Planning a ski trip with kids is an exercise in overwhelm. Between all the logistics to be navigated and all the gear to be packed, you want the highest possible chance that the family is going to have a good time together.
That’s why you need to choose a resort that’s been designed for real family travel: enter, Big White Ski Resort, based out of Kelowna, British Columbia in beautiful Canada.
Big White’s been famous for family snow travel since I skied there as a kid in the 90s. I still remember being thrilled by the ski school, where I loved a ski instructor so much that I asked him to marry me when I got older (understandably, he said no).
We stayed in a condo with a pool, and built snowmen out of the so-called local ‘Okanagan Champagne Powder’ every night (which just means it’s really fluffy), and skied among the snow ghosts, i.e. towering trees covered in ice rime, which make the landscapes look incredible.
I’ve been back to the resort many times as an adult, and every time I’m reminded why this place has set the standard for a good time as a family. Because it just GETS the things that make a snow holiday memorable for all the right reasons.
Here’s what makes it Canada’s best family destination…
A mountain designed for real family travel
This is the country’s largest totally ski-in, ski-out village, which is the first step for a dreamy ski holiday. Once you’ve taken a handy airport shuttle up to the mountain (which takes no more than an hour from Kelowna International Airport), there’s no more need for a car: everything is within walking or skiing distance. Plus local services can deliver everything from cots to highchairs and groceries directly to your accommodation for arrival.
When it comes to simplifying the morning shuffle, here’s a win: centralised drop-off. Tot Town sits right next to the Kids’ Centre, so if you’ve got kids in different age groups, you’re not zigzagging across the village. Add in the shuttle stop just steps away, and suddenly the whole routine feels a lot less like a workout before your ski day even starts.
All the other basics are streamlined too; rentals can be picked up the day before you start skiing, lessons can be pre-booked online, and check-in at the ski school is quick and efficient, completed with GPS trackers for the kids ensuring peace of mind.
The ski school that meets kids exactly where they are
A ski school so great, it was once voted ‘Best Place To Be Abandoned By Your Parents’ by Ski Canada Magazine, and ‘Top Five in the World’ by London’s Daily Mail (yes, really). It starts with the littlest of skiers with Tot Town daycare, for those 18 months to five years old, with a mix of indoor play/outdoor time/optional beginner ski experiences.
As kids grow, so do the options. Small-group lessons for ages four and five focus on play-based learning in safe beginner areas, while older kids are grouped by ability, whether they’re brand new or ready to explore more challenging terrain (snow ghosts, anyone?).
Private lessons offer more flexibility, and there’s even a ‘Teach Your Tot’ option: a two-hour private lesson is designed for kids aged three to five, introducing them to the basics of skiing with an intermediate level parent by their side.
One mountain, every level
With 119 runs, Big White manages terrain that genuinely works for everyone. This is because there’s a green run from the top of every chairlift, so you’re never stuck anywhere that you’re nervous about getting back down; plus a large dedicated beginner’s area, accessible via gondola for easy learning.
When you’ve graduated from those, you’ll be ready for the more challenging areas: perfect blue-run groomers to practice your turns (one of them is literally named Perfection, and for good reason), and plenty of black runs to test your skills, including mogul runs, tree runs and even The Cliff area for those who want to try a double-black.
For the kiddies, spots like Ogopogo (named after Kelowna’s lake monster, a distant cousin of Nessie) are perfect for getting an intro to tree runs. Or wear them out with ‘Around the World’, a 7.2km run from the top of the t-bar all the way down to the base of the ‘Gem Lake’ area, with views for days.
Beyond the slopes, Big White really shines
Evenings here have their own rhythm. Night skiing lights up the mountain several days a week, adding a whole new layer of excitement; or if you’re hoping for a date night, there’s always After Dark, a fully supervised evening program designed just for kids between 5-8pm, on select days of the week. Instructors will feed them dinner, take them tubing and even show them a movie while you’re out wining and dining.
As for family time, there’s no shortage of events. From Carnival Night (complete with a bouncy castle, games, face painting and the appearance of the Loose Moose) to craft sessions, kids culinary night, trivia night and bingo night. Or go tubing, ice skating, dog-sledding, snowmobiling. Try a sleigh ride or fat biking. Just don’t forget about the weekly fireworks on a Saturday night or a wander through the Twinkling Trail, a glowing forest walk that feels straight out of a picture book.
Why I keep going back
Nothing compares to how easy, welcoming and family-focused Big White feels. It’s in the way the mountain and everyone who works there embraces your family and treats kids like they belong, as opposed to an inconvenience.
Leaving is always be the hardest part. As soon as I see the shuttle arriving to take us back to the airport, we’re already talking about next year. Because once you find a place that works this well for your loved ones, you don’t keep searching… you just keep going back.
Looking at booking in to Big White next season? Now’s the time to save with earlybird deals for the 26/27 season. Click here to find them.
*This is sponsored content in partnership with Big White Ski Resort
