Top family-friendly spring break mountain destinations

Spring Break is just around the corner and now is the perfect time to start planning your end-of-winter getaway; the kids are out of school, you are dying to escape from the stresses of work and there couldn’t be a better time to take off to an exotic destination with your family. However, you also want to make sure that your vacation is void of any crazy college spring-breakers and is family-oriented. We’ve put together some mountain destinations that provide the perfect environment to enjoy a family-friendly Spring Break adventure that you and the kids will never forget.

Park City, Utah

Park City Mountain Resort was named 2012’s "No. 1 resort for families in North America" by SKI Magazine, and it's not hard to see why. Park City's diverse terrain is perfect for families and young ones because half the mountain is family-friendly. There are plenty of beginner and intermediate runs to please all family members, plus a world-class ski school for new skiers and riders. Park City also boasts many activities that are kid-approved, including the mountain coaster, alpine slide, zip line, snow tubing at Gorgoza Park, night skiing and roaming down historic Main Street in search of the best treats and goodies.

Photo: Park City Mountain Resort

Steamboat Springs, Colorado

Steamboat often experiences its best weather and ski conditions in March. If you are looking to head out to the ski slopes with your family and enjoy a bluebird powder day over spring break, Steamboat is where you want to be. The coolest part about Steamboat's terrain is that there are multiple peaks that feature multiple types of trails, beginner trails included! Steamboat also has several family-friendly dining areas, such as Rex’s American Grill and Bar and Carl's Tavern. Kids will enjoy tubing at Howelsen Hill or Saddleback Ranch’s Yew-Haw Tubing Hill, fat biking throughout Steamboat's trail systems and the Coca-Cola Adventure Zone.

Keystone, Colorado

Keystone ranks year in- and year-out as one of the most popular family ski destinations in North America. Close proximity to Denver, kid-friendly ski terrain, affordable dining and several family-oriented activities all contribute to Keystone's kid-approved rating. Families can spend the morning exploring Keystone's ski slopes and terrain park, and then the afternoon experiencing other activities such as fat biking or snow tubing at Adventure Point, ice skating at Keystone Lake or Decrum Square or a GPS scavenger hunt through River Run or Dercum Mountain. Keystone's most famous children's event is Kidtopia, a daily schedule of events including the world's largest snow fort, dancing to live music, arts and crafts, ice cream parties and free cookies!

Copper Mountain, Colorado

Copper Mountain is a self-contained resort, with lodging, base village, shops and restaurants all conveniently located at the base of Copper Mountain, making things easy for families. Coordinating ski school with equipment rentals has never been easier! Copper also offers several off-mountain kid-friendly activities, including The Tubing Hill, Critterland for the tiny ones and Woodward at Copper, along with its diverse and beginner-oriented ski terrain. Spring is also a great time for families at Copper Mountain because they boast the World's Largest Easter Egg Hunt, spreading 65,000 eggs across 2,500 acres, incorporating different hunts for various age groups.

Photo: Copper Mountain Ski Resort

Northstar at Tahoe, California

Northstar is another resort that is consistently ranked as one of the best family ski destinations in North America, and for good reason! As a self-contained resort, families don't need to coordinate transportation or worry about going for dining and activities—everything they need is right there! 73-percent of Northstar's terrain is designated as beginner or intermediate, and the resort also offers many children's activities: ice skating, pottery and candle-making, Burton Snowboard Academy and Riglett Park and a tubing hill. During the spring, Northstar also has many family-friendly events like live music on the weekends, Ripperoo Parades and Spring It On! Yard Games and Activities in late April.

Photo: Northstar Ski Resort