Issue 01 - Train to Gain for Skiing and Riding
Issue 02 - New Olympic Fever: See World Cup Races
Issue 03 - 10 Age-Old Secrets For Skiing Forever
Issue 04 - Sweetest Ride: Try Custom Boards
Issue 05 - Rockies Family Fun: Make a Great Escape
Issue 06 - Skiing the Rockies: Experts' Top Tips
Issue 07 - Best Snow in 19 Years: Ski Banff National Park



 
Issue. 05
 
Rockies Family Fun: Make a Great Escape

 

Family ski getaways can make school breaks and other planned holidays forever memorable. In Alberta, the popular Family Day holiday during mid-February is peak time for winter fun.

 

But you don’t need a Family Day holiday where you live to take advantage of the six major ski and ride mountain resorts in Alberta that regularly roll out the welcome mat for families.

 

You’ll find Canadian Rockies adventures on-hill and off-hill, along with city-style amenities in authentic mountain towns. Check out Alberta family ski and ride packages for a snow season that runs for some to May.

 

Read on for the lowdown on finding family fun at each of the six ski resorts.

 

Castle Mountain Magic

 

Once upon a time, Castle Mountain Resort in southwestern Alberta was the prime destination for hard-core skiers and riders seeking steep and deep powder. They still do – but a mountain makeover has turned the resort into a more family-friendly ski and ride experience.

 

Just a 2.5-hour drive south of Calgary, Castle Mountain has expanded terrain for novice and intermediate skiers on Mt. Haig, added the Huckleberry Chair lift, and provided more accommodations. It features some of the cheapest big mountain tickets in the Rockies -- $61 for a full day adult and $23 for children ages 6-12.

 

Castle is located at the Continental Divide, where weather systems dump snow up to 50 cm (20 inches) in one night. The resort has three terrain parks including advanced, intermediate and baby, so that everyone in the family can join in. The snow school features private and group lessons.

 

All the powder makes for great side trips such as snowmobiling, snow shoeing, dog sledding and cross country skiing. Dining is casual -- try the Barnaby Steak House and Fireside Lounge.

 

Discover more on Castle.

 

Marmot’s Laid-Back Charm

 

Marmot Basin is in protected Jasper National Park, just a four-hour drive from Edmonton to a laid-back haven of powder bowls and varied terrain that provides something for every skill level in the family.

 

You’re in wilderness but with everything you need in the nearby town of Jasper, including an indoor family aquatic centre and a wide range of accommodations and eateries.

 

Take a cool family trip getting there by driving the Icefields Parkway from Lake Louise in Banff National Park to the town of Jasper. It’s considered one of the most scenic driving routes in the world, amidst glaciers, mountains and (in the winter) frozen lakes. Otherwise, try taking the VIA Snow Train from Edmonton to Jasper.

 

When you arrive at Marmot, you’ll find family programs. Kids under age 6 can ski for free, and The Little Rascals Nursery is open daily, where kids are kept safe and happy as you rip some trails. The Ski and Snowboard School offers packages for kids including group lesson, day lift ticket and rentals. There are even lessons for toddlers.

 

Try outdoor adventures that include dog sledding, ice walks at Maligne Canyon and snow shoeing. Discover more about Marmot.

 

Nakiska’s Olympic Legacy

 

As the 2010 Winter Olympics loom, your family can enjoy hands-on experiences at Nakiska and other facilities that helped stage the 1988 Olympics in Calgary.

 

Nakiska is less than a 50-minute drive from Calgary and you can ski and ride the same trails that Olympians did – and still do, as athletes continue to train at Nakiska for World Cup and other events.

 

The mountain has long been recognized as a family friendly resort and a place where many skiers and riders go to learn. The layout is designed so that all chairs lead back to the lodge, so it’s almost impossible to get lost. In fact, Nakiska is a Cree word that means, “to meet.”

 

And the designation of Gold, Silver and Bronze chairs also make it easy to choose runs according to your ability.  You’ll find a terrain park, day lodge, and ski school with family programs and nearby Kananaskis Village for accommodations.

 

For family side trips, there’s dog sledding based in the nearby mountain town of Canmore, snow shoeing, skating, and a zip line and bobsled at Canada Olympic Park in Calgary.

 

Read more about Nakiska.

 

Variety with the Big 3

 

Banff National Park – a protected UNESCO World Heritage Site -- is home to the Big 3 resorts: Sunshine Village, Lake Louise Ski Area and Mt. Norquay.

 

You can find packages that provide a tri-area lift pass so that you can ski all three resorts, which are within easy driving distance to each other. So you have access to almost 8,000 acres and 274 trails on one pass.

 

With the town of Banff as your base, you get big city amenities in scenic wilderness and you are at the hub of every outdoor winter adventure imaginable. Or you can stay in or around the village of Lake Louise, which is more laid-back.

 

All three resorts provide on-hill daycares that include a variety of indoors and outdoors activities.

 

Sunshine Village: Ski-In, Ski-Out

 

Your family can ski on three mountains until late May at Sunshine Village and stay at the only ski-in, ski-out hotel in the Bow Valley. Sunshine is only 15 minutes from Banff.

 

Get a blend of daycare and ski school at Sunshine Village. Groups are a maximum size of three. The kids spend an hour skiing in the morning and again in the afternoon with their instructor.

 

Teens can try the Sunshine Mountain Rider workshop, a program designed for youths of all levels looking to improve their skills and technique.

 

Sunshine Village also offers a unique ski and snowboard adaptive program developed to enable people with disabilities to experience snow sports.

 

Learn more about Sunshine.

 

Lake Louise: Make the Scene

 

Lake Louise Ski area is consistently voted by various publications as among the most scenic ski areas in North America.

 

Children can enjoy the Minute Maid Wilderness Adventure Park, a special park for kids where they can build their confidence and skills. The park features animal cut-outs of bears, mountain goats, wolves, lynx, ravens and wolverines. Lake Louise Ski Area also offers a ski and snowboard teen program.

 

Explore more about skiing and riding at Lake Louise.

Mt. Norquay: Easy Access

 

This is the mountain that’s a favourite with the locals. You can watch your kids cruise down all the slopes at Mt. Norquay’s base lodge. You’ll find the only night skiing in the Bow Valley here, as well as a lit terrain park. Find out more about Mt. Norquay.