Any non-skiers go on holiday with skiing family? What do you do?

[Hightideattheseaside]

My husband wants to take the kids skiing next year. I have never been and really don’t have any urge to try. I’m not naturally sporty and feel this could be a disaster waiting to happen as I have torn the ACL on both knees. Plus, I am no adrenaline junkie and would spend my life on the baby slopes cold alone once the kids have got the hang of it which seems pointless. I’d much rather spend mega bucks on scuba diving somewhere warm!

If you you don’t ski but go on the trips what do you do all day? While kicking back and relaxing with a book and enjoying the amazing scenery sounds great I would be worried I would get bored after a few days.

Bring books and select resorts with access to great spas.
and day drink 🥴😅

I’d love this. Sadly, no one in my family skis! 😂 I would do lots of walking, reading by the fire, cold water swimming, hot tubs, sauna, spa days, eating out, lots of hot chocolate. Sounds wonderful!

I hike, snow-shoe, and read in places with beautiful views, or take trips by train -- this means that we only go to beautiful places with good train connections, not soulless purpose-built resorts which have nothing of interest unless you ski.

I have contemplated learning to cross-country ski.

Depending on where you go some ski lifts (usually cable cars or gondolas) take non-skiers so you can go sightseeing. Usually there's a restaurant at the top and then you can meet up with the skiers in your group for lunch.

Any chance you could spend mega bucks and go scuba diving somewhere warm whilst he takes the kids on a lovely holiday away with dad?

My husband loves skiing, he wants to take the kids annually when they grow up a bit. His family all go to the same place every year around the same time. I can see myself going now and again so the whole family get to spend time together as that's a lovely thing, but definitely not something I want to do for the next 16+ years.... So I'll probably use that time and go somewhere I want to go guilt free for a week!

Do not ski with bad knees! You are correct.

Your dh needs to agree on a nice town resort for non-skiers, and or a nice hotel or apart-hotel where you can swim, spa and laze around.

Walking, sledding, riding up the ski lift for lunch… all relatively fun.

We stayed in the town of Valloire some years ago, I liked it. We had a little apartment with a sunny balcony in a block with an indoor-outdoor pool.

Beginners cannot ski all day so you’ll have some time for snowball fights and hot chocolate with them. As they get better over the years, they might be gone all day - but by then you’ll have figured out how to occupy yourself.

There’s still a risk/downside as the non-skier that you feel a bit left out or end up doing all the cooking and organising. You do not want to end up as “no fun mum”. Equally you don’t want to stop your family having a nice time skiing.

It will be better than you expect, although scuba diving might be more fun…

Absolutely do not even THINK of taking up skiing if you've already done both ACLs in.
Swim, spa, read, relax.

This is me. First trip was last year but actually as kids so young the longest I got alone was 90 minutes with a coffee and my book because ski school was so short. I joined them all up the mountain for lunch and generally enjoyed being around snow. Went swimming all together in a great pool twice in the week and read a lot. I can see as they get older my time alone will stretch so I think I’ll do a spa day. I came back knackered though- so much putting on ski gear of small people and carrying their equipment and helping them get stuff on an off and clock watching. Not my idea of a fun holiday! But I pick all the other holidays so only fair to let DH pick one and we go as a big group of family so it’s nice to see everyone else too.

My friend doesn't ski, and comes with us when we go.

We choose a resort which is non-skier friendly, so not the big French purpose-built ones. We usually go to Austria, where the resorts are actual towns/villages and there is plenty to do. In the ones we've been to, the Tourist Info offices have stuff going on for non-skiers. Organised walks/snowshoe walks, visits to local attractions (the schnapps distillery was a highlight!) and are generally very helpful with advice etc. Trains and buses have always been good, cheap and efficient too.

Over the course of a week she would usually:
Have a day trip somewhere on the train (Salzburg/Innsbruck etc)
Have a day in whatever town we're staying in
Go on one or 2 organised trips
Have a spa kind of day (or use the local pool etc)
Maybe have a day in the accommodation, chilling/reading etc
Sometimes her DH has a day off skiing and they have a day together.

She has no problems filling the week. We are done with skiing by 3.30 (have to be back to collect from ski school), so we always meet at around that time for drinks etc.

The only thing I would add is not to write off skiing straight away! I am no adrenaline junkie - quite the opposite in fact, I am the world's biggest wuss. I was also not at all sporty/fit when we first skied (in my mid 30s). And I thought I would HATE it. I only went because my friendship group were going and I didn't want to miss out. I was open minded, thought I'd give it a go, and loved it.

Nothing. While I read, watch films, go for walks, pick up the food etc but mainly rest. They are out for 6-7 hours usually. DD1 will have a day with me as well while DD2 and DH do the crazy adrenaline runs.
Them the evenings we are obviously together.

It sounds boring, but we go at Christmas and November and December are crazily busy at home soI need the rest!

Try Banff or whistler. Canadian resorts are lovely. You can do snow shoeing, dog sledding, cross country skiing etc. I’m a timid non adrenaline junkie too and I love snowy holidays!

I would love it. You could likely still go up and meet them for lunch etc.

Read by a fireplace in the main lodge have a lovely lengthy lunch and then swim ( if there is a heated pool ) and spa… it’s lovely and the family come back feeling sorry for me haha

If you can afford Switzerland you can use the brilliant train network to do sightseeing.

I have a long history of this. First, as someone above has mentioned, you may not have a huge amount of spare time. I've spend a lot of time picking up from ski school and dropping back off again for an afternoon session after lunch in the past (my kids do ski school twice a day) so the time left feels a bit limited.

Snow shoeing is a lot of fun, as is winter hiking. I'm not sure how much snow shoeing might take out of your ACLs though as it's quite physical. Tobogganing is great.

We stay in hotels so no need to think about anything practical. Just enjoying the peace of the place while most people are out during the day with a book and a hot drink. A massage or beauty treatment some times. The hotel gym.

My only issue is that everyone around me is eating a LOT after massive physical exercise. I tend to join in, and end the week feeling quite stuffed. Exercise definitely helps!

Suggesting she trys skiing - have you snapped both ACLs? One of the first questions that my surgeon asked, pre-op, was if I skied, and as I only did a little, told me not to continue as I was putting the knee at risk. It's really, really not worth it.

I ski but am neither good nor keen. DH and DC's are much better than me.

We don't go to a fancy resort with spas etc. but I never have a problem filling my time. Luckily I love walking, and the mountain walking and views are spectacular. I normally head up the lift with the others then take myself off for three hours. It's bliss!

In the afternoons, we often do sledging, skating, another walk or go out. And there are nice events each evening, like the community fondue, live music etc.

I love my yearly mountain fix, with or without skis.

@SomewhereAround your winter holidays sound like ours'

We are in a small, mostly French town away from the big resorts and I love it. We have a small cross country ski route and am also considering learning.

Snow shoe walking is the best. So peaceful and beautiful. Last year I saw a wildcat!

DH and DS went ski-ing. DD and I went somewhere sunny. Non skiers do not have to do or go where skiers want to go.

i dont ski and my husband and kids do.
i chill in spa and sauna, nap, read. its the most relaxing holiday for me and i love it.

OP should most definitely not ever try skiing having already torn both ACLs

We go to a little village that has beautiful views and nice shops. I use the ski lifts, gondolas and trains to go sightseeing. I read books, write, eat cake and drink hot chocolate, and go walking. I love it.

If you are going walking, take walking poles.

@svalberg @rainbowunicorn You're both right! I overlooked the bit about both ACLs. (I do know a few skiers who ski plenty after an ACL reconstruction though, but they were experienced skiers beforehand, which maybe helps, and only 1 knee, not both).

Good job there's plenty for OP to do without skiing!

My friend goes with her family every February half term. She helps the DCs with getting ready - although as they are now older this is less hands on - then sits in a mountain cafe having a hot chocolate and reading her book until they meet up at lunchtime. Rinse and repeat for the afternoon- she loves it.

I would be careful though that you aren't chief organiser and bottle washer whilst DH swans off and has a lovely time skiing every day. There is a lot of faff and organisation getting young DCs ready with all the gear in the morning, then in the evening making sure everything is hung correctly to dry etc. as the non skier it may fall to you to do all of this for everyone, so try not to.
Don't be going self catering and ideally pick somewhere with a pool.

Stay at home (or, better still, book a break for yourself somewhere else). It’s a very expensive way to read a book with some nice views. And there is a risk that you will just be wrangling kids while he skis.