By Anne Patrone - 500 Places With Kids

As a family of skiers, we’ve been to various resorts on the East Coast and out west, and each has its unique charm and benefits.  For young children who are just learning to ski, try Smuggler’s Notch in Vermont with its child-friendly learn-to-ski classes and fun off-slope activities. Those who want a little more challenge should consider Mont Tremblant in Quebec, Canada, which also has a top-notch ski school program.  As an added bonus, Mont Tremblant has all the charm of a European ski village. Park City, Utah, is another family favorite because of its huge mountain, varied terrain, and endless powder. They’ve also recently put in five “Adventure Alleys” designed for the tween/teen set.

But if I had to pick, our favorite family skiing destination is the one that my family has been returning to each year at Christmas for almost 40 years: Taos Ski Valley in New Mexico. Its world-class ski instruction and emphasis on family makes it a resort that has become a family tradition for us and many others.

Photo courtesy of Mara Gorman