IF you ski down through the woods today, you’re sure of a big surprise.
Especially when you are in Hundfjallet — one of four ski areas in the Swedish mountain resort Salen.
A magical beginner slope winds through a Troll Forest where dozens of wooden statues protrude from the snow, singing and telling folk tales.
My young kids liken this enchanted realm to the lands of Elsa and Anna in Disney movie Frozen.
And there’s even a ski-thru McDonald’s too — see right.
It is the first time I’ve taken my family skiing and the children are spellbound from the get-go.
Making their way through the mythical woods of Trollskogen, they look in wonder.
The only things that stop them begging to return immediately to the top of the run are a log cabin serving hot chocolate near an open fire — and an open-air theatre with a dance show featuring the resort’s mascot, Snowman Valle.
Aside from it being wonderfully child-friendly, one of the best things about Salen is how quickly you can get there.
The resort, in west-central Sweden, near the Norwegian border, is just a two-hour flight from the UK then a ten-minute transfer.
Within an hour of landing at the airport, we had dumped our bags, got completely kitted out — including with ski pass, part of our deal from operator Sunweb — and were gliding down the pistes.
All of this was made even easier by our 4H “ski in and ski out” SkiStar Lodge apartment hotel, which has everything you could wish for within a short walk, from ski school, ski rental and sledging hill, to luxury spa, restaurants, playroom, creche and supermarket.
Salen is generally suited more to beginner and intermediate skiiers. But with 101 runs, including some nice off-piste, back-country routes, and a 45-degree black run called The Wall, there is enough to keep even the most advanced occupied.
If you are looking for an alternative to downhill skiing or boarding, the area also offers dog-sled rides, Ski-Doo snowmobile trails, and superb cross-country skiing.
After a tiring day on the mountain you can simply slide back to the hotel — which has a vast storage room for all your gear — and head to the bar for authentic Swedish apres ski.
Yes, that means Abba songs, as well as lots of sing-along tunes for the kids — while they energise on their slush puppies with marshmallows, and the adults relax with a beer and bowls of hot, salty chips.
Another great way to unwind after all that exertion on the mountain is the on-site Frost Spa, where you can look at the ski slopes from a steaming outdoor pool, relax in two tingling-hot Jacuzzis, melt away in the sauna and steam rooms, and get a Swedish massage — before a drink at the bar.
Salen also comprises the busier Lindvallen ski area — 20 minutes away on the free bus — where you can grab a burger and chips in the world’s one and only ski-thru McDonald’s.
Lindvallen also has a ten-pin bowling alley, arcade and the SkiStar Experium fun pool with surf simulator and two exciting waterslides for the kids to go wild in.
At day’s end, back at the hotel, the children can also enjoy free table tennis, pool and shuffleboard until they are ready to drop.
And when they are finally tucked up in bed, adults can settle down in front of the apartments’ giant TVs and watch Frozen or listen to Abba songs.
Just Gimme, gimme, gimme another Swedish ski holiday.
GO: SALEN
GETTING/STAYING THERE: Eight-day ski packages to the 4H SkiStar Lodge Lindvallen start from £918pp including flight from the UK and based on two sharing.
Price includes skipass and is based on 2025/26 season.
See sunweb.co.uk.
AS I look down into the valley below, I spot the unmistakable outline of the Golden Arches gleaming in the snow.
Peeling off my gloves, I unlock my phone screen and hit the McDonald’s app, ordering two Happy Meals, a Big Mac and a McChicken sandwich.
I’ve never seen my children ski as quickly as they did to the hatch to collect our order.
The world’s only McSki in Sweden’s Lindvallen, is decked out like an Alpine chalet with stone and wood features and can seat up to 170 people.
It offers all the same menu items that can be found in other McDonald’s around the world and the prices are comparable to back home in England – with main meals costing around £7.
This means you can get a pretty cheap lunch compared to other mountain restaurant options.
Who can say no to that?