Missing out on the snow this winter? Don’t worry snow can be found just a short drive away! If you love the outdoors, there are plenty of opportunities to strap on your skis and get outside during the winter in our area. You will have to travel up to Wisconsin though, the trip isn’t very far, just over the border. I personally have visited two area resorts for downhill skiing.
Lake County Area Skiing for Families
Wilmot Mountain is located in Wilmot, Wisconsin. They offer a great program for little ones just learning to ski, up to kids who are a bit more experienced. Their Children’s Ski and Snowboard School is for children ages four and older, with four different levels. Classes run on Saturday, Sunday, and holidays, two times per day. You can choose a package that best fits your needs, including rental and lift ticket, or not. Now owned by Vail Resorts they have completed a major upgrade to facilities and amenities.
The ski instructors at Wilmot are great with the kids and teach them what they need in order to start skiing on their own. You will have to walk out to the kid’s hill, which is a hike from the main lodge, to drop off and pick up. I’ve done it with a stroller, and believe me, I will never do that again! So, bring another adult if you have younger kids too!
Otherwise, the mountain lodge has many amenities inside to keep them busy with you while you wait for your older kids, including food, a shop and just sitting by the fireplace sipping hot chocolate and watching the skiers. Speaking from experience (I grew up here- my mom is a ski instructor here and I’ve been skiing here since I was three), Wilmot is a quaint hill for skiers of many levels, but don’t go expecting a huge Colorado-like scene! There is also a tubing hill on the other side, which is new, and looks like loads of fun, although I haven’t been there yet!
Grand Geneva Ski Resort is located in Lake Geneva, Wisconsin. They offer a similar program for children ages four and up called Snow Cubs and Mountain Mites. The program is also in a group setting, and differentiates based on ability. The one difference I have noticed is that here they have a really neat way for the kids to get back up to the top of the hill. They have a “Wonder Carpet”, where the kids just hop on with their skis and this carpet just whisks them back up to the top. No fumbling with a scary rope tow for beginner kids here.
If you are looking for cross-country skiing in the area, you are in luck. Our forest preserves also serve as cross country skiing trails. There are nearly 124 miles available for use in many of the forest preserves. It is advised to check the Lake County Forest Preserves website for updated information on what is open/groomed (if we ever get snow that is)!
Do you ski as a family? Where is your favorite place to ski?
Find more Winter in Lake County fun.
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