Staying Fit
My husband and I enjoy skiing, but we no longer pick a winter vacation destination for skiing alone. Between high-speed lifts and cranky knees, we're often ready to quit by early afternoon. So we prefer alpine destinations that offer other activities appealing to us and any non-skiing family members or friends who join us.
These five resort areas not only double down on other outdoor sports, such as snowshoeing, cross-country skiing, snowmobiling and dogsledding, but also offer less active alternatives with broad appeal. That makes them ideal for multigenerational family groups.
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Note that while some ski resort hotels can be pricey, rental condos and apartments are usually less expensive (you can go through sites such as Airbnb and Homeaway) and allow you to keep meal costs in check if you do a little meal prep yourself. And in general, the farther you get from the lifts, the more affordable the lodging options.
Salt Lake City, Utah
Douglas Pulsipher/Alamy Stock Photo
Arrive in Salt Lake City (known as Ski City) in the morning and you can be skiing in the afternoon. Or not — there's plenty else to do for everyone, from dinosaur-obsessed kids to basketball fans, thanks to a slew of family-friendly activities including museums, a planetarium, concert halls and Utah Jazz basketball games. You'll want to spend a day in Park City. At the Utah Olympic Park, visit the Alf Engen Ski Museum and the Olympic Winter Games 2002 Museum, and watch the action in the Olympic venues, including the bobsled/skeleton track. The new Woodward Park City, an indoor-outdoor action sports resort, offers progression-based facilities for 10 sports, including skiing, skateboarding, tubing, scooter, BMX and parkour. That means everyone, from first-timers to seasoned pros, will find options, and the “no thanks” crowd can watch from the café.
For savings, the Visit Salt Lake Connect Pass offers discounts on attractions and is a good option for nonskiers, while the Ski City Super Pass is an economical way to access lifts at Alta, Snowbird, Brighton and Solitude. Both include transportation options.
Where to stay: Most major chains operate downtown hotels. The splurge-worthy Grand America Hotel especially appeals to art connoisseurs (it's $300 a night and up), but anyone can view the priceless art and antiques on a self-guided tour.
