Taking the Kids: Finding hidden gems in snow country

She explained that though she and her husband, Cazes Martin, actually have a place in Vail, a 30-minute drive away, they've opted for enrolling 6-year-old Finley in ski school here for the season. "We love how relaxing it is," she explained.

There is no charge for parking, there's no jockeying for seats in the lodge and, she explained, "We are in the mindset of families that are doing this for fun as compared to being really aggressive, thinking they are raising future Olympians."

Check out our Fun in the Snow section for more ideas. There are other hidden gems elsewhere in Colorado and around the country for snow-loving families, suited especially for those with young kids and families just learning. Here are five good bets:

BOLTON VALLEY, Vermont, celebrating its 50th anniversary, is where northern Vermonters learn to ski and is locally owned with all-access lift tickets that give you access to the lifts, Nordic and backcountry terrain, as well as the sports center with pool, hot tub, sauna and kids' games. Ski for under $20 starting at 4 p.m. until 10 p.m., Tuesday through Saturday; ski for $19.66 on non-peak Mondays.

BRIGHTON RESORT in Utah averages 500 inches of snow and boasts 1,050 acres of terrain, accessible by high-speed chairlifts and the most night-skiing terrain in Utah. This is where many Utah kids learn to ski, since two kids, 10 and under, are free per paying adult, while an additional child is $20 and adults ski for under $70. (The cost at other major Utah resorts is nearly double for adults and more than $80 for kids.) There are free s'mores many Friday nights!

HOMEWOOD MOUNTAIN RESORT, one of California's first winter recreation resorts with 126 skiable acres, is an award winner for environmental leadership and offers fantastic views of Lake Tahoe from the slopes. Tahoe is celebrating record snowfall so far this winter and Homewood Mountain touts lift ticket three-packs as low as $66, as long as they're purchased in advance, and a $59 fee for first-time adults learning to ski or snowboard that includes a half-day lesson, rental equipment and lift ticket on beginner terrain. Kids lift tickets (and for those 70 and over) start at just $21; for teens $36, less than the cost of lunch at most major resorts.

SUNLIGHT MOUNTAIN in Colorado is close to Glenwood Hot Springs, the world's largest hot springs, and is celebrating its 50th anniversary. If you are looking for an old-school snow resort, this is the place with hundreds of acres of mild greens, intermediate slopes and black-diamond extremes. Kids five and under ski free, kids up to 12 are $45 and adults $63. There are less-expensive packages also, including the ski, swim and stay packages, which lets kids 12 and under ski free.

CAMELBACK MOUNTAIN in Pennsylvania's Pocono Mountains has the largest tubing park in the country (42 lanes), night-skiing and riding and the most terrain in the area. There is an alpine coaster and zip line. Most important, lift tickets are $53 for adults, $45 for kids and free for seniors, 70 and over.

Don't forget your helmets!

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(For more Taking the Kids, visit www.takingthekids.com and also follow "taking the kids" on www.twitter.com, where Eileen Ogintz welcomes your questions and comments.)