family time in the snow - skiing, boarding, snow tubing, cross-country skiing, snow shoeing, snow mobiling, free-range sledding, ice skating and ice fishing. Is there anything else?
Note: Deals decribed were active and available at publishing however as always details must be confirmed with the destination prior to making travel plans. Content researched and assembled by Nancy Nelson-Duac, Editor FTF. Images from Sunday Mountain Resort and Steambot Springs Resort. Copyright 2011.