When it comes to family ski holidays, few places hit the mark quite like Big White Ski Resort in British Columbia, Canada.
Famous among those in the know for its epic snowfall, great amenities and the country’s largest ski-in, ski-out village, it’s no wonder families return year after year to make the most of this winter wonderland.
Here are five reasons why Big White makes skiing feel less like a logistical challenge and more like an actual holiday, whether you’re wrangling tricky toddlers, equally tricky teenagers, or kids somewhere in between.
1. Four words… ski-in, ski-out
You’re on holiday, after all. No one wants to be trying to time their departure to catch the right shuttle/bus/ski tube. No one wants to trek through an icy car park. And no one wants to be walking more than 100m, especially with small children in tow.
Big White is built for convenience, with nearly every condo, chalet, and restaurant being slope-side. This makes it easy to drop back into your accommodation to pick up a lost mitten, grab a warm coffee at a local cafe, or sit at a bar for après while your kids do laps of the chairlifts. Even the village centre is ski-through!
Once you’re on the slopes, the resort also boasts Canada’s second-largest lift system, shuttling 28,700 skiers per hour. This means long lift lines are a rare sight, leaving you all the more time to ski with.
2. Epic snow, epic runs
They call it “Okanagan Champagne Powder” for good reason. Named after the region, the snow is feather-light and so fluffy, at times it’ll be tough to make a snowball. But you can make it up to the kids with sightings of the famous snow ghosts that are scattered around the alpine. Trees coated in rime ice, they’re natural sculptures that are spectacular to ski amongst, and make any photo into a postcard.
With 750cm of snowfall every season to enjoy an incredible 119 runs, you’ll have your pick of perfect groomers (including long, cruisy green runs, with the longest being over 7km) or more challenging descents (such as double-black diamond section The Cliff).
There’s something for everyone in the family, and best of all, you can all ski together; every lift at Big White gives access to at least one green run, so everyone can choose their own way down and meet at the bottom.
3. Après-ski, family style
After a full day on the slopes, this resort knows how to offer a range of ways to unwind and relax – or amp up the fun.
You can start by skiing right up to any of the restaurants in the Village, such as The Woods, which offers snacks, hot drinks and cold beers on the lively outdoor patio. Or there’s family-friendly entertainment every night of the week at the Happy Valley Day Lodge, which offers live music and events such as bingo, trivia and kid-friendly food specials.
Prefer to stay in? Grab a bottle of local Okanagan wine from the in-village market, queue up your favourite playlist, and enjoy a relaxing après experience without even leaving your condo, thanks to the hot tubs included in a wide range of their accommodation offerings.
4. Easy to get to
Big White is more accessible than you think. Fly into Vancouver International Airport, jump on a connecting flight to Kelowna International Airport (flight time is about an hour), and then climb onboard one of the resort’s mountain shuttles for the 55-minute drive up to the mountain.
If you time it right, you can be arriving at your accommodation in the morning, picking up your rentals at lunchtime, and skiing by the afternoon – the perfect cure for jet lag. And if it’s a night skiing night, even better; let the kids ski in the largest night skiing area in Western Canada as you either join them or relax with a drink.
Once you’re there, it’s worth mentioning you can ditch any further modes of transport outside of your skis. Everything is within walking distance, and there are great services to stock your fridge or even set up a Christmas tree within your unit should it be the season.
5. More than just skiing
Need something other than just skiing and boarding? Big White delivers with a full slate of off-slope adventures. Take a spin at Canada’s highest outdoor skating rink, race down the Tube Park, experience a magical horse-drawn sleigh ride, explore the trails on snowshoes, or take a walk through the new Twinkling Trail that weaves through the forest.
Want to try something truly Canadian? Try dog sledding through the snow-covered forest. And after dark, fireworks and events keep the magic going long after the last chairlift stops; like the carnival that kicks off in the Village Centre Mall every week, the kids events hosted in the Kids’ Centre, or the special events such as wine tasting nights.
When hunger strikes, Big White’s food scene offers everything from sushi to gourmet dinners. There are over 20 dining options on-mountain, so even picky eaters and foodies alike are covered.
Ready to ski more and stress less? Big White is waiting. Click here to find out more.
