VAIL - I sometimes worry that by raising my boys in arguably the preeminent ski town in America (with apologies to Steamboat and Aspen) and encouraging in them a high level of alpine-skiing proficiency at an early age, they'll be bored to tears by virtually any other snow sport.

How, for example, do you get them geeked about Nordic skiing when they've enjoyed countless powder days at Vail by the age of 6? Won't they it in the same light as snowshoeing - as a slightly more action-packed winter version of a hike?

I got the opportunity to address that question Friday, when yet another teacher planning day in a seemingly endless stream of such academic interruptions gave my oldest son, Nick, a day off from the rigors of first grade.

What to do with the morning, I wondered, since we had the afternoon covered with a LEGO competition at the local library but also had to factor my 3-month-old, Rennick, into the day's activities.

With Renn along, alpine skiing was out (most resorts, rightly so, banned baby backpacks years ago). Also out was a trip to the recreation center for a spin around the lazy river and a few dozen trips down the water slide.

Then I hit on it, the ultimate way to kill a few hours on a super-sunny Colorado day in early March: grab the cross country gear and head out to one of our local Nordic centers.

The most secluded and serene local option is the Nordic center at The Lodge & Spa at Cordillera southwest of Edwards. Affordable and fun (with an adjacent sledding hill), Cordillera's ski trails are tucked up into the hillsides along a golf course.

The Beaver Creek Nordic Center & McCoy Park is a personal favorite because of its towering views but requires a ride up the Strawberry Park Express chairlift, not really an option with an infant in a BabyBjorn.

So it was off to the Vail Nordic Center at the Vail Golf Course, formerly free and easily the best deal in town but still a bargain at just five bucks for a trail pass. Kids 12 and under are still free, and Nick's skis, boots and poles were a mere $8 for the day.

The hardest part of the outing was wrestling Rennick into the BabyBjorn and getting clicked into our skis, but after that, it was smooth sailing on the 17 kilometers of groomed trails.

His only free-heeling experience to date a half-day telemark lesson earlier this season, Nick nevertheless quickly took to skinny skiing. He loved the gliding motion, moved fluidly and only fell a few times. Getting up after a tumble took a little adjustment for him but he eventually even got the hang of that.

Renn fell asleep and we spun out along the immaculately groomed track, getting far enough south of Interstate 70 to nearly get out of earshot, and the views of the Gore Range were spectacular.

But when I asked Nick what his favorite part of cross country skiing was as we headed back to the clubhouse, he didn't hesitate before delivering the response every dad lives for: "Doing it with you."

Tips for cross country skiing with kids

• Slather on the sunscreen, pack some snacks and plenty of water and try to go on a sunny day. Like most things with children, Nordic skiing goes better in good weather.

• Start on a green run with moderate climbs - if any - and don't try to do too much. A short loop will go a long way toward keeping the experience positive.

• Give a few pointers but let your kids discover their own style. A shuffling kick and glide probably will produce better results than trying to get them to skate ski.

• Have fun, play games, maybe race a little, and take time to point out wildlife and interesting aspects of the natural surroundings. Such distractions keep kids interested.

• The Vail Nordic Center has 17 kilometers of groomed ski trails and 10 kilometers of groomed snowshoe trails. Call 1-970-476-8366 or go to VailNordicCenter.com.

• The Nordic Center at The Lodge & Spa at Cordillera has 11 kilometers of groomed ski trails and 18 kilometers of groomed snowshoe trails. Call 1-866-650-7625 and ask for the concierge or go to Cordillera.Rockresorts.com/info/act.ski. asp.

• The Beaver Creek Nordic Center & McCoy Park has more than 30 kilometers of groomed trails. Call 1-970-845-5313 or go to BeaverCreek.snow.com/info/winter/ss.nordic.asp.

David O. Williams, a Colorado resident and avid skier since 1979, lives in Edwards with his wife and three sons.

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