Just for Kids

Kids rule at Holiday Valley. From our terrific children's ski and snowboard programs to the family-friendly Inn at Holiday Valley to the fun loving Village of Ellicottville, we love kids! And kids and their families love Holiday Valley...we were rated #2 in the East for "Kid Friendly" by SKI Magazine readers for 2015!  There's so much to do...including having the undivided attention of your parents! From exploring secret trails through the woods to flying down the Mountain Coaster to learning about REAL Native Americans, the fun kids have at Holiday Valley and the time spent with family and friends is the stuff that makes childhood memories.

kids ski lesson at the FortReally Fun Kids' Lessons...

We love kids at Mountain Adventures Ski and Snowboard Program! Our very own clubhouse, the Creekside Lodge, is conveniently located next to the Holiday Valley Lodge, just across the creek from the School Haus beginner's area and steps from the Day Care Center. After the full day class is over, kids may keep their rentals until 4:30 so they can ski with Mom and Dad to show off what they've learned. Mountain Adventures and the Day Care Center are open daily during the winter season. Penguin Hill is a learning area for teaching kids of all ages skiing and snowboarding skills using specially designed easy riding equipment and gentle terrain features. 

Best Day Care Ever!

The Holiday Valley Children's Learning Center is conveniently located in the main base lodge, and just steps from Mountain Adventures Kids Ski and Snowboard School. That means the little ones can enroll in Day Care AND take lessons too! 

Photo of Secret FortSpecial Surprises on the Slopes...

We love kids on the slopes at Holiday Valley, with plenty of fun and exciting trails to explore, 11 family-friendly quad chairs to ride, 4 terrain parks and an introductory Riglet Park at Penguin Hill. Be sure to check out the "secret" Fort, hidden away in the woods of the Tannenbaum area and built just for kids! You'll find a maze, slides and other fun stuff to explore with your Mountain Adventure class or with your friends. Wiggle your way down through the woods on the four different Tree Trails designed just for kids.  Find out about the Seneca Clan Rock hunt, where you search the mountain to find out about the 8 clans of the Seneca Nation. Happy Glade off the Tannenbaum Chair has the perfect pitch for fun in the trees. When the snow builds up mid-winter, hug the left side of Northwind for the dipsy doodles. Try to ride all the Golden Chairs AND see if you can figure out why they're number 50, which lifts don't have golden chairs and why. Check out the Riglet Park at Penguin Hill at the bottom of School Haus  and while you're there try out the just right sized rails, boxes and jumps. At the top of almost every lift you'll find an easier way down, so families can ski together.

Ticket Deals...

Lift tickets for kids age 6 and under are free, and junior rates area available through age 11. Check out the ISkiNY Passport for 3rd and 4th graders of any state - or Canada! Third and fourth grade students can get 2 lift tickets with purchase of the passport for $41.

 

two kids in poolFamily Lodging Packages...

We love kids at the slopeside Inn at Holiday Valley! Rooms are super-sized with a mini-fridge and the heated indoor/outdoor pool is a blast to swim in during a snowstorm! Free continental breakfast, a sauna and hot tub, family board games, a small library and a chairlift right outside your door all make this place great for families. And best of all, up to 2 kids ski and stay free when their parents buy a midweek ski package. 

boy sliding down tubing hillTubing is a blast!

We love kids at the Holiday Valley Tubing Company, located just 4 miles from the resort, open Fridays from 4:30 to 9PM, Saturday from 10AM to 9PM and Sunday from 10AM to 6PM. We even offer a free shuttle that runs every 2 hours from the Resort Services Center so older kids can go have fun on their own. For the little ones under 42 inches tall, there's a special Li'l Tubers area, weather permitting and tickets are only $12.  

dad and son riding the mountain coasterSky Flyer Coaster Rocks!

The family friendly Sky Flyer Mountain Coaster is located near the Tannenbaum Lodge, open Fridays, Saturdays, Sundays and holidays from 11AM to 6PM. The coaster is a thrilling ride down the mountain zigzagging and spiraling through the trees and over a ravine. Be sure to purchase your Coaster tickets when you get your lift tickets for the best pricing! Children must beat least 38" tall to ride with an adult or 8 years old and 54" to ride alone. The combined weight of riders must be under 350lbs.

Turtle Clan RockSeneca Clan Rocks

Western New York is the home of the Seneca Nation of Indians, largest of six Native American nations which comprised the Iroquois Confederacy or Six Nations. Within the Senecas, there are 8 clans and each clan is represented by an animal with certain respected traits. “Clan Rocks” with descriptions of the clans are hidden throughout the resort. Kids in our Mountain Adventures program can go on a “Clan Rock Hunt” where they explore the resort with their instructor in search of the secret Indian Clans. A map is provided and stickers representing the clans are placed at the location of each clan rock. Once all the clan rocks are found, the kids head to The Fort, hidden away in the woods of Tannenbaum, to find out how the clans all tie together. Not only is this a great mountain adventure where kids learn how to follow a trail map, but they also learn about Native American culture in our area.

Ellicottville, Kid Style...

The Village Ellicottville loves kids too! Most of the restaurants are casual and especially family friendly early in the evenings. Alexandra and Kazoo II have good assortments of stuffed animals, games, puzzles, books and more. And don't forget Watsons for their world famous sponge candy or the T-Bar for ice cream cones!