When planning your ski trip, check state travel advisories, many of which require out-of-state visitors to quarantine or have a negative COVID-19 test before arrival. While some resorts are welcoming families to stay in slopeside lodging, many are encouraging visitors to boot up at their cars and treat their vehicles like a personal base lodge. The National Ski Association has published the Ski Well Be Well guide to set industry standards for all resorts this year. As expected, masks are required, families will be kept together on chair lifts, and modifications have been made to popular children's programming. 

There are plenty of spots to ski (and make snow angels) among 464 acres of trails at Bretton Woods. Photo courtesy of Bretton Woods

Bretton Woods - New Hampshire

Bretton Woods is New Hampshire’s largest ski area. With many necessary changes in place to keep people distanced and safe while skiing and enjoying the lodge area, there will be skiing for the 2020-21 season. Snowmaking is planned for its 464 skiable acres. Après ski, families can enjoy renting a popular "Fat Bike" to pedal through the snow, snowshoeing through miles of trails, and tubing at the Bretton Woods Nordic Center. 

Sugarloaf - New Hampshire

You can’t help but gasp once you drive 'round “Oh My Gosh” corner on way to Sugarloaf. The mountain is the second-largest resort east of the Rockies and offers an impressive 162 trails and over 2,000 continuous vertical feet of skiing.  Perfect Turn, Sugarloaf’s ski school, provides ski instruction with both full- and part-day options. In addition to skiing, the Outdoor Center at Sugarloaf provides tons of family fun, like an NHL-sized ice skating rink, snowshoeing, and other Nordic sports.   

There will be plenty of snowmaking at Sugarloaf this year. Photo courtesy of Sugarloaf Mountain

Waterville Valley - New Hampshire 

Tons of easy to intermediate terrain, a charming town square, Nordic skiing, fat biking,  and snowshoeing are just some of the things that make Waterville Valley beloved by generations of families around New England. Make sure to grab a copy of the Resort Insider to see what activities the resort has planned for your stay. 

Loon - New Hampshire

Nestled in the White Mountains, Loon Mountain has been attracting families to its gentle slopes for decades. With  80% of Loon’s terrain marked as novice or intermediate, it’s a perfect choice for a family vacation. Stay slopeside at the Mountain Club, and enjoy the convenience of a ski in ski out resort.  Everyone can also relax at the  River Walk Resort that offers an outdoor hot tub,  game room, pool, and skating rink. Definitely save some time to check out Ice Castles located in nearby North Woodstock. 

Stratton- Vermont 

Stratton has an awesome 3 mile summit to base trail called Easy Street that is a designated go-slow zone, making it easy to spend some quality time on the slopes with your family this winter. Grizzly’s is a popular spot to warm up and grab a bite. Located in the base lodge, it will be open this season by reservation only. Don’t miss signing up for a snow tubing session at the Coca Cola Tube Park or gliding across the ice rink in the middle of the Commons. 

Like most ski spots this year, Sunday River is requiring that visitors ride chair lifts and gondolas only with family or their arrival group. Photo courtesy of Sunday River

Sunday River - Maine

There's a good reason that Sunday River is one of our favorite New England Ski Resorts. With a ton of terrain for young skiers to explore, Sunday River has long been one of Maine’s most popular ski resorts for families.  Twilight skiing, snow tubing, fireworks, and a bevy of slopeside sweets—think waffles and cinnamon rolls—it’s easy to see why families love coming back to Sunday River year after year.