Skiing with teens and tweens can be enjoyable for the whole family. -- Photo courtesy of Marmot Basin

Rule the ski hills Advice for ski resort-bound families? Where will you go for your next family trip? Ski resort Anywhere warm Local getaway Somewhere else No trips planned Results

This season, skiing in Ontario got off to a scratchy start. But ski resorts across the Canadian and U.S. West have more snow than groomers know what to do with. This might be the year for your family's first ski vacation.

Before you and the kids board that plane to Whistler, however, here are some toddler-to-teen tips on how to make the trip worth your considerable investment.

If you've got toddlers in tow, take time to do some toddler research. Ski resorts have come a long way in the last few years organizing programs that keep kids busy while you're cutting up the powder. But you've got to find out exactly when you and your tot have to be where. Many ski schools have early drop-off times and late pickups in their pre-school programs. They feed them lunches and snacks, give them turning time on easy terrain... heck they'll even help them make crafts and paint their faces.

Keep in mind, getting tots to a ski daycare early in the a.m. so you can cut first tracks can be as exasperating as herding cats. Have a schedule. Try to keep that family snow train moving forward. But don't get bent out of shape if the train gets derailed.

If your tot digs in his ski-booted heels one day and refuses to go with his instructor, spend the day with him yourself on the bunny hill. That's what makes skiing such a fabulous sport -- it's truly family friendly.

ALLOW TWEENS TO LEAD

Ski travel with tweens can be as fascinating as exploring the moon, so bring along your sense of adventure. Allow your tweens to lead the way -- let them choose each trail, ski a different trail every run, or move from west to east and cover the entire mountain. In the alps, they call this a "ski safari."

Allow tweens to try runs that may be slightly above their level -- skiing tougher terrain is a sure way to improve technique. Search out easy gladed (treed) runs with plenty of space between the evergreens -- kids get a huge kick out of skiing trees. Be sure everyone is wearing helmets, and study trail maps beforehand together.

A ski trip with teens can be challenging. Sure, they're awfully lucky to be offered the experience, but they may be more worried about missing a party at home, or not being able to tote the Xbox. Guaranteed they'll forget all that once they're in the mountains.

Another warning: Chances are your teens won't want to ski with you, so bring along a friend -- one who can ski as well as your family. If that doesn't work, find out if the resort has group teen lessons.

The key is allowing your teen some independence. Just make sure you've firmed up a meeting place and time, and that you and your teen have turned on your walkie-talkies. Don't count on cellphones, service is sketchy in the mountains.

Apres-ski is possible with the family, but you'll need to alter your expectations. For family apres, think snow-tubing, skating or even hot-tubbing. Sorry, mom and dad: Noshing nachos and beer in the bar is for singles and couples only!