We have entered that sweet spot of ski life at my house and it has all the joy of skiing with your littles with very little of the schlep, juggling and planning.

We are officially grandparents to a small tribe of delightful souls who absolutely love to ski.

It’s fantastic (and to be honest; I do a bit of the hard stuff too, but it somehow doesn’t feel as stress-inducing and exhausting as when you are the mom). We have so much ahead of us, our ski grands and us.

And while I’m sure we will discover more tricks, spots and traditions, there’s so much we absolutely loved learning about the family ski life as our own skiing daughters grew with the sport, it’s like we are tee’d up for (knock wood) dozens of seasons sharing our love of the sport with three generations of our family a part of it all.

So what makes a great spot for grandparent/child/grandchild ski or ride day fun? To me, there’s a formula of sorts, but it’s a magical formula that almost never feels, looks or even tastes exactly the same. While I’d argue just about any ski spot is perfect in one way or another, here are some of the details I like to find for true family skiing perfection. You might say it this way: When it comes to great skiing with the littles, it’s the little things.

Top to Bottom Easy: Not the whole mountain, silly: without challenging trails we’d have no aspirations or breakthrough days, and those are sweet, sweet times.

What I mean is a resort that has trails from top to bottom that even snowplowing itty-bittys can take on. Why is this important? Because while little kids are happy to loop and loop the magic carpet trail, they’re also champing at the bit to get up to the top like “real skiers.” Top to bottom also exposes them to more beauty via vistas, trees and more. It also gives them – and you – the thrill of a long, fun and totally doable for every level trail experience.

As we watched a video of our grands skiing the other day (admittedly, for the eleventy-billionth time) my husband declared, “I cannot wait to do Toll Road with them!” Toll Road, cut in the 1880s as a way for loggers and others to get to the top of the mountain that is now Stowe Mountain Resort, turns into a long, winding, varied trail that’s like an amusement ride through winter nature. You’ll glide through clearings and see the views, turn softly through narrow sections past snow-laced trees, and find little spots to hop quickly into those trees and back out again. There’s a stone chapel you can ski right up to and through (built in memory of a child who lost their life who loved skiing there). At the very bottom there’s a slow chair, a perfect way to rest those little (and not so little) legs and bond more over your true love of the sport.

It will always be my eastern No. 1 green. There are more: like Wild Kitten at Wildcat Mountain Resort, where they can stare into the belly of the great Mount Washington in front of them; Old Log Road at Stratton Mountain Resort; and so many more. Study your trail map ahead of time and if need be, ask at the ski school desk for trail recommendations. Find your own special favorites and revisit them often. It’s the stuff for fireside tales all your lives ahead,

Common Base Area: I love a huge mountain resort with multiple peaks; who doesn’t? But when my kids were little, particularly when they first reached the age of being able to go off and take runs without supervision, I always found a common base are finish for all trails to be the best.

Should you lose track of one of them? You know where they’ll end up (and it’s smart to choose a “I got lost” meeting spot ahead of time, even if you think you can connect via phone.

I love Ragged Mountain Resort in Danbury, New Hampshire, for this. Lots of fun trails for all levels and plenty of spots on the mountain where you feel like you are away from it all, but it all ends up at the same spot,

So too are spots like Crotched Mountain, Black Mountain in New Hampshire, and the fabulous Wachusett Mountain Resort in Massachusetts. There are countless more. I don’t avoid multi-base areas with littles, but for an easy day, choose one from time to time.

Fun factor and a touch of magic: Some might argue that the thrill of the ski is enough magic in itself, but all my life, I loved little touches to make the day extra fun. The candy store you ski up to on trail at Bretton Woods Resort stands out, as does any Waffle Cabin anywhere. Smugglers Notch Resort is a non-stop magical moment start to finish every day, every run, with more creative touches than you can imagine.

Or head to Okemo Mountain Resort and take your littles on a treasure hunt: Beside one very easy-to-ski and lovely trail, there’s a secret mailbox full of candy, find it, and you’re welcome to grab a treat for the road. Now that’s core memory.