Ski Resorts with Bonus Amenitiesby Michele Cheplic | More from this Blogger 12 Jan 2008 10:35 PM If you have a large family then you know how hard it is to find a vacation spot that caters to everyone's likes. It's the reason some families forgo ski trips because not everyone in the clan enjoys shooshing down the slopes for five consecutive days. Enter the ski resorts with extras (that's what I refer to them anyway). They are the places that don't just offer top-rate skiing, but also have on-site spas, galleries, shops, and restaurants that are just as enticing as the slopes. The following areas are home to some of the world's best ski slopes, but also cater to the ice skaters, dog-sledders, shoppers and snowshoers in your family: UTAH Park City, Utah hosted the 2002 Olympic Winter Games and has since maintained every bit of the allure that made it famous back then. The upscale resort town is located just 40 minutes from the Salt Lake City International Airport and continues to welcome the world's best skiers. In addition to the 9,026 acres that comprise its three adjacent ski areas the city offers a host of other winter activities. You can go sleigh riding, snowshoeing, ice-skating, hot-air ballooning, or even bobsledding down the same track used in the Olympics... or simply relax in one the area's four full-service spas. The quaint town also offers 100-plus restaurants and bars, 20-plus art galleries, and dozens of shops and boutiques. VERMONT Stowe, Vermont is the ideal winter escape for ski bunnies on the East Coast. But the laid-back city has a lot more to offer than just its famous night-skiing events. The area is home to half-a-dozen wellness centers and spas, as well as yoga and Pilates centers. If you are looking to take a break from the slopes drag your tired chilled body over to the warm whirlpools at Spruce Peak and Mount Mansfield. If you have children they will delight in taking a day off from snow-related activities to visit Stowe's kid-friendly attractions such as The Vermont Teddy Bear Company and Ben & Jerry's Ice Cream Factory, which offers free samples of its frozen treats to kids of all ages. CANADA Canada's Mont Tremblant is known for providing winter sports enthusiasts the chance to catch their thrills on skis or off. The resort offers traditional ski rentals along with a host of other high-thrill activities such as tubing, ice climbing and access to Acrobranche, an obstacle course of sorts that features "Tarzan ropes" and suspended bridges atop a forest canopy some 75 feet above the ground. Your climb culminates with an exhilarating ride back to Mont Tremblant via a zipline. Other family friendly options available at the popular ski village include dog-sledding, horseback riding, and sleigh rides. Related Articles: The Search for the Perfect Family-Friendly Ski Resort Finding the Perfect Family-Friendly Ski Resort Ski Season Off to A Snowy Start Winter Adventure Travel Packages---Colorado Winter Adventure Travel Packages---Vermont A Family Ski Vacation--Already? Tips For Your Family Ski Vacation Canada---Not Just A Winter Destination Learn more about Michele Cheplic  Michele Cheplic was born and raised in Hilo, Hawaii, but now lives in Wisconsin. Michele graduated from the University of Wisconsin-Madison with a degree in Journalism. Relevanttravel tags User Comments No comments on this article yet. Be the first to comment! Community Tags canada, ski, ski resorts, utah, Vermont Discuss this article
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