Michelle Obama's Skiing Vacation in Aspen & Photos from Other Family Trips [SLIDESHOW]

By Sara Dover | February 20 2012 1:04 PM

Photo: Reuters

Christmas in Hawaii, 2011-2012

The entire first family traveled to Hawaii, where President Obama grew up, for Christmas and New Year's. Above, they are at an Air Force base near Honolulu, returning to Washington on Jan. 2, 2012.

Photo: REUTERS

Martha's Vineyard, Summer 2011

U.S. first lady Michelle Obama takes a bike ride during their family vacation on Martha's Vineyard in Massachusetts August 23, 2011.

Photo: Reuters

South Africa, June 2011

Michelle Obama and daughters Sasha and Malia take a safari in South Africa on June 25, 2011. The vacation was considered an official visit for the first lady.

Photo: Reuters

Christmas in Hawaii, 2010

President Obama and Malia eat icecream while on vacation in Hawaii

Photo: Reuters

Panama, Summer 2010

President Obama, first lady Michelle Obama and their daughter Sasha take a tour of St Andrews Bay aboard the boat "Bay Point Lady" near Panama City Beach, Florida, August 15, 2010

Photo: Reuters

Spain, Summer 2010

Michelle Obama took her daughters to a high profile trip to Spain 2010. Here, they tour the historic center of the southern Spanish town of Ronda, near Marbella on August 7.

Michelle Obama and her two daughters have escaped to a luxury Aspen, Col., resort for a skiing vacation on President's day weekend, drawing criticism for taking yet another trip during difficult economic times.

The Aspen Daily News first reported on the vacation. Michelle, Sasha and Malia reportedly arrived at Aspen on Friday afternoon, but few details about the trip are available. The three also went skiing in Vail for President's Day last year.

Sources told the paper and the Daily Caller that the Obamas are staying near Buttermilk Mountain at the huge private home of Jim and Paula Crown, a couple who owns Aspen Skiing Co. and has donated to the Obama campaign. They are reportedly staying with two female friends of the first lady.

Like the Obamas, the Crown family is from Chicago. Paula Crown is a member of President Barack Obama's President's Committee on the Arts of Humanities. Federal Election Commission filings show that Mrs. Crown has donated tens of thousands of dollars to Democrats, with a few exceptions like Republican Sen. Mark Kirk (R-Ill.).

Pictures obtained by The Associated Press (they can be seen in the Daily Caller) show Michelle Obama in Aspen sporting a white ski jacket, blue pants, and matching black boots, beanie and gloves. Sasha, 10, and Malia, 14, are with her, also dressed up in warm jackets.

The Aspen ski trip is the latest of many vacations the Obamas have taken since President Barack Obama took office. The Washington Examiner calculates that the ski resort is the 16th vacation the Obamas have taken.

Critics say it's inappropriate for the Obamas to be taking lavish trips during a recession, when so many Americans have to cut back on costs. CBS News points out that the Obamas have taken less than half of the amount of trips George W. Bush took to his Texas ranch while he was president, but the Obama vacations tend to be more expensive.

For example, the Hawaii Reporter said Obama's Christmas vacation in 2011 would exceed $1.5 million. Michelle Obama's trip to Spain in 2010 reportedly cost $375,000, according to the Telegraph.

Click on the slideshow above for more pictures from Obama family vacations.