Family friendly ski resorts are open!

Winter is here, and the snowy terrain, awesome adventures, and scenic views await NJ families. Most of these kid friendly ski areas offer a mixture of skiing, snowboarding, and snow tubing. Night skiing is also available at many of these resorts. Some offer free lessons for young children, or free child passes with an adult ticket purchase. All are within close driving vicinity to North and Central New Jersey, so it's a great time to get outside, make it a day trip or family weekend getaway. Buy or reserve your tickets, rentals, and lessons ahead of time. Remember to check winter operation hours as they may differ around the holiday timeframe, and weekend vs weekday.

Mountain Creek

New Jersey's premier ski resort offers skiing, snowboarding, snowtubing, along with a Terrain Park. With four mountain peaks and eight lifts, suitable to a variety of ability level. Group lessons offered. Kids camp for ages 4-12. Lodging with slope side accommodations available as well. Go online for more information on snow tickets, group tickets, and season passes. Enjoy Sno-Go accessibility, slide on the snow without any restrictions. Adaptive Sports programs available. 200 Route 94, Vernon, NJ. mountaincreek.com

Big Snow (Indoors)

Every day is a snow day at Big Snow. Enjoy North America’s only indoor real snow year round ski and snow resort at the American Dream Mall. Camp BIG Children’s Program for beginners ages 5-12 consists of on-snow instruction and supervision. Buy your general tickets, lessons, rentals, and special event tickets online. So much fun! 1 American Dream Way, E Rutherford, NJ.

Campgaw Mountain

Kid friendly mountain for learn-to-ski/snowboard and a perfect snow tubing destination. Campgaw is located in Mahwah, Bergen County NJ.  There's day and night skiing (with 8 beginner/intermediate trails and magic carpet lifts for beginners), snowboarding, and snow tubing runs. 

Pennsylvania Ski

Jack Frost Big Boulder

JFBB in Pennsylvania has got you covered this winter! The resorts are open for skiing, snowboarding and family snow tubing, from novice to the expert skier or rider. There are no out of bounds, all can experience snow fun. Terrain parks for snowboarders and freeskiers. Tickets, lessons, rentals available online. jfbb.com

Blue Mountain Resort

Great ski destination for kids! Blue Mountain Resort in Pennsylvania is a family friendly mountain with 40 Trails and 56 tubing lanes. Blue Mountain is your Outdoor Adventure destination located in the Pocono Mountains. Close to home, and only 90 minutes from Philadelphia and 90 minutes from New York. Ski day or night. 

Bear Creek Mountain

Skiing & Snowboarding at Bear Creek Mountain for all levels from beginner to expert. Slope side lodging with a 4 season resort hotel at the base of the mountain. Learn to ski or ride packages. Snow Zone area dedicated to young kids to practice their skills. Also check out snow tubing at this Lehigh Valley, PA resort. 

Camelback Mountain

Visit the Poconos for skiing & snowboarding at Camelback in Tannersville PA. There are 39 trails with 100% snowmaking. Kids 5 and under get a FREE lift ticket. Snowtubing available on over 40 lanes. Head over to Aquatopia Indoor Waterpark for water fun. 

Shawnee Mountain Ski Area

Have fun skiing, snowboarding, and snow tubing at Shawnee in East Stroudsburg, PA, a mountain resort with 23 trails and 2 Terrain Parks. Children ski programs for ages 4+. Children 46” & under receive a FREE ticket with a paying adult. 

New York Ski Resorts

Belleayre Mountain

Well known for being a family friendly ski mountain, Belleayre Mountain located in the Catskill Mountains in Highmount, NY, has 8 lifts leading to beginner, intermediate and expert terrains. Ski and snowboard lessons, and kids camp offered. You can buy tickets online in advance. 

Hunter Mountain

Head up to Hunter NY for skiing and snowboarding at Hunter Mountain. Kids lessons. 67 trails, 13 lifts. Snow Tubing Park with lanes nearly 1,000 feet long. Buy passes online. Book your ski in / ski out lodging accommodations. 

Mount Peter

At New York’s Family Mountain, Mount Peter in Warwick NY offers snow skiing, snowboarding, and snow tubing. 13 trails, magic carpets, and Terrain Park. FREE Beginner Ski and Snowboard Lessons on weekends and holidays for first time skiers or boarders (age 5+) with a purchase of an all day pass. Tiny Tots age 4 and under receive a free ticket on weekday/non holiday with purchase of adult ticket. Day and Night skiing. All purchases must be made online. 

Windham Mountain Club

Stunning adventure at Windham Mountain in Windham NY with skiing, snowboarding, and snow tubing. 6 terrain parks and 11 lifts. Lessons available for all skill levels. Kids lessons children ages 3-12. 

Cross Country Skiing

Enjoy the great scenery! Most trails are not groomed.
• Palisades Interstate Parkway (Bergen County)
• South Mountain Reservation (Essex County)
• Wawayanda State Park (Passaic County)
• Lewis Morris County Park (Morris County)
• High Point Cross Country Ski Center (Sussex County)

Ice Skating

Woodbridge Community Center Ice Skating

General public skating Fri, Sat, Sun. Skating lessons, hockey, and birthday parties. Head over to WCC and lace up those skates! 600 Main St, Woodbridge. 

Codey Arena

Along with public ice-skating at Codey Arena, you will find all sorts of non-skating activities in the vicinity, including the Turtle Back Zoo, zipline, trains, and mini-golf. See schedule for open skate sessions. 560 Northfield Ave, West Orange, NJ. 

Mennen Sports Arena

Indoor year round ice skating rinks at the Mennen Sports Arena. Public skate times, learn to skate classes, and lessons for all levels. Morristown, NJ. 

Sledding

Grab your red flyer or sled and sit tight!
• Allamuchy Mountain State Park, Allamuchy
• Briant Park, Summit
• Chubb Park, Chester
• Echo Lake Park, Mountainside
• Hopatcong State Park, Hopatcong
• Meisel Park, Springfield
• Ringwood State Park, Ringwood
• Round Valley Recreation Area, Lebanon

Snowshoeing

Snowshoeing is fun and easy to learn! Here are some parks and trails:
• Ramapo Mountain State Forest (Bergen County)
• Round Valley Recreation Area (Hunterdon County)
• Pyramid Mountain Natural Area (Morris County)
• High Point State Park (Sussex County)
• Allamuchy Mountain State Park (Warren County)

Enjoy the winter season!

Check for more Things To Do this season.