Today’s guest post is by Keryn Means of Walking on Travels.
Winter fun isn’t just for the big kids. Little ones can dive in feet first with family-friendly activities for kids of any age, many of which are free or cheap, and will never take place on the famed slopes of Whistler.
Get the kids bundled up and head into Whistler Village with mittens and a sled in tow. A man-made hill perfect for toddlers to climb is set up in the main field. Spend hours zooming down over and over again; the free fun may never end. Thankfully there are plenty of coffee shops near by to grab a beverage and warm up before the next round of excitement.
After you have had enough of snow down your pants you can let the kids decide between the playground or ice rink. The playground is accessible for children of all mobility needs and skill levels, making it a great place to make new friends and even have an epic snowball fight in the tree house.
Ice-skating doesn’t have to just be for the big kids. For $5 you can rent skates and get a free helmet to borrow for toddlers. Our 2 year old had no problem fitting his toes in a pair. Plus they have small walkers for younger skaters that need a little help in the balance department. The best time to go is when the slopes are open and all the older kids are off snowboarding down the mountain. Our 2 year old son wasn’t quite ready to go out on ice on his own, but we had a blast helping him and falling down together.
If you are up for it you can head over to the Tube Park, although not free or cheap for that matter, it is still a great time for kids ages 3 and up. Parents can’t ride in their child’s tube with them, but you can hang onto it as they go down.
Ski school starts at 3 years old, which is the perfect age. No fear and they still bounce at this age, unlike their parents who have to worry about breaking an arm if we hit a bad patch of ice on our board.
But what about the babies? Those not quite walking don’t have to be kept out of the fun. Most hotels in the area have outdoor heated pools and hot tubs. If you don’t want to bring your baby outside you can always head to the Meadow Park Sports Centre for some indoor water fun.
Before the kids head to bed make sure you check out the Sunday night Fire and Ice Show. This was a huge hit with our toddler. He never would have left if it weren’t for our freezing toes and growling bellies.
When all else fails babysitters are on hand to give mom and dad a break so they can hit the slopes for a few hours alone time. Either way you go, the whole family, right down to the smallest snow fanatic, will have a blast on slopes of Whistler’s.
BIO: Keryn Means is the founder of Walking on Travels, a site that gives hope to today’s modern parent who doesn’t want to stop their lives; they simply bring their kids along for the ride. You can find Keryn dragging her 2 boys around Seattle most days and across the globe several times a year. Follow along on their adventures on Facebook, Google+ and Twitter.
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