Ski With the Kids at Schweitzer Mountain Resort

Skiing with your kids is not always the most relaxing vacation.  And it can be expensive.  And if you go and the lines for the chair lift are long, you're really out of luck. But it doesn't have to be this way.

At Schweitzer Mountain Resort, the lift lines are never more than five minutes, there is terrain for the whole family, from bunny slopes to terrain parks to beautiful tree runs.

Schweitzer has Kindercamp as well as a ski school: the employees have background checks and they even take babies!  Full day care starts at 8am and goes until 4:30.  Included in Kindercamp are morning and afternoon group lessons as well as lunch and a snack -- it's a great value.

I spoke to Nikol who teaches at the ski school and she gave me a great tip for parents who are taking their kids out on the slopes themselves:

Nikol's daughter, Quincy, even had a tip for kids her age:



And now, watch Quincy show off her form: remember, the girl is SEVEN!  Holy cow, she's got good form:



Just to show off a little, here Quincy is, skiing backward -- doesn't every 7 year old know how to do this?



Since we stayed at the White Pine Lodge in the little village that makes up the resort, we were just steps from the lifts.  But here's the only issue I had: the food was not terrific.  Buffet breakfast at the Chimney Rock Grill had supermarket bread for toast, instant oatmeal packets, green bananas, boxed donuts... you get the picture.  The saving grace is that where I stayed, the White Pine Lodge, which was very well appointed for families, had a fully stocked kitchen, including a dish washer, microwave, a four burner stove, oven, fridge and freezer.  Pack it in, people.  Eat what you like.

Although the food was lacking, the beer was terrific at Pucci's Pub.  Over a dozen interesting micro brews on tap, poured into frosty glasses at the end of the day was a real treat.  Great tunes, great company.

Disclaimer: I was on a press trip to Schweitzer, although I did not bring my kids.  Darnit!