Can't wait for winter

Photo: Big White: File photo

While the leaves are changing colour down in the valley, Big White is already gearing up for winter.

The new season will kick off Nov. 26.

The new Black Forest Day Lodge will open in December, with a 150-seat lunch room, quick-service food menu and direct walk-to-lift access.

Big White received TripAdvisor's 2015 certificate of excellence and got the nod for for best powder by Ski Canada Magazine in its 2015 Best of Skiing Canada Awards.

Senior vice-president Michael J. Ballingall says the resort puts a focus on families.

"We ensure there's a plethora of activities to suit the taste of each member of the family, and make it especially easy for parents,” he said.

These include group family lessons to off-slope activities such as arts and crafts, pizza and games nights, tubing and snowshoeing. "Complete with hot chocolate,” said Ballingall.

Families can also take advantage of grocery delivery service and arrive to a fully stocked fridge full of essentials for the duration of their stay. 

Children attending lessons are equipped with a GPS system that tracks their position all over the mountain and shares stats with their parents, including the trails they traversed, how much vertical they skied or boarded, and their average speed.

In the evening, the entire family can enjoy an old-fashioned horse-drawn sleigh ride or warm up with dinner in a cozy cabin or one of the resort's 18 on-mountain restaurants, cafés, or pubs.