Does your family need a quick weekend trip?

Winter weekends are precious but often hard to get motivated for.  Between school, sports, the holidays, and our busy daily lives, we regularly forget to plan for the weekend.  As a result, we do the same thing every weekend, not because it is fun or memorable but because it is easy.  However, taking a little time to plan a special weekend can make an ordinary winter memorable.

 
There are many ways to make a weekend special – it can be simple or extravagant and may become a tradition that you will look forward to year after year.  If you aren't much of an entertainer or organizer, try planning something simple.
 

How far to go?

Traveling close to home will reduce the expense and hassle of air travel and typically won't interfere with school, work, or other activities.  Your local ski resort should have both hotel rooms and condos available to rent, and you can base your decision on cost, availability, and what you hope to do over the weekend.  Mountain getaways are perfect for romance, family adventure, or fun with friends.  While this may be just a family affair, including friends or extended family can add to the event.  Remember that they do not need to ski or snowboard to enjoy the mountains when considering who to include.  Many resorts offer snowmobiling and snow tubing, as well as a variety of indoor activities to satisfy just about everyone.  Even settling down with a good book beside the fire can lure someone to the mountain.  Since this weekend may require some preparation, it is wise to make your invitations early, let them know the costs involved, and allow them to get back to you once they have had a chance to consider it.
 
There are two ways to approach planning your special weekend.  If you have a unique idea of how you would like the weekend spent, plan it yourself and ask your friends or family to come along.  However, just because you do all the planning doesn't mean you can't delegate duties and spread out the costs.  If you are more open and don't need to make all the decisions, invite someone to help you plan the weekend.  Once you have added your input, you will find it most straightforward to assign specific jobs to each person.  Be sure your list of jobs includes travel arrangements (including maps and directions), accommodations, activity reservations, dining reservations, and food shopping.  You will find that your trip will be far more successful if you plan your activities before the inertia of a cold day and a warm fire sets in to zap everyone's motivation.  By planning meals and activities, you can make reservations, and everyone will know the agenda.  Feel free to make these plans for guests – they are typically willing to do just about anything.  You may ask for their input while planning the trip, but don't wait until you get there to discuss your options; otherwise, many opportunities may be closed.
 

Lodging Ideas

While hotel lodging has advantages (closer to the action, room service, and housekeeping), consider a condo where you can relax and drink when the kids go to bed.  Ski-in/ski-out condos make a straightforward way to have a nice lunch, snacks, or dinner.  It tends to be more intimate and lends itself well to a group participating in various activities.

 
Group meals can be fast and fun in a condo when they are well organized.  Create a menu for the weekend and shop with a plan to avoid extra food that is hard to bring home.  Labor-intensive meals might make the weekend feel more work than it's worth.  Choose fast but healthy meals where prep work can be done before leaving so that a spread is easy to get on the table when you're trying to get out the door or are cold and tired from an active day.  Snacks are essential for a winter weekend, as you will burn many calories in the outdoor air.  Even if you are staying in a hotel or planning to eat at a restaurant, hearty snacks will fill the void between the slopes and dinner.

HAVE FUN! 

Time together is the most memorable part of a weekend in the mountains.  Be careful not to over-schedule your activities.  Allow for downtime to relax, enjoy the company, and soak in the atmosphere of the mountains in winter.