KidStuff

Discounts are available by booking child care and lessons at least seven days in advance.

Child care: Ages 8 weeks to 3½ years. Cost is $77 for a half day, $115 for a full day with multiday discounts. Reservations required; call (970) 923-0563 or (877) 282-7736. The Snow Cubs program is based out of the lower level of the Mall.

Other options: Aspen Babysitting Company (970-948-6849) offers babysitting services at your hotel room or condo (insured and bonded). Little Red School House (970-923-3756) has licensed day care for ages 3–5. Baby's Away (800-948-9030; 970-920-1699) rents and will deliver baby needs to your lodge, such as crib, stroller, car seat and toys. Reservations are recommended for all of these services.

Children's Lessons: We've listed the children's programs at Snowmass here; for kids' lessons at Buttermilk and Aspen Highlands see Aspen. All kids 12 and younger must wear helmets while in ski and snowboard school. Helmets can be rented for $6 a day. Equipment rental is an additional $18. Lift tickets are extra for kids 7 and older. All-day programs include lunch. For more information about lessons, call (970) 923-1227 or (877) 282-7736.

The Snow Cubs day-care program offers brief ski lessons for toddlers as an option. Toilet-trained 3-year-olds take group lessons, while others must enroll in private lessons. The cost is $115 for a full day, plus $80 if a private lesson is needed. Reservations are required; if space is available for walk-ins, prices are higher. Ages 3–6 years cost $115 for a full day of lessons; $77 for a half day. Reservations are strongly recommended; if space is available for walk-ins, prices are higher.

Ages 7–12 for skiing, and 8–12 for snowboarding, have full-day classes for $82. Teens 13–17 can enroll in "Too Cool for School," where groups are formed by age and ability, for $77. Teens who are first-timers can take a lesson package that includes lesson, rentals and lift ticket for $100.

Special activities: Snowmass has some great free activities for kids once the lifts shut down. On Wednesdays, there's a "Piñata Bash" beginning at 3:30 p.m. in the middle of the Snowmass Village Mall. For campfire sing-alongs and storytelling, complete with free marshmallows and hot chocolate, meet at the firepit next to the Pokolodi Lodge at 4 p.m. Mondays and Wednesdays. Every night there are magic and comedy shows just for kids at the Tower Magic Bar and Restaurant.

If you want a night to yourselves, Night Hawks is an evening child-care program (877-282-7736) for ages 3–10; $12/hour for the first child; half that price for additional children in the same family.