Taking the Kids: To ski country in summer

The other good news for you is that unlike last summer, Ski Country is less crowded and if you have some flexibility, you might even snare a deal, whether you are looking for a vacation rental from a company like Vacasa to share with extended family or friends or a tony resort you might not be able to afford in ski season.

If you are a snowsports fan, purchase your Vail Resorts Epic Pass this summer and get discounts off food, lodging, rentals, golf, airport shuttles to resorts and more from Vermont to Colorado, Utah, and California. There’s even snow-tubing at Vail’s Keystone Resort in Colorado where there is everything from mountaintop yoga and golf to a bungee trampoline, bounce house, “gem mining,” mini golf at the resort’s River Run Village.

The Westin Riverfront on Avon, Colorado, near Beaver Creek is touting discounts for longer stays. Enjoy the free Friday live music, hot tubs and pool overlooking the river, kayaks and more.

In Breckenridge, Colorado, where kids love splashing and skipping rocks in the Blue River Plaza, in the heart of downtown Breck, with its distinctive outdoor art, pet-friendly Beaver Run is offering a $25 nightly rebate to offset gas prices, as well as discounts up to 35 percent based on length of stay. (Come Aug. 12 to 21 for the Breckenridge International Festival of Art, including performances, art installations, exhibitions and more.)

And Grand Hyatt Vail on pretty Gore Creek has a variety of packages whether you want to fly fish or bike into Vail starting atop Vail Pass at (10,600 feet). Guests with pets love the Thursday night Yappy hours, guided bike and nature walks, and the Alpine-inspired spa treatments. (Nothing like a massage after a long hike or bike ride!)

Sundance Mountain Resort in Utah touts mountain weekend getaways with 30 percent off lodging, the Scenic Lift Gondola and breakfast. How about ziplining or a horseback ride while you are there?

Whether fly-fishing, mountain biking or ziplines, there are lots of chances to share a new experience with your kids — not to mention plenty of excellent eats whether you crave burgers, gourmet dining (The Grand Hyatt even has a celebrity chef program), artisanal pizza, pho, barbecue, interesting vegetarian and vegan options – the list goes on and on. Speaking of ziplines, you will find plenty of options in Ski Country for the adventure junkies in the gang from Angel Fire in New Mexico, Arbortrek canopy tours in Stowe, Vermont, at Catamount Mountain Resort in Massachusetts’ Berkshires at 5,5223 feet, the longest in the country), and at Big Sky Resort in Montana (race a fellow adventurer on a twin zipline up to 150 feet above the forest floor).

Gulp! Hope you are ready for an adventure! At the very least, you’ll love the mountain views.

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(For more Taking the Kids, visit www.takingthekids.com and also follow TakingTheKids on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram where Eileen Ogintz welcomes your questions and comments. The Kid’s Guide to Philadelphia and The Kid’s Guide to Camping are the latest in a series of 14 books for kid travelers published by Eileen.)