Do You Take Winter Family Vacations?
November 10, 2009 by Kimberly · 15 Comments
Recently, my husband was having a conversation with a friend of ours. This particular friend is an extreme sports type of person. He was mentioning an upcoming trip with another friend to a mini-skiing trip before a larger group went somewhere (I think Vienna) for a more intense skiing trip. To my surprise, my husband mentioned that he always wanted to do some sort of snow trip. (I learn something new about him every year!) I encouraged my husband to go with the guys on their mini-trip when they go snow-boarding and skiing to nearby Pennsylvania. I even said that I would get him snow gear for his birthday this month.
That conversation made me wonder why we never thought of going away as a family during the cold months. Besides going to Virginia to visit my family for the holiday (which isn’t REALLY a vacation), I never really thought about it. So, now I’m considering visiting some nearby winter family getaways…
Do you take winter family vacations with your young kids? If so, where do you normally go?
Winter vacations with kids = snow skiing.
I grew up going at least 5 times a year.
Ski resorts in NY, NH, and VT have multiple packages for families, including lodging, ski lift tickets, skis/boots/poles/helmet rentals, instruction classes for all ages right on the slopes.
Family ski vacations are great opportunities for wonderful exercise, relaxing evening, and memory building year after year.
we used to bring the kids back to hongkong/japan 2 times a year: winter and summer vacations. Our 6 yr old daughter has gone to asia 10 times already. We used to be able to get adult plane tickets for $900 roundtrip, and kids less than 2 was about $200. Now of course, all 4 of us need to purchase tickets (kids are 6 and almost-3 yrs old) , so it is quite pricy. We don’t do transpacific winter trips anymore. Both kids are in school, and there’s not enough winter vacation time to make the trip worthwhile. Actually though, the flight is not as bad as you would think. Our kids are truly frequent fliers, they learn how to entertain themselves: crayons, books, NintendoDS, laptop, in-flight-movies, etc. This winter I think we will stay local. Grandma grandpa are coming to visit us from Hongkong instead.
We haven’t taken a winter vacation. Didn’t growing up either. I had a cousin whose family took advantage of the extended time off around Christmas and did vacations then – cool vacations that I was jealous of. Europe, Hawaii, the Caribean.
Yes, my husband is taking the kids to Great Wolf Lodge (indoor water park) this winter.
We have never gone…but are planning a winter vacation to Rockinghorse Dude Ranch this Feb. It is all inclusive (meals too), has many winter sports, and indoor water park as well. We have friends that go every year, and their kids love it!
I am not a snow person. I do not like cold weather. It has been only 50 degrees here and I am freezing and staying in! It is suppose to be 70 over the weekend, so the outdoor adventures begin. We usually go south. One year to Aruba and another to South Africa. Usually Florida and GA. It is not hot, but it is warm. Winter is a great time for vacations, because the summer is full of parties.
Like Vanessa, I am not a cold-weather person. I have zero desire to go anywhere colder than Cleveland, but winter vacations to warm places are always enjoyed.
I hope your husband has fun, it does sound like a great trip for those who enjoy that weather.
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We love winter vacations. We head to a warm weather spot like Disney! Its a nice break from the winter chill.
We go visit my family every year around Christmastime and we try to make it up to the mountains to enjoy the snow as well.
We always visit family in warm weather- like Florida. And we try to take “mini day vacations” like to the beach or strawberry farm.
We have never taken a winter vacation. We thought about taking one last year but scratched the idea. We live in Texas and DH is from Illinois. We really don’t like the snow too much.
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Growing up my family went on ski vacations to Colorado and New Mexico almost every year. We loved it! It really is great physical activity for kid’s and fun memories for the whole family. Especially when you have grown up in Texas…just the sight of snow is pretty exciting!
I just mentioned to my husband this week I wish we were going this year (we haven’t been in a couple of years)…but not sure I am ready to pack up a 7 mo. old (he’s our first)! I am hoping in the next couple of years we will get to go again!
We live in Miami so Christmas is palm trees and sunshine and every few years we try to travel North to my parents’ to celebrate the holidays in a more wintery setting. It doesn’t happen every year though becuase then we realize how cold it is and why we moved to Florida in the first place!
Last year we went to the Poconos for a weekend winter get away. It was easy to get to and the kids enjoyed the outdoor activities. We viewed a new property in development and I think we may return this season.
We usually don’t but 2 years ago we won a trip to the Grand Cayman Islands for 6 whole days! It was wonderful! The weather was in the 80’s and we came home to a huge winter storm. That was funny.