A tour through the best family ski resorts in BC

A family-friendly ski holiday

Looking for the perfect winter or spring break getaway? Travelling with the family from Australia? Hitting the road with your little ones, and going to four of the best family ski resorts in BC will make for an amazing trip!

Our trip will take you from Whistler to all of the best family ski resorts in BC’s interior.

Our 4×4 vehicles are perfectly kitted out for winter travel. With snow tires, chains, and emergency equipment, you’ll have everything you need to ensure your family stays safe travelling through BC.

Arriving in Vancouver

You’ll start your trip by picking up your vehicle at Vancouver International Airport from our FarOut Wilderness team! You’ll drive through Vancouver and up the scenic Sea-to-Sky highway to Whistler.

If you’re to hit the slopes right away, an honorary mention on this trip goes to Mt Seymour resort. It’s a small, fun, family owned resort on Vancouver’s north shore. It’s about $40 a lift ticket for night skiing, and is a great way to start your trip.

As you head up towards Whistler, we recommend stopping in Squamish an awesome climbers town halfway between Vancouver. Howe Sound Brewery has a great family-friendly, cabin atmosphere and is a good stop for lunch on day 1.

Whistler Blackcomb

Whistler belongs on every BC ski trip. Due to it’s sheer size (8,000+ Acres), there’s a section of the mountain that will be fun for everyone. It’s one of the best family ski resorts in BC, one of the best extreme resorts – it holds multiple title.

Whistler’s immense popularity will make it quite crowded, and the most expensive accommodation on the trip. If you’re visiting over holiday breaks, try to end up at Whistler mid-week, and only stay for a couple of days. If you’re visiting from Australia and coming for off-peak periods, you’ll have more options for dates.

Whistler has some of the most scenic beginner runs in BC. You’ll want to start your vacation on the Emerald Chair, a dedicated green chair on Whistler with wide open runs. Once your group feels ready to tackles some blues, the groomed runs on Excelerator and 7th Heaven make for great family-friendly skiing. You’ll also want to check out Burnt Stew Trail, going from Harmony/Peak Chairs down into Symphony. It’s stunning views into Garibaldi Park are some of the best you’ll see all trip.

Sun Peaks

Sun Peaks - Best Family Ski Resorts in BC

After a couple days of dodging crowds it’s time to head into BC’s interior to Sun Peaks. This will be about a four and a half hour drive, so it’s good to split it up. Whistler closes around 3:30, so drive a couple hours after skiing, and spend a night in a fun mountain town like Pemberton or Lillooet before continuing on to Sun Peaks.

A couple favourite runs include 5 Mile and Lone Fir Glades. 5 Mile is a long green run, with the most vertical on the mountain. If your kids are starting to ask about tree skiing, the gradual slope and well-spaced trees in Lone Fir Glades will be a great way to get your kids started.

Sun Peaks is probably the best mountain for a family ski vacation. It boasts the second most skiable terrain in the country, trailing only Whistler. Every lift has a green and blue run to take down, so there’s no chance you’ll end up in a situation where there isn’t a clear way for your kids to ski down.

You’ll see accommodation prices drop sharply at Sun Peaks. This will generally be true for the rest of the trip, skiing in BC’s interior is much more economical. Many of the hotels are also slopeside, allowing you to really enjoy being in the resort.

Big White

Big White Skiers

After a couple days at Sun Peaks, it’s time to make your way to Big White, self-proclaimed as “Canada’s Favourite Family Resort”. Big White is a favourite among locals living in nearby Kelowna, and renowned as one of the best family ski resorts in BC

Big White prides itself on shredding Okanagan champagne powder, which locals claim is the best you’ll find anywhere in BC. 54% of the runs at Big White are blues, so you’ll have plenty of wide open groomers. The tree skiing at Big White is probably the best you’ll find all trip. On a snowy, you’ll find many of the smaller trees are completely covered in fluffy white powder.

There’s plenty of fun to get up to at Big White after the ski day is done! Accommodation is slopeside again, and there’s an ice rink, sleigh rides, tubing, and more.

After finishing up at Big White! It’s time to start making your way back towards Vancouver! We’ve got one more charming, family-friendly ski spot in store for you.

The final stop of your trip will be at Manning Park ski resort, a proudly family-oriented resort in the spectacular Canadian Cascades. This is a popular ski spot for locals living in Vanocuver’s eastern suburbs. While it’s often looked over by tourists, the beautiful mountain lodges, relaxed and open terrain, and dry powder make it an amazing place to spend your ski trip.

Accommodation at Manning Park is almost exclusively at the Manning Park Resort. The nearest towns are an hour east and west of Manning, and staying at the resort is a far better option. You’ll have a variety of cabins and hotel-like rooms to choose from, and it’s all a 5 minute drive from the mountain. The restaurant has some of the best resort dining in BC, and it’s all reasonably priced, making it a great family friendly option.

 

Book Now

This itinerary is just the start of creating an ultimate family-friendly BC ski trip.

Are you itching to extend your trip to the Banff and other famous resorts in the Rockies? Looking to take your trip to Calgary

We’re hear to be your guide to the gondolas this winter. Click here to book your vehicle now