One of the questions we get asked about most over at Mix and Match Travel is, “What Should I Pack?”. Shay and I decided to do a little mini-series of posts where we highlight things to pack on different types of vacations. Hopefully, it’ll be beneficial to not only current clients but lots of you heading out on a little vacation of your own.
Today, I’m talking WHAT TO PACK FOR A SKI VACATION.
Let me tell you packing for one skier was pretty easy but remembering to bring every glove, base layer, and goggles for a family of five was a little more difficult. I’m going to refer back to this blog post when I’m packing for our next ski adventure.
#1 Something Comfy for the Flight
First up, is something cute and comfy for the flight. (Picture on left)-I bought this Barefood Dreams poncho last year before we went to Deer Valley. It was perfect. The entire flight I felt like I was wrapped up in a comfy blanket. (Picture on right)-I’ve shared before about my love for these Spanx leggings. They’re faux leather so they look cute and can be dressed up or down. No need to change the second we arrive…I’m set for the day.
#2 Base Layers
I can’t believe I don’t have a picture of Bowen in his base layer clothes. He was so cute in his little leggings. Anyway, make sure you pack a base layer for everyone. I went to Under Armour and grabbed this, this, and this for the boys. I got Bowen the 3/4 pair of pants in an XS. They were a little short, but with his tall socks it worked out just fine. I got this and this for Ebby Lee. I took these leggings that I bought last year and then I also took a pair of my Zella leggings. I paired them both with a top of some kind-in the picture above I’m wearing this long sleeve top. If it’s going to be crazy cold, then I’d double up on base layers.
#3 Ski Clothes
I bought my pants and jacket last year from Under Armour. They have quality items and are super affordable. Tab’s been skiing many more times so he’s picked up items here and there. When I washed all our gear from this trip, I had something red in the pockets of my ski jacket so it turned my jacket a weird pink. I’ll be in search of some new gear the next time we go. I’m pretty sure Tab thinks I did that on purpose. haha! #ipromiseididnt
#4 Swimsuits
As crazy as it sounds…don’t forget your swimsuit when you’re heading to the mountains. I am not a fan of an indoor pool or hot tub. The overwhelming scent of chlorine and the humidity in the room…it just isn’t my favorite thing. I didn’t grab my suit because I knew I wouldn’t want to swim indoors. Well, I totally could have hung out in the outdoor hot tub. And after a day full of skiing it would have felt nice!
#5 Cold Weather Accessories
I’m talking gloves, scarves, beanies, buffs, and anything else keeping your body warm. Nixon is not a fan of a beanie so you’ll notice he’s never wearing one in any of the pictures. The first thing on my body that gets cold is my hands so gloves are a must.
Notice those buffs over their mouths…if the weather is cold where you’re skiing, pack one of these! You’ll be so glad you did.
#6 Items for Around Town
Make sure you remember to pack some cute things to wear to dinner. And a fur vest is always recommended. 😉 (Can you see mine peeking out from under my coat?)
Outfit in the middle is a dinner outfit, but the left photo and right photo are “spaaing” outfits. If you plan on hitting up the spa, make sure to pack something comfy to wear to and from.
#7 Ski Gear
We always rent ski gear…boots, skis, poles, and helmets, so we don’t have to worry about packing all of that. But if you have it, make sure you pack it.
#8 Goggles/Ski Socks
Don’t forget your goggles and warm ski socks. 🙂
I’m not a professional skier by any means. You guys have seen my videos. haha! So I don’t have many tips and tricks but I’d definitely recommend ski school for both newbie adult skiers and kids. I’ve shared my thoughts about this already but we decided to take the private instructor route in Vail…you can have up to six people in one class so the kiddos and I could do it together, I was a little worried they would be upset about going to ski school, and the private instructor was the more economical route. But six people with a variety of different personalities and abilities was just too much. Our ski instructor was trying to help me, Bowen, Nixon, Ebby Lee, and my father-in-law. It would have been better to split up the instructor’s day and give us each one to two full hours of his undivided attention. Or…just put us all in ski school. 🙂
Right now we aren’t offering ski vacations, but if you’re interested in a vacation to Walt Disney World, Mexican all-inclusives, and cruises sailing to Alaska, Hawaii, Mexico, and the Caribbean e-mail us at mixandmatchtravelagency@yaoo.com. We’d love to help you with your next vacation.
Skiing Friends…please share what you pack on a ski vacation? Where’s your favorite place to ski? And…what’s your favorite mountain with lots of green runs (this one is all for me)?
Make sure to hop over to Shay’s blog where she’s sharing what to pack on a CITY vacation. Have a great day! XO
Layers are so important!
Xo, Elizabeth
http://stripesandsolitaires.com
Remember our conversation about skiing last week and the amount of anxiety I had when I read your post? Well randomly, the next day, Chris told me "Carter said yesterday that he wants to go skiing." WHAT?!? My tip for myself might be to pack some anti-anxiety meds. I'll be a mess.
The fact that you made it home with every single item should earn you some sort of medal. I mean…that is IMPRESSIVE, friend!
Beaver Creek Colorado is the absolute best mountain for green and blue runs. It is AMAZING!
What a great series idea! I'm looking forward to all the installments, and I know I'll get some new ideas for packing for our vacations. We just returned from Disney, and are headed to New England this summer!
We just went on our first family ski vacation in February…we had SO much fun! I would add in those little hand and foot warmers if it's super cold for where you're going as well as snacks…it's super easy to throw a granola bar or protein bar into your coat for yourself for the kiddos for a quick snack when they get hungry (hangry!)
You know I am bookmarking this for next year! I love this series! So many great tips!!
You know Tim and I love to ski!!!! When we lived in DC, it was so nice to go for a day trip to Maryland or VA. Of course you can't beat Colorado! A great place for families is Ski Cooper 🙂 We enjoy riding the lifts together- give a quick kiss and then we meet each other at the bottom. We are two totally different types of skiers!
Side note: Ask Tim what his ski poles say on the bands😂😂😂 "For Racing Only"
I've heard Beaver Creek is good! Thanks so much for recommending that! It might be our next skiing location. 🙂
Hand warmers..yes! I've never had to use them because the weather hasn't been too cold, but my hands are the first thing that will get cold!
And protein bars are a great idea considering our lunch on the mountain for five people was $80!! But you're on a mountain? Where else are you going to eat? Right? 🙂
Meagan…you and I could hang together. I clearly could NOT ski with Tim!
Great tips! We are going on our first Disney cruise this spring so I'm looking forward to a post on how to pack for it!! 🙂
I love me some skiing. We just got back from a week of spring break skiing at Copper Mountain in Colorado…it was fabulous. A great mountain and not super crowded.
When it comes to packing for our yearly trip. I always go to Academy mid January because everything is half price. So I pick up base layers, gloves, hats and pants at a reasonable price. Since we go every year my kids pretty much get new ski gear each year because they will not stop growing! My daughter gets black pants so she can pass down to her brother and I look for jackets on Facebook resale sites. Because let's face it I'm pretty sure that expensive ski jacket was worn for 5 days and it's only $20.
We also pack a backpack with water and snacks for the mountain. The kids are always STARVING an hour in. So we snack on the chair lift…
Also bring hand warmers, foot warmers, body warmers…alllll the warmers. Nobody likes to be cold!! We buy huge packs and Walmart before we leave.
We drive up north in Michigan to ski, and the best thing I started to do it to pack all the ski stuff in a big Rubbermaid tub. Ski socks, gloves, helmets, goggles, snow pants, ski jackets, gators, long underwear and fleece layers all together for everyone in one place. that way everything ski related stays together! it has really worked well for my family of 5. We also have a ski backpack that we take to the mountain with us for money, cell phone, water and granola bars. Always have chapstick and Kleenex too!
Sunscreen, then we put a Chapstick and tissues in each kids coat pocket. Easy slip on and off warm boots when taking off ski boots!
I always pack tissue packs for everyone and keep them in the inside pockets of your ski jacket, noses tend to run in cold weather. Chapstick, Carmex, lip balm of some sort. Moisturizer with SPF. Protein Bars. Hand and foot warmers.
Yes mam! And I double up on those ski socks 😉 last thing you want is cold feet. Ha!
I think a couples ski trip is in order after reading these comment!!!
Winter Park is a great place for families to ski. We skied there many times when our kids were younger. There are plenty of harder trails but lots of green & blue runs also. Plus it is big enough that you can take lifts to other parts of the ski area and stay away from all the hustle & bustle at the base of the mountain. We only go back down to the main base at the end of the day.
We love Vail, but have yet to ski it. We always go in the summer….it is beautiful!!
Pack that SUNSCREEN!!
Love all the tips! I'll be referring back someday! 🙂 Thanks for sharing!
You are the cutest ski bunny ever! You make those ski pants look GOOD! I also put this on Shay's blog but I hate when I'm on vacation and my phone storage is full! Make sure to clear out as much space as possible before you leave or have a way to quickly upload all your pics somewhere (laptop, cloud–although I don't know how to use the cloud) so you don't get that annoying Storage Full notification when you go to snap a pic!
That Inspired Chick
I always pack my Peet portable shoe/boot dryers. They are great to get your boots dry overnight. My kiddos usually have sweaty and wet boots after a day in the snow..ugh. These dryers are small, easy to pack and work wonders;)
A backpack on the mountain with a drink, chapstick, tissues and some snacks is a lifesaver! It's also a great place to pack an extra layer for if you get cold on the mountain 🙂
We love skiing and go several times a year… we always stay in a vrbo so I have access to a washer and dryer. Our favorite place to ski is Santa Fe, NM. The mountain is a great size for small kids and Ten Thousand Waves Spa is uhhh-mazing!!! And if your in Santa Fe, you need to eat at the Blue Corn Cafe! 🙂
Here are a few things that are a must have for us when we travel to ski.
1. My boys wear helmets (they are 5 & 7) and they don't care for toboggans. So we use these under their helmets… they keep their necks and faces warm and keep their heads warm.
http://www.winterkids.com/brands/spyder/kids-neck-warmers-face-protection/spyder-boys-arctyc-pivot-balaclava-145660
2. We buy Spyder kids because they "grow with them"… they have a red seam that you can cut out of the pants and jackets. My youngest wore the same spyder gear for 3 years!
3. Good socks are a must! Smart Wool makes the best ski socks because of the padding on the front of the leg (makes for more comfort in your ski boots).
4. Hand warmers, chapstick and sunscreen.
Reading this post makes me ready to go ski again!
-Kerry
Sunscreen! A lot of people don't think about it for cold vacations, but on a sunny day the reflection off the snow at a high altitude can fry your face (and give you awful goggle lines!)
How did I forget to mention SUNSCREEN? So glad you guys reminded me! My kids ALL got sunburned while we were in Vail!
Must must must go to Whistler in British Columbia. They best place ever for families. It is absolutely amazing and beautiful. Families usually stay in the Creekside area. Plus, the favorable exchange rate makes it even more economical!
We've been talking about going skiing next year! ANd by "we" I mean austin and possibly Baker! Your post about Bowen made me Think he could do it!!
We just got back from Breckenridge a couple weeks ago! So fun! But yes don't forget sunscreen and chapstick/lipsunscreen! And yes we had to buy those neck gators when we got there, and they were a life saver on those cold, windy days!
My family of 5 is on a ski vacation right now in Crested Butte, CO. I have been coming to Crested Butte since I was a little kid, and we love it! The city is most charming with local stores and restaurants. The mountain has a great range of everything from nice and easy greens to double-blacks. My biggest tip is to stay at a ski-in, ski-out condo. That way you literally walk out of your condo, put your skis on and go. No driving, no parking, super easy! You can also easily come in for lunch or a little break when the kids need it. It was fun reading your post, Erika!
Copper & Beaver Creek are my 2 faves!