Snowboarding is quickly becoming one of the most popular family vacations. One of the biggest draws for the family is that it is an active sport that provides plenty of exercise for everyone. With today’s inactive lifestyles, more families are leaning toward taking an active family vacation that provides plenty of fresh air and exercise.
Snowboarding is a winter sport that has evolved from skateboarding and surfing. When you snowboard, you ride an epoxy fiberglass board that looks like a large skateboard. Your feet are strapped to the snowboard as you drive it down a ski slope or a special snowboard pipe. Basically, you are navigating the ski slope.
Unlike skiing, where you shift your weight from one ski to the other, when snowboarding you shift your weight from your heels to your toes, as well as from one end of the snowboard to the other end.
Although many people think that snowboarding is similar to skiing, it is actually more like skateboarding and surfing. The only similarity to skiing is that both are done on snow and can be done on a ski slope.
Colorado is a great state for a snowboarding vacation.
Colorado is famous for being the home of the largest ski mountain. Vail Resort sits at the top of this mountain and features 33 lifts, 193 trails and 5,289 acres of skiable land. Vail Resort has also been recognized for offering the best ski and snowboard instruction and services.
Vail is a great place for a family snowboarding vacation because it’s challenging enough for the intermediate boarders in the family, while at the same time its 1,500 instructors are always on hand to help out beginners. At Vail, snowboarders will find themselves in friendly territory. A special map will show you where to find freestyle snowboarding spots, as well as half-pipes and terrain parks for snowboarding.
Crested Butte in Colorado is another area well known to snowboarders. However, Crested Butte is not the best place for a family vacation. It is not a good area for children or beginners and is best left for intermediate snowboarders. It’s very steep and unkempt and packed with cliff jumping and tree runs. The nightlife in this area can also get a bit wild, and the area isn’t really suitable for family entertainment.
Jackson Hole, Wyoming is another area to consider for a family snowboarding vacation.
Jackson Wyoming has changed in recent years. Historically, it was known as a summer hunting ground for various indigenous tribes. The United States acquired Wyoming from France in 1803 and was a frontier city throughout the 19th century. The busiest time in Wyoming are the summer months, when people visit Yellowstone and Grand Teton National Park.
Winter is its off-season, making it a good place for a family snowboarding vacation. Accommodation is easy to find, prices are lower in the off-season, and you’re not likely to find many people, lines, and waiting while you’re there.
The Jackson Hole Ski Area is an excellent location for both beginner and intermediate snowboarders, making it a wonderful family vacation spot. Located on Rendezvous Mountain, this resort consists of two peaks. It’s an excellent playground for all levels of snowboarders with its uncrowded lifts and trails of varying degrees of difficulty. The upper half of Rendezvous Mountain is for extreme snowboarders, while the lower half has easier, more manageable trails.
Because Jackson Hole is at a lower elevation than other areas, they have a shorter season. However, they still get about 32 feet of good fluffy snow each winter.
Utah Resorts welcomes families for their snowboarding vacation
In an attempt to increase business, Utah resorts are making it easier for families to choose them as their snowboarding vacation destination. The state program is called “Kids Ride Free.” Almost all resorts in Utah offer free children’s lift tickets with the purchase of an adult lift ticket. In addition to this, many resorts in Utah are becoming “family friendly” by offering snowboarding lessons, day camp programs for children, and child care centers for babies as young as three months.
Alta Resort, located in the Albion base area, offers care for children ages 3-12 months and classes for children ages four through teens.
Brian Head Resort is well known for its family atmosphere. Brian Head has a children’s camp, for children under 12 years of age. This is a fully supervised child care winter sports instruction program. Brian Head also offers child care for children 6 weeks and older at its fully licensed child care center.
Brighton Resort has always been known as a fun and affordable place for a family winter vacation. They offer an affordable all-day ticket at a price that hasn’t gone up in several years. An adult lift ticket is still $41 and kids 10 and under continue to get free lift tickets. Brighton offers all levels of snowboard instruction classes. They also have instructors who will take you to areas of the resort that you would not have found on your own.
Some other Utah resorts that also make great family vacation destinations for snowboarding include Deer Valley Resort, Park City Mountain Resort, Snowbird Ski & Summer Resort, Solitude, and Sundance. All of these are following Utah’s statewide move to become the favorite family snowboarding vacation spot. Each offers some form of childcare, classes, and instruction, and has facilities for advanced and intermediate snowboarders alike.
Snowboarding can be a wonderful family vacation
Whether you’re heading to one of these destinations or visiting a ski resort closer to home, snowboarding can be a vacation activity the whole family can enjoy. While some family members can pick up the sport quickly and progress to more challenging trails or snowboard tubing, you don’t have to be an expert snowboarder to enjoy it.
Snowboarding is a great family activity that provides plenty of exercise, fresh air, fun, and laughter for everyone. Why not consider it for your next family vacation?