Single day classes and full week camps for beginners to expert shredders
From Whistler and Alaska to West Virginia and Maine, these stunning summer vacation retreats will have your whole family enjoying fresh air, relaxation, and epic adventures. And whether you’re a mountain biker or not, each of these spots has the added bonus of kid-focused mountain biking classes and camps that will have your kids shredding like pros in no time.
11. Stevens Pass Bike Park
Skykomish, WA
The winter ski resort of Stevens Pass transforms into a summer haven for hikers, RV camping, and, of course, mountain biking! Located on the border between the stunningly green Mt. Baker-Snoqualmie and Okanogan-Wenatchee National Forests, summer highs average just 76 degrees! A few hours from Mt. Rainier National Park in one direction, and Seattle in another, Stevens Pass offers families the choice of a purely nature-focused vacation, or a little mix of scenic and city with one of the coolest cities in the world!
WHERE TO STAY: Leavenworth or Seattle
BIKE RENTALS: YES
KIDS’ CLASSES AVAILABLE (8+):
- Kid’s Overnight Bike Camp (2 days, 1 night), $296
- Bike Park 101 (2 hours), $40
- Intro to Racing (2 hours), $40
- Kids’ Full Day Lesson (6 hours), $99
COOL STUFF TO DO BESIDES BIKING:
- Leavenworth Ziplines and Pump track (35 minutes away)
- Camp at Lake Wenatchee (35 minutes)- you can paddleboard, kayak, raft, fish, and go horseback riding
- Amazing hikes in the resort
- Nearby waterfalls
DAY TRIPS:
- Seattle (2 hours)
- Big Four Ice Caves (2 hours)
- Olympic National Park (3.5 hours)
10. St. Louis MTB Camp
Castlewood State Park, MO
This camp is perfect for city-loving parents with a mountain-loving kid. Conveniently located just 30 minutes from St. Louis, this mountain biking camp gives you the opportunity to stay in a comfortable hotel in the city and then make just a short drive to a national forest for your child’s mountain biking camp. You can fill your days with sightseeing trips to the Gateway Arch and Busch Stadium while your mountain biker learns off-road biking skills.
And for those parents who love the mountains too, there are plenty of fun options! With nearby state parks, caverns, and lakes, you can spend the day with outdoor adventures from hiking to ziplining. There is really something for everyone around here.
WHERE TO STAY: St. Louis
BIKE RENTALS: YES
KIDS’ CLASSES AVAILABLE (8 – 14):
COOL STUFF TO DO BESIDES BIKING:
- In the city: Gateway Arch, baseball game at Busch Stadium, Six Flags St. Louis, St. Louis Zoo, Forest Park, St. Louis Science Center, Pole Position Raceway
- Out in nature: Onondoga Cave State Park, Meramec Caverns, ziplining, and in Castlewood State Park you can go fishing, tubing, kayaking, hiking
DAY TRIPS:
- Nashville, TN (4 1/2 hours)
- Chicago, IL (4 1/2 hours)
9. SkyPark at Santa’s Village
SkyForest, CA
This North Pole-themed outdoor adventure park is the perfect destination-vacation for families. You can spend a full week right at Santa’s Village (and avoid the California traffic!) doing everything from riding a pedal car and roller skating to panning for gold and archery. Hiking, biking, ziplining, fishing, rock climbing – this forest oasis outside of Los Angeles really is all-inclusive.
In the unlikely event that you run out of things to do, Santa’s Village is surrounded by other fun Southern California activities. You can go waterskiing at nearby Lake Arrowhead, or surprise the kids with a trip to Disneyland (they’ll love you forever!). Take a walk down the Hollywood Walk of Fame or play in the waves at nearby Newport Beach. The options for fun are truly endless!
WHERE TO STAY: Santa’s Village
BIKE RENTALS: YES
KIDS’ CLASSES AVAILABLE (8-13):
- Arrows Mountain Bike Day Camp in July, ages 9-13 (3 days, 10:00 am – 4:00 pm), price TBD but under $450
- Intro to Mountain Biking Lessons, ages 8+ (2 hours), FREE!
COOL STUFF TO DO BESIDES BIKING:
- Rock climbing and bouldering
- Zipline and bungee jumping
- Concerts
- Train rides
- Santa’s workshop
DAY TRIPS:
- Disneyland (1 1/2 hours)
- Newport Beach (1 1/2 hours)
- Hollywood Walk of Fame (1 3/4 hours)
- Joshua Tree National Park (1 3/4 hours)
- San Diego (2 1/4 hours)
8. Snowshoe Mountain
Snowshoe, WV
If you’re looking for a memorable, all-inclusive mountain adventure, you’ve come to the right place! Snowshoe Mountain has epic activities to please every member of your family. You can make fantastic family memories by taking a chairlift ride to Shavers Lake where you’ll have dinner and s’mores, go on a geocache hunt, try out paddleboarding for the first time, beat an escape room as a family, go horseback riding, or even go on an off-road adventure tour together. This is one vacation the kids will definitely NOT forget.
If you want a full day away without the kids, Snowshoe Mountain has you covered with single and three-day kid camp packages that will have them doing everything from archery to riding on segways.
WHERE TO STAY: Snowshoe Mountaintop Village
BIKE RENTALS: YES
KIDS’ CLASSES AVAILABLE (10+):
- Downhill Mountain Biking 101 (1 1/2 hours), $49
- Downhill Mountain Biking 202 (1 1/2 hours), $129
COOL STUFF TO DO BESIDES BIKING:
- Zipline
- Concerts
- Hiking
- Golfing
- Village Spa
DAY TRIPS:
- Washington, DC (4 1/2 hours)
- Richmond, VA (4 hours)
- Pittsburgh, PA (4 hours)
7. Sunday River Resort
Newry, ME
This vacation is perfect for families that love making adventurous memories together. Sunday River Resort’s L.L. Bean Outdoor Discovery School can introduce your whole family to new and exciting hobbies to add to your adventure repertoire.
Together with your kids you can learn new skills including archery, stand-up paddleboarding, and kayaking; and at only $25 per person these lessons are affordable too! If your family would rather adventure out on your own, you can rent electric bikes, head out to a local swimming hole, or go on a whitewater rafting trip. The memory-making possibilities are endless!
WHERE TO STAY: Sunday River Resort
BIKE RENTALS: YES
KIDS’ CLASSES AVAILABLE (10+):
- Mountain Bike School (90 minutes), $69-$79
COOL STUFF TO DO BESIDES BIKING:
- Climbing wall, bungee trampoline, and zipline tours
- Hiking, fishing, and horseback riding
- Spas
- Disc golf
DAY TRIPS:
- Story Land Theme Park (1 hour)
- Funtown Splashtown Water Park (2 hours)
- Boston (3 hours)
- Montreal (4 hours)
6. Mt. Bachelor
Bend, OR
Central Oregon may not be on your bucket list yet, but it should be! This beautiful location has something for literally EVERYONE in your family (okay, maybe not newborns). For a full day of fun, families can rent a boat and go waterskiing on Cultus Lake. For some parents-only relaxation, leave the kids at bike camp and enjoy a day of golfing and first class dining at nearby Tetherow Resort.
For the adventure-lovers in the family you can fill your day with rock climbing at Smith Rock State Park and then hiking or mountain climbing at South Sister. Or you can mix it up by spending a morning fly fishing on Fall River and then enjoying a night-time concert at the Les Schwab Amphitheater. Oh, and you’ll probably want to do some back-to-school shopping while you’re here- Oregon shopping is sales-tax-free!
WHERE TO STAY: Bend
BIKE RENTALS: YES
KIDS’ CLASSES AVAILABLE (8 – 15):
- Gravity Bike Camp (5 days, 8:30 am – 4:15 pm), $379 + Bike Park Season Pass for $99
COOL STUFF TO DO BESIDES BIKING:
- “Side-by-Side” off-road guided tours and electric bike tours
- Rock climbing, mountain climbing, and hiking
- White water rafting, paddle boarding, kayaking and more on the Deschutes River
- Bend Escape Room
- Lava River Cave
DAY TRIPS:
- Portland, OR (3 3/4 hours)
- Eugene, OR (2 1/2 hours)
5. Keystone Resort
Keystone, CO
If you’re looking to find your zen (where did that go??) you may just find it at Keystone. Tucked away in the beautiful Rocky Mountains, Keystone Resort is the perfect getaway from the hustle and bustle of city life. Put the iPads, the cell phones, and the video games away and enjoy a week of outdoor living with indoor comforts.
Keystone Resort boasts two award-winning golf courses, summer snow tubing, horse-drawn wagon rides, hiking, horseback riding, an in-house salon/spa, mini-golf, gem panning, with local fly fishing and rafting available.
After an action-packed day you can enjoy dinner at a variety of Keystone restaurants or even keep the family party going with a wagon ride dinner.
WHERE TO STAY: Keystone Resort or Lowry Campground
BIKE RENTALS: YES
KIDS’ CLASSES AVAILABLE (9-13):
- Dirt Camp (5 days, 9:00 am – 3:00 pm), $299
COOL STUFF TO DO BESIDES BIKING:
- Mountaintop yoga
- Kidtopia Play Park: bounce house, climbing wall, mini golf, gem panning, bungee trampoline, and Montezuma Mine Shaft maze
- Breckenridge Fun Park: similar to Kidtopia with the addition of the Alpine SuperSlider, Gold Runner Alpine Coaster and a zip-line
- ATV Tours
DAY TRIPS:
- Denver (1 1/2 hours)
- Boulder (1 1/2 hours)
4. Park City Young Riders
Park City, UT
Northern Utah is an outdoor enthusiast’s dream! From rock climbing, to hiking, to kayaking, you will never run out of things to do. And for those days when you want a little rest from the great outdoors, Park City has plenty of fun (and free!) events for you to enjoy.
On Sunday you can explore the Park Silly Sunday Market- a street market/festival named “silly” because they want you to have fun! Enjoy watching performers on stilts, or buying local honey from a farmer dressed as Darth Vader- things are far from boring at this open-air market!
Wednesday and Thursday nights feature free outdoor concerts with a variety of artists including Jason Mraz. And on the last Friday of each month, local art galleries open their doors so you can take a walk down historic Main Street, enjoy free refreshments, and see the latest art installations. This place has something for everyone to enjoy on every budget!
WHERE TO STAY: Park City or nearby campgrounds
BIKE RENTALS: NO
KIDS’ CLASSES AVAILABLE (5-14):
- PeeWee Class for 5-7 year olds (2 hours), $250
- Beginner Boys and Girls Class for 7-9 year olds (2 hours), $250
- Intermediate Boys and Girls Class for 8-11 year olds (2-3 hours), $250-$330
- Advanced Boys and Girls Class for 9-12 year olds (3 hours), $330
- Downhill Class for 9-14 year olds (4 hours), $375
COOL STUFF TO DO BESIDES BIKING:
- Bobsled ride “The Comet”, Alpine coaster, and zipline
- Hot air balloon rides
- Rock climbing, hiking, paddle boarding, mountain climbing, and horseback riding
- Golf and world-class spas
- Historic walking tours
DAY TRIPS:
- Salt Lake City (45 minutes)
- Zion National Park (4 hr 45 minutes)
- Bryce Canyon (4 hrs 20 minutes)
3. Jackson Hole Mountain Sports School
Jackson Hole, WY
If you’ve been longing to have grown-up adventures while still allowing your kids to try out new things, Jackson Hole has you covered! In addition to the Kids’ Mountain Biking Camp you can also enroll your child in Jackson Hole’s Grand Adventure Camp.
While you’re off paragliding, riding ATVs, whitewater rafting, or climbing the Tetons, your kids will be busy tackling an aerial adventure course, zipping down a giant slip ‘n slide, or bouncing on a bungee trampoline. This is the perfect chance for families to make amazing memories while enjoying a little free time as well.
And when you’re ready for some family time, you can enjoy a summer wildlife tour, visit the local rodeo, go on a guided family bike park tour, or even take a scenic flight over the Tetons!
WHERE TO STAY: Jackson Hole
BIKE RENTALS: YES
KIDS’ CLASSES AVAILABLE (7+):
- Youth Mountain Bike Camp (9:30 am – 4:00 pm), $155
COOL STUFF TO DO BESIDES BIKING:
- Fat biking tours, fishing, horseback riding
- Family-friendly hikes in Grand Teton National Park
- Alive @ Five educational kids’ program
- Outdoor concerts
- Golf, spa, and hot springs
DAY TRIPS:
- Yellowstone (Less than 2 hours)
2. Alyeska Resort
Girdwood, AK
For those who really want to get away, the Alyeska Resort in Alaska is a perfect haven. Nestled in the middle of the beautiful Chugach Mountains, this destination vacation is as beautiful as it is fun. With activities from summer dog sledding and helicopter tours, to sea kayaking and glacier hiking, you’ll enjoy new and epic adventures every day.
And when it’s time to head back to the resort for some R&R you won’t be disappointed. Alyeska’s Seven Glaciers Restaurant is a AAA Four Diamond award-winning mountaintop luxury restaurant where even the kids’ menu will have your mouth watering.
After dinner you can head to the gorgeous salt-water pool and hot tub, or give mom a night off at the in-house spa for a massage, facial, or yoga class to wind down after a long day.
WHERE TO STAY: Alyeska Resort
BIKE RENTALS: YES
KIDS’ CLASSES AVAILABLE (10+):
- Downhill Mountain Bike Skills Camp (2 days; 12:00 pm – 4:30 pm), $99- $249
COOL STUFF TO DO BESIDES BIKING:
- ATV tours
- Bear and wildlife viewing tours
- Charter fishing trips
- Heli hiking and heli rafting
- River rafting, floating trips, and rock climbing
DAY TRIPS:
- Anchorage (1 hour)
- Kenai Fjords National Park (1 3/4 hours)
1. Whistler
Whistler, BC
We’ve been to Whistler and the Whistler Bike Park. Words can’t really do it justice. Whistler is not just for bike park junkies. It’s so insanely serene and gorgeous – it should be on everyone’s bucket list. The bike park is obviously a must-do if you make it all the way up to Whistler, but the surrounding area is full of epic scenery and outdoor activities for those times you need a little break, or for less-adventurous kids in your group!
Joffre Lakes Provincial Park is about an hour past Whistler, and offers a pretty hardcore uphill climb with the most magnificent pay-offs of aquamarine lakes and glaciers imaginable. Don’t miss this one!! Whistler Village itself is quaint and cozy, and easily the best designed and most entertaining village resort we’ve ever been to. Olympic Park is an open park for kids to run around and a venue for nightly summer concerts.
And of course, VANCOUVER! You’ll probably fly into Vancouver and should take a few days to soak up this city on the water. Stanley Park Seawall is as stunningly beautiful as the pictures make it seem, and by bike it’s just perfection. The drive to Whistler from Vancouver along the Sea-to-Sky Highway is magical. Like fairytale magical. Like your mind will be blown at how stunning the ocean full of small islands is on your left while you’re enveloped by majestic mountains on the right.
This whole trip for us was completely unreal. DO IT.
WHERE TO STAY: Whistler Village
BIKE RENTALS: YES
KIDS’ CLASSES AVAILABLE (5+):
- DFX Kids’ Daily Group Lessons (1-3 days; 9:00 am – 3:30 pm), Novice to Expert
- DFX Kids’ 5 Day Camp (8:00 am – 5:30 pm), Novice to Expert, Cross-Country and Downhill
COOL STUFF TO DO BESIDES BIKING:
- Joffre Lakes Hike (The most gorgeous hike we’ve EVER taken!!)
- Tour Whistler Village
- Lake to Lake Kayak on River of Golden Dreams
- Peak 2 Peak Gondola
- Brandywine Fall Provincial Park
DAY TRIPS:
- Squamish (45 min)
- Vancouver (1.5 hours)
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