Family Friendly Ski Areas in New Hampshire
Many people don’t think of winter time as vacation time in NH but many
New Hampshire ski
resorts have great activities for kids. For younger skiers,
various ski resorts strive for personal attention, safety and
instruction. For older children and teens, there is a world of
terrain parks, night skiing and snow tubing. At other NH ski
areas and NH ski resorts, there are family activities so everyone
can do their own thing. Most NH ski areas make it affordable for families to spend
the day together by allowing kids 5 and under to ski for free.
Attitash- Route 302- Bartlett, NH
The Adventure Center is situated at the base of Attitash and offers
everything under one roof. They have great programs such as
learn to ski, children’s programs, day care area and rental
equipment.
At Tiny Turns, children ages 3-5 are introduced to the snow in a
private lesson.
Young children can enjoy The Buddy Bear Kids program and is geared
for kids ages 4-6.
The Adventure Kids Skiers Low Riders and Snowboard program is for
ages 7-12. Both The Buddy Bear Kids program and The Adventure
Kids Skiers Low Riders and Snowboard programs includes lessons and
left ticket.
Teens can enjoy fun instruction and great competition through
programs such as the Attitash Racing Development Team and The
Snowboard Competition Team.
Black Mountain- Five Mile Circuit Road- Jackson, NH
Black Mountain has great kids programs for children of all ages.
The Black Bear program is for skier’s ages 7-12, The Black Bear Cub
program is for kids ages 4-6 and The Junior Race program is suitable
for kids ages 6-16.
Bretton Woods- Route 302- Bretton Woods, NH
Bretton Woods has been named “Top Ten Getaways for Tiny Travelers”
by Family Travel Forum.
The Hobbit Ski School is a great place for kids to learn how to ski
or snowboard. The program was voted by SKI Magazine readers
Top 10 in North America for Family Programs in 2006, 2007 and 2008.
The Hobbit Ski and Snowboard program is for ages 4-12 and includes a
full day program complete with two lessons, rentals, lift ticket and
lunch. There is also a half day program that does not include
lunch.
The Family Learning Center offers kid friendly chair lifts to make
learning how to ski easier.
Cannon Mountain- Franconia Notch Parkway- Franconia Notch,
NH
Young children can enjoy two programs that Cannon Mountain has to
offer.
The Mountain Explorer program is for kid’s ages 8-12 and The Cannon
Kids program is for ages 4-7.
The Brookside Learning Center has ski programs for beginner and
intermediate skiers.
Cranmore Mountain- Skimobile Road- North Conway, NH
Cranmore Mountain is a great place for families and kids of all
ages.
The Snowports School offers programs that run daily for kids of all
ages. They also offer seasonal programs such adventure camp
for kids of ages 8-14 and the Penguin Camp for kids ages 4-7.
Teens can enjoy activities such as snow tubing and Terrain Park.
The Arctic Blast Tubing Park has seven lanes of snow tubing fun.
The Indoor Fun Zone is great indoor excitement with an inflatable
obstacle course and bouncy house.
Crotched Mountain- 615 Francestown Road- Bennington, NH
Crotched Mountain offers a fun kids snow camp that they offer on
weekends and holidays for kids ages 4-12. Parents can enjoy
time on the slope while kids learn to ski with the four hour
program.
Gunstock Mountain - Mountain Sports Center - Rt. 11A- Gilford,
NH
The Children’s Center of Gunstock offers four different camps for
kids.
Camp 1 is for three year olds to learn to ski through games.
Camp 2 is for ages 4-5 and puts them on the slopes.
Camp 3 is geared towards ages 4-7 and offers either a half day or
full day program.
Camp 4 is for ages 8-13.
Teens can enjoy a terrain park and snow tubing fun.
King Pine- Route 153- East Madison, NH
The King Pine Youth Ski Camp is designed for kids ages 8-16 and
includes ski or snowboard instruction, meals and lodging.
Daily programs at King Pine includes the Knee Hi program for ages
4-7 and offers 3 levels that include Carpet, Rope Tow and Mountain
for all levels.
Also on the grounds of King Pine is a terrain park, snow tubing, ice
skating, cross country skiing, an indoor pool and fitness complex.
Loon Mountain- Exit 32 off I-93- Lincoln, NH
The Adventure Center at Loon Mountain is where you can rent cross
country, snowshoe and ice skating equipment. At the Adventure
Center there is also an indoor climbing wall.
For young children 3 years of age there is the P.K. Boo Bear and for
children ages 4-6 there is Kinder Bear.
Teens can enjoy lots of half pipe and terrain park activities.
Mount Sunapee- Route 103- Newbury, NH
Mount Sunapee is a great place for families to enjoy
a fun filled day of skiing and other winter activities. The
neat thing about Mount Sunapee is that all the trails end at the
base lodge.
Snow Stars is a great program for children to learn the basics of
skiing.
Teens can enjoy Mount Sunapee’s newest superpipe and extensive
terrain park.
Mount Sunapee offers Mother Goose Daycare for kids ages 1-5.
The Mountain Explorers/Edgers programs are great for kid’s ages 8-12
years old. Mountain Explorers is a program that gives kids
lessons, life ticket and rentals. The full day program has
four hour lessons and the half day program offers two hour lessons.
Mountain Edgers who are ages 8-12 years old and already either ski
or snow tube at Mount Sunapee and want to get advanced lessons can
join this program.
Pats Peak- 686 Flanders Road- Henniker, NH
The Kids Program at Pats Peak has lessons for kids of all ages and
skiing or snowboarding levels.
The Cub’s Club offers children ages 3-5 an introduction skiing as
well as day care options.
The Bear’s Club offers full day and half day programs for ages 6 and
up. The Club offers group lessons that are held on weekends
and holidays.
Waterville Valley- 1 Ski Area Road- Waterville Valley,
NH
The Lil Grits program is for kid’s ages 4-5 years old. Kids
must be able to ski lower intermediate terrain on their own. It will teach kids skier development and mountain awareness.
The True Grits program is for ages 6-12 years old. The program
emphasis is on techniques and safety.
Teens have various options available to them at Waterville Valley. Teens should be able to ski or ride Waterville Valley black diamond
terrain.
Wildcat Mountain- Route 16- Pinkham Notch
The Lion’s Den offers full and half day programs for ages 4-12. The program includes lift ticket, lessons and rentals.
The Kinder Cubs program offers full and half day programs for ages
3-4 years old. It introduces youngsters to the world of
skiing.
Related:
NH Ski Conditions
List of NH Ski Related Businesses
See More Things to do in New
Hampshire!
Date of Report: November 11, 2009
by:
Deana Clark,
Staff Writer
