Inspiring Trip

Ski in Europe, United States and Canada: the best fun in the world

The northern hemisphere ski resorts attract more families than any theme park on the planet

By Ronny Hein

Every time winter comes to the northern hemisphere, the largest amusement parks in the world appear. These are the ski resorts, thousands of them in every significant mountain range on the planet, providing leisure activities to more families than any theme park. In fact, there is a large and fascinating theme: the snow and all the ways to happily exploit it: skiing, skating, snowboarding, sledding, snowmobiling or dog sledding and much more. Snowmen for the little ones (and all ages), lively after-ski parties that the teens love (the moment when the sport turns to excitement, dating and dancing), shopping and high-quality food are the ingredients that spice up these seasons, which can last as long as the time – or the money – is available.

It goes without saying that there are all kinds of ski resorts. From the simplest to the most sophisticated. From the most isolated, which are just hotels perched on the high mountains, to the main ones, which offer a little bit of everything, even for those who don’t care much about sports. The prices can vary too – and quite significantly. Staying in stylish hotels at famous resorts such as St. Moritz, in Switzerland, or Courchevel, in France, is an option only for the lucky few. And it’s also the chance to see celebrities all over the place: princes, sports stars and other well-known people love to ski on these highly-rated mountains.

A good option for families are the winter resorts of the Club Med network, which is well-known in Brazil. At several ski resorts in Europe, they offer the same good humor as their beach hotels, plenty of food included in their daily rates and great value for money (all inclusive: ski passes, lessons, meals and, if you’re lucky, you can even get a Portuguese-speaking instructor or monitor).

As a family vacation option, few attractions are as complete as a ski and snow holiday. There are programs for all ages, great times to discuss the daily experiences around a dinner table, security, supervision and the chance for the little ones to meet new friends from all over the world, allowing them to blossom. With young people it is the same. Places like Aspen and Vail – just to name two in the state of Colorado in the US – are, during the season, true event centers, with competitions, contests, shows and special places for a new romance under the light of the coldest moon of the year.

Generally speaking, children spend their mornings taking ski lessons with well-trained teachers. In these cases, their tracks are smooth, the risk is almost zero and, as they gain confidence, boys and girls begin to explore progressively to more advanced ski lifts (there are several types). Quite suddenly, they are accompanying their parents on runs down the mountains.

Clothes, skis, shoes and other equipment can be rented at the hotels or on the slopes. Few Brazilians invest in buying them, because snow is not exactly very common in our tropical country. However, it is a fact that the presence of our compatriots in ski resorts around the world is constantly growing, especially because the European winter coincides with the Brazilian summer holidays, the longest of the year.

Another advantage of taking children to these enchanted places is the possibility of improving their knowledge of foreign languages, even during the well-deserved school break.

The ski resorts mentioned below are the favorites of Brazilians. Each has its own characteristics and peculiarities. In the United States, Aspen and Vail dispute the preference of travelers. Both are complete in structure, have lots of snow, excellent hotels, parties and everything else. There are those who prefer the charms of Park City, in Utah, which is the Mormon state in that country. Old, traditional and well equipped, it is relatively cheaper than the others. For those who prefer the guarantee of snow to the more moderate cold, Canada is a great option. Close to Montréal and Québec, the resort of Mount Tremblant has good facilities and lots of snow, although its mountains are lower.

On the opposite side of the continental country, Whistler is spectacular. It has everything and is close to the beautiful city of Vancouver. Because it has hosted the Olympic Games, it offers all kinds of sports. Banff and Jasper, in the province of Alberta, are other alternatives. Much colder and higher, they offer more snow for a longer period of time. Both operate between October and April of each season.

France has Mont Blanc, which is the highest peak of the Alps, almost on the Swiss border. The mythological ski resorts, such as Chamonix and Courchevel, for example, are close by. In these areas, more French is spoken than English, and there are proportionally many more restaurants awarded with the coveted stars of the Michelin Guide. The slopes, however, are as accessible to infants as they are to adults.

Just alongside, Switzerland is the country that has the most ski resorts compared to its size. They are more expensive (Switzerland is not part of the European Community), but they compensate for this in beauty and tradition. Some places that are worth visiting, in addition to Saint Moritz: Zermatt, next to the triangular peak that is the symbol of the country; Gstaad, as beautiful in the winter as in the summer, Arosa and Verbier.

Also, often frequented by Brazilians – and ideal for families – are some of the ski resorts in Italy, such as Cortina d’Ampezzo, and, in Austria, Kitzbühel and Innsbruck – the latter is a larger, less charming city, but has many slopes to explore.