5 DC Area Ski Slopes to Hit With Kids (ages 4+)

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One thing I have been waiting to share with my toddler is winter sports!  If you are looking for a quick day trip or weekend away for skiing with your young kids (Ages 4+), head out to any of these local DC area ski resorts.  Less than 2 hours away, these slopes are a great way to introduce your kids to winter sports and skiing!  Pro Tip: Think about renting any equipment from a local ski shop in the DMV?  Here are a few that might have rentals for you (in Rockville or Falls Church).

DC Area ski slopes skiing with kids
Skiing at Ski Liberty. Photo from Allison Winter.

Ski Liberty (90 Minute Drive)

Nestled in the mountains in southeastern Pennsylvania with proximity to Gettysburg, Ski Liberty is a great place for the kids to discover skiing, snowboarding and snow tubing. Ski Liberty offers 2-hour lessons and a variety of half- and full-day programs. The program for 4-6 year old group lessons is allows beginner skiiers to utilize the ski carpet to ascend the hill.  Note, this carpet is only for us for the ski school.  The slope adjacent to the ski lessons has the same slope but is much longer and requires a lift.  Rest assured, the staff is super friendly and helpful in getting your child(ren) on the lift!  Overall, I think this ski school is a great place to learn for kids!  Programs include supervised ski instruction, full day ski passes, and ski rentals.  Season passes are also available.                    

   

Whitetail (90 Minute Drive)

Just above Hagerstown, Whitetail offers one of the steepest slopes close to D.C. Whitetail offers skiing and snowboarding on 23 trails. The mountain boasts a 935-foot vertical drop, six lifts, a halfpipe and two terrain parks.  Two-hour ski school classes are available for children aged 4-12. Whitetail also has a nice snow tubing area.

Massanutten

Massanutten is a full service resort that offers a mix of all season sports and recreation. They have everything from ski and snow boarding lessons, night skiing, snow tubing on a 900-foot long hill, ice skating, a spa, resort activities, go-carting, horseback trail rides, pony rides, and arts and crafts. They also have onsite condominiums and hotel accommodations. With a vertical drop of 1,110 feet, it is also the steepest of any other ski hill in Virginia, Maryland and Pennsylvania, with has a solid reputation for its snowboarding area. The resort offers lessons for kids 4 to 12 and snowboarding for kids ages seven to 12.             

For kids under 5, they recommend that the lesson be 1:1.  Kids under 5 get a free lift ticket with any paying adult lift ticket (these are picked up at the Mountain Cruiser building).  There is an option to also purchase 4-hour lift tickets & rentals for both adults and kids.  Rentals for kids and lessons are expedited but the resort suggests arriving 1 hour before your lesson to ensure that the gear is fitted properly.  The resort offers a wide variety of options for eating including a cafeteria, bar, and restaurant.

Omni Homestead Resort & Spa

Nestled within the Allegheny Mountains, this historic all season and ski resort offers more than 45 acres of well-maintained trails on slopes that are perfect for beginners. Omni Homestead Resort & Spas features warm mineral water indoor and outdoor pools, a children’s focused ski school for ages 4+, and Little Penguins Program (ages 5-11) to introduce little ones to skiing, mini snowmobiles (ages 6-11), ice-skating, and snow tubing.  Full and half day childcare is available at the KidsClub for ages 3 through 12. On site, babysitting services are also available for resort guests.            

Wintergreen

This resort is just 1½ hours from Richmond and under three hours from Washington DC.   Wintergreen Resort is your close, easy-to-get-to option for a Blue Ridge Mountain escape full of winter fun.  Wintergreen offers plenty of family-focused fun, including a Kids Ski School with half day and full day options depending on the age of children.  In addition, there is a school for young toddlers (4-6)  called Little Rippers. Wintergreen has snow tubing at The Plunge.

Wintergreen’s Ridgley’s Winter Fun Park offers one-hour blocks of pre-scheduled snowy fun for the whole family which includes: a mini-tubing carousel, bear paw snow shoes, tunnels, plus a gentle hill for tubing and sledding. Ridgley the Bear, Wintergreen’s mascot, also frequently stops by.