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Families that play together, stay together!
Steamboat
Revered for its decided lack of glam, Steamboat continues to hold out against the trend of local, homey ski towns turning ritzy resort. It’s true Colorado Rockies cowboy country up here (160 miles northwest of Denver but a mere 25 miles from the closest airport in Hayden), combining Old West ranching heritage with wicked tree skiing and copious amounts of champagne-powder snow cover. Adults adore the authenticity, while youngsters dig the kids-only terrain and lifts (with areas for both novices and the more advanced), small group lessons, and the Kids Night Out camp-style evening program. Parents, meanwhile, can delight in special family deals (like free kids rentals and lift tickets), as well as top-notch day care for children as young as 6 months. www.steamboat.com
$48/nt+: Steamboat Springs ski-season resort: 25% off ABetterStay.com
$162/nt+: All-inclusive Colorado ranch; kids stay free C Lazy U Ranch
$71/nt+: Slopeside Steamboat Springs resort; 30% off ABetterStay.com
