As much as our kids may love to hit the trails with us, not all of them are good for an all-day skinny-ski extravaganza. The solution? Build in some winter fun onsite (or right nearby) that offers a little something for everyone.
Tube.
You've survived several kilometers of skiing and made it back to the lodge in one piece? Congrats! Adults can celebrate with a spiked coffee or cold drink, and kids can wear themselves out in the snow. Grand Lake Nordic offers free tubing right next to their lodge; Snow Mt. Ranch has a tubing hill adjacent to the Nordic center property. For Summit County visitors, you'll find a banging multi-line tubing set up at the Frisco Adventure Park near the Nordic center.
Pedal.
Spring's warmer days make it an ideal time to get kids out on fat bikes. Fat bikes can roll over, around and through just about anything, and their squishy ride is forgiving and fun. Rent them at most Nordic centers; ask specifically for youth rentals if available, and be sure to stick to the dedicated trails and follow any signage.
Sleigh ride.
After a long day of skiing with a Chariot, tired legs welcome a chance to let the horses do the pulling. Devil's Thumb Ranch offers a variety of sleigh rides, but littles enjoy the feeding ride, where the team and sleigh head to the pastures and offer treats to the resident mules, donkeys, horses, and cows. In Vail and Beaver Creek you can opt for sleigh ride dinners at Allie's, Zach's, and Beano's cabins as well as 4 Eagle Ranch and Bearcat stables.
Mush.
In the Summit County area (near Gold Run, Breck, and Frisco Nordic), you can up your thrill level on the trails by hitching a ride with the Siberian huskies of Good Times Adventures. In Grand County, the YMCA/Snow Mt. Ranch is home to a sled dog outfitter offering short rides of 2 miles (15 minutes) perfect for little ones. In Leadville, Alpine Adventures Dogsledding, WinterHawk Dogsled Adventures and Winterhaven Dogsled Adventures take you high above it all.
Giddyup.
Make it a Nordic-focused vacation at Latigo, Devil's Thumb, or Vista Verde ranches and you can saddle up after you ski for a trail ride through snow-frosted woods and fields. Or find an independent outfitter like Fantasy Ranch Horseback in Crested Butte to book an afternoon ride once you've put away the skis for the day.