Later in the day, join Family Fun and Disney Adventure magazines for a free and fun-filled winter carnival and slope-side barbecue party. Activities include outdoor carnival games, snowcat rides, talking to patrol and meeting avalanche rescue dogs, family photos with Burnie the Bear, food, music, giveaways, prizes and more. The carnival will be on select Thursdays in Feb. and March at the end of the Snowmass Village Mall in the Bear Den Corral. The party is FREE and is open to families with children of all ages.

At Buttermilk, Max the Moose welcomes kids to the mountain. His purple bus picks up children at the Gondola Plaza in Aspen and transports them to Buttermilk. Once kids are at the mountain, they can explore Fort Frog - a child’s adventure center featuring a western-style fort and Native American village. Kid’s can also race against Max and participate in his weekly treasure hunt.

Families and children of all ages will enjoy the terrain parks and halfpipes located on the mountains of Aspen/Snowmass. Ajax has the world’s only skier-only terrain park. Snowmass and Buttermilk have terrain parks and halfpipes that are fun for both skiers and snowboarders. Additionally, Snowmass and Buttermilk also have smaller, learning parks and pipes. These parks and pipes provide a mellower environment for children and those just learning.

There are many ways to spend the day together but sometimes it’s fun to explore. Families can keep in touch by renting cell phones or pagers arranged at the concierge desks at the base of Ajax and Snowmass. FREE shuttles are offered between all four mountains for everyone in the family and intermountain equipment transfer is available at all mountains. Parents and children can explore the four mountains separately and meet up for lunch or ski/ride together later in the day. Equipment transfer is free when renting from any Pro Mountain Sport shop.

Ski & Snowboard Schools of Aspen offer special programs for infants, toddlers, kids and teens that operate every day of the season.

It’s fun and educational! Honest. On Tuesdays at 3:30 p.m., children are welcome to test their skills and stamina in Snow Games with Burnie the Bear. Outdoor games include snowman building, obstacle course, relay race, snow tug-of-war and snow olympics. All ages are welcome and it’s free.

Families can enjoy Fresh Tracks snowshoe adventures together. These two-hour snowshoe tours are lead by a naturalist guide from the Aspen Center for Environmental Studies (ACES). The tours allow guests to discover mountain ecology, local flora and local fauna. Cost is $39 for adults and $25 for ages 8 through 19 and 65 and older. Cost includes a foot pass, equipment, guide and a snack. Tours leave from the top of Ajax and from Two Creeks at Snowmass at 10 a.m. and 1 p.m. daily. 

Families meet at the Wapiti Wildlife Center at the top of Elk Camp on Snowmass for Fresh Tracks downhill tours. A guide from ACES leads a nature tour down Elk Camp. Tours leave at 11 a.m. and 1 p.m. Monday through Friday and are FREE. Tours are also offered at Buttermilk on Tuesdays and Thursdays at 11 a.m. and 1 p.m. Guests should meet at the information booth at the top of the mountain. 

Children can also experience the "Winter Wild Things" Nature Experience offered by the Ski & Snowboard Schools of Aspen and ACES. The program is available to children participating in ski and snowboard school classes on Wednesdays and Fridays in Snowmass and Tuesdays at Buttermilk. Children meet with "Westy, the Wild Thing" from ACES, to learn about and explore winter animal facts, tracks and habitats. The program is FREE.

The new tubing hill at Snowmass is fun for the entire family. Tube Town located on Assay Hill operates from noon to 8 p.m. daily. The tubing course is designed to provide thrills for everyone. Guests pay $12 for unlimited runs and the use of a specially designed tube is included. Children under 4 are not allowed in the tubing area and children ages 4, 5 and 6 must be accompanied by an adult. Tickets can be purchased at the Tube Town Yurt.

A favorite family tradition is "Storytelling by the Campfire." All ages are welcome to join Snowmass Village local, Chuck Barth, every Monday and Wednesday for an evening of great tales of ice and snow. Roasting marshmallows for s’mores and drinking hot chocolate will help families stay warm during this outside adventure. The fire-pit is located in Snowmass Village across from the town shuttle on Daly Lane, next to the Pokolodi Lodge. FREE for all ages.

Other activities include a FREE Piñata Bash every Wednesday at 3:30 p.m. in the middle of the Mall outside of Christy Sports. Search the Mall for crazy clues leading to great prizes from participating stores and restaurants during the Scavenger Hunt every Thursday at 3:30 p.m. Meet at the Big Clock on the Mall by Paradise Bakery. Also, at the end of every day experience the excitement of riding in a snowcat and see how the slopes are groomed. Limited space available, guests should sign up in the Snowmass ticket pavilion. These activities are free and have been created with the whole family in mind. Call 970/923-2000 for more information.

The family twilight snowcat ride and dinner is a special way to highlight a vacation. This family adventure begins with a snowcat ride up Snowmass to the Burlingame Cabin. Families are treated to an evening of live entertainment and a cozy family-style feast. Activities include a sing-a-long, magicians, storytelling and more. Dinners are every Tuesday from 5 to 7:45 p.m. 

Dozens of restaurants in the Aspen/Snowmass area cater to families. Family-friendly restaurants in Aspen include the Hard Rock Café, Su Casa for Mexican food and don’t forget to ask about the children’s menu at the Chart House. Teens also love to hang out at New York Pizza on the Hyman Avenue Mall where a slice of cheese pizza is only $2.50. A family favorite in Snowmass is Mangia, Mangia. The crew is happy to deliver a bucket of pasta right to a hungry family’s door. Pasta is priced by the gallon and delivery is free in Snowmass after 5 p.m.

For Teens
Teens can leave their parents at home for a night out at the Tubing Hill. The evening includes dinner, drinks and tubing for $20 and is offered to teens ages 12 to 19. Teen night is on Tuesdays at 5:30 PM; Dec. 26, Jan. 2, Feb. 20 and March 20 and 27. Teens should meet at the Big Clock on the Snowmass Village Mall. Call the Snowmass Village Resort Association at 970/923-2000 for more information. Also, on designated nights throughout the season the Cirque Café in Snowmass will be open to teens only. The night will include a dee jay or live music, food and non-alcoholic drinks. 

Other options for teens are the Aspen Youth Center  movies at Stage 3, Movieland  or the Isis . Indoor and outdoor ice skating at the Aspen Ice Garden  or the Silver Circle Ice Rink.