It’s usually the little things that tip the scales: a flight of stairs with no elevator, a bathroom that’s just a little too far away, or a long trek from the parking lot to the slopes. Most skiers and snowboarders barely give these details a second thought, but for parents juggling kids, equipment, and high emotions, they’re often the difference between a stressful day and a great one.

Convenience is one area where Telluride shines. Both Telluride and its sister town, Mountain Village, offer true ski-in, ski-out access, meaning families can get to the lifts without a lengthy walk or a shuttle ride. Plus, Telluride Ski Resort has a nursery that welcomes infants as young as two months old and a ski school that offers group lessons for kids starting at age two-and-a-half. On-mountain, there are three magic carpets and a dedicated beginner area (The Meadows, served by Lift 1), along with many green and blue runs that make progression a cinch. When it’s time to trade skis for snow boots, both towns offer plenty of free winter activities geared toward kids.

There are not many U.S. ski towns you can literally ski into, but Telluride is one of them. The resort consists of two areas: the historic, Victorian-era town of Telluride at the valley floor, and the newer Mountain Village, a master-planned alpine community built with walkable, European-style plazas.

Both offer direct, car-free access to the mountain. From Mountain Village, many properties feature seamless ski-in/ski-out access. While some town properties require a short walk or a quick ride on the free town shuttle, the entire resort is seamlessly connected by a free 12-minute gondola, ensuring you never need a car to get to the slopes.

It also helps that Mountain Village recently became a verified destination with Wheel the World , a platform specializing in accessible tourism. The designation is designed to help travelers with disabilities plan trips with confidence, but it’s also relevant to parents, who rely on features like ramps and elevators to get around with ease.

Telluride is one of the few ski destinations where no rental car is needed, which also means you don’t have to haul a car seat to the airport. Shuttles bring travelers from both Telluride (TEX) and Montrose Airports (MTJ) daily, and at all hours, and once you’ve arrived at your condo or home, you can walk, ride the gondola, or take the bus just about everywhere.

A group shuttle from Telluride Airport starts at $20 and takes around 10 minutes, while one from Montrose Airport starts at $75 and takes 90 minutes. Private pickups are available, as are car seats and booster seats. Reliable shuttle vendors include TelluRides, Telluride Express, and Mountain Limo.

The gondola, the first and only free public transportation of its kind in the U.S., is stroller-friendly and connects the two towns in 12 minutes (with some of the best views). In Telluride, the Galloping Goose bus runs regular loops around town.

Telluride Ski Resort’s Cubs Camp Nursery offers half- and full-day childcare for infants and toddlers starting at two months of age. From age two-and-a-half to four, Cubs Camp offers one-hour ski lessons paired with childcare. Lunch and snacks are provided.

For older kids and younger children who want to spend more time on the slopes, the Telluride Ski & Snowboard School offers group lessons for children between the ages of three and 14. Snowboard lessons are available starting at age five. Telluride’s ski school also offers customizableprivate lessons for families, with up to five people per instructor.

When the lifts stop spinning and everyone heads to après, Kids Happy Hour kicks off, offering kids the chance to gather for crafts and indoor activities (plus snacks and hot chocolate). Meanwhile, parents can mingle over drinks and snacks of their own. Kids Happy Hour runs from 3:30-5:00 p.m. daily.

Telluride Ski Resort has a reputation for its extreme and hike-to terrain, but almost 60 percent of the ski area is rated green (beginner) or blue (intermediate). It’s home to one of the longest beginner runs in North America, Galloping Goose, at 4.6 miles long, and Heritage Trail, which passes through specially-constructed buildings and interactive features that highlight the region’s history. Telluride Ski Resort also has three magic carpets and a dedicated beginners slope.

The Meadows is where most kids get their start. The slope has two magic carpets, one small one that you can walk to from Mountain Village, and one that’s midway down Meadows. At the bottom of Meadows, kids can choose between riding the chairlift or the mini gondola back to the top. There are bathrooms and snack shops at both the top and bottom of Meadows, and both magic carpets have water and cups.

In addition, there is a third magic carpet located where the people riding the gondola to Mountain Village disembark. For families staying in Telluride, this is a great place to begin. Kid-friendly bathrooms, rentals, and the ski school are all located nearby, with water located on-site.

Telluride Ski Resort is known for its uncrowded slopes and lack of lift lines, which means more time skiing and snowboarding and less time standing around. It’s a perk parents appreciate, since most kids aren’t fond of waiting 20 minutes for a chairlift.

Thanks to its layout, beginners aren’t confined to one corner of the mountain. Families are able to ski and snowboard together with ease, even at varying skill levels. Beginners can ski from 11,815 feet via the Galloping Goose trail from Prospect Bowl (Lift 12), while intermediate skiers and snowboarders can take See Forever (a single blue) from the top of Gold Hill (Lift 14), which is perched at more than 12,000 feet.

Telluride has plenty of kid-centric activities, including several that are completely free. Riding the gondola is as fun as it is practical, with the opportunity to look for wildlife or watch skiers from above, and appreciate the big mountain views.

In Telluride Town Park, families can sled Firecracker Hill, ice skate on one of the indoor or outdoor rinks, or try Nordic skiing and snowshoeing—all for free. Sleds, skates, Nordic skis, and snowshoes are all available to rent at the park’s Telluride Nordic Center.

In Mountain Village, one scenic 12-minute gondola ride away, there are two outdoor ice rinks with skate rentals, and miles of additional Nordic ski and snowshoe trails.

Telluride is also home to the award-winning Wilkinson Public Library, which has dedicated childrens’, tween, and teen areas that were recently renovated. In addition to a new custom-built treehouse in the kids’ area and regular craft and story times, the library has a massive “Unusual Items” collection where anyone with a library card can borrow things like board games, toys, and cooking and crafting items. The collection is also a great resource for traveling parents, with strollers and booster seats available to borrow.