Canada
The Joy of Family Skiing at Big White Resort, British Columbia
Article by Jennifer Merrick & photography by Big White Ski Resort
Every ski resort has its own vibe. Some are youthful and exuberant, ski hard and party harder. Some are posh with boutiques full of trending skiwear, a place to see and be seen, while others are the exact opposite, unpretentious with a multigenerational family atmosphere of returning skiers of all ages there to enjoy each other and the slopes. Big White falls squarely in the latter category.
This interior British Columbian resort, about an hour northwest of Kelowna, has always focused on family, earning it multiple accolades, including the 2025 winner of the Best International Ski Resort Choice Awards for Families. The resort itself is still family-owned, one of the few of this size not owned by a corporation. But awards and ownership aside, its family vibe is most evident by the people you talk to.
Krista is one of the volunteer snow hosts who take guests out on the mountain every day at 10:30 AM. It’s a wonderful and free way to get acquainted with the mountain with knowledgeable and friendly locals. As we skied some of Big White’s 119 runs, Krista told me she’s been coming to the resort for over 40 years and loved it so much that she decided to retire here.
“There are lots of families and lots of people over 80,” she said. Now her grandkids visit and ski with her.
Her story was an inspiration.
I had been worried that now that my kids are adults and I was getting older (and more fearful) that our family ski getaways would be over soon. But after our visit here, I now hoped that we’d be blessed with many more ski trips ahead.
What makes Big White so special for families?
• Almost every lift leads to a variety of different-level runs. For families like ours whose kids have long surpassed their mother’s nervous green-run-only skiing, it means that we can all go up together and reunite at the bottom after our own ride on the mountain.
• The intuitive layout makes it easy to navigate and gives peace of mind knowing that the kids (or more likely myself) can’t get too lost or end up on a run that exceeds ability.
• The pedestrian-only village offers a welcoming, friendly atmosphere and a fully ski-in, ski-out experience.
• At the Happy Valley Adventure Park, take part in activities like dogsledding, tubing, horse-drawn sleigh rides and the Twinkling Trail, where you can walk amidst a light display in the forest.
• An Olympic-sized outdoor rink welcomes skaters and shinny players day and night.
And then there’s the snow:
Big White’s powder is justifiably famous. Its high altitude (7,608 ft) and ideal climate create snow conditions that are considered among the best in the world. In fact, unlike most resorts, they don’t make their own snow. Every unique flake has fallen from the sky, and it’s the feather-light, champagne powder that skiers dream about.
Where to stay and eat at Big White?
Big White offers more than 2,000 accommodation units, from budget hotel rooms and ski-in/ski-out condos to luxury homes, including the family-friendly Sundance Resort with spacious condo-styled suites and an outdoor pool with a corkscrew waterslide. Dining ranges from casual cafés and pubs to more upscale steakhouses and Italian restaurants.
Our family met up at Snowshoe Sam’s for lunch to share our morning’s adventures. I told them about my runs with Krista and how she inspired me with her retirement, enjoying the slopes with regular visits from her kids and grandkids.
“A little too early to be thinking about that,” said my daughter.
How about in 10 years? In the meantime, we’ll keep coming back for visits.
