Summary:  Sometimes what makes a great family resort is that feeling that you have mountain all to yourself.  At Big Sky, a family can get away from it all and feel like they are at a place all their own.  Big Sky also has a variety of restaurants, decent nightlife, a la carte ski school pricing, and lots of great terrain.  But the thing that makes this a top family destination is the lack of crowds, and your family’s subsequent ability to enjoy as many runs as they are up for.

There is also something about skiing in Montana -- the ruggedness, the remoteness, the fact that there is no major metro area (like Denver or Salt Lake City) creating weekend traffic -- that adds to the allure.

Big Sky lies in the southwest corner of Montana, near Yellowstone National Park.  This makes Big Sky’s weather very similar to what you might find at Jackson Hole – a bit colder on average than Colorado but nothing like the northern part of Montana.  Both Big Sky and underrated Bridger Bowl, an hour away near the town of Bozeman, generally have excellent snow conditions.

Terrain / Highest Elevation / Vertical Drop:  3,800 acres / 11.200 feet / 4,350 feet

Activities for Non-Skiers:  Big Sky is located driving distance from a bunch of great sights.  Yellowstone is just 20 miles away, and can provide for a great diversion if you need to take a day off from skiing.  The town of Bozeman is 45 minutes away, and while being a medium-sized college town, it doubles as a decent place to shop and try some different dining.  The Big Sky area itself is composed of a couple resorts and bedroom community to support them, with shops, restaurants, and bars. 

Ski School:  Big Sky has been very innovative with their ski school pricing, and we commend them for it.  They offer a la carte pricing -- your child can attend for as little as two hours or as long as the full day, and the price will vary from $64 to $160 depending on how many modules you choose.  They also offer a “Mommy and Me” program, a 2 hour program which teaches the parent, the child and goes the extra mile of teaching the parent how to ski with the child.  It isn’t cheap at $250, but might be good for a parent skiing the big slopes with their child for the first time.

Day Care:  Children 6 months to 8 years old can spend time in the daycare, located very close to the ski school area.  Combo days of daycare / ski school are also available.

Getting there:  The Bozeman airport is an easy 45 drive from Big Sky, and you can find good jet service there from many major cities.  Northwest, Delta, United, and Alaska all fly to Bozeman from their major hubs.

Insider Tip:  This is a ski town where you might want to rent a car.  Besides the drive to/from the airport, you’ll open up your dining and shopping options if you have a set of wheels – mass transit is limited.