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Snow play for 2 and 4 year oldsSoda Springs snow park?Family-friendly snow vacation?Cabin in the snow for spring breakFun, child friendly snow placeSnow weekend for families w/small kidsInexpensive first trip to see snowSnow vacation w/ one year old twinsResort with babysitting for big family XmasSnowy vacation that is NOT TAHOEWeekend snow trip with small kids and our dog??Family Lodging in Snow CountrySimple snow play, cheap lodging for 2 & 4 year olds

Inexpensive snow tripTubing Day TripWeekend Visit to the SnowSleddingEconomical Snow GetawaysRelated PagesDay Trip to See the SnowWhere to Go SkiingShastaTahoeYosemiteSki Lessons

Snowboarding LessonsWhere to Buy Snow Clothes

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Snow play for 2 and 4 year oldsJan 2010Hi, we're looking for a weekend snow adventure for 2 and 4 year olds. We renteda house in Soda Springs last year, and sledded on the local hill. That was a nice area, but now I think we'd like a better place to sled, but don't want to shell out the bucks for the Soda Springs Snow Park, since our kids are too young totake advantage of all its features....So, any recommendations of good snow parks

/places for sledding? Also, if you know of a nice rental house to go along withit for 6 adults and 4 kids, that would be useful too. Ready to sled

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--------------------------------------------------------------------------------We've had good luck in the past going up Highway 4. Pretty close to the bay area, much less traffic issues than Hwy 80.Up above the snow line, right on Hwy 4, there are usually a couple spots where people can pull off the road and sled down the hill between the trees, make a snow man, and enjoy the snow for free. I think there is also an official place to p

ay for sledding further up the mountain, but I can't see paying for it when there is so much free snow around.

One year when our child was 3 we stayed at the Dorrington Inn, which is right upin that area. it is an old hotel, and the rooms were small, but adequate. But the place has a big ''back yard'' for playing in the snow, and they sort of ''groom'' the driveway for sledding.

There is a sports place in Arnold right off the highway to get supplies. Bryan in Oakland

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Soda Springs snow park?Dec 2009We are new to the area and plan to take our 4 girls (ages 10, 7, 3 and 1/2, and7 months) to the Tahoe area over winter break. We found a ''Ski Soda Springs'' web site that seems to have lots of activities geared towards younger kids with no skiing experience (our girls have no skiing experience). Tubing, snow park, etc. Has anyone gone to this park? What did you like or dislike? Advice? We are just looking for a day of fun snow play and tubing - nothing too adventurous but something organized. Thanks!1st time to Tahoe

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------Soda Springs is both the name of an area/small town and the name of the Soda Springs resort both at the Donner Summit exit(not Donner Lake exit) off of I80. It's the closest ski area to the Bay Area and great to travel to with small children as it is a shorter drive. Our family has owned a lakeside cabin, where we vacation, on Serene Lakes, part of Soda Springs, for 20+ years and when our kids were small we usually went to SS resort as it was more suitable for kids and easierto get around than Sugarbowl, with easier runs for the kids. They also have kids ski classes. A few years ago they started to have tubing and a little kids play area with a carousel and some other stuff. Our kids were over the moon with the new additions, especially the tubing where parents can see them sliding over the course. An adult would have to go with a very small child. Generally the resort is small enough to be child and family friendly and it is unlikely your childwill be mowed down by another skier(as happened to one of our kids at Sugarbowlonce, but he enjoyed being carted off by the paramedics). I think Soda Springsis a great place to visit with kids for a first time snow experience. We have 4kids also and we could keep an eye on them quite easily there. Kids under 8 usedto get free lift tickets but you would have to check that now(our kids are older) Donna--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Family-friendly snow vacation?Sept 2009We're looking for a 3+ or 4 bedroom place to stay in the Sierras over a weekend

in Feb or March (3 or 4 nights). We just want to introduce our young children tothe snow! (2 or 3 families involved) We don't need to be too close to any of the ski resorts. We are interested in the greater Tahoe area or Arnold/Bear Valley

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(or anywhere else with good sledding!). We're very responsible and would treatany property with respect. Any suggestions for great places to stay? cf

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------We've enjoyed staying in this cabin in South Lake Tahoe. It's great for kids inthe winter because there is a hill right across the street perfect for sledding,

snow fort building etc. There are two bedrooms and a bathroom downstairs and the same set up upstairs, so it's a great set up for a family or to share with twofamilies. http://www.tahoestay.com/searchresults.el?pid&propertyId=CY%20H1269&arriveday=Any&departday=Any&k=59B3F9D443C74DD5A16ACA0627150EE98755Snow loving family--------------------------------------------------------------------------------http://www.vrbo.com/141370This is a very family-friendly house in Truckee. The owners have little kids. The house has a pack-n-play, and little chairs and tables. Tahoe Donner is a verysmall ski place, so it is perfect for beginners. Our kids, who are 9 and 11, skiied all day with their friends. You can also easily fit more than one family inthat house. The drive is 3 hours or so. We also enjoy going there in the summer

when the kids can enjoy Donner lake, hiking, biking, and pool swimming. Truckeeis fun!--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Cabin in the snow for spring breakMarch 2009This is, of course, last minute, but are there any members out there who have aplace (cabin or house) up in the snow that is available for rent during the weekof Spring Break (April 6-10)? I do not even know whether there will still be snow that week, but I promised my kids we would go this year, and we haven't madeit up there yet. We are looking for a place any of the days between Weds, April8 and Saturday, April 11. We are two parents, and two kids, ages 4 and 7. We donot have a dog. A big, expensive place is out of our range, but something reason

able would be great. Do you have such a place? Or alternatively, do you have a place to recommend? Thanks. Kim

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------This spring break we discovered a new home-away-from-home in South Lake Tahoe, when we stayed at 412 Barrett Drive, high in the mountains just above the lake. The weather was wonderfully changeable -- one day it was warm and sunny and we played on the beach; then next couple of days it snowed and snowed and snowed, sowe made a snowperson outside, then warmed up in the hot tub and sat around the fireplace. My kids loved having two floors and 6 rooms to run around in -- and acres of trees all around. The view was fantastic; every window featured tall trees laden with snow -- until it all melted on the last day we were there. It was wonderful! to read the 412 Barrett Drive main and guest websites: http://www.tahoehouses.biz/412barrett Colleen--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Fun, child friendly snow placeFeb 2009We'd like to go to the snow this year. Does anyone have a suggestion for a goodplace to go? Something small and not too busy...where we can rent the stuff we need. Not necessarily to ski, but to play and sled and maybe ski if it comes up.We have two children under 4 years, and are trying to avoid the huge resorts. Mama

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------I LOVE Rustic Cottages in Tahoe Vista. Don't expect anything beautiful but for t

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he price and the friendly service, it's great. They are little cottages with kitchenettes. You can borrow from their movie library, go into their common area and make waffles. In the morning they have fresh muffins and in the afternoon /evening they have fresh cookies and hot cocoa. They have sleds and saucers you canborrow and you can just go to the field across the across the way or to the beach across the street to play in the snow. There is also a sledding hill about a mile down the road and plenty of places to eat in Tahoe Vista and Tahoe City. www

.rusticcottages.com patrice--------------------------------------------------------------------------------We just took our 5 y.o. to Yosemite (by public transportation: Amtrak to Merced,then linked bus right to our lodging, Yosemite Lodge). It's so easy to get around, and snow was just outside, and everywhere. The shuttle stops at many places,there are little sledding hills, nature walks, etc, an ice-skating rink, and afree shuttle goes to Badger Pass, which has a modest ski area, snow tubing, X-country skiing. Package deals let children and their families sample everything, and there's a ski program designed for 4-6 y.olds, in case they want to do more than an hour introductory lesson. We had lots of fun, and there were lots of other families with children who were friendly and accessible. Being there without acar was a treat and very easy. Monika

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Snow weekend for families w/small kidsOct 2008I'm looking for a place for a weekend vacation for multiple families (about 3-6)with small children (all 5 years old and under) in the snow this winter. I thought possibly renting a house or two near each other might be fun. Any suggestions? Jodi

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------We've stayed at The Cabins at Strawberry (http://cabinsatstrawberry.com/) and they're great. It's just the setup you'd want for multiple familes. Each cabin can

accomodate 2-3 familes, and they're right next to each other, so you can rent 2-3 cabins and all be together. They have full kitchens, 2 bedrooms & 1 bath upstairs, 1 bedroom & 1 bath downstairs. The prices are very reasonable. Nearby is afairly expensive snow-play park where you can rent innertubes and the like, butthere's plenty of snow around in the winter for informal play. Enjoy! Christina--------------------------------------------------------------------------------I always suggest Park City, Utah (I live here, so I may be biased). It is fasterto hop on a flight from Oakland and drive up to Park City than it is to drive to Tahoe. Better snow,too. jan--------------------------------------------------------------------------------I have organized similar trips of 35-40 people for my own group of friends for the last several years, both in the snow and summer trips.I recommend renting vacation homes in the Serene Lakes / Soda Springs for a snowtrip with multiple families with young children. I selected this location for our trip last year, based on a number of criteria, and it worked really well.

My criteria included:

There is snow on the ground pretty reliably, given the high elevation (7000 ft.). This is especially helpful with young children, to go in and out freely for snow play, for varying lengths of time, without having to drive.

It is near several ski resorts, for those who want to go skiing or snowboarding.It is hilly enough in the immediate area to provide low-key informal sledding o

pportunities. The Serene Lakes also freeze over, allowing a large level area forsnow play.

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It is easy to identify and rent homes in close proximity because Castle Peak Rentals (www.castlepeak.com) rents most of the homes in the area and can help you identify homes that are close to each other. The reservation section of their website provides the actual addresses of the homes, allowing you to identify the home locations for yourself.

There are some homes large enough to function as a central gathering place for t

he group. We were very happy with Groves home, with a large indoor hot tub and sizeable living area, and there are many other alternatives.

There are reasonable prices for very nice vacation homes.

It is easy driving distance from the Bay Area. It is at Donner Summit, which isabout a 3 hour drive from the East Bay, on Highway 80.

If you want to hire someone to help plan your trip, I would be happy to be yourtravel coordinator. I can help with identifying lodging to meet your needs, juggling who stays where, organizing meals, planning activities and outings, etc. Sally

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Inexpensive first trip to see snowOct 2008i want to take my 4 and 1 year old to see the snow for the first time. bpn has some recomendations but does any one know anything about sno-parks in particularand cheap hotels to stay in nearby? are they crowded/good place for such littlekids? also, when is the earliest that we can expect snow in these areas? anon

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What we discovered last winter was Highway 4 was the quickest, easiest place togo play in the snow. It is closer to the Bay Area than going up near Tahoe and much less traffic than Hwy 80. Just a few miles up from Arnold is about where thesnow line is. There are small hotels, nice hotels, and cabins generally in thearea. There is, I believe, one official snow park that you can pay to get into.There are shops in Arnold right on the highway to rent equipment or buy sleds. Bear Valley Ski place is a bit further up the road.But we found a couple places where CalTrans plows the side of the road and people just park and climb up the hill. Free and plenty of fun for little kids. Theywill get tired pretty quick, remember.

We also stayed one night at the Dorrington Inn. It is a bed and breakfast with smallish rooms, but a nice accommodating staff. They have a big back yard, and they let us play there, build a snowman, and slide down a groomed driveway. That is an option as well. www.dorringtoninn.com/ Bryan bg

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------As I shudder at the thought of traffic and chains on any of the snow routes (Hwys 80, 50 or 4), I recommend driving to Roseville and getting on the Amtrak to Truckee or Reno. The mountain route is beautiful. Taking the train to the snow from Emeryville takes 8 hours, so driving halfway is much easier with little kids.You don't really need a sno-park for toddlers and preschoolers, just a saucer ina city park will be fine. City parks in Reno are very accessible via the city'sexcellent bus system. However, I haven't found lodging in either place that is

walking distance to the Amtrak stations that I can recommend, so maybe someone else has a good idea about that. --Amtrak traveler--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

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Snow vacation w/ one year old twinsFeb 2008I would love to take my one year old twins to the snow some time in March and Iam looking for recommendations for family friendly places to stay, ideally a little cabin or house to rent, where you can walk from lodging to sledding, cross country skiing etc. It would be nice to avoid having to drive to activities. We a

re happy to go to tahoe, yosemite or anywhere in-between where there is snow inMarch. Thank You. Emily

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------Kirkwood. It's easier to drive to (3.25 hours from East Bay), the drive is morebeautiful than Hwy 80, you won't have to drive once you're there, and there willdefinitely still be snow in March! If you stay in The Meadows, or Sun Meadows or Sentinels or Base Camp, you will be right next to the Meadow with ample room to sled. There is a great cross-country ski trail right there too. There is a shuttle bus on weekends that goes back and forth from one end of Kirkwood to the other (which your 1 year olds will love - my two-year old loves it). It is a good

family friendly ski resort minus the attitude. Kirkwood fan--------------------------------------------------------------------------------We went to Soda Springs Resort this week during the President's Day break. My 4yr old and 6 yr old loved it! http://www.skisodasprings.com/index.htmlThey have an area called Planet kids where the little ones can ride the innertube carousel, learn to ski on a baby hill and innertube down a slope. My kids weretoo big for the carousel, but the 1-3 yr olds seemed to love it.

Soda offers two tubing tows that take you to the top of the tubing runs. All youhave to do is sit in the tube on the way up, and enjoy the fun on the way down.The kids have to be at least 42 inches tall.

I noticed rental cabins on the road to the snow park which are within walking di

stance. We will try that out next time. Have fun! innertubing mama

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Resort with babysitting for big family XmasOct 2006Looking for that holy grail: a relatively affordable resort or hotel with onsitebabysitting where 7 adults and 2 toddlers can be happy spending Xmas together.We'd like to go somewhere in Southern CA (LA, Santa Barbara, San Diego) or possibly Las Vegas. An alternative would be a great big condo without babysitting butwith amenities like a pool to keep the kids happy. Any recommendations appreciated! don't want to spend Xmas in the car

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------Check out Montecito Sequoia. www.montecitosequoia.com It's beautiful, provides food, babysitting, snow play, cross crountry skiing and accommodations for families of all sizesBeen There Many Times--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Snowy vacation that is NOT TAHOENov 2005we want to take a vacation over the holidays that includes snow- it doesn't have

to be downhill skiing or snowboarding, just enough snow that my 3 year-old willbe able to frolic. we would like an alternative to Tahoe, anywhere within a 5 hour drive from the East Bay. thanks! snow lovin' mama

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--------------------------------------------------------------------------------Reviews received (click for full review)Arnold (2 reviews)Lassen (2 reviews)Yosemite (3 reviews)

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------The Boreal Ski Resort was the answer for us, right off I-80. Perfect for a little snow vacation. Overnight stay was reasonable. Breakfast was provided in the small lobby and you can take it to your room. Bring your own dinner or lunch. Yourroom has a fridge and a microwave. Consider it indoor camping. (The nearby resort cafeteria has mostly overpriced junk food with the noisy atmosphere of grandcentral station). We had a lot of fun there and we came prepared. We were looking for something close by without all these curvy mountain roads, something thatis practical and affordable and has snow play for kids. All criteria were met. The drive was 3 hours.Would go there again--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Hello, Have you considered the area around Dodge Ridge? Leland High Sierra SnowPlay Area is a great place for kids from 1-99 who don't ski but want to have funin the snow. It has a lodge area where you can warm up with some hot chocolateand some snacks and they have EMT's on staff. You rent an innertube (very reasonable) or bring your own plastic saucer (no metal or wood allowed) and slide downa groomed hillside. Twain Harte is nearby and so is Pinecrest for lodging or you could go to Sonora. See the link below for more information. It's a great place I highly recomend and it's much better than just stopping by the side of the road to slide down a snowy hill. http://www.snowplay.com/Laura--------------------------------------------------------------------------------Last year we went to Grass Valley and just drove up into the mountains until wegot to the snow. Then we drove off down a plowed forest service road for half a

mile, parked and played for a couple of hours. We weren't terribly well prepared(we had warm clothes, but no toys). Someone lent us a saucer sled for a littlewhile, and we also found a plastic folder in the car that was pretty good for sliding on. It was a lot of fun, and fulfilled my child's desire for snow withoutleading to any of the negatives of snow like lots of money and tire chains.Mom of a kid who wanted to touch snow--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Weekend snow trip with small kids and our dog??Sept 2005We're thinking ahead to winter and would like a place to go for a weekend (or upto a week) where we can play in the snow with our two small kids and our dog. Any recommendations on a kid and dog-friendly hotel/inn/cabin? We're open to Tahoe (went there as a kid a lot, but it's sooo different now) as well as any otherplace. Ideally, we don't want to drive more than 3-4 hours and we're on a limited budget. I checked the website, but only saw one listing for a place that wouldtake dogs... Thanks in advance

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------every winter we go to Homewood lake tahoe with our two big dogs and baby boy tothis place where the people are wonderful and there is a big state park where you can let the dogs run or do some snowshoes it is so wonderful the name is Tahoma Meadows and i believe they have a website to look at the cabin . good luck pascale

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------Check out Sorensens Resort in South Lake Tahoe. It is great. Little wooden cabins in the snow. Lots of sleds on site to borrow. A wood fired communal sauna and

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dogs are welcome in some of their cabins. I highly recommend. Julie--------------------------------------------------------------------------------Hi , last winter we took kids and dog to a nice house near south lake Tahoe. Thehouse is clearly designed for kids and the back yard is very large and open outto a creek. There is a crate for the dog and even complimetary dog biscuits. wefound the place through Tahoe Keys Resort . their number is (800) My Tahoe, andweb site is www.caltahoe.com. Good luck. d

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Family Lodging in Snow CountrySept 2004I am interested in recommendations for family lodging in snow country. Ideally,we would love something close to a ski resort so that we can trade off child care responsibilities/skiing. We also want to be close to sledding. Has anyone everrented one of the cabins near Soda Springs? Anyone have any ideas near Bear Valley? We don't care what part of the Sierra we go to as long as we find a good place to stay that accommodates skiing, sledding and isn't outrageously expensive.Andrea

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------A great fun family place in the snow is at my family's lovely new cabin in TahoeMeadows at South Lake Tahoe, located in an environmental preserve on the Lake directed below the Heavenly Valley Ski Resort. We are happy to share this wonderful spot with other responsible families. The gondola to the top of the mountainis a 5 minute walk across the street. There is also a free shuttle on the road behind my cabin to Heavenly.My kids enjoy the sledding on the free sledding hill at the top of Ski Run Blvd.which is a 5 minute car ride or on the shuttle route. Casinos, shops, restaurants are all in walking distance; yet the cabin is in a gated natural area with woods and a one mile private beach. You can check out the cabin details at http://www.fretlessconsulting.com/StarkweatherCabin/ Please call me (510) 236-5988 or e

mail with questions or for more information. Kay Starkweather kstarkwe AT library.berkeley.edu

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------We have a cabin near Bear Valley. If you email me what you are looking for, I can send you our info and rates. amelliott21 AT earthlink.net Anne Marie--------------------------------------------------------------------------------We've rented twice now with Soda Springs Rentals (once in the snow and once in the summer) and we plan to do so again this winter. The houses around Serene Lakes that are available for renting thru this company have been spacious and well stocked for cooking and lots of kids. They are definitely reminiscent of the ''70's era''. We found sledding behind Ice Lakes Lodge (and behind our own cabin!),but we weren't ready to take our kids out on skis (downhill or cross-country). But there was plenty of it nearby which it sounds like you would want. You can check out the lodging options and prices available thru Soda Springs at their website www.sodaspringsrentals.com. Good luck! Luisa--------------------------------------------------------------------------------Soda springs is a great place to rent a house, great sledding hill nearby, RoyalGorge Cross Country, Sugar Bowl for downhill, Soda Springs for tubing and beginner downhill. Try castlepeaks vacation rentals. me--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Simple snow play, cheap lodging for 2 & 4 year oldsJan 2004

I am interested in recommendation for places to go for a quick snow trip from the east bay. I have consulted the web site and nothing quite matches what I'm looking for.

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What I'm looking for is very simple snow play - a small hill for sledding and enough room to make a snow man, throw snowballs, make snow angels, etc., for youngchildren (2 1/2 - 4 years old).

I would like the least driving possible from the Berkeley/Albany area. Lodging can be motels, cabins, house rentals, or other options, preferably cheap. I would

prefer to avoid crowded areas like snow parks. A modest hill near the lodging would be perfect. sally

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------I wrote a while ago asking for places to go for informal snow play with a minimum of driving from the East Bay. I have my own experiences to share, as well as acouple personal responses to my earlier post that I'd like to include for otherpeople's reference.We went on a quick trip in February to the Cisco Grove stop on I- 80, which is shortly before Donner Pass. We stayed overnight in Auburn and drove the rest of the way in the morning, but it can also be done in a 1-day round trip. There is a

restaurant, gas station, and informal snow play area, with plenty of room for sledding, tubing, making snowmen, etc. On the day we went, the snow was pretty dry because it hadn't snowed recently, but it was still a good introduction to thesnow.

We just returned from a great 3-day snow weekend in Truckee. We rented a vacation home from Donner Lake Realty (www.donner- lake.com, (800) 392-5253). The housewe rented was #58 on their site, on Cottonwood Street, near Maple, with a greatinformal snow play area at the end of the block. They have several rental houses in that area. The weather and snow conditions were great. There are several ski resorts nearby. It took just over 2 1/2 hours to get there, at off-peak traffic hours.

The personal e-mails I received with other snow trip recommendations are included below:

STRAWBERRY:

I saw your post on UCB looking for snow play areas. In 2 weeks we're going to the Strawberry Cabins which is south of Lake Tahoe/ north of Yosemite. It is neara snow play area (uh oh, probably crowded), but the cabins sound really lovely.It is, apparently, one of the closest snow guaranteed areas to the bay area. Here is their web site http://strawberrycabins.com/

DONNER PASS:

Sally, we just did a really fun, super-cheap snow trip with our 3 year old and 2year old. We just drove up I-80 to the rest area at the top of Donner pass! Ithas a bunch of really gentle hills that are great for sledding. We didn't even have sleds, we just used garbage bags. We went sledding, threw snowballs, made asnowman, made snow angels, then got back in the car, drank our thermos of hot chocolate and ate our picnic lunch, and drove back home. Totally cheap, and a goodtime was had by all!

Incidentally, we had stopped off at one of the commercial sledding/tubing places, and found it to be crowded and expensive, so we ended up just pressing on andfound the rest area instead. Sally

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Inexpensive snow tripFeb 2003My 5 year-old wants to see snow. We, the parents, are not exactly snow enthusiasts (we had too much of it), nor do we ski or like windy mountain roads, but Tahoe seems like the closest place for a weekend trip to the snow. Do you know of aninexpensive place to stay where one could just have fun building snowmen and alike? We are on a tight budget since one of us just got laid off, but I'd still l

ike to make this happen. A motel room would do. We don't need a fully furnishedhouse.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------As an alternative to Tahoe, I would recommend the Bear Valley area. It's east ofStockton on Hwy 4. Only 3 hrs to get there and a much easier drive than Tahoe.On the other hand fewer motels, but I have noticed some--if you search around onthe web you should find them. Deborah--------------------------------------------------------------------------------Idon't have a very specific recommendation for you (we DO ski!) but suggest thatyou not go all the way to Tahoe. Look for places to stay in the Grass Valley ar

ea -- I'm pretty sure they've got snow that low right now, you won't have to deal with winding roads, and you'll avoid the worst of the ski resort crowds.As for where to build a snowman, look here: http://ohv.parks.ca.gov/default.asp?page_id=1233 You can get a one-day Sno Park permit for $5.

One note of caution about where you stay: Fireplaces and laundry facilities are*really* nice after a day of snow play. You might be a lot happier in 'lodge' type accomodations, which is usually cheaper than renting a house, but offers a lot of amenities you won't find in a motel. Holly

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------We just spent Christmas up at Tahoe, and I was looking for a somewhat similar ex

perience to what you describe. Basically, I wanted to be up in the snow, but notnecessarily to go skiing. I wanted to hang out, maybe go skating and walk around town while enjoying Christmas lights, hot cocoa and the view of the lake and mountains.We stayed at the Fireside Lodge B&B -- myself, my husband, our baby and my mother-in-law. The rates were $85 - $165.00 per night, and we were on the upper end of that because we stayed in a condo, but it was one of the better deals I foundfor cabin- style accomodations on the web. I found the lodgings at the FiresideLodge to be perfectly fine -- they provide motel-style rooms, cabins and a condofor rent. The owners are really nice people, very knowledgeble about the area and they really bent over backwards to make sure we had a nice stay. http://www.tahoefiresidelodge.com/ 1-800-MY-CABIN

That said, I didn't really enjoy South Lake Tahoe much at all, other than the food and the day trip boat cruise we went on. The area along the South Shore is centered on the highway strip that goes around the lake and there's not really a ''town'' area -- it's just motels and buildings and shops an either side of the highway, which isn't really what I was looking for. It's amply evident that the focus of the area is on catering to the ski slopes and in Stateline, the casinos.There is a nice wilderness area not far beyond Emerald Bay, and there's a localpark in South Lake Tahoe that looked pretty nice and you might be able to go there to build a snowman.

There may also be other towns around the lake that offer more of a ''hometown''sort of feel, but between Emerald Bay and Stateline, that's not what we found. Y

ou also really need to have a car to get anywhere, especially if the snow is deep, because it's really really hard to walk around with no sidewalk, when the snow is up to your hips and you don't have snowshoes. I would however, highly recom

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mend the boat cruise on the lake on the M.S. Dixie II. We were able to sit back,enjoy views of the lake, and the audio about the lake's history and geography were very interesting. Beth

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------We have often stayed at Echo Lodge (off of Hwy 50 near Echo Lake). It is part of

the California Alpine Club. They have a lodge at Tahoe and up on top of Mt. Tam. You can stay for about $11 per adult and $8 per child, which includes all yourmeals! However, it is a family hostel, not a hotel. So, you have to join CAC and pay annual dues (about $85/year). The lodges have both private rooms and dormitories. You eat communal meals and everyone signs up to help once during the dayin the kitchen, or setting the table, etc. Our family has really enjoyed meeting other families, going on group hikes, and sharing in meal preparation, etc. Itis definitely a ''deal'', but you have to enjoy this type of hosteling. I thinkCalifornia Alpine Club has a web-site with more information. They also host lots of events at the club up on Mt. Tam. Pat--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Tubing Day TripMarch 2001Folks, I remember seeing from time to time on TV shots of a ski place, I think off of 80 somewhere, that is pretty darned lowkey and not too expensive. I recallseeing a ropetow like device hauling kids in saucers up to the top of a hill. We'd like to take our 10 and 7 year old to the snow, but we can't afford much, sothe idea would be to head out at like 6:00 AM, spend a few hours going up and down this hill, and then driving back. Does anyone know the place I'm describing,or have ideas of how we might accomplish this very basic "snow experience?" Thanks. Bond

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Soda Springs has a very fun tubing set up where a rope tow pulls giant inner tubes up the mountain. The kids go down one of 4 set tracks, with curves, bumps, etc. They also have a rope tow to take a saucer up to the top but the inner tubesare the best! about $10/person for 2 hours. And the adults enjoy it almost as much as the kids. If you have skis the kids can ski and tube for around $1215 eachall day. It's less than 3 hours from bay area take Norden exit and it's less than a mile from 80. Christine--------------------------------------------------------------------------------The place you're thinking of may be at Kingvale, just this side of Donner Summitoff Highway 80. They have a rope tow and rent huge inner tubes (more fun than saucers, according to the experts in my family) that the kids ride down the hill.It's about 2 1/2 hours (weather permitting) from the East Bay, 50 miles or so past Auburn. Can't remember the cost, but it's definitely cheaper than skiing; you can rent by the hour or half day. I recommend bringing a folding chair, something to read, and a thermos of coffee if you're planning on watching for any length of time. There's also a little stand that sells hot chocolate for the kids. Nina--------------------------------------------------------------------------------Soda Springs ski resort (Soda Springs exit off I80) is small, inexpensive, and very familyoriented. It also offers tubing: a kind of ropetow pulls you up on a giant inner tube and then you ride it down. There is a combined ski/tubing lift ticket: $20 for adult, $16 ages 817. I think there is a cheaper tubingonly ticket. Peggy--------------------------------------------------------------------------------I have been looking for the same and found Leland Meadows, here is the website:

http://www.snowplay.com/contact.htm Have not yet visited. Sally--------------------------------------------------------------------------------We recently went to Sonora, which is only 120 miles away (going 580 east and the

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n connecting to 120 to 108). Anyway, just 20 minutes east of Sonora we found some great sledding areas free. There's one place that they call "Little Sweden" (no sign or anything, I think it's the local name) but it was a great hill and a lot of people were sledding and tubing down it. Further north in Strawberry, we found another commonly used informal site....again, a lot of tubing and sledding.We did go check out "Leland Meadows", where you pay for access to the hill, butthey didn't even have rope towing and their hill didn't particularly impress us

, was very crowded, etc. so we just headed back to the informal sites. Had a lotof fun, and is very accessible for a day trip. And you avoid all the traffic onI80. Suzanne--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Weekend Visit to the SnowI would like to know where are the best (not necessarily the most popular) places, not farther than 4h driving, to spend a weekend playing in the snow and enjoying outside activities with 2 preschoolers. Simona (Dec 1999)--------------------------------------------------------------------------------In response to the families who would like to visit the snow, I would highly recommend Soresen's Resort: (916) 694-2203 or (800) 423-9949. They are located in H

ope Valley, only 1/2 hour from South Lake Tahoe. Sorensen's is a cluster of cabins, most all of which have cooking facilities. Prices range from $80-200. The last time we stayed there, we rented a cabin with a bedroom, living room (with a futon for extra sleeping), eating area and kitchen for about $110. There's also avery good restaurant, where you can get breakfast, lunch or dinner. No TV or phones in the rooms, but there is a phone available in the main cabin. Hope Valleyis isolated and quiet. In fact, there's really nothing there except Sorensen's.You can rent ski equipment at a place just down the road and get ski lessons. There are many cross-country trails in the area, including a large meadow area just across the road and a long, easy trail about 2 minutes away that also has a bunny hill for sledding. If you want to ski on groomed trails (and pay a trail fee), Kirkwood is just about 15 minutes away. Also, Markleville is nearby--a smalltown where you can buy groceries--and Grover HotSprings is just 5 minutes outsi

de Markleville. The hotsprings are like a giant hottub: great for soaking afterskiing. I also think you can get dogsled rides (we haven't done that, but I've seen the dogs out on the meadow) and sleigh rides. My husband and I go up every winter for the skiing and the peace & quiet. We haven't yet gone with kids (oursis just 1 month old), but I've seen little kids sledding and skiing there. I think it would be ideal: we plan to go with baby as soon as she's old enough. Alison--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

SleddingLake Tahoe, actually right around the lake, is *great* for sled-riding -- thereis a public park with a nice big hill, with a long flat spot at the bottom so you don't end up in the lake. Call the realty offices in Tahoe and someone will find you a rental condo. Take another family along to split the cost and let the overflow of kids have a sleepover in the living room.Some of the Tahoe ski resorts have great cross-country skiing -- I've been to Squaw. I saw a lot of babies in backpacks on the trail. Andrea (1996)

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Economical Snow Getaways1997During the holidays (and after), I would like to take my 2 children ages 6 and 10 to the snow for sledding, cross-country skiing, downhill skiing, or even snow

boarding. And making snowpeople, of course. They will need lessons for the skiiing/snowboarding as they have no experience (and I have very little).

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Can anyone recommend places to go? Ideally, the more economical the better. Lastwinter we went to Bear Valley and rented a hotel room in February for 2 nights.Had a good time but would like to see if we can avoid the room costs and concentrate on a full day of lessons, snow fun.

Should we rent skis here and take them up? We have a 4-wheel drive. Will we still need chains? (You can tell I'm inexperienced when it comes to snow.) Kathleen

K.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------Just a reply to Kathleen K. on the snow trip. I would advise renting wherever you go for 2 reasons...1.) in case the equipment breaks or you want to switch lengths or go from skis to boards (important for a 10 year old!), you can exchange it immediately at the ski area instead of being stuck with it; and reason #2.) isbecause wet, long, sharp (those edges are sharp) skis in the back of your 4 wheel will still take up alot of room and possibly cut your upholstery, suitcases,etc.Second note is that even with a 4 wheel drive, go slower than you think you shou

ld on wet pavement. If you break all four wheels loose at the same time (i.e. onblack ice or super slushy snow), you will spin just like any other car. Chainswork great but can be very tiring for long distances.

Beyond that, have fun. Personal favorite places to ski (as a kid and with kids)are Sugarbowl and Homewood and Mt Shasta Ski Park. Family places; big wide bowlsto goof around in, great views and friendly other folks! Kathleen H.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------From: AletaRe: Ski suits/equipment Check all the thrift shops. I bought the entire gear formyself under $10.00. I always rent the skis so I don't know about skis but have

found disc & sleds. I didn't care for NorthStar but loved Boreal near Truckee,great place for young kids (4, 6, 10, 12, 14 yr). I've only gone twice first time 2/95 and on 12/14/97.

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