The Sweet Spot

Finding a ski destination that's budget-friendly but still keeps kids happy gets harder every year. But in northern Italy, Stratton Lawrence uncovers a few spots where families really can have it all.

- Stratton Lawrence

THE FIRST CHILLY wind of November taunted me: I still hadn't booked our annual family ski trip. But I was hesitant to shell out hundreds of bucks a day for lift tickets in the Rockies, and lodging was already scarce.

On a whim, I checked availability in Italy's Dolomites. The Dolomiti Superski pass, accepted at 15 resorts, was just $78 a day-and flights to Milan were also, somehow, surprisingly affordable. I booked that very night.

A month later, my wife and I were drinking Spritzes on a bluebird afternoon at Val di Fassa while our two kids took laps on the bunny slope. The town at the base of the resort, Pozza di Fassa, had everything we needed, including a cozy apartment (many are listed at fassa.com), ski rentals right by the gondola, and an excellent pizzeria, Al Ponte (pizzas $8-$16).