Category Archives: School Holiday Ideas

Thredbo Flexi Pass- new for 2013 on sale now!!

May 3, 2013

Thredbo’s newest option for those heading to the snow this year means you will now be able to ski for as little as $84 a day. On sale until May 12th, Thredbo’s is offering a 6 Day Any Day Flexi Pass, giving you the lots of options for multiple trips ( the days do not have to be consecutive) or one cracker ski week!

With pre- season snow falling already, we are only weeks away from the start of the 2013 season, this is a perfect opportunity to book your family ski holiday! And the prices are good… it may even make the perfect Mother’s Day gift…just a hint…to anyone reading in my house…

Adults: $499 Kids and seniors (over 65) $299.

More details at www.thredbo.com.au and get ready to go make some tracks.

The fine print…

Is valid for the 2013 Winter Season only.
Is Valid for Six (6) Non Consecutive Day’s Lift Access
Any unused days are NOT transferable to the 2014 Winter Season.
Available for sale until 12^th May 2013 or sold out. Whichever comes first
No Further Discounts Apply.
Non Transferrable. Non Refundable.

See you on the slopes!!

Posted by theskimama in Family ski holidays, School Holiday Ideas Tags: Australian Ski Holidays, Family ski deals Australia, Family Skiing Thredbo, Thredbo

Keeping kids cool in a heatwave.

January 7, 2013

Tomorrow is forecast to be one of the worst bushfire danger days in Australian history. Temperatures of 43 are expected in Sydney, with higher temperatures in regional areas. Tasmania has already seen terrible bushfires along the coast near Hobart, and firefighters around the country are on high alert.

The elderly and very young are always at risk during high temperatures- it is incredibly important to keep kids hydrated and out of the sun. Some things to remember to help keep everyone cool on these hot days.

1) Make some homemade icypoles- fruit juice frozen in some home made icypole makers is a treat and easy for kids to enjoy. I have even made my green smoothie into icypoles for the kids. We have these Twistix Icypole makers- (ours from Howard’s Storage World) awesome as they minimise drips! If you want icypoles fast- check out the Zoku Quick Pop- which can freeze your icypoles in 7 minutes! These look amazing… would certainly improve Summer snacks when I’m not organized enough to make some icypoles for the kidlets.

2) Hydralyte icy poles- I’m a huge fan of these for keeping kids hydrated in extreme conditions or if kids are unwell. Grab a pack from the pharmacy.

3) Lots and lots of water- put slices of fruit in it- ice- even a splash of cordial if it will get kids to keep drinking. Try Coconut Water or crack open an actual coconut and pop a straw in

4) Eat lots of fruit with high water content- grapes, watermelons etc if your kids aren’t great at drinking lots of water.

5) On such an extreme day as we are expecting tomorrow- it is best to stay inside- even if the beach seems like a great option. Find some old school fun if you are not lucky enough to have a pool.. or friends with one- turn the sprinkler on in the backyard… get out the Slip n’ Slide… get out the toddlers paddling pool… or even turn the bath into a “water fun park”.

I will be avoiding the beach tomorrow… this was Bondi yesterday. Photo by Aquabumps

6) If you do go to the beach- go early (as in 7 or 8am) and get back home by 11am. The UV rays are not at their peak at this time. Cover every child in rashies, 30 plus sunscreen and hats. If you have a beach tent- use it!

7) Find an airconditioned cinema showing a kids movie- lots of good ones out at the minute including Wreck it Ralph, I suggest you buy tickets online ahead of time as LOTS of families will have the same idea. If you have babies or toddlers and are in Sydney, The Mama Club in Bondi is open and airconditioned!!!

8) Evian Facial Mist- I love these. I use them to keep kids entertained/hydrated on planes- having your face misted is apparently High-larious to the under 6′s in my care…They are great on car trips and on hot days to keep moisture on delicate little skin. Avene Thermal Mist is also great. If you don’t have one- a cold facewasher/ face cloth is excellent for keeping babies and small children’s temp’s in check.

9)Check on an elderly neighbour- if you know of anyone who may be alone tomorrow- drop in to make sure they have fans on, airconditioning working and everything they need for the day. I have the world’s most spritely 94 year old neighbour, but check in with her to make sure all is as it should be on extreme days.

10) Under no circumstances leave your child in the car unattended..even for a minute…ever but ESPECIALLY not in this heat.

If you have any other great ideas, I’d love to hear your thoughts. Stay cool skimamas!

Posted by theskimama in School Holiday Ideas, Uncategorized Tags: bushfire danger, Keeping kids cool in Summer, Staying cool, summer snacks

Queenstown- Family Snow Holiday Heaven!

August 24, 2012

Queenstown… oh how I resisted you… I thought you were all bungy-jumping backpackers and campervans.. but no- you are SO MUCH MORE. I almost don’t want to write this post and send all you skiing families there.. but I have to share how fantastic Queenstown is for a family ski holiday- or any ski holiday really, or even a trip where…. shhh… there is no snow.

So Queenstown and the Skimama- a love affair. I do think it will always be a special place, as it is where we spent our first ski vacation as a family. The Snow Bunny was 4 months old and the Powder Hound was 3. We went with two other skiing families with children of similar ages so there was great fun having lots of friends and kids to enjoy all the joys of Q’town… skiing, boarding, dining, wining, heliskiing… We chose to ski mainly at Coronet Peak, it has a terrific ski school and child care facility on the mountain, making it easy to do a half day of skiing – particularly as our children were young and we were OK only packing in a few runs in each day. As an anxious skimama, leaving her new baby for the first time, we were so pleased we had the terrific staff at Skiwiland to make sure we were OK too- as the creche is at the bottom of a run, it was super easy to pop in and make sure all was OK (and it always was!). The ski instructors at Skiwiland were terrific with our little Powder Hound- and managed to instill a love of skiing that has blossomed over the last 2 years (also, having skiing and boarding mad parents helps… I think that had they not loved the snow, we would have been VERY WORRIED). We hit The Remarkables for a day and had great fun there too- on our next trip, we are headed to Wanaka.

I’ve got lots to write about Queenstown but it is very early in the morning and I just want to give you some highlights- I will write more about “the details” but here are my must do’s.

1) Book a holiday to Queenstown- you will love it!

2) Book the kids into lessons at the Snowsports School – great instructors and genuinely lovely caring staff to take care of little ones (and anxious parents).. mascots are Shred the Kea and Spike the Kiwi… you will spot them around the mountains during the kids lessons.

3) Fergburgers- a Queenstown instituion and I think there may be something in the fine print when you arrive in NZ that you have an obligation to go and enjoy one of their burgers- the hype is justified

4) Harris Mountain Heliskiing- these guys know the mountains of the Otago region- you will have the best day skiing and boarding ever!! The Boarder still talks about the incredible runs from our last trip. Here are those said runs!

5) Arrowtown: gorgeous, beautifully restored and maintained 1850′s goldmining town about 20 mins drive from downtown Queenstown. A day trip for sure- lots to see and do and a cracker of a kids playground behind the main street. The bakery serves old school classics and a selection of excellent meat pies- lamb and mint was my pick and excellent!!.

6) Louis Vuitton: The Mall, Queenstown… confessions…I did not expect to find LV here before I arrived and was so happy to do a little apres-ski shopping here…

7) Bardeaux: cozy little wine bar which has an extensive collection of local wines and mix excellent cocktails… roaring fireplace, oversized leather club chairs make this a fave apres ski spot- this is a grown up bar, away from some of the party crowd of Queenstown

8) Snow Park… 60 mins from Queenstown- the drive is magnificent as you wind through the mountains . This was one of our fun days out- sledding, tubing and watching the big kids show some impressive moves on snowboards. This is a boutique resort so has less facilities than some Coronet Peak and Wanaka but is a really fun day out for a change of scenery.
9) Winnies Pizza. another Queenstown institution- Winnies is great for an early “kid’s dinner” fast service, yummy pizza’s and colouring books to keep children entertained. The staff are lovely- which makes dining with small children MUCH easier!!

10) Amisfield Winery and Restaurant- consistently rated one of Queenstown’s best restaurants. Their Pinot is divine and dining is exceptional- HIGHLY recommend taking the “Trust the Chef” for a degustation. And do make sure you book ahead- it is frequently booked out!!

The boarder is shouting out lots more recommendations… the Onsen, jet boats.. but I’ve got to get children to school so will have to save these for the next post!!

Posted by theskimama in Apres Ski, Cool Kids Stuff, Family ski holidays, Family ski vacations, Queenstown, School Holiday Ideas, Ski Tips, Ski travel tips, Tips for Travel with Kids Tags: Harris Mountain Skiing, Heli skiing Queenstown, Kids ski lessons, Louis Vuitton, Queenstown, Skiwiland, Winnies Queenstown

2 comments

Ice Skating at Bondi Winter Festival

June 29, 2012

Oh yes you did read that correctly- things are cooling down at Bondi Beach as the annual Winter Festival is back which means its ice skates, hot chai lattes, fireplaces and bratwurst at Bondi.

Snowflakes on the ceilng!

The Powder Hound and I hit the opening night last night and it was a fantastic event- Veuve, ice skaters in lame & lycra and sausages on a stick- seriously what was not to love!?!

Veuve and Snowflakes!

After a slightly drizzly start, Bondi turned on a picture perfect evening- just enough chill in the air to warrant rugging up in our snuggliest coats to enjoy the nights activities.

Now I am not the most graceful of skaters, reallly, inelegant is the kindest adjective I can think of… The Powder Hound suggested a wonky donkey.. However I LOVE the Winter Festival and have been attending annually since the first event outside St Mary’s Cathedral in 2010. It is a gorgeous event, bringing a little alpine magic to the city. The festival has expanded interstate and now they are on in Brisbane, Melbourne and Fremantle- which for many WA folk is the closest thing they will have to a chilly winter.

I tend to gravitate towards the Alpine Ski Hut area of the festival which is where the bar, food, fur (faux) strewn sofas and fireplaces are… this is a little more my pace. However The Boarder is an ace on skates and whizzes the Powder Hound around the ice usually one one of the plastic “seals” which children can sit on or manage their stability- my top tip is to BOOK AHEAD for one of these seals if your child is new to skating as there are only a limited number per session.

So back to the skating- there are several sessions each day and you can pre purchase tickets online- I do recommend this as the sessions are very popular- for example, tomorrow’s sessions are almost full- there are only 6 tickets left for all sessions when I checked online. It is a fun outing for school holidays but also a gorgeous, romantical night out for couples.. I do intend on going back for a grown up night out.

There are a huge array of food options to enjoy during your outing- a cut about your usual fast food fare- and all with an alpine flavour- crepes, bratwurst, mulled wine… mmmmm.

There will be ice skating displays throughout the festival and special events happening- St Bernard dogs visiting on July 7th at 12 noon and a special Disney on Ice performance on July 10th at 10am- Best to check out the website for more information.

The festival runs until July 15th at Bondi and St Kilda. In Fremantle the festival starts July6th and runs until the 22nd and you have until July 1st to catch all the action in Brisbane.

* Big Thank you to the Winter Festival for kindly supplying some of the images above

Posted by theskimama in Cool Kids Stuff, Family ski holidays, School Holiday Ideas, Tips for Travel with Kids Tags: Bondi Bergstation, Bondi Ice Skating, Bondi WInter Festival, Veuve Cliquot

Preparing your children for their first ski trip

June 18, 2012

A first trip to the snow can be a little strange and sometimes overwhelming for children- especially young ones or those who are reluctant to try “new” things. Think about it; it is cold, you are wearing big bulky layers of weird clothes, you are wearing mittens, possibly a helmet, and then your parents leave you with some enthusiastic strangers who are obsessed with “pizza’s” (snow plough) and “french fries” (parrallels). Now there are some children who take to new experiences with great gusto and are easy going with everything, for others, a little preparation before your first trip to the snow, might make the difference between them hating the experience or establishing a lifelong love of the snow!!.

My children fall somewhere between the two above- my son, is cautious and needs to consider and process new activity, my daughter is gung-ho and throws herself into every new activity with great enthusiasm,

When we were getting our then three year old ready for his first ski experience we spent a little time preparing him for what the snow would be like-just a few activities to get him interested but not overwhelm him.

Here is what we did;

Read books about going to the snow- one of our favourites, Curious George in the Snow (apparently Curious George invented snowboarding, who knew??)

Watch youtube videos of kids skiing- this was a favorite, watching kids rip and shred the mountain- google “kids skiing”. There are loads of great videos and kids with impressive ski skills out there!

Make a snowman collage out of cotton balls- fun

Colour in a picture of a snowman/ snowy house. skiier/ boarder- again google “snowman colouring in”, there are lots of sites with fun images

image from http://www.thecolouringspt.com

Have a hot chocolate with marshmallows- “This is what we will have to drink at the snow!”

http://www.marthastewart.com

Get dressed up in all your snow gear- even Mama, try on helmets, mittens, stomp around the house in your snow boots- just to see try out how it feels in new kit.

Everything we did was simple, over a few weeks, and most of all we tried to make it fun and something to look forward too. When we did arrive at the snow for the first time, The Powder Hound was ready for action and even though the Snow Bunny was only threer months old, she has been a fan of the snow since her first trip. During the “off season” she is often asking us when we can go to the snow so she can “Ski fast, mama!!”

Please let me know if you have any questions, or would like to share how you get your kids ready for the snow!

Posted by theskimama in Cool Kids Stuff, Family ski holidays, Family ski vacations, School Holiday Ideas, Ski Tips, Ski travel tips, Tips for Travel with Kids, Uncategorized

Snowflake craftiness

June 15, 2012

For as long as I can remember, I have loved snowflakes… really, really loved them.. I loved that they were all individually beautiful and 6 sided and just so very, very pretty. As a I four year old I remember getting a magnifyng glass and catching snowflakes on my arm trying to see the patterns (unsuccessfully I might add). So I had great fun over the weekend making some of these sweet “Paddlepop Stick Snowflakes”.

I am by no means Martha Stewart.. but I do like a bit of craft action with the kids…especially if it is a) easy and b) produces something that is able to be displayed in the house. These snowflakes are super easy, and look sweet hanging in the children’s rooms. They also sparked a conversation about how snowflakes are formed .. Educational AND crafty- WIN!! These would look gorgeous clustered in a window or painted and hung on a wall- Scandi style

This was a project was best suited to the 5 year old Powder Hound- he was able to think about shapes and how the paddle pop sticks could work in different pattens, the 2 year old Ski Bunny had fun playing with the paddle pop sticks and throwing them on the floor….. I enjoyed coming up with different shapes and the finished projects.

Step 1

Packet of craft paddle pop sticks

Hot glue gun or PVA wood glue

Pegs.

Step 2

Shape the paddle pop sticks into various snowflake-ish shapes… and glue the ends together- I used regular wood glue as I don’t have a hot glue gun, and just held the sticks together with pegs while they dried (about 10-15 mins).

Step 3

Admire your creativity and hang each snowflake on cotton thread.

Posted by theskimama in Cool Kids Stuff, School Holiday Ideas, Uncategorized Tags: craft stick snowflakes, paddlepop snowflakes, Scandi style

Children’s Ski Gear- what to pack

May 29, 2012

You have booked your family trip to the snow (Hooray!), and now it is time to think about what to pack! If you have never skied before, you will probably not have all the “kit” you need to stay toasty on the slopes. Winter is my favourite season- give me a cosy coat, boots and a cashmere jumper and I am as happy as can be! However, I also suffer poor circulation so I get particularly cold so need to layer up when I ski. On a recent trip to Breckenridge (or Brecken”fridge”) I had six layers on.. no joke. However, most Australian and NZ resorts do not require you to dress anywhere near that warmly. And if your kids are anything like mine, they tend to be immune to the cold weather- I struggle to keep them in their ski jackets. So, what to take, whether it is your first ski trip or you are an experienced snow going family, I’ve put together some ideas for what to pack for children

Children: 3+

Thermals: These are a must have. My children spend much of their skiing and après ski time in their “Stripey’s” as they call them. I purchased ours from Kathmandu. They are often on sale, and are a must have. Now is a fantastic time to look for these on sale at ski and outdoor gear specialists.

Mid Layer: Depending on the weather, this can be a fleece or a long sleeve thermal t shirt. I am a big fan of the Columbia and North Face ones as they can be worn off the slopes as well.

Ski Jacket: One of the easiest items to rent or borrow if you are new to snow sports. Every ski rental shop will have a selection of jackets for children. If you are planning on taking regular ski holidays, I highly recommend looking at some of the “grow with you” options, if you decide to purchase a jacket.

Obermeyer have a fantastic range of jackets and trousers that you will get at least 2 seasons out of. Also look for some jackets that have detachable hoods or liners- this can extend the life of the jacket beyond the ski season. The Powder Hound (aged 5) is a big fan of Helly Hanson, Columbia and North Face Jackets… just like Dad

Ski pants: Some people like bib and brace overalls, but I, and your child’s ski instructor, will most likely prefer ski pants- these are much easier to get on and off, especially for toilet breaks on the mountain. Tuck in all the “layers” and your child will stay toasty. The Powder Hound wears Columbia pants, these have adjustable tabs at the waist, he is heading into his third season in them. Again, there are several brands that offer built in grow systems. One thing to consider- if your child has a slim build, look at ski pants with suspenders to help hold them up- these are easy to slip off shoulders in a hurry.

Mittens/ Gloves: Mittens are easy to get on small hands, gloves are great for kids aged 3 and over as they can wiggle their fingers in. I always pack at least two pairs as these are one item that seems to always disappear on ski holidays. One pair we take for general wear around the resort, one pair is a pair for skiing.

Helmet: Absolute essential- on many mountains, you cannot ski without one and they are essential for ski lessons. These can be rented from every ski rental shop or again, if you do plan to ski frequently, consider purchasing a helmet- Giro ones are terrific- with vents on the top for warmer days and POC have a cool range of new kids helmets POCito.

Goggles: Another essential, glare on the slopes can be harsh on little eyes. Don’t forget to pack goggles or rent with a helmet/ ski clothing package.

Ski socks: Toasty toes are happy toes, ski socks will keep your little ones happy on the snow for longer.

Snow Boots/ Apres Footwear: Stomping about in the snow is great fun… soggy cold feet are not. When you are out of ski boots and walking thorugh the snow, some good snow boots make a difference. I have these Sorel’s for The Powder Hound- they are easy to slip on and off and keep his feet toast warm. You can rent snow boots when you rent skis or at a pinch, some thick socks and gumboots will be OK- just bear in mind gumboots will be a bit more slippery on the snow as they don’t have trea that snowboots have.

Little snow bunnies:

Under three’s will unlikely to ski, so their snow bound adventures will not need the same technical gear as older children. I have some favourites, when we took the Ski Bunny on our first ski trip she was 3 months old, she was dressed in baby thermals and spent much of her “on snow time” in this all in one Bunting Suit from Baby Gap- I loved it so much.

As she got older, we found this toasty all in one suit from Kathmandu- we do think she looks a bit like a Teletubby, but it is super warm, not too bulky and easy to get on and off. The wrists and ankles fold over to keep hands and feet warm and mean no lost mittens and kicked off boots.

If you have any questions about what to rent or what to buy, please feel free to ask in the comment section below. I’m happy to answer any questions!

More ski gear reviews coming up soon!

Posted by theskimama in Cool Kids Stuff, Family ski holidays, Family ski vacations, School Holiday Ideas, Ski fashion, Ski gear reviews, Ski Holiday Packing, Ski Tips, Ski travel tips, Tips for Travel with Kids, Uncategorized Tags: Ski clothes children, Ski gear kids

Thredbo- Family Fun!

May 2, 2012

Where is it? Thredbo Alpine Resort is located in the Kosciuszko National Park in the NSW Snowy Mountains ..

How do I get there? Approximately 500km from both Melbourne and Sydney (about a 6-7 hour drive from both capital cities, depending on how many stops you take!) From Canberra, it is an easy 3 hour drive. Brindabella Airlines also fly from Sydney to Snowy Mountains Airport in Cooma and you can get transfers to the resorts. Their service for 2012 starts on June 9th.

The mountain: Thredbo is great for all levels of skiiers and boarders. Lots of easy beginner runs and the 5km long Supertrail. For those who like a challenge there is a reasonable amount of steep stuff!

Where to stay? Your first consideration is whether to stay on the mountain or in nearby Thredbo Valley or Jindabyne. On the mountain will be more expensive, but ensures you make the most of your ski experience- no travel time, and you can enjoy the atmosphere of Thredbo Village. Jindy, is the closest town (a 20 minute drive up the hill each day) and it has a number of options for accommodation. From youth hostels to super chic boutique hotels like The Denman, Thredbo covers all accommodation types. There are lots of self contained apartments on the mountain as well as member lodges. Check out http://thredbo.com.au/thredbo-accommodation/find-accommodation/ for more options

Getting around; A free shuttle operates around Thredbo Village everyday which makes it easy to get to and from accommodation

Children’s Lessons: Thredboland runs lessons for children aged for ages 3-6, Thredbo Freeriders for 7- 14s and Club Freeride for 15-18s. Check out our “A day at ski school” post coming soon.New 3 hour children’s group lessons are giving your ski bunnies and powder hounds more time on the slopes!. Lessons for children aged 7-14 years are changing in 2012. This year kids get an extra hour of learning, gone are the two hour sessions now all group lessons for the 7-14 year olds are three hours. So you can opt for the all day Freeriders program or a 3 hour lesson that meet at 1pm on Friday Flat. I would HIGHLY recommend booking ahead, you don’t want to arrive on your much anticipated family holiday to find that lessons are full!! Call (02) 6459 4044

It’s all about ME! Private Lesson

For the real little snow goers, aged 3 years and younger, who are not up to an all day program or just want to give it a try , there is an “It’s all about ME” private lesson (I know ONE little girl that this programme is tailor made for….). This is a one hour, one on one session, just your child and the specialised instructor so 100% attention. Meet on Friday Flat 11.30am – 12.30pm daily, Bookings essential Call (02) 6459 4044

Childcare: Thredbo child care (located in Thredboland) takes babies aged 6 weeks and over, so you can hit the slopes for a few hours or a day. Booking ahead is essential!! 1300 020 589

Equipment Hire: Thredbo have just bought $350,000 worth of new ski hire equipment, so there will be some great new gear available to hire in the 2012 season. Again look at package deals which combine ski hire, lift tickets , accommodation and hire as there are some great options.

Food: There are lots of options for family dining and also for preparing your own meals if required. There is a Supermarket in Thredbo Village as well as a range of cafes, bars and restaurants. Some restaurants offer discounted early dinners for families so check that out when you arrive.

What else to do? If you fancy a day or afternoon off, there is still lots to do at Thredbo
Thredbo Leisure Centre – waterslide, Mission Inflatable floating pool obstacle course and the red running rocket Torpedo Topple.

Every Tuesday the Thredboland Animals come to life with their very own storytelling afternoon, you may even get a chance to cuddle a koala or waddle with a wombat.

Thursday evenings is the fibre optic flare run for the kids who have participated in the weekly program – they get to ski down Friday Flat with their very own flare, there’s music, fireworks, food available and for skimama’s and papa’s a little après bevy on offer too. Bring your camera for this one…

Twilight riding every Thursday and Saturday evening in July and August. Friday Flat remains open until 7.30pm and it’s free, from 4.30pm to 7.30pm.

Every Saturday night is like New Year’s eve with a fireworks display!

The Stats!

Skiable area: 480ha

Vertical drop: 672m

Base elevation: 1365m

Summit Elevation: 2037m

Terrain: Beginner/novice 16 per cent, intermediate 67 per cent, advanced/expert 17 per cent.

Longest run: 5.9km (Karels T-bar to Friday Flat).

Lifts: 13 lifts, including Kosciuszko Express bottom to top in seven minutes- so no time to get chilly on the way up!!

Latest Deals: Each week there are more deals popping up for families, including kids ski free in June—check here for the latest offers, and I will post updates as they become available. You can also download the Thredbo Winter Planner 2012

If you have questions about ski school or would like more info on travelling to Thredbo with your family this ski season, please ask away in the comments section below and I will be happy to help!

www.thredbo.com.au

Posted by theskimama in Cool Kids Stuff, Family ski holidays, Family ski vacations, School Holiday Ideas, Ski Tips, Ski travel tips Tags: Family Skiing Thredbo, Thredbo, Thredbo 2012

First Family Ski Holiday… Part 1

April 30, 2012

Your first family trip to the snow is a milestone- no matter how old your kids are. You may or may not be a skiier or boarder yourself, or you may be a passionate snow afficianado. Throw kids into the mix and your on mountain experience will be different to your single days on the slopes. Ask anyone who travels “en famille” for ski holidays and they will, almost without exception, tell you what a fantastic experience it is (and then proceed to tell you where they are planning their next trip to). We have been travelling with our children since they were 6 weeks old, so we love to travel and love to ski- our youngest child (The Ski Bunny) was on the mountain at 3 months and our son The Powder Hound) took his first lesson just before he turned 3. We have taken ski holidays in Australia, New Zealand, Europe and America, and as we gear up for the ski season in the Southern Hemisphere, I will be sharing some ideas and tips on making your first family ski trip a success!

Amanda Brown, the Director of Children’s Snowsports School at Hotham Alpine Resort, shares her take on family ski trips with us,

” This is the start of something wonderful even though it may not feel like it at the time. If it’s a new environment for all of you, it can be challenging but there are many helping hand on the mountain to make your trip easier including the snowsports instructors, friendly lift attendants and guest services team members. Talk to friends or check out sites like skimama.com.au for information about what clothes to bring, what layers to wear and how to make your trip fun. Borrow things from friends and remember to package up as many of your holiday elements together as possible such as accommodation, lift tickets, lessons, equipment hire, clothing hire as there are good discounts on packages, especially in value season where you can get up to 50% off holiday packages and Kids Ski Free Deals”.

This week we are going to look at the top ski resorts in Australia and New Zealand- an overview of each one and share some ideas so you can start booking your family ski holiday now!

Posted by theskimama in Family ski holidays, Family ski vacations, School Holiday Ideas, Ski Tips, Ski travel tips, Tips for Travel with Kids, Uncategorized Tags: Mt Hotham

Vail: Why its awesome for families

April 12, 2012

Vail is one of those awesome resorts that make skiing as a family easy- well as easy as it is going to get for a skiier, a boarder, a ski mad 5 year old and a busy,busy 2 year old. Here are some things we loved and some tips for those considering a ski vacation there. First thing is to decide where you are going to stay, as you will need to consider how you get around the village with children. Vail is very compact and there is a fantastic free shuttle that runs constantly around the village, however just bear in mind that the main children’s ski school and nursery is in Golden Peak so if you have small children who you plan to have spend time in the nursery/childcare, this is where you will be headed each day. There is another children’s ski school based at Lionshead so this is another option for children who will just be taking ski/boarding lessons. Both have EXCELLENT teaching staff.

Each morning, one of the Vail mascots, Riperoo, was outside ski school to greet children arriving. Getting a cuddle from Riperoo was a highlight for our children each day. There is a Ski Concierge to take the children’s skis located at the front door, which is a great feature. We booked our ski school tickets and lessons online before we arrived- this made checking in each day a breeze.

On our last visit, we stayed in Lionshead which is super convenient to virtually everything in Vail- we took a shuttle to drop the children off on days when they were in ski school, and we were able to walk to the Eagle Bahn gondala and restaurants, cafes, bars and shopping in Lionshead Square.

One of our favorite things to do on holiday is eat out as a family- everyone is more relaxed and even the Ski Bunny (2) seems to be on best behaviour.

A few favorite family friendly spots to eat in Vail

Blue Moose: yummy apres ski pizza- super quick service, paper on the tables & crayons to keep the kids busy (there is one in Beaver Creek too) The Vonnderful Pizza was created by Lindsay Vonn herself! Some local boutique Colorado beers kept The Boarder happy along with our favourite pizza- The Cowboy.

Tavern on the Square: Fantastic brunch daily and a fun early apres spot for families- it is the best spot to sit and watch those taking in the last runs of the day and catch the last rays of sun.

The 10th: This is a beautiful spot mid mountain for a more sophisticated lunch with the family (French Fries with Truffle salt… yes please!!). They do a fantastic children’s menu and in the mornings, it is a beautiful spot for hot chocolates and pastries.

Make sure you sign up for Vail Resorts fantastic loyalty programme- Peak Points- where you can earn points for accommodation, lift tickets, lessons and more. You can also charge on mountain purchases direct to your card Your family points are accrued together and you can redeem them for lift, lessons and more on your next visit. You can earn points at all Vail Resort mountains.

I will be doing a more detailed post on the Vail Ski School experience soon so keep an eye out for that it you are wondering what to expect on your first visit.

I hope you find some ideas to get your started thinking about your next Vail holiday. Vail season passes are on sale now for 2012-2013…. GREAT excuse to book your trip NOW!!

Posted by theskimama in Apres Ski, Family ski holidays, Family ski vacations, School Holiday Ideas, Ski travel tips, Tips for Travel with Kids Tags: Family Ski Holidays, Family Ski Vacation, Skiing with kids, Teaching kids to ski, Vail, Vail Family Skiing

1 comment

Category Archives: School Holiday Ideas

Thredbo Flexi Pass- new for 2013 on sale now!!

Keeping kids cool in a heatwave.

Queenstown- Family Snow Holiday Heaven!

Ice Skating at Bondi Winter Festival

Preparing your children for their first ski trip

Snowflake craftiness

Children’s Ski Gear- what to pack

Thredbo- Family Fun!

First Family Ski Holiday… Part 1

Vail: Why its awesome for families

Follow Blog via Email

Skimama

Blogroll

Sites We Love

Recent Posts

Archives

Categories

Follow “skimama”

Category Archives: School Holiday Ideas

Share this:

Like this:

Share this:

Like this:

Share this:

Like this:

Share this:

Like this:

Share this:

Like this:

Share this:

Like this:

Share this:

Like this:

Share this:

Like this:

Share this:

Like this:

Share this:

Like this:

Follow Blog via Email

Blogroll

Sites We Love

Recent Posts

Archives

Categories

Follow “skimama”