Where to ski with kids in New York

One of the things that makes NYC the ultimate place to live with kids is you don't have to travel far for great family recreational activities. And, since we finally got some snow, skiing with the kids sounds pretty good right about now. But, where are the best places to go skiing with kids near NYC? Well, that all depends on what kind of skier you are and whether you want to ski with your kids, drop them off at ski school and hit the slopes yourself, or you want to do something else altogether. Here's a rundown of the best family ski centers near New York.

Closest to NYC: Campgaw Mountain Want to jump in the car and be skiing in under an hour? Campgaw is your place. Just 18 miles from the George Washington Bridge, Campgaw is a tiny slip of a slope. It's a great place to go if you want to ski on with your children on easy slopes. There's a magic carpet for the little bunny hill. If you're looking for lessons, the instruction is good. They have 8 trails and two lifts plus 3 surface lifts, but the vertical drop is only 269 ft. They also have tubing. It does get busy, but it's not as bad as the bigger resorts. All-inclusive: Rocking Horse Ranch Want to get away for the weekend for a slew of winter fun at your fingertips? Rocking Horse Ranch, just 90 minutes from NYC, has skiing, tubing, ice skating, sleigh rides, a kids camp and an indoor pool. It's an all-inclusive resort so you don't have to worry about a thing; meals, activities, even the ski lessons and rentals are free. Come back in the summer for the dude ranch experience. Best Ski School: Windham Mountain Want the best of everything? Windham's ski school is ranked among the best in the country. Windham is a good mountain that skiers of all levels can enjoy. So you can leave your kids at the Children's Learning Center whether they are skiing or not and enjoy 39 trails and 1600 vertical feet of slopes yourself. In addition, Windham offers valet parking; one-stop outlets for lift tickets, lessons and rentals; a full service ski shop; choice of five dining facilities; and a cozy lounge overlooking Windham's slopes are just a few of the services available. Kids Ski Free: Belleayre Love a good deal? Belleayre has a long-standing reputation as a family-friendly mountain and they've earned it - with deals like the Kids Ski and Stay Free deal. If you stay in a participating local lodging establishment, like the River Run B&B, the kids stay free in your room and get free lift tickets with purchase of each adult lift ticket. Belleayre also has a great ski school, an all-day Kids Camp and a nursery. Newest Facilities: Tuxedo Ridge (Formerly Sterling Forest) Remember Sterling Forest? Sterling Forest was very popular with family skiers until it closed two years ago. After overhauling the lodge, kitchen and bathrooms and purchasing all new rental equipment, Tuxedo Ridge is finally open again. Just 35 miles from the George Washington Bridge in Tuxdeo, N.Y., with 8 trails, a snowboarding park and a tubing run, it's a convenient location for families to enjoy winter sports. Least Crowded: Hidden Valley Hate crowds? Located in Vernon, NJ in the shadow of the larger, more popular Mountain Creek Resort, Hidden Valley is often overlooked. But this little resort has 12 trails, a full lodge, is only 40 miles from NY and really friendly staff. End Notes: Learn how 4th and 5th grade children can ski for free in NY, PA, NH and Vt.