Updated on Winter Ski Vacations

Holiday Valley Ski Resort: Exclusive Family-Friendly Getaway

A child in a bright pink jacket skis down a wide snow-covered trail through a dense, tunnel-like evergreen forest with branches laden with fresh snow and a few distant skiers ahead.

https://www.holidayvalley.com

❄️ Discover the Magic of Holiday Valley: A Family-Friendly Ski Retreat

Just a three-hour drive from Cleveland, Holiday Valley Ski Resort in Ellicottville, New York is one of the best family-friendly ski destinations in the Midwest and Northeast. Whether you’re an avid skier or just looking for a cozy winter getaway, this resort offers a perfect mix of adventure and relaxation—all in one spot.

Four children in colorful ski gear standing on a wide snow-covered slope, flanked by tall snow-dusted evergreen trees and empty chairlifts under a gray overcast sky.
Group of six skiers — two adults and four children — standing and posing on a snowy slope, with the woman in a bright pink jacket and white helmet at left and a man in an orange jacket at right, children wearing colorful jackets and helmets, evergreen trees and a chairlift behind them, and distant snow-covered hills under a cloudy blue sky.
Two children in red ski jackets and black helmets with goggles standing on skis and holding poles on a snowy slope, with other skiers, trees and snow-covered hills in the background.

🏠 Where to Stay: Family Comfort and Convenience

Holiday Valley offers a range of lodging options that make family travel easy.

  • The Inn at Holiday Valley and The Tamarack Club both feature indoor/outdoor pools, hot tubs, and ski-in/ski-out access.
  • The Tamarack Club also has the Ellicottville Oasis Spa, a great treat for parents looking to unwind after a day on the slopes.
  • Look for family ski-and-stay packages and “kids ski free” deals during the season—they make trips more affordable!

If your family prefers more space, Alpine Meadows Condominiums are another great choice. Located just across from the Sunrise Lift, these units feel like a home away from home.

🎿 Skiing and Snow Fun for Every Skill Level

Holiday Valley offers a cozy mountain experience with 60 trails, 13 lifts, and about 180 inches of annual snowfall. It’s the perfect size for families—big enough for variety, small enough that kids don’t get lost!

Here’s a quick look at the trail mix:

  • 🟢 37% Beginner
  • 🔵 27% Intermediate
  • 🔴 36% Advanced
  • ⚫ 2% Expert

The resort’s excellent snowmaking keeps conditions consistent all season long.

Four children in ski gear — from left: a child in a red jacket, a small child in a pink jacket with an orange helmet, a child in a blue jacket, and an older child in a blue patterned jacket holding ski poles — standing on skis on a snow-covered trail surrounded by tall snow-dusted trees.
Five people wearing helmets and colorful winter jackets sit on a chairlift with skis and snowboards dangling as it ascends a groomed snowy slope lined by leafless trees under an overcast sky.
Adult in a red jacket and black helmet crouches behind a small child in a blue jacket and helmet as they both balance on skis on a snowy beginner slope, with another child in a pink jacket behind them and a small SunKid booth to the right.

🧒 Lessons & Childcare

Holiday Valley makes it easy for families to enjoy the slopes while kids learn and have fun. Children as young as four can join the snowsports school, with small class sizes and friendly instructors who group kids by ability.

Here’s the breakdown:

  • Ages 4–5: 2-hour lessons with a hot cocoa break — $124
  • Ages 6–11:
    • Half-day lessons — $124
    • Full-day lessons with lunch — $214
  • Ages 12+: Learn-to-ski lessons, 1.5 hours — $45

Private lessons are also available for any age, providing one-on-one attention.

For little ones, the resort offers childcare for ages 6 months to 5 years (weekends only)—a lifesaver for parents who want a few uninterrupted runs. Between the daycare and lesson options, Holiday Valley really shines in supporting families with kids of all ages. It is important to note that Childcare reservations NEED to be made in advance as it does book up!

🍴 Where to Eat

You won’t go hungry here!

  • Grab casual bites at base lodge cafeterias (and yes, bringing your own lunch is perfectly fine).
  • Enjoy sit-down dining at Edna’s inside the Tamarack Club—great food, though service can be slow at peak times.
  • For local flavor, head to Pour Taproom Ellicottville, right across from the main lodge, for craft brews and hearty meals.
A family group of adults and children seated around a long restaurant table inside a lodge-style dining room, with menus, coffee cups and winter jackets on the table and large windows showing a snowy ski-area scene outside.
Ednas at the Tamarack Club

🌙 Après-Ski Fun

The fun doesn’t end when the lifts close.

  • Try night skiing on select runs
  • Ride the Mountain Coaster for a thrill
  • Visit the off-site tubing hill for easy family fun

And don’t miss downtown Ellicottville—it’s filled with charming shops and local favorites like Ellicottville Brewing Co., The Silver Fox Steakhouse, and Dina’s.

Adult man and young boy sitting together in a red alpine-coaster sled, both wearing winter jackets and gloves — the boy in a bright red jacket and glasses and the man in an orange jacket and black cap, seated in a loading area with teal doors and patches of snow on the platform.
A group of adults and children relaxing in a steaming round outdoor hot tub at night, one boy wearing goggles by the metal handrail and snow visible on the stone deck behind them.
A group of skiers in helmets and colorful winter gear — one child standing in a blue jacket with yellow goggles and five people reclining on a snowbank with skis and poles — in front of a stone lodge wall and a large window reflecting trees.

💛 Final Thoughts: Small Mountain, Big Memories

Holiday Valley Ski Resort is proof that you don’t have to travel far from Ohio for an incredible winter escape. Between the family-friendly slopes, comfortable accommodations, and warm small-town charm, it’s a place where memories come easy.

Whether you’re planning a weekend ski trip from Cleveland or a holiday getaway with kids, Holiday Valley delivers fun, relaxation, and togetherness—all bundled together in one perfect winter getaway.

Other fun ski trips in Midwest/East from Cleveland:

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