ASPEN SNOWMASS WINS A BLIZZARD OF AWARDS IN BEST FAMILY SKI RESORTS 2020

Australian’s Favourite Resort Wins 5 of 7 Awards for USA ski areas

ASPEN SNOWMASS, Co.— Oct 2, 2020 — Aspen Snowmass is honoured to have won first place in five of seven categories, and third in another, in the prestigious Ski & Snowboard with Kids magazine’s Best Family Ski Resorts Awards 2020.

As the only stand-alone snow travel magazine reaching the Australian family market, the Ski & Snowboard with Kids awards are eagerly awaited. In its category of USA, and against other top caliber resorts across Colorado, Utah, California, Wyoming, Montana and Idaho, Aspen Snowmass took out the top award of Best Family Ski Resort 2020. Telluride and Jackson Hole came in equal second, with Park City and Steamboat in equal third.

Helen Hayes, Editor of Ski & Snowboard with Kids, said, “It is no surprise that Aspen Snowmass took out the Best Family Ski Resort in the USA award. With four mountains, the world-class childcare and snow sports centres and the range of accommodation ensures every member of your family is catered for. Congratulations to CEO Mike Kaplan and his team.”

Winner, Winner, Chicken Dinner

Aspen Snowmass was also voted by readers as their No.1 Family Resort, while scooping the slopes in other categories with snow expert judges spanning the width of the ski industry from Snow Expo directors, to wholesalers, travel writers and equipment manufacturers.

In summary, Aspen Snowmass received the top USA awards for:

• Best Family Ski Resort
• Best for Beginners
• Best Village
• Best for All-Round Family Activities
• Reader’s Choice
• And no.3 for Best Advanced families

Jeff Hanle, Vice President of Communications at the Aspen Skiing Company said, “We are thrilled with these awards! We have such a long association with the Aussies as our top international market, and many have precious family time as slope-time with us during their summer school holidays. So, it means a lot to us that not only that they come here, but have a whale of a time when they do with every family member thought of.”

FIVE REASONS ASPEN SNOWMASS IS A FAMILY FAVOURITE

1. Zero To Four Years Love…

Our children centres are incomparable. At Snowmass the The Treehouse Kids’ Adventure Center is the first of its kind in the ski industry, a multilevel, 2,300-square-meter childcare and ski school facility in Snowmass Village with Colorado-themed play rooms (like a Fox Den and Trout Stream) and activities for children 8 weeks to 4 years old.

This was followed up by The Hideout at Buttermilk, a 700-square-metre new centre for future skiers. Buttermilk has long been considered one of the best mountains in North America to learn how to ski. Kids 2 1/2 to 4 have a gentle training slope for first turns, imagination-encouraging indoor rooms for ski breaks and delicious, healthy lunches.

2. Teens and Pre-Teens Love…

Teens can be a tough audience., but we have them covered – especially if they want to shred like a Winter X Games athlete!

Buttermilk’s parks and pipes is where the Winter X Games are hosted every year, with parks ranging from very beginner to expert. Meanwhile, over at Snowmass, a constantly evolving mix of rails, jumps and transitions, over 100 features in total – including a 22 foot Zaugg-cut Superpipe – is why it’s earned the reputation as one of the best resorts on the planet to ride in the park.

For kids 7 – 12 years, the  Kids Mountain Explorers is UNIQUE. The Aspen Way is at the centre of the program. We love our community, our pristine mountain environment, and our way of life. And we especially love sharing all of those with young rippers. Camp is about more than just turning left and right. Our coaches make it an adventure. Falling in love with the sport and the mountain environment, and pushing personal limits. This is an awesome introduction to mountain love and how we wear our values on our sleeves.

3. Kids Need Mega Delicious Food. Fact. 

No one is having a holiday if anyone is hangry. Have you ever eaten out with kids? Tired kids who have been skiing all day? Then you’ll know you need options with kid friendly (preferably healthy) menus, kid-welcoming venues that can be quick, and open early.

Après options are great for early dinners, our favourite is the Limelight Hotel Aspen with live apres music, casual vibe and wood fired pizzas. By the fire at The Little Nell is legendary for their hot chocolates, and  on-mountain you’ll also win with healthy options.

As an example, Aspen Snowmass gets all of its beef — for 12 restaurants across all four mountains — from local ranches.  Supporting local ranches who raise grass-fed beef not only reduces the energy needed to raise and transport beef, but it also helps the local economy.

Don’t miss the fish tacos and corn dogs at Merry-Go-Round restaurant on Highlands! (This author’s favourites). Look for the Kids Combo symbol next to select menu items – these meals come with two items from our Kids Cooler, like Fresh Fruit & Veggies or Hummus, Applesauce & Yogurt.

4. Awesome Accommodation Options

Where to stay? Teens love the atmosphere of Aspen downtown, as do parents on date nights after the babysitter arrives. Ski-in ski-out families can’t go past Snowmass, the biggest of the four mountains and with its new arrival, lift-side Limelight Hotel Snowmass, complete with a three-storey indoor climbing wall adjacent the foyer.

Snowmass is family-tastic, with Friday night Ullr nights (complete with s’mores marshmallow toasting), the Breathtaker Alpine Coaster winding through the trees, Snow biking, Tubing, Snowcat Dinner Rides, ice skating in the middle of the village square and oh yes, skiing and boarding in the third biggest ski area in the USA.

5. The Cherries on Top

So. Many. Cherries. You KNOW the snow is going to be great (we often close with still 2 metres of snow base, and regularly extend the season). And If there is one thing that truly competes with the terrain at Aspen Snowmass, its the vibrancy of town.

Art galleries, the Aspen Art Museum, the kids favourite The Aspen Centre for Environmental Studies with owls and critters, restaurants of every type and warm welcomes is what makes this a stand -out. Also, as an authentic mining town, the charming Victorian architecture will be something your kids have never seen and walking the pedestrian (heated) walks during a snowfall will make your stay just like our snowflakes – beautiful, and unique.