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Looking to plan a great family-friendly Southwest winter weekend getaway to help beat the winter blues?
We’ve got you covered in this collaborative post from five fellow travel bloggers who will dish on their favorite places to visit for a winter weekend getaway.
From the ski slopes of Colorado and Lake
Look no further for 5 amazing family-friendly Southwest winter weekend getaway ideas!
Lake Tahoe, Nevada from Free to Travel Mama
Snowy, beautiful, Lake Tahoe makes the perfect Southwest winter weekend getaway for families.
Lake Tahoe is located in the basin of the Sierra Nevada Mountains spanning the California and Nevada state lines and offers beautiful views as well as a wide range of activities.
Day 1: Day o
Heavenly and Northstar are two popular choices for families as they both offer top-notch ski schools for adults and children, as well as childcare for those too young to hit the slopes.
If skiing or snowboarding isn’t right for your family quite yet, Adventure Mountain is the perfect place to go for some family-friendly sledding fun and snowman building.
A drive around the lake is a favorite way to let tired children rest while parents enjoy the stunning views. Emerald Bay State Park offers a picturesque setting for which you won’t regret stopping.
Day 2: Day two is the perfect time to explore all that Lake Tahoe has to offer.
Breakfast at Bear Beach Cafe is tasty and comes with a view of the lake and snow-capped mountains. Next, take the Heavenly Gondola to the top of the mountain for beautiful views of the winter wonderland.
Finally, lace up your skates at the outdoor ice-skating rink located at Heavenly Village.
For a special tour of the area, Borges Sleigh and Carriage Rides offers a cozy horse drawn ride along the lake.
If you are ready to stop for a sweet treat, cookies from Sugar Pine Bakery or a hot chocolate from Rocky Mountain Chocolate Factory are sure to hit the spot!
Both the relaxing and active options are sure to please every family on their winter vacation in Lake Tahoe!
Aspen, Colorado from Kid Allergy Travel
Look no further than Aspen, Colorado as one of the best winter vacations in the Southwest U.S.!
As it is recommended to spend at least twenty-four hours acclimating to the high altitudes before hitting the slopes, day one of your itinerary features family-friendly pursuits that are non-skiing related.
Be extra organized by clicking the following image to get your FREE family vacation packing list that is both customizable and printable!
Day 1: Head to the iconic Aspen Tavern where you can dine outside at the base of Aspen Mountain. This is a great place for
Next, get some energy out with ice-skating in the open air at Silver Ice Rink.
Afterward, warm up at the Lobby Bar at the historic St. Regis Aspen Resort for s’
Make sure to squeeze in your ski rental gear fitting before heading to Snowmass for your Snow Cat ride to Lynn Britt Cabin for an upscale version of a chuckwagon family dinner.
Day 2: Day two is for skiing.
Your Aspen lift ticket gives you access to four different mountains providing varying challenges for every skill level.
Not a skier? We recommend the family-friendly snowshoe tour out of Elk Camp in Snowmass. Tour guides engage all ages with hands-on activities and a mid-mountain cocoa break.
Don’t miss ULLLR Nights party in the evening for the snow tubing, fire dancing, snow biking, and roller coaster riding. Finally, before you leave the area, make sure to end your weekend with a lavish brunch at Prospect located inside the Hotel Jerome.
Also, if you have more time, you should know that Aspen if only 1 hour away from the best hot springs in Colorado!
Visit here for more ideas on how to complete your stay in Aspen, CO with kids!
Keystone, Colorado from Travels With Eli
Keystone is known for being the most family-friendly ski resort in Colorado, making it a fabulous Southwest winter weekend getaway for you and your family!
With designated areas on the ski runs just for families, a huge snow fort to explore at the top of the mountain, and the amazing Kidtopia program, you can’t go wrong choosing Keystone for your family winter weekend getaway.
Day 1: Start your day with breakfast from the Haywood Cafe, the one can’t-be-missed restaurant in Keystone.
After breakfast hit the slopes. You can sign your kids up for Keystone’s awesome ski school program. Or, if your whole family is learning to ski, you can sign up for private lessons and all learn together.
Keep in mind that Keystone is open for night skiing as well!
Book a room right in River Run Village so you can take a break from skiing during the day (or maybe even a nap) and then go back out in the evening.
Booking.comDay 2: There are all kinds of things to do in Keystone besides skiing.
The tubing hill at the top of the mountain is amazing. If your kids are too young to ski or tube, you can still buy a gondola ride to the top, play in the huge snow fort with slides and tunnels, and have lunch at the Summit House. The view from the Summit House on a clear day is incredible.
Check out the Kidtopia schedule for free family-friendly activities in the afternoons and evenings. The awesome Kidtopia activities just might be your child’s favorite part of the whole vacation.
If you love Keystone in the winter, come back and visit in the summer!
Winter Park, Colorado from Milana’s Travels
Winter Park, CO is the perfect cold-weather weekend destination with young kids! The Village has a lot of stores, restaurants, and of course, access to the ski slopes.
Aside from skiing, there is a ton to do with young kids!
Day 1: Check into your resort and hit the slopes!
We stayed at the Vintage Resort, where Winter Park Village (and the ski slopes) are just a short cabriolet ride away. They have ski school for young kids as well as a childcare center for younger kids right by the slopes so you can ski while your kids are taken care of in a fun environment.
Right by the resort is a tubing park, so you don’t even have to drive anywhere to enjoy some snow tubing.
Day 2: Spend the day enjoying the great outdoors!
One of our favorite parts of Winter Park was the kid-sized snowmobiles. We haven’t seen those before and our daughter had a blast riding them! They have a course for the kids and they can have a blast riding their own little snowmobiles, it was certainly a highlight! There are several adult
I highly recommend Winter Park for a winter getaway with young kids. Visit here for more ideas on how to complete your stay in Winter Park with kids!
Las Vegas, Nevada from Happiness Travels Here
Las Vegas is the perfect city for a weekend family getaway as well as an excellent addition to any southwest road trip.
With year-round sunshine and mild winter temperatures, it is the perfect spot to boost those vitamin D levels and spend some time outdoors.
Day 1: Believe it or not, there is plenty to do in Las Vegas with kids. In fact, just walking along the Las Vegas Strip is entertainment.
On your first day spend time visiting the different hotels on the strip. The huge Bellagio fountains in front of the glamourous Bellagio Hotel come to life every 30 mins with a mesmerizing display of dancing water, music, and fireworks.
Inside the hotel, you will find some of the world’s largest animated flower sculptures, carefully curated and updated with the changing seasons.
Across the road see a to-scale replica of the Eiffel tower at the Paris Hotel. Ride a rooftop roller coaster at New York, New York, and in the evening watch the volcano eruption at Mirage hotel.
Day 2: On your second day, keep exploring the Strip.
Visit the bird enclosure at the Flamingo hotel, M&M World, and the theme park at Circus Circus.
In the evening take in a family-friendly show like the Blue Man Group. If you’ve had enough of the city make the most of the mild temperatures and head out into the desert surrounding Las Vegas.
Within 30 minutes you can be hiking in the Red Rock Canyon Conservatory area and longer day trips can take you to Zion National Park and the Hoover Dam.
For a bucket list adventure take a helicopter to the Grand Canyon.
Booking.comIf you like our post on Southwest Weekend Getaways, click here to check out our Related posts:
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*Before leaving, be sure to check our Travel Resources Page to help with your travel planning. Find exclusive travel discounts, and book hotels, rental cars, and guided tours.*
I have to say that I was surprised about how much I found Vegas to be a great winter getaway. No gambling, but all the amazing food, and off the strip adventures were really great!
I’d love to go there with our kids next winter! Yes, food and fun!
These places look really great for doing winter activities with your family, and even without. I wish I ski though.
I’m not a skiier either, but I love to snow tube with the kids!
I’m more of a warm weather traveler honestly – I want to hit like Phoenix or AZ this winter – i went there once as a kid and loved it! Went to Colorado also, but it was summer! more my speed 🙂
Vegas is good anytime!
Phoenix is awesome! Hope you get a great winter weekend getaway planned 🙂
Such gorgeous trips – we’ve only been to Las Vegas and Lake Tahoe out of all of these, but not in the winter! I’d really love to go to Aspen – am only tempted more after this.
Glad you liked the post! I too am so tempted by these locations! -Jen