Looking to take a family ski trip during the holidays/new year break. Would like to drive to save a few bucks (we are in DFW). And, we are all novices.....so not looking for any intense black diamond butt clinching slopes.

Go......

Look at Ski Apache, if you're driving.

Kids? Age? Makes a difference with ski schools etc.

Angel Fire was our 'go to' when our kids were little. when they got a little oder and could ski independently we graduated to Red River which is a bit steeper but there is a lot of terrain that is approprate for beginners.

I’m not a big skier.

Last year we went to Red River, lot of snow. Cool older town.

One year I stayed in Salida Colorado and drove to Monarch Ski area. Salida was pretty good too.

My favorite ski town is Keystone. It has a nice Christmas feel.

Anywhere in beautiful Colorado U.S.A.

Red River, NM

Better wait on Ski Apache, right now they cannot even make snow. The hill looks pathetic.

I'm not a skier but when we lived in Albuquerque, Sandia Peak seemed to be very popular with the locals.

Ski Cooper. Great mountain for families, good training hill, super convenient and never crowded. It's perfect for what you are looking for. Even when we ski at Vail, we drive over for a day on this mountain. Near the town of Leadville.

We went to park city Utah for spring break. We enjoyed it very much.


Went to beaver creek Colorado the year before and we loved it, but I wouldn’t take my kids there.

Sorry - ages 13 and 11

When our kids were small we really enjoyed Sipapu Ski in New Mexico. Extremely kid friendly, lessons are really cheap, but you can ski it out in no time if your experienced. You can put a harness on toddlers and go down the mtn.

For a driving trip, and novice skiers I highly suggest Angel Fire. Lots of good beginner and intermediate terrain, and one of the best ski schools in the Rockies. Spend the extra $ and invest in private lessons on day one for your family. Will make for a much more enjoyable trip. My family made the trip yearly for a dozen years while our kids were growing up.

One other thing. This late in the year getting holiday break hotel rooms or a condo in any ski town will be very difficult. Might consider Eagle Nest New Mexico which is 15-20 minutes from either Angel Fire or Red River.

Take a video camera

Skiing and saving money don't go together! But New Mexico will be best bet if they have snow! We went to Telluride last year and our lodging on the mountain was free. Still cost $2,500 for 3 people and 3 days of skiing. That's food, gas, skis, and lift tickets. Crested Butte used to not be too bad.

I'm assuming you meant "Copper" Mtn. in Colorado. I agree, we went there the first time I ever skied, as an adult. Cajuns aren't naturally able to ski. We had a great time, lots of Green slopes and you're not that far from Breckenridge or Night skiiing at Keystone. Also find a place to go snow tubing, it's a real hoot!

Charlie

Since you are in Dallas and your kids are the age they are I would agree with the other recommendations for New Mexico. Call ahead to check snow levels but Angel Fire makes their own. Red River has capability but because of the orientation of the runs they tend to get and keep their snow when others can't. We have stayed in Red River several times and driven over to Angel Fire. Also stayed in Eagle Nest and Angel fire. Never a bad experience and all are easily accessible.

Someone else mentioned ski school. This will make the trip more enjoyable even if you have had a lesson before and its been a few years.

Copper is a fun place too but Cooper in Leadville is neat and clean and not as old as the Copper Mtn. ski area.

Ski Cooper

I lived just south of Denver my last 2 years of high school and spent every weekend in the mountains - summer and winter.

No question, you need to go to Wolf Creek in Colorado. Always the most snow in Colorado and it is a family ski spot. You will never see a Kardashian there!
Great for novices, also the cheapest place to stay and ski in Colorado. Pagosa Springs is where you need to stay. 12 hours from DFW.
Now, I rent a cabin in Pagosa Springs but for the time you are requesting, I am booked two & three years in advance. You need to make
a decision now about where you are going or you won't be going anywhere. You picked the busiest week of the year. If I can be of
any help at all, just PM me. I hope you and your family make many wonderful memories on this vacation.

Breckenridge or Keystone all the way. Breck is my favorite.

We went skiing for the first time last year and went to Copper Mountain, CO. I liked Copper Mountain, but the only negative was the pot smell. Call me an old fart or party pooper if you want, I didn't appreciate walking past the fire pits with my kids and having the smell of skunk weed waft in our faces. My wife had skied at Red River in New Mexico growing up, so that is where we are going this spring break.

On another note...if this is your first time skiing...here's the most important thing that I learned last year on my first time skiing. No matter how good you are at wakeboarding...and I mean you could look like Darin Shapiro...snow boarding is not meant for over 45 year old men!!! I repeat. Please, for your own sake, Do not take a snow boarding class!!!! Just take your skis and go ski like all the other uncool looking people. You can thank me later.

Yep.

Did this same thing at Red River, the lessons were great. Kids were flying in no time. Angel Fire probably has more beginner terrain but RR is not bad. Look into the night-time snowmobile trip too, that was crazy fun.

Hopefully they start getting snow soon. If you have a little over a month before the holidays.

https://www.skinewmexico.com/snow-report/