Family Ski Vacations in the U.S.

If you and your family are looking for a great place to go skiing for your vacation, there are plenty of place in the U.S. you can visit that may be close to home-and fit within your budget. So, pack up your skis and snow boots, and get ready for fun on the slopes by booking some of these affordable ski vacations in your state or region .

Colorado ski vacations are quite popular during the fall and winter months, since the state is known for its extensive winter recreational activities. If you need a little assistance choosing which ski resort to go to, you can check out Ski Colorado, a network of lodges and resorts that will give you all the information about family ski vacations in Colorado that you'll need. You can stay in Steamboat, which has six peaks for skiers of all levels to practice their skills, or Aspen, which is a popular resort that has plenty of winter activities in a luxurious resort atmosphere.

If you live in the New England area and want to know more about ski vacations in this region of the country, you may want to check out the vacations Vermont has to offer. Kilington, a famous skiing area in Vermont, has snow for six months, which gives you plenty of time to plan your vacation, and Stowe, the highest peak in the area, is often a mark of accomplishment for experienced skiers. You may also want to check out Jay Peak in Vermont if you are new to skiing; smaller hills like Bolton Valley are available there.

In Massachusetts, you'll find plenty of ski vacations in your price range as well. One of the most popular is Wachusett, which means 'the great hill' in the Algoquin Indian language. There are over 200 instructors at this location to teach the snowboarding and skiing school. There are even plenty of classes and lessons available for children, so even if your kids are as young as four, they can still learn about skiing and snowboarding, and hit the slopes with the rest of the family. If you live in or near the Boston area, you can even go to the resort for a day to give the family a mini-vacation, since the resort is only a train ride from Boston.

family ski vacations in these areas are some of the most popular, but you can check with your travel agent or with other ski instructors to see which resorts may be closer to you, and which ski schools work especially with beginners or small children. Skiing is a great way to get exercise and to see the beauty of winter, so why not get your family involved today? For more information, visit www.familyskitrips.com.

Family Vacation Ideas

You're trying to plan a vacation for your family, but you have no idea where to start. Do you go to a place where everyone can participate in sporting or hiking activities? Is a beach destination ideal? Is everyone excited about trying a new amusement park this year? Here are some vacation ideas that you can share with your family that may help you to narrow down your choices.

One of the first things you can do when you're planning family vacation spots for the whole family is to be age appropriate. You may have gone to Disney World for the last five years, but if your kids are teenagers now, they may want a change--even though the theme park has many attractions for their age group now. So, if Orlando, Florida is your yearly vacation destination, try going to other places like the many shopping centers the city has to offer, or Busch Gardens for a different 'theme park' experience. If you're going to be traveling with parents or grandparents, cruise ships that leave from Florida and go to places like Aruba or the Bahamas may be ideal. Each member of the family will have something to do on the ship, and there is live entertainment and casinos on most ships if the older members of your family enjoy these activities.

Keep in mind that your vacation ideas do not have to involve you spending a lot of money or traveling outside of the country. If you have a theme for your vacation, this will help you to save money and can make your travel plans more efficient. For instance, if you want to take your children on a vacation for spring break and want to make sure that the trip is educational, you can go to U.S. cities like Boston or Philadelphia to let your kids see copies of the Constitution and artifacts from the colonial period. If you're learning about the different ecosystems that are present in the world and the animals that live in them, you can travel to Texas to visit great attractions like the San Antonio Zoo, as well as other desert areas in the state that are home to lots of cacti and coyote. If you live close to these areas, you can drive instead of having to book a plane ticket, which will save you a considerable amount of money that you can use for shopping and restaurants once you get to your destination.

For international vacation ideas, try visiting places like Aruba, which has beautiful beaches and live music for you to enjoy. You can even take scuba diving lessons while you're there, or go on a boat ride with the whole family. Or, you can visit Belgium, where you can take the Brussels sightseeing tour, or visit the various plazas in the area for shopping where you'll find street vendors selling everything from lemon ice cream to beautiful jewelry.

Still need more family vacation ideas? Check out www.tripadvisor.com to find out what other travelers are saying about some of your favorite places. Bon voyage!