NH Winter Resort Activities - NewHampshire.com

Keeping kids happy, even on a vacation, can be a real challenge — but it's easy at any of Ski NH's kid-friendly winter resorts. The programs and activities for winter fun at these resorts have plenty of options for kids of all ages — from little tykes to teens. Programs for younger skiers combine personal attention, safety, and instruction along with the opportunity to make new friends on the slope. For older kids and teens, there's the exciting world of halfpipes, terrain parks, snowtoys, night skiing, snowtubing and any number of wild and crazy fun events to enter or watch. At Ski NH winter resorts, family members can do their own thing, depending on age, ability, and interest, while at the same time building great family memories of being together for winter fun.

To make skiing more affordable for families, children age 5 and younger ski free at every Ski NH resort except McIntyre. At Crotched Mountain, children age 6 and younger ski free. Every resort offers discounted prices on lift tickets for juniors and teens, as well as when multiple days are purchased.

Here are some other highlights:

Attitash Bear Peak

The Adventure Center: Located right at the base area, the Attitash Adventure Center has everything under one roof for families and kids. All learn-to-ski and learn-to-ride programs, children's programs, seasonal programs, day care facilities, rental equipment, and adaptive programs for disabled skiers originate at the Adventure Center.

Tiny Turns: A fun-filled, positive first experience on skis. Children, (age 3-5) are introduced to the snow in a Tiny Turns private clinic, a one-on-one experience. Children should be willing and toilet trained. Specialized games and instruction help kids learn at their own pace and experience the thrill of sliding from a trained and caring Perfect Turn children's professional. Day care is also available.

Young children: The Buddy Bear Kids program (age 4-6) and the Adventure Kids Skiers Low Riders and Snowboard program (age 7-12) include lessons and lift tickets.

Teens: For teens interested in joining seasonal programs that offer great instruction, exciting competition and peer camaraderie, there is the Attitash Racing Development Team, the Bump Busters Freestyle Team and the Snowboard Competition Team. Daily fun and excitement can be found at New Hampshire's longest superpipe and terrain park where there are plenty of bumps, dips and jumps. Almost every weekend there are just-for-fun events open to all ability levels.

The BALSAMS Grand Resort Hotel

Named one of America's Ten Best Family Resorts in Family Life magazine, The BALSAMS Grand Hotel Resort knows how to keep kids happy. Registered guests of the hotel get free daytime child care at no charge.

At the ski area: There are no lift lines, no crowds, and no hassles. There is a separate slope for beginners and a ski play area for youngsters.

At the hotel: There are sleigh rides, bonfires, ice skating, winter nature hikes, game rooms, movies and evening entertainment for kids of all ages.

Black Mountain

Black Mountain is known for being family friendly and is the oldest ski resort in New Hampshire. The ski area is the ideal size for kids to enjoy and remains uncrowded even at the busiest of times. Day care is available for ages 6 months to 6 years.

Kids' programs: Black has programs for all ages of kids. The Black Bear Program is open to any skier ages 7 - 12 who is capable of riding the chairlift unassited and able to handle the beginner/intermediate terrain. The Black Bear Cub Program is open to any skier ages 4 - 6 who is able to ride the chairlift unassited and able to handle the beginner/intermediate terrain. The Junior Race Program is to offer children the opportunity to learn the fundamental skills of skiing and sportsmanship with their peers, in an environment that promotes fun, encouragement and support. The Black Mountain JRP is open to all skiers, ages 6-16, who can regularly perform independent parallel turns on intermediate terrain. Skiers who cannot perform independent parallel turns will be referred to the Black Bear Program for instruction in skiing fundamentals and re-introduced into the JRP at the coaching staff's discretion.

Bretton Woods

Bretton Woods is an award-winning ski area that has long catered to families. Family Travel Forum named it one of the "Top Ten Getaways for Tiny Travelers" and SKI magazine's readers' survey gave superior ratings to its family programs, grooming, and scenery.

Hobbit Ski School: The Hobbit Ski & Snowboard School and Burton Kids' Learn To Ride Center are conveniently located in the recently-expanded Kids' Alpine Club next to the Bretton Woods Base Lodge. With even more space and staff needed to accommodate the growing demand for these popular programs, it's no wonder we were voted by SKI Magazine readers Top 10 in North America for Family Programs in 2006, 2007 and 2008!

Hobbit Ski Program & Snowboard Program: Hobbit Ski Program is for kids (4-12) and the Hobbit Ski Program is for kids (6-12). Give your kids the opportunity to take to the slopes and learn the fun sport of skiing. The full-day program includes supervision, two lessons, rental equipment, lift ticket and lunch. The half-day and two-hour lesson options do not include lunch. Children are placed in groups based on age and ability. Lunch is included with the full-day program.

Family Learning Center: The Family Learning Center offers a variety of child-friendly lifts to help make learning to ski or snowboard easier, and the Wonder Carpet, Handle Tow, and the new Crawford Quad Chair are all designed for easy use by kids. A nursery is available for children age 2 months to 5 years.

Other Activities: Night skiing: Five trails and two lifts stay open for those kids with plenty of energy. At the Bretton Arms and The Mount Washington Hotel, there are indoor pools, as well as game rooms with billiards, pinball and electronic games.

Cannon Mountain

Young Children: Cannon offers a wide range of programs for kids. Mountain Explorers offers half day and full day sessions for children ages 8-12. The Cannon Kids program is for kids ages 4-7 and also offers half day and full day sessions.

The Brookside Learning Center: This newly renovated learning center has everything families need with regards to day care facilities and learn-to-ski programs. Beginner slopes are located right outside the door, and intermediate skiers can enjoy the view from the top with easy access to top-to-bottom intermediate trails. Offers all-day and part-day programs, plus childcare for ages 6 weeks and older. Seasonal programs available.

Cranmore Mountain

Cranmore's billing as "New England's Snowplay Resort for Growing Families" says it all. Cranmore offers a variety of family-friendly programs either by day or for an entire season.

Young children: The Snowsports School has daily programs for young children, including a variety of Value Deals that package lift tickets with rentals, equipment, and lunch. Also offered are seasonal programs such as the Adventure Camp for ages 8-14, and the Penguin camp for ages 4-7.

Teens: Cranmore has become a major scene of activity for snowplay of all sorts - from traditional skiing and snowboarding, to activities like snowtubing or downhill gliding on snowscoots, snowfoxes, snowbikes, and skiboards. There's plenty of terrain park and halfpipe activity; even beginner and intermediate sliders can have fun on banked corners, rolls, and jumps. For those who still have energy, night skiing is offered on Saturdays.

Arctic Blast Tubing Park: Our park gives you seven lanes of fast fun. All ages welcome. Children 42 inches and taller may ride solo; little ones may ride with an adult. The Arctic Blast Tubing Park is located at the base of Cranmore Mountain, between the main base lodge and the Family Fitness Center. Tickets may be purchased at the park. So whether you're a child or a "child at heart," make plans now to stop by with friends and family to check out the coolest Tubing Center you've ever seen. With two lifts, snowmaking, lights and so much more, you're sure to have the time of your life!
Indoor Fun Zone: Come to the Cranmore Fun Zone! It's a huge indoor activity center with a variety of fun for the whole family. It features a giant inflatable obstacle course, oversized bouncy house, and pick-up games of floor hockey, tennis, dodge ball and Twister. The Fun Zone is set up indoors at Cranmore's Family Fitness Center and will be open Saturday and vacation period evenings for the winter season.

Crotched Mountain

Kids Snow Camp: The camp is offered on weekends and holidays for kids ages 4-12. Spend the day having fun while learning, supervised by Crotched Mountain's Professional Instructors. Parents can enjoy freedom on the slopes while the kids learn to ski & snowboard! The program includes four hours of clinics with a professional instructor, supervision and games during rest periods, a nutritious lunch and badges to identify newly learned skills. Skiing and snowboarding are taught for all ability levels.

Gunstock Mountain Sports Center

The Children's Center: Camp I: for 3-year-olds, introduces skiing skills through the use of games and activities. It includes a lift ticket, lesson, lunch, and daycare. Camp II: geared for children ages 4-5, putting them on snow in the morning hours and enjoying the daycare atmosphere in the afternoon. Camp III: for ages 4-7, is a full or half day program focusing on fun and includes breaks, lunch, crafts, and games. Camp IV: for ages 8-13, is offered as both half and full day programs.

Teens: A terrain park and snowtubing provide plenty of options to traditional skiing and snowboarding, with night skiing for those who want to keep on going.

King Pine

Youth Ski Camp: For nearly 60 years, King Pine has hosted a youth ski camp designed for kids age 8-16. The all-inclusive price covers ski or snowboard instruction, meals, and lodging. Campers are grouped according to their ability from novice to expert. Instruction is provided twice a day in a small group setting with plenty of time allotted for campers to ski or ride on their own. Our children's programs are designed to give kids the best on mountain experience possible while making friends and improving skills. They also offer a Freestyle Team for ages 10+, Team Ski, which is for ages 6-12 and Team Ride for ages 8-12.

Daily programs: The Knee-Hi Program for age 4-7 offer three levels (Carpet, Rope Tow and Mountain) to provide varied programs for all abilities. It's a season-long, midweek program to learn for all ability and offers young skiers the chance to learn through educational, engaging games and on-snow activities. Also available is a terrain park, snowtubing, ice skating, cross country skiing, an indoor pool and fitness complex; on weekends and during holiday periods, there is also night skiing, snowboarding and snowtubing. A nursery is available for infants-age 6.

Loon Mountain

The Adventure Center: This is the place for renting cross country, snowshoe and ice skating equipment. There's also an indoor climbing wall with ropes and harnesses.

Young children: The Loon Snowsports School offers a wide variety of daily and seasonal kids programs. There's P.K. Boo Bear for 3 year olds and Kinder Bear for kids ages 4-6. Day care is available for kids 6 weeks-6 years.

Teens: There's plenty of halfpipe and terrain park action at Loon including an inground superpipe designed by Chris Gunnarson, as well as sliding fun on a variety of rental snowtoys, such as snowscoots, snowfoxes, snowbikes, or skiboards. Snowtubing is available day or night, and at the Adventure Center there is a variety of other activities available.

Freeride Seasonal Camp: This camp is specifically designed for kids 7-17 years old who are early intermediate to expert skiers and riders. Skiers and riders must be able to link turns comfortably on blue terrain. The focus is on teaching and experiencing the joys of learning and mastering all the conditions and challenging situations the mountain can offer.

Mount Sunapee

Mount Sunapee offers comprehensive programs for youngsters for both skiing and snowboarding. The layout of the mountain is family-friendly with all trails ending at the base lodge, and a separate beginner area (South Peak) has been enhanced with new beginner-friendly lifts and trails.

Snow Stars: Mount Sunapee's Snow Stars program is specially designed so children can learn the fundamentals they will need to enjoy a lifetime of skiing or riding (must be 6 years or older to take snowboard lessons).

Teens: The state's newest superpipe and an extensive terrain park make this a great location for teenagers.

Mother Goose Daycare: The Mother Goose Childcare Center is located in the Children's Program Facility and is available for children ages 1 to 5 years old every day the mountain is open.

Mountain Explorers/Edgers Programs: Mountain Explorers is a program designed for 8-12 year olds. The program is offered either half- or full-day and comes with an all-mountain lift ticket, lesson(s) and rentals. Full-day is 4 hours of lessons (Two 2-hour sessions) and includes lunch; half-day is one 2-hour lesson. Mountain Edgers is a program designed for 8-12 year olds who frequently ski/ride at Mount Sunapee and are looking to improve their skiing or riding in a fun group setting.

Pats Peak

Kids' programs:Pats Peak has lessons available for all age and ability levels in skiing and snowboarding. Snowtubing, a quarterpipe, and a terrain park provide plenty of thrills for older kids; night skiing and snowboarding are also available.

Cub's Club: Child Care with outdoor play and an introduction to skiing for children ages 3-5 years old.

Bear's Club: Full day and half day programs for ages 6 and older offers group lessons for self-sufficient skiers and riders. It is held on weekends and holidays. Space is limited. Reservations are highly recommended.

Waterville Valley

Waterville Valley is consistently ranked among the top of SKI Magazine's reader survey for providing families with high quality, affordable kids' programs.

Lil' Grits Program: For kids 4+5 years old. Skier development, mountain awareness and lots of indoor and outdoor fun! Must be able to ski lower intermediate terrain on their own (i.e. Valley Run).

True Grits Program: For kids 6-12 years old. Designed for skiers and riders. Plenty of snow time that emphasizes solid technique and safety. Multiple groups will be formed on the basis of age, ability & intensity.

Teen Group: Outdoor Program for 13-16 year olds. Should be able to ski or ride Waterville Valley black diamond terrain. Skiers and riders are together in a social atmosphere with all of their time on snow. Also, A superpipe, Exhibition Park and Little Slammer Terrain Park provide jumps and halfpipes for skiers and snowboarders, and there are plenty of snowtoys, short skis and snowtubes to try for added fun. For other diversions, a free shuttle bus can deliver guests to Waterville Valley's Town Square where there are specialty shops, a variety of restaurants, horse-drawn sleigh rides, and indoor recreational facilities including an ice skating rink, swimming pool, tennis courts, and a fitness center.

Wildcat Mountain

Wildcat Tracks Training Center Children's Programs:
The Lion's Den: (Ages 4-12 years old) Full and half day programs. Whether your child is new to the sport, looking to improve their skills, or just interested in skiing with other kids, the Lion's Den is sure to be a FUN way for your child to spend the day. This program runs a half day or full day for children ages 4 - 12 for skiing, and ages 8 - 12 for snowboarding. Lion's Den programs include lift ticket, rentals & lesson. ALL Lion's Den morning half day and full day programs offer the convenience and flexibility of your children being registered and under supervision as early as 9am. Full day programs include 4 hours of instruction and lunch.

KinderCubs Program: (Ages 3-4 years old) Full and half day programs. An Introduction to Skiing. Reservations required, based upon availability. The Kindercubs program is designed as a comfortable and fun introduction to skiing for 3 and 4 year old children.

The Kitten's Cub Nursery is open for children age 2 months to 5 years.