Dressing Right For A Family Ski Vacation

When the weather dropped dramatically last week, I started strategizing about the best ways to keep warm. My familys winter trip to the mountains at Nemacolin Woodland Resorts is fast on my mind as I think about what to pack and how to dress my kids. Dressing the family for a ski trip getaway takes a lot of planning and strategy on my part. Its all about knowing what to wear, how to wear it, and the best time to wear what.

In general, dressing warmly for cold-weather is all about layering. Ive written about layering once before on the blog, discussing the hows and whys. When youre dressing for outdoor activities in cold weather, especially skiing, you have to be smart about it. The proper layering for a day on the slopes should look like this:

1. The first layer or base layer is should be made of wicking fiber. Wicking helps wick the perspiration from your body, keeping you dry. I made the mistake the first time I went snowboarding and wore long johns. Not a good idea. Cotton doesnt do the trick. I like a few brands out there like Hot Chillys, Athleta, Patagonia and I really like this base layer set from UnderArmour.

2. The second layer is your mid layer This is what keeps you insulated. You can wear a sweatshirt, turtleneck or fleece to keep you warm. I personally am a fan of Lands End fleece pullovers. Theyre not pricey, theyre comfortable, and they last.

3. Third layer is your outer or shell layer. This is basically your ski pants and jacket, which need to protect you from wind, snow and rain. They also should keep you warm while being flexible and moving with you. If its your first-time on the slopes or youre like me and your bottom and the snow seem to be magnets for one another, youre going to kiss the snow at some point.

A couple of years ago I got a CUUTE snowboarding set from Under Armour. I felt like a snow bunny all dressed in white. I thought my new fashion sense would actually make me a better boarder until that first run showed me otherwise. Clothing coordination has nothing to do with proper turns on your board. One things for sure, it was hard to see where Id fallen since the snow blended right in with my white and blue set. I planned that! They looked something like this (with a matching jacket of course):

If youre hanging around the lodge or dont intend to be overly active, or if the weather is warm you wont need as many layers.

And what about the kids? Youll want to dress them pretty similar. Again, Lands End always has nice fleece pullovers and jackets as well as bibs. The North Face is also well-known for their outer layers and never really fails at looking cool. Dont forget your hat, goggles, helmet, and gloves.

And there you have it. Everything you need for a family day on the slopes. Do you have a favorite brand that you love for your ski gear? Got ski pics to share? Join the discussion we love pics.