Do the WV option this year. If you can find another mom + kid to carpool, you can do the drive in a daytrip. If you're just sitting in the lodge all day, you won't be exhausted. You can take a nap in the car while your kid does the bunny hill all day.
Get seasonal rental equipment for like $125 for the entire year. Call around the ski shops in WV and get a setup for the entire winter. |
Mine learned at Massanutten
look at theo's club https://www.massresort.com/play/snow-sports/snow-lessons/ |
DH and I met skiing in Colorado. When our kids were young, we tried to take our kids skiing locally and placed them in group ski lessons. It never really stuck, sometimes they were down right miserable - too cold, too crowded, too hungry, too whatever.
Ultimately we went on a ski trip in mid December (week before Christmas) to Smugglers Notch in Vermont. Placed kids in ski school again. Because it was during the week and early season, they ended up with pretty much private lessons. They also like the ski school - magician with hot chocolate in late afternoon, made friends, etc. At the end of the week they hold a kids ski race. It was a fun week. Highly recommend the investment if you really want to get into skiing. |
I opted for private lessons at Aspen |
I would have to ask for a credit increase to ski/vacation at Aspen. Otherwise, I’m sure it’s great, especially for a first-time skier 😉 |
FWIW epic passes are no longer on sale.
Agree on the WV rec. get season rentals. Don’t break the bank this year, just get 2-3 trips in. Next season plan better including epic and potentially a trip to VT or Utah. Start collecting travel points now. Skiing is great. It’s a lifelong sport and makes the winter fly by. Have fun! |
It’s a bit late this year but season rental of equipment from a local store will save you so much time each trip |
Pa resorts usually have a good deal for 5th graders to learn to ski free or very low price. |
Fellow single mom here, took my 1 year old snowboarding at liberty 2 years ago, last year was a wash due to warm weather. She loved it and the snow tubing at night. Super close drive made my decision easier. |
Last I looked, there were still some afternoon spots in Whitetrailers at Whitetail. It’s a five week program and lift tickets and ski lease can be added in. Best way to get a kid skiing, especially if you are not a skier yourself. |
You could also try Bryce. It is tiny and does not get as crowded. If you did not take advantage of a good Epic deal, Bryce may be cheaper. |
You did not put a child younger than 24 months on a snowboard. -Former snowboarding instructor |
People have offered great suggestions. I am a non-skiing mom, and I found another family to carpool with. We put our kids in lessons and then just hung out in the lodge.
Once kids are in 6th grade there are ski club options that provide chaperones and buses to ski areas for the season. Kids can ski with their friends. You don't have to drive them all the way to the ski area. |
Yeah, PP are you missing a digit in that age? |
Not PP, but we had our 1 y/o skiing last year. I say skiing loosely, but she did a combination of shuffling around flat snow in skis to get a feel for them, skiing 20 yards at a time on the bunny hill and getting used to falling, and skiing between my legs down green runs (while I held her up). She’s 2 now, and we’ll work with her again this year before starting ski school next season at 3.5. She loves it. |