Specal Family Vacations : Mountain Resorts : Sunny Side Up : Ski areas transform bare slopes into summer playgrounds

When the snow melts and the skis go into storage, ski resorts traditionally have closed up shop and hoped for an early winter.

But these days you won’t find Vail, Snowbird or dozens of other skiing meccas around the country singing the summertime blues. Chairlifts haul mountain bikes and T-shirt-clad teen-agers to the summit, day camps for tots to teen-agers take the place of ski schools, and cross-country trails fill with hikers of all ages on guided nature walks.

The resorts have found gold in their off-season hills--the family vacation market.

Already blessed with fully equipped, family-friendly condos and pristine playgrounds from mountains to forests and lakes, many establishments have embellished their summer offerings to make themselves particularly attractive to families.

For example, Northstar at Tahoe has equipped several of its chairlifts with bicycle racks, so guests can ride on 100 miles of trails and--for the more intrepid--careen up and down the 8,600-foot mountain via access roads and cross-country and single-track trails. (Northstar closed its ski runs in April, but the abundant Sierra snowpack has prompted nearby Squaw Valley and Alpine Meadows to stay open through July 4 this summer.)

Utah’s Snowbird Resort brings in zoo workers, Native American storytellers and forest rangers to teach 4- to 12-year-olds in the resort’s day camp about ecology, wild animal habits and the area’s cultural heritage.

Vail and Beaver Creek, sister resorts in Colorado, supplement their weekday camps for 5- to 12-year-olds with rafting, trail rides, rock climbing, magic workshops and excursions to Matawin Teepee Village, a re-created Native American village, where children learn about native lore and crafts.

And several East Coast ski resorts, whose icy conditions may earn disdain from West Coast skiers during the winter, are finding it easier to lure those same families during the summer.

Killington, a resort in Vermont’s Green Mountains, offers a low-key setting and new two- to five-day summer packages. These provide lodgings and a mix-and-match choice of activities for adults and children, including field trips to the nearby Ben & Jerry’s ice cream factory and the Vermont Teddy Bear Co. Families can spend entire days together or enroll children in camp on some days while parents sign up for their own adventures.

At ski resorts around the nation, in-line skating rinks, alpine water slides and petting zoos are becoming standard amenities, with climbing walls and Outward-Bound-style rope courses in ascendancy.

Since the resorts realize that while the kids are (temporarily) away, the parents also want to play, they’ve beefed up tennis and golf programs, and created adults-only hiking, cycling and horseback-riding excursions into area parklands. For the family that plays together, there are white-water rafting trips, horse and buggy rides, family game nights and barbecues. And after hours, parents can take advantage of the baby-sitting services provided by most resorts (usually for a fee).

As an added appeal, summer lodging prices typically drop 20% to 50% below winter rates--a welcome boost to any family’s budget. For example, a one-bedroom condo at Northstar at Tahoe that costs $211 a night during the ski season drops to $132 in summer.

“Ski resorts are a fabulous summer deal for families,” says Julie Tarasovic, editor of Ski magazine’s family column.

“Most resorts are small villages with everything from restaurants to shopping to sports activities all within walking distance. It’s like an island vacation, only you’re in the mountains.”

In response to reader interest, both Ski and Snow Country magazines have added special summer issues with articles on music and theater festivals, mountain biking and scenic drives around ski areas--with special emphasis on family attractions.

The following is a selection of ski resorts with extensive summer activities for families, including children’s day camps. Some places include the camps in the lodging price, with special activities such as golf and tennis lessons, horseback riding and white-water rafting extra; others charge a daily camp fee (typically $20 to $50 per child), with discounts for two or more children in a family.

Lodging and package prices vary dramatically based on date, size of lodgings, number of people and type of activities desired, so contact the resort for the options that meet your family’s needs. In general, count on spending about $200 to $300 per day for a family of four, including lodgings, children’s day camp and a few adult outdoor activities, but excluding meals. High-priced programs, such as golf or white-water rafting, will add to the tab.

* Grand Targhee, Wyoming: Located in Targhee National Forest, next to Grand Teton National Park and about 1 1/2 hours from Yellowstone National Park, the resort has myriad outdoor opportunities, with ranger-led hikes and ecology outings for all ages. Daily Babies Club for ages 2 months to 2 years; Kids Club Day Camp for ages 3-10 is available. The Targhee Institute offers educational courses for all ages in art, music and natural sciences, as well as outdoor explorer programs for children in grades 4 through 7. Information: telephone (800) 827-4433.

* Killington, Vt.: Alpine Adventure Day Camp for children 3-12; Friendly Penguin day care program for children under 3. Alpine Adventure Family package of two to five days provides lodgings and a mix-and-match choice of activities for adults and children (including day camp) using a voucher system. Information: tel. (800) 343-0762.

* Northstar at Tahoe, California: Day camp Monday through Saturday for children 2-10. Also, Adventure Park for ages 4 and older with rope courses, a climbing wall and orienteering courses; Mountain Bike Park (not recommended for young children) includes mountain bike clinics and trail riding. Information: tel. (800) 466-6784.

* Snowbird, Utah: A 30-minute drive from Salt Lake City, Snowbird offers a daily day camp for 4- to 12-year-olds with instruction on a climbing wall, tennis and mountain sports. Information: (800) 453-3000.

* Sun Valley, Idaho: Just 30 miles from the headwaters of the Salmon River, Sun Valley books daylong white-water rafting trips for families. Daily play school for children as young as 6 months; day camp for 6- to 14-year-olds operates Monday to Friday, with hiking, horseback riding, tennis, a putting range, swimming and hayrides. Ice skating on one indoor and one outdoor rink year-round, with lessons available for all ages. Information: (800) 786-8259.

* Vail and Beaver Creek resorts, Colorado: Both resorts have day camps for ages 5-12 that operate weekdays with fishing, field trips, archery, theater and crafts. Special 5-Star Adventure Days at Beaver Creek includes rafting, trail rides, rock climbing, magic workshops and overnight excursions to Matawin Teepee Village, a recreated Native American village at the top of Beaver Creek mountain, where children learn about native lore and crafts. Infants and toddlers are cared for at Beaver Creek’s Small World Play School, open daily. Information: tel. (800) 525-2257.

* Wintergreen, Va.: Wintergreen, in the Blue Ridge Mountains about 30 miles southwest of Charlottesville, has a five-day overnight Teen Outdoor Adventure Camp for 13- to 17-year-olds that includes mountain biking, rappelling, a rope course and canoeing down the James River. The four-day Kids’ Nature Camp for children grades 1 through 7 offers nature programs, hikes and water activities at Monocan Lake. There’s also Camp Wintergreen, a daily day camp for 2 1/2- to 12-year-olds, with conservation-oriented outings led by the resort’s full-time biologist-naturalist. Family packages include a variety of lodging and activity options for children and adults and a kids-eat-free program. Information: tel. (800) 325-2200.

* Whistler/Blackcomb, B.C., Canada: British Columbia offers families something they might not expect to get in summer--skiing. Blackcomb Mountain, above trendy Whistler Village in Whistler Resort, about 75 miles northwest of Vancouver, is Canada’s summer ski capital and has several camps for children and adults.

The best known and longest-running camp is the 28-year-old Atomic Dave Murray Summer Ski Camp, named after the late Olympic racer. During June and July, the camp runs three weeklong programs for children, ages 10-18, and one weeklong session for adults, with classes limited to six students per coach.

The kids’ camp includes structured afternoon activities, while the adults often head to the lake-studded valley (where summer weather prevails) for sailing, mountain biking and hiking. Information: tel. (800) 944-7853.