Ski Resorts - Pitstops for Kids

Where to stay at Squaw: Plumpjack Squaw Valley Inn review

March 12, 2018 By Amy Hagstrom

Squaw Valley Alpine Meadows is one of our family’s favorite Tahoe ski resorts. We’ve recommended staying in a condo at the Village at Squaw in our guide to skiing Squaw Valley with kids, but there’s an additional village option you should know about.

Plumpjack Squaw Valley Inn review:

We’ve known about Plumpjack, located at the edge of the Village at Squaw, for its fantastic Plumpjack Cafe, serving the kind of fine dining meals you don’t forget about quickly. We love the ambiance here: the cozy restaurant is nestled behind a circular bar area with a large open fire pit. But until recently, we hadn’t stayed the night here.

The 60 or so rooms at Plumpjack vary from standard two-queen arrangements to suites, and are currently functional but fairly dated. We didn’t mind the ‘old-school ski lodge’ feel to Plumpjack at all; in fact, the location in the village (steps from the slopes) and the incredible value of free parking and a hearty included buffet breakfast more than made up for any dark interiors. There’s a pool and two hot tubs out back (the pool is closed in winter) and while there isn’t room service, you’re within a one minute walk to dining options in the village.

Plumpjack invites with a warm atmosphere; you feel like you’re in Europe, truly. It’s easy to find cozy nooks and crannies to settle in with a book and a warm drink, and the outdoor areas are inviting and private as well.

Room rates during our visit were around $225, which is a good value for the heart of the village and within steps of the slopes. In fact, if you’re looking for a hotel experience (as opposed to a condo) with an intimate feel, Plumpjack can’t be beaten. While the cafe is fine dining, families are very welcome here, and the breakfast has lots to offer. The bar area is kid-friendly, and serves excellent craft cocktails for Mom and Dad. Since our kids weren’t digging the idea of a nice dinner after a day of skiing, we set them up with take-out from the village and slipped away for a parents night at Plumpjack Cafe. Win-win!

Photo credit

Hyatt Regency Lake Tahoe review with kids

February 12, 2018 By Amy Hagstrom

Incline Village, on Lake Tahoe’s north shore, offers plenty of condo and vacation home rentals but only one truly premiere destination resort. The Hyatt Regency Lake Tahoe has everything you’re looking for in a luxury property, and unless ski-in, ski-out lodging is a must for your family, the location cannot be beaten.

You’re within a five-minute drive to Diamond Peak ski resort, and within 15-30 minutes of half a dozen additional North Tahoe resorts. The Hyatt is situated right on the shore of the lake (a road does divide the property, but there’s an accessible path) and the views are truly spectacular.

Hyatt Regency Lake Tahoe review:

I have high standards when it comes to luxury Hyatt properties. We’ve had some wonderful experiences with Hyatt. The Regency level hotels can sometimes be hit and miss, but this one’s a hit. While the tower-focused architecture is not quite to my taste (I prefer mountain resorts to blend into their surroundings a bit more), the interior makes up for this with lots of stonework, oversized fireplaces and sunken seating areas. All the amenities you want are here (more on that in a moment), but outshining them all is the Hyatt team. For me, good service is key, and from the minute we pulled up at the valet, through the entire check-in process (which includes a champagne or sparkling cider toast), everyone was welcoming and helpful.

You have the option to self-park for free or valet park, and either way, the porters will help you with your bags and you can store your skis or snowboards right there at the valet stand.

There are multiple dining options in the resort, including their signature Lone Eagle Grille, located on the lakeshore. Come early and watch the sunset outdoors…not to be missed! The more casual Sierra Cafe serves food all day, and Cutthroat’s Saloon is a good apres-ski bet if you want a mixologist to help you smooth out the edges of your ski day or lake day. Room service is available: the menu is on the TV screen and is fairly limited but convenient.

Since the Hyatt Regency Lake Tahoe is on the Nevada side of the north shore, there’s also a small casino, which is easy to avoid entirely if you’re like me and would rather pretend it didn’t exist. Tahoe Provisions sells some gourmet grocery items and is a decent place to pick up a sandwich or coffee, but you can also stop by a grocery store before arrival if you think you’ll need substantial provisions.

This Hyatt Regency has a Regency Club for guests on the 11th and 12th floor, and we highly recommend upgrading to this level if you plan to eat most meals in the resort. The club is open pretty much all day (with just a few short breaks) and has a nice spread for breakfast, snacks throughout the day, appetizers starting at 5 pm (which for my family, can totally be a full dinner) and desserts after 8 pm. There’s an honor bar and complimentary drinks all day, including wine and beer. This is a great value if you use it enough.

Resort amenities include a large heated outdoor pool that’s open year-round, several hot tubs, a fitness center and the Stillwater Spa. My only wish that went unmet: I didn’t find any saunas in the pool area, which would have been a plus. I didn’t get the chance to check out the spa on this visit, and there may well be saunas there. There’s also a small arcade/game room near the fitness center that my son spent about 45 minutes enjoying. He gave it a B+.

We spent a lot of our time at the pool area, because we visited during beautiful winter weather, but we could have also spent more time by the lake shore near the grille. There are fire pits by the pool where kids can roast marshmallows at night as well.

We checked out a king bed suite on the 12th floor, which had a great configuration: the bedroom area was divided from the living space area by a bookcase only, not a wall, giving the room a larger, more open feel. The couch opened up to a double bed so we could easily fit four. The bathroom was spacious with double showerheads (but no bath) and a vanity area separate from the toilet area. My only complaint about our room: the windows were small, which was a shame because the views of the lake were great. Instead of spending much time in the room, we explored the rest of the property.

I would be remiss not to point out some of the truly thoughtful touches we discovered around the Hyatt Regency Lake Tahoe. These were small things that ended up making a big difference, like a water station right by the hot tubs to help us stay hydrated, and the motion-sensor floor-level night lights that made it easy for me to make coffee in the morning without waking up the family. We appreciated the addition of an empty fridge (as opposed to a stocked one) so we could store leftovers, and the room had ample outlets in all the right places.

If you’re visiting in winter and want to ski, a free shuttle runs on the half hour back and forth to Diamond Peak. We used this service and found it very convenient.

Have you stayed at the Hyatt Regency Lake Tahoe? What did you think?

Disclosure: our stay was complimentary, for the purpose of review. All opinion remains our own.

Where to ski in Utah: Solitude Mountain Resort

February 7, 2018 By Amy Hagstrom

Solitude Mountain Resort is one of those ski resorts that grows on you. The first time I skied Solitude was as part of a demo day experience, and I only traversed part of the mountain. Still, I enjoyed it. The next time I visited, my teenage son and I zipped all over the mountain during an epic powder day…hard to dislike that! The third time I skied this Big Cottonwood Canyon resort, the snow was so-so, but hidden stashes remained, and the true peace and tranquility to be found here won me over.

What to expect at Solitude Mountain Resort:

Let’s start with what not to expect: don’t expect crowds, as Solitude really does live up to its name. You also don’t need to expect the usual high lift ticket prices. Even if you opt to buy tickets at the window or online, instead of getting a M.A.X. Pass, Solitude lift tickets are on the reasonable side, comparatively speaking. And I have visited during a long holiday weekend.

Instead, at Solitude, you can expect a local vibe, despite the presence of a base village with lodging for out-of-town guests. There’s an emphasis on off-piste (off the run) skiing and even backcountry skiing (out of bounds), which means the mountain ‘skis bigger than it is’. What do I mean by this? At 1200 acres, Solitude is not considered a very large resort, but if you include all the glade skiing, powder bowls, and off-piste options, which exist depending on snow conditions, it’s very large indeed.

The lifts at Solitude are spaced out enough that some traversing will be necessary at times, but the newest chair, Summit, is not only fast but offers incredible views as you ascend. The village is compact, with condo-style lodging, an inn, a few restaurants, gear rentals, and a snow sports shop, and extremely cozy.

How to plan your trip to Solitude:

I love skiing Utah resorts because so many of them are within an easy commute of Salt Lake City and the international airport. Solitude was within 45 minutes of downtown during my visits. From the base of Big Cottonwood Canyon, it’s only 12 miles. On one trip, because my son and I were skiing multiple resorts during my second time at Solitude, we stayed at the entrance to the canyon, at Residence Inn by Marriott. It was comfortable, convenient, had an excellent complimentary breakfast, and was only about 25 minutes from the Solitude parking lot. I highly recommend this hotel if you want to stay central to both Big and Little Cottonwood canyons.

If your ski trip will be solely at Solitude and/or Solitude and its neighbor, Brighton, definitely stay in the Solitude Village. I stayed two nights at the Inn at Solitude on my third visit and loved the proximity to the mountain. My fourth-floor balcony literally overlooked the Apex Chair, and the heated, outdoor hot tub and pool soothed sore muscles each evening. The Inn at Solitude is just steps from The Hungry Squirrel, which became my go-to apres-ski watering hole, and there are spa services on-site, too. St. Bernard’s restaurant, directly inside the inn, offers an Alpine-style buffet dinner with charcuterie, hot soups, roasts and cobblers every night, and serves an equally satisfying buffet breakfast each morning. The atmosphere is warm and relaxing; we enjoyed drinks in the Library Bar seating area outside the dining room before our leisurely meal. St. Bernard’s was a definite highlight of our time at Solitude. You also get access to Club Solitude by staying at the Inn at Solitude, which has additional pools, a lounge area with video games and a movie screening room, exercise spaces and saunas.

As noted, the village is small, but has what you need (eliminating any need to commute down the canyon for food or supplies). You can find a very small convenience store right at the entrance to Solitude by the real estate office; this is not a grocery store by any means, but does have wine, beer, convenience items and toiletry items. If you are staying in the village and want a second option in addition to St. Bernard’s, head to Honeycomb Grille for excellent American bistro cuisine or to the small pizzeria. Every option is within walking distance of everything else.

You’ll be ski-in, ski-out at Solitude, and only a five-minute drive from Brighton. There are buses that connect the two as well (and you can ski between them…more on that in a minute).

Getting your bearings at Solitude:

There are two base areas at Solitude, at Solitude Village and Moonbeam base area. It’s nice that both have parking lots, to spread out day guests, and both have base lodges with ticket sales and food services. Moonbeam is home to the snowsports center, which is where to go if you’re taking a lesson or dropping off kids for lessons. There are some food venues there, as well as bathrooms.

The village has additional food services, a rental shop and tuning shop, and all the lodging options (which include condos in addition to the inn). A good lunch option can be found at Last Chance Lodge, right on the snow at the edge of the village, where you can find excellent made-to-order tacos and a salad bar. Hang tight though, because the absolute best lunch spot is at mid-mountain (read on to find out where).

Skiing Solitude:

If you enjoy skiing off-piste, Solitude is heaven. The Summit chair drops you off at the entry to Honeycomb Canyon, named, it turns out, not after Utah’s honey production, but after the many mines that dotted the canyon a century ago. Multiple gated chutes connect with the bowl, giving skiers and snowboarders a very long and powdery run to the base near Eagle chair. There’s also a front face at Summit, plenty of tree skiing, and groomer runs for intermediate level.

Tip: if you’re a beginner, pay attention to notices at the base of each chair. Solitude is very good about placing signage where beginner terrain will be lacking, so you can know before going up.

Additional glade skiing is excellent off the older (and slower moving) Sunrise chair, and lots of nice blue groomers can be found off Moonbeam and Eagle. If you’re willing to hike, even more bowl skiing opens up, and backcountry skiers will be happy too: just look for the signage indicating when you need your own backcountry shovel, avalanche beacon, and probe to continue. (This is a good indication that you may need to hike out of the run, too.)

Overall, look at signage no matter your ski ability, and be ready to ask for advice from locals…there will be plenty of skiers and snowboarders around who are familiar with the mountain. If you have a M.A.X. pass or combined ticket for Solitude and Brighton, know that you can ski between the resorts via the Solbright run. And, er, if you accidentally ski that run and end up at the wrong base area without a combined ticket, the nice lifties will let you return via the lift…once.

If you’re an intermediate to advanced skier and want to open up more terrain for yourself, book one of Solitude’s Hidden Tracks mornings. Operating as snow and weather permits, Hidden Tracks is an opportunity to ski with a local instructor who can show you all those hidden stashes and glades you might have missed. And there are a lot! During my Hidden Tracks experience, my guide Josh described skiing off-piste at Solitude as ‘a game of gates’. What he meant: there are gated entrances to off-piste terrain all over the place! These gated areas are maintained by ski patrol for safety and opened and closed at their discretion. Once you know where they all are, as well as which ones will require boot packing (or hiking) to get to the great snow, you’ll be an informed skier who can continue to enjoy these gates the rest of your trip. Have adventurous teens? This session is ideal for them to know their options!

At a mountain like Solitude, which has so much backcountry and side country terrain, Hidden Tracks is well worth your time and money. And while it’s not a lesson, if you’d like instruction or pointers during the morning, your guide will be happy to accommodate you.

Tip: definitely plan to eat your lunch at the Roundhouse mid-mountain between the Moonbeam and Eagle lifts. This circular lodge has a lot of history, and serves just two types of food: Wasatch mountain food (Utah-inspired soups, stews, and burgers), and Himalayan mountain food (wonderful curries and rice dishes). The food is excellent, and we found there was plenty of room…no hunting for a table at lunch.

Solitude lift tickets:

As with all ski vacations, ease the burden on your wallet by planning your lift ticket purchase ahead of time at Solitude. If you only plan to spend a few days, buy multi-day tickets online ahead of time to save money off the approximate $85 adult day pass price. There’s also a Solbright day pass, which gives you access to all of Brighton, too. Personally, I think you’ll be busy enough at just one or the other, but the flexibility is nice.

Pin for later!

Disclosure: We skied Solitude as guests of the resort, for the purpose of reviewing the M.A.X. Pass option. All opinions are my own.

Back to Ski: Smugglers Notch Resort for teens and advanced skiers

January 5, 2018 By Amy Hagstrom

We covered Smugglers’ Notch amenities for young kids and babies last winter, but Vermont-based Smuggs has older kids, teens, and advanced skiers covered as well. In fact, this combination makes Smuggs an excellent resort pick for multigenerational family travel, so bring Grandma and Grandpa along, too. If you have expert skiers and older kids or teens in your midst, here’s what you need to know about Smugglers Notch Resort for teens:

Two-hour lessons appeal to older kids:

My kids—all of whom are expert skiers—balk at all-day lesson programs. They long to explore the mountain on their own, but we insist they continue to work on their skills. At Smuggs, advanced skiers can opt for two-hour lessons (ages 6-17), giving kids plenty of time for free skiing. Tip: book the afternoon session instead of morning for a less crowded lesson. You may even luck out with a private experience!

Mountain configuration is teen-friendly:

Smuggs is comprised of three interconnected mountains. Morse Mountain is where all the action is: you’ll find the childcare and ski school at its base, along with the entire Village Center, and a network of trails primarily for beginners, with a sprinkling of blues for intermediate levels. Madonna and Sterling mountains are further afield, and offer a solid helping of intermediate runs, plus the resort’s black diamond, double-black diamond, and even triple-black diamond runs. To get there, skiers need to ride the chairlift up Morse Mountain, ski the access trail, then catch the double chairlifts at Madonna and Sterling. What this means for parents of teens: to get back down the mountain, runs funnel back down to Morse, ensuring there’s only one place your kids will end up. It’s easy to plan meeting places for tweens and teens, and if you have kids in advanced ski school while you’re hitting the slopes solo, you can meet them at the Madonna/Sterling base lodge.

Adult lessons are not just for beginners:

Practice what you preach to your kids, and take a lesson yourself! If you’re an expert skier, consider your time to be a lesson on Smuggs as well as a lesson on ski form. Madonna and Sterling mountains are chock full of secret stashes, hike-only terrain, backcountry tree runs, and hidden powder pockets. Newbies to the mountain cannot hope to find many of them on their own, and ski instructors act as mountain guides, showing you where all the fun stuff is. (Tip: be a hero and show your kids the best tree runs after your lesson.)

No need to sweat about snow conditions:

Families can plan their entire ski vacation carefully, but no one has control over the weather. Smuggs takes care of this worry as well with advanced—and ever-increasing—snowmaking abilities. With 150 new snowmaking guns last season and another 100 in place for this winter, families can book late or early in the season with confidence, taking advantage of school holidays and long weekends. (Though the resort’s traditional 300 inches from Mother Nature per year certainly help!)

Don’t forget about cross-country terrain:

Included in the vacation packages, the resort’s Nordic terrain includes 30 km of cross-country trails and 24 km of snowshoe terrain. Lessons are available if you’re new to the sports, and ice skating is on-site as well (we find our kids prefer skating while we enjoy the tranquility of the trails). Rent equipment at the center or bring your own.

Teen clubs:

Teens and tweens are usually forgotten when it comes to kids’ clubs (most end at age 12), but Smuggs offers not one, but two! Kids ages 13-15 have their own space at Teen Alley, and 16-17-year-olds have access to Outer Limits. Both clubs are open for après ski fun without parents, and programming includes organized games, video game tournaments, movie nights, and dance jams. How teens have the energy for all this after a day of skiing, I’ll never know, but they do!

Photo credit: Smuggler’s Notch

Best ski towns: Lake Placid and Whiteface Mountain

December 11, 2017 By Amy Hagstrom

Ready to plan Lake Placid skiing with kids? Whiteface Mountain boasts the biggest vertical drop east of the Rockies, it hosted the 1980 Olympic Winter Games, and it has an impressive (or intimidating, depending on your skiing ability) 38% expert runs. But what you might not expect is that Whiteface is also a great place for families with young kids just starting out on the slopes.

One of my favorite aspects of Whiteface’s Kids Kampus is how separate it is from the rest of the mountain. While it’s easy for parents to take a run over to check up on their little ones, it’s isolated enough that the lift and runs are occupied almost solely by kids enrolled in lessons. That means that the lift is less crowded, and that you don’t have to worry about someone speeding by your child as they’re just learning to traverse the hill. The runs themselves are all green circles, except for an intermediate glade run, but they’re long enough to challenge kids that have moved beyond a magic carpet. To give some perspective, our 5-year-old, who has been skiing for two and a half years, was happy on the same hill as our 3-year-old, who just started earlier this year.

Kids Kampus is also great for its one-stop shopping. Parents can arrive at the Kids Kampus and buy lift tickets for everyone, reserve lessons and day care, and drop the kids off for their activities. They have a separate parking lot, lodge with cafeteria, and rental shop. To get back to the main mountain, you can either take the Bunny Hutch lift and ski over, or take the shuttle that runs all day between the Kids Kampus lodge and the main lodge.

And kids aren’t the only ones that can learn some new skills at Whiteface. Adult lessons are available from the main lodge and can accommodate all abilities. If someone in your group has never skied before, Whiteface also offers a Parallel from the Start program that includes a lesson, lift ticket, and rental. They also have an adaptive ski program that offers lessons and rental adaptive equipment for kids and adults with disabilities. Basically, whatever your age or ability, there’s something new to learn at Whiteface.

As for the mountain, of course it’s great! Even on a busy day, the hill doesn’t seem crowded because there are so many parts of the mountain to explore. The Cloudsplitter Gondola is a great place to start, and from there you can move on to the Summit Quad and ski the same hill used for the downhill races in the 1980 Olympics. If you’re really lucky (which I wasn’t, unfortunately), you’ll catch Whiteface on a rare day when The Slides are open. These are a series of chutes accessed by the Summit Quad. Most of the year they’re closed due to insufficient snow or avalanche danger, and even when they’re open there are certain precautions that are required—ski buddies, a beacon, shovel and probe. But if the conditions are right, you could be in for the best runs in the east!

Website info:

Whiteface: http://www.whiteface.com/ (this website is also where you’ll find info on the other Olympic venues, including information on sliding or cross country skiing). Another great planning site is visitadirondacks.com.

Lift Ticket prices:

Prices are listed on the website, and range from $79 for a half day in the Bear’s Den Nursery, to $143 for a full day of Play-N-Ski (two sessions of lessons, with free play and lunch in the nursery). Adult lessons start at $46 for two hours, and the Parallel from the Start program (which includes lift ticket and rental) is $139/day.

Lodging:

Our pick is the Lake Placid Towne Plaza for lodging close to the slopes. Read my full review.

Directions:

From NYC: take the New York State Thruway (I-87) north to Exit 24 (Albany). Take I-87 north (Adirondack Northway) to Exit 30. Pick up Route 9 north and follow it for two miles to Route 73. Continue on Route 73 for 28 Miles to Lake Placid.

From Boston: Take the Massachusetts Turnpike (I-90) to Albany. Pick up I-787 north to Cohoes. Connect with Route 7 west to I-87 north. Follow I-87 north (Adirondack Northway) to Exit 30. Pick up Route 9 north and follow it for two miles to Route 73. Continue on Route 73 for 28 Miles to Lake Placid.

As I disclose whenever applicable, my family and I skied Whiteface as guests of the resort, for the purpose of reviewing their child and adult lesson packages. All opinions are our own.

Planning a Family Ski Vacation: Where to Go for Snow

October 11, 2017 By Amy Hagstrom

In the past few years, the ski scene has changed with changing weather patterns. For the many families who only take one major ski vacation per season, it’s more important than ever to know where to go for the best conditions. And yes, NOW is the time to book!

Planning a family ski vacation: Where to go for snow

While no resort or ski area can guarantee good snow pack when families book in advance, it’s possible to increase the odds of enjoying peak conditions (no pun intended) by booking one of the following US and Canadian ski resorts with the most consistent annual snowfall. When you want a sure thing for your family ski vacation during an unpredictable winter, go here:

1. Alta Ski Area, Utah

What places Alta at the top of the list? With a base elevation of 8,530, Alta has a leg up on many resorts. The dry, light snow of the Wasatch Mountain Range of Utah isn’t quick to melt, and Alta’s location west of Park City seems to be a magnet for regular snowfall. Still unsure? Trust fellow skiers and snowboarders: Alta was voted best ski resort for consistent annual snowfall in the recent Best Family Ski Resorts poll conducted by family travel expert Trekaroo.

2. Whistler Blackcomb, British Columbia

Don’t be fooled by the rain that often falls at Whistler’s base area, which is hit by precipitation from the nearby Pacific. Higher up, the powder will be accumulating. Recognized as one of the most reliable North American resorts for snow pack, Whistler Blackcomb also has one of the most comprehensive village scenes, aiding in a great vacation, even if, by chance, the snow isn’t want you were hoping for.

3. Jackson Hole, Wyoming

The cowboy town of Jackson Hole has as much going for it in winter as in summer. Known for its powder bowls and backcountry ski terrain, Jackson Hole consistently receives over 9 meters of snow due to its location in the Teton Mountains of the Rockies. Book this ski resort in December, January, or February for the best conditions; the season starts in November and ends earlier than its snowpack requires, due to its placement on an elk migration site.

4. Big Sky Resort, Montana

With an average of 400 inches, it’s no wonder Big Sky, located in southwestern Montana, needs snowmaking capabilities on only 10% of the mountain. Plus, Big Sky now has more snow to play in, thanks to the acquisition of adjacent Moonlight Basin. It’s known for its deep stashes, but also has perfect groomers for younger kids and beginners. After a day of ripping it up on the mountain, be sure to stay at the Summit at Big Sky, where a 100-person hot tub awaits.

5. Northstar California

Located in the heart of North Tahoe, Northstar doesn’t always get the biggest natural snowpack among North American resorts. However, it’s makes the list for an important reason: Northstar has the best snowmaking capabilities in Lake Tahoe. What this means for skiing and snowboarding families: a sure thing, even when other resorts in the area are closed. Northstar is a great pick for early ski season trips, when it’s unclear what Mother Nature will bring.

Now, book early and without fear of a lack of snow upon your arrival!

Where to stay in Keystone mountain resort area: options for every budget

October 9, 2017 By Amy Hagstrom

Fall is in the air, and it’s officially ski trip planning season! Throughout the autumn and winter, I’ll be offering a large number of family ski vacation tips, recommendations, and resort reviews in partnership with Mountain Reservations, a great resource for budget-friendly ski trips.

If you’re considering a Keystone Resort ski trip with your family, you know how large (and somewhat intimidating) this Colorado ski resort can be. Considered a ‘best ski resort in Colorado‘, Keystone offers everything from luxury hotel rooms to vacation home rentals. What’s best for your family? Below, we’ve compared three distinct Keystone condominium options, all of which I’ve personally experienced, with something for every budget. Prices range widely from size of condo to season, so be sure to check the Keystone lodging page for up-to-date information.

Lakeside Village Condominiums:

Located within easy walking distance of the dining and recreation options of the Keystone Lakeside Village (adjacent to the Keystone Lodge), the Lakeside condo complex offers no-frills but very roomy ski lodging for families. Reserve condos of up to four bedrooms, and expect large living room space, full kitchens, and lobby ski locker areas. Laundry facilities are in every building. A great option for: large family groups who want lots of space without the isolation of a full rental home. The downside: families will have to take the shuttle bus (free) to the lifts each day.

Key Condo Condominiums:

A great budget option for families who want to be close to River Run village, Key Condo offers cozy, affordable lodging that’s still near the action. I was very impressed with the size of the smallest studio option: it included a bedroom, small living area, kitchen, bathroom with deep tub, and cute loft with double bed. You won’t be doing extensive entertaining in your Key Condo, but you’ll be very comfortable. A great option for: families who want to be near the outdoors (a stream flows directly outside) and don’t mind a five minute walk to River Run. The downside: while do-able, the walk to the lifts is a bit of a trek. Laundry facilities are on-site.

River Run Condominiums:

Not as roomy as the Lakeside Condos, the River Run condos are by far the newest and most beautifully appointed I’ve experienced at Keystone. Located right in the heart of River Run village, families have use of outdoor heated pools, hot tubs, and exercise areas, and are steps from the gondola, Kidtopia activities, and the ski school. A great option for: families for whom convenience is most important. The downside: River Run is the most expensive of the three listed condo options. For a deal on River Run condos, try an off-season Keystone ski resort visit!

Heading to Keystone for a romantic getaway?

For couples and families looking to splurge, the experience at the Ski Tip Bed and Breakfast cannot be beat. This historic inn is located near River Run, and transports visitors to a Swiss style chalet. I’ve had the fortune of experiencing a meal at the Ski Tip, and it was more than dinner…it was an experience. Couples or families can relax in the common room by the fireplace, or in nice weather, can enjoy wine on the patio. Run in B&B style, the Ski Tip is great for shorter visits or romantic stays. Since it’s located on the edge of the White River National Forest, it’s also ideal for cross-country skiers or snowshoers.

As I disclose whenever applicable, I experienced some of the Keystone condo options at a media rate. This post was written in conjunction with my relationship with Mountain Reservations as one of its Mountain Ambassadors.

Where to ski in Utah: Brian Head Resort with kids

February 13, 2017 By Amy Hagstrom

Deciding where to ski in Utah is a little like deciding which tropical island to buy…you really can’t go wrong, wherever you choose. That said, there are distinct differences between Utah resorts, and perhaps an even bigger difference between Salt Lake City and Provo area resort and Southern Utah resorts. For the first time, I explored the skiing options in Southern Utah, where I loved the friendly, relaxed, and sometimes almost eccentric vibe.

Brian Head Resort with kids:

Brian Head Resort has the highest base elevation in Utah (you’ll be at over 9000 feet at all times, and up to 11,000+ feet while skiing). It offers 650 acres with eight chairs. It’s not the largest Utah ski resort, and also not the most challenging in terms of expert terrain, but it has something distinct going for it that really plays in its favor: isolation.

Because Brian Head is pretty far from a metropolis (you’re 3.5 hours from SLC and 3 hours from Las Vegas), your closest neighbors during your stay are national parks and monuments. Brian Head has the distinction of being a Dark Sky location, which means you’re free from light pollution. All this isolation means Brian Head Resort makes its own fun. Events, apres ski dining options, live bands, and special programming seems to be scheduled for just about every night. Need proof? Just take a look at their event schedule.

Getting the lay of the land:

When skiing Brian Head resort with kids, it’s important to note Brian Head has two distinct base areas: Navajo and Giant Steps. They are separated by the highway, with a ski bridge that links them. Base lodges are at both locations. The simplest way to categorize them is to say that Navajo offers the beginner and intermediate terrain, and Giant Steps offers intermediate and expert terrain. There’s a meeting place for the winter sports school at both locations, but the kids’ camp is at Navajo. The two Brian Head hotel lodges are a couple minutes’ drive from the Navajo side, but there are many house rentals and condos available at both base areas.

You can absolutely ski between the two sides using the ski bridge, but it does take a few chairs and some traversing. There is also a free shuttle that connects the base areas, convenient if you have family members skiing at different levels but want to meet up for lunch or apres ski.

Skiing at Brian Head:

Brian Head is one of those resorts that seems to double its size on powder days…there are just so many open areas to ski. (The openness of the resort is actually due to the need to remove many trees during a beetle infestation years ago.) But of course, not every day can be a powder day. During my visit, we stuck mostly to groomed runs, which were plentiful and pleasant. There are a number of great chutes near the top of Giant Steps, and even after the fluffy powder is skied out, hidden stashes remain in the trees. On the Navajo side, the green beginner runs are some of the most interesting I’ve seen…think winding paths through forests and fun curves.

From both sides, skiers are rewarded with views of classic Southern Utah red rock, and glimpses of nearby Cedar Breaks National Monument. On clear days, it’s possible to see all the way to Great Basin National Park in Nevada. What you won’t see often are crowds. We visited on a Saturday in January, and it felt like a quiet Tuesday morning.

Other things to do at Brian Head:

Remember how close you are to Cedar Breaks while in Brian Head? If you want to take an afternoon off from skiing, you can actually take a snowmobile tour from the resort area to High Mountain, which offers incredible close-up views of the red rock of Cedar Breaks. Thunder Mountain Motorsports offers 1.5 hour, 3 hour, and all day rides. We found 1.5 hours to be just enough time to go through the backcountry of Brian Head to High Mountain and back, with time to play around in snow-filled meadows and learn about the natural history of the area. Our guide was fantastic: the perfect mixture of helpful and informative but also lighthearted and fun. Tours start at $85/machine, which families can ride double for only $15 extra. If you have it, you can even take your own machine and follow the tour for $20.

If snowmobiling isn’t your thing, you can also snowshoe or cross-country ski in Cedar Breaks. It’s best to call for up-to-date info on road conditions and where to start your winter exploration: 435-586-9451.

Brian Head also offers snow tubing, which I’m told is on a steeper track than most. (I didn’t get a chance to try it.) However, one of the best things I did at Brian Head was their free ‘Star Party’. Held once a month at Navajo base lodge, star parties are a fun and informative viewing of the night sky. Because Brian Head is a Dark Sky location, the view on clear nights is fantastic. They bring out ‘dark rangers’ (like park rangers) to lead short talks, in which they point out constellations and planets and give families time to look through telescopes. There are fire pits and hot chocolate as well.

Where (and what) to eat at Brian Head:

Remember how I said Brian Head was just a bit eccentric? This characteristic is most evident in their dining and entertainment scene. Brian Head was bought by a new owner a few years ago; owner John Grissinger has brought his love of Kansas City BBQ to the resort, and everyone benefits! At least once a week (and usually more often), families can find ‘John’s KC style BBQ’ on the events calendar. Held at Last Chair Saloon at Giant Steps base, this BBQ meal is not to be missed. You may get two choices on the menu, but don’t expect more. What you’ll get is amazing BBQ meat (usually ribs, catfish, or tri-tip) served with sides. It’s accompanied by live music, and the whole event is very family-friendly.

When you can’t get BBQ, you have other options: Giant Steps lodge and Navajo have your standard ski day fare, and if you want to dine out in the evening, the Grand Lodge offers a simple but solid menu at their Lift Bar and Grill. Cedar Breaks Lodge offers a restaurant as well.

Where to stay at Brian Head:

As noted above, there are many condo rentals and home rentals in Brian Head. If you opt for a hotel, you have the choice between the Grand Lodge and Cedar Breaks Lodge. We stayed at Grand Lodge, which has a great indoor pool and hot tub, plus an outdoor hot tub. Their spa was closed for the season, but it is on offer in summer months. They have a decent continental breakfast at the Lift Bar and Grill, which is convenient before your ski day, though it does cost extra (around $10 pp). I found this price to be too high for the standard fare; at some chain hotels, you can get a similar spread complimentarily). However, our waitress did charge less for those who were eating less, which was nice.

Rooms are standard, with mini fridges and microwaves, which is nice to have, and the lodge has fun live music and a pretty hopping bar on weekends. It’s a friendly, welcoming vibe. You’re about a one minute drive to the base of Navajo, or you can get on the free Brian Head shuttle.

Getting to Brian Head: Take I-15 to Parowan, then Highway 143 to Brian Head. It’s about 3.5 hours from Salt Lake City or 3 hours from Las Vegas.

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Disclosure: I experienced Brian Head as a guest of the resort, for the purpose of review. All opinions are my own.

Boreal Mountain Resort with the M.A.X. Pass

January 16, 2017 By Amy Hagstrom

If you read Pit Stops for Kids’ ski coverage regularly, you know we’re big fans of Lake Tahoe, CA skiing. I grew up in the area, skiing at resorts throughout Tahoe, and we try to visit our favorite resorts at least once a season. However, until our visit last month, it had been YEARS since I’d been at Boreal Mountain Resort.

One of the oldest and most established ski resorts in the Tahoe region, Boreal has always been known for its terrain parks, affordability, and easy access from I-80. I remember it best as the first Tahoe resort (to my knowledge) to allow snowboarding. Ever since, it’s been snowboard-centric. Because I’ve never been an avid snowboarder or lover of big jumps, Boreal hasn’t been on my radar for some time.

However, I now have three kids who love terrain parks (one of whom exclusively snowboards). I knew they’d love Boreal’s five terrain parks and half-pipe. But as one of the most affordable resorts in Tahoe, Boreal is on the small side. Before we arrived, I wondered whether its acreage would keep us occupied for a full day.

Enter Woodward Tahoe, located directly at the base of Boreal. This indoor action sport training facility is every kid’s dream: it’s filled with indoor trampolines, foam pits, skate parks, ramps, and more. With a Boreal OnePass, you get access to Woodward in addition to the slopes at Boreal (and nearby Soda Springs ski area if you’re interested). We got our tickets through The M.A.X. Pass, which is a 39-mountain season pass that includes Boreal (more on that below).

How Boreal and Woodward work together:

When you arrive at Boreal and get your Boreal OnePass, you have access to both Woodward and Boreal. Woodward is used in several ways: extreme action sport athletes use it for serious training, classes and camps are offered, and single use sessions are available to the public. To use Woodward during your ski day, you’ll want to make a reservation. Your OnePass gets you a three-hour session, which we found to be more than enough time. We opted to make a Woodward reservation for after lunch, then skied and snowboarded all morning, switching to indoors in the afternoon. Of course, you could do the reverse.

First-timers at Woodward need to take a 30 minute orientation session, in which instructors explain the equipment and show you the proper way to jump (and fall) safely. It’s easy and really helpful. After that, you’re let loose on all the trampolines, foam pits, ramps, and ropes. If you want to use a scooter (to jump off ramps into a pit), you can rent one by the hour. I believe it was $15/hour. Kids can also bring their own, as well as their own BMX bikes or skateboards. To skateboard and ride, helmets are required. We simply used our ski helmets. Check out our favorite Woodward video!

You’ll want to bring a change of clothes for anyone playing in Woodward before or after skiing or snowboarding; there are bathrooms to change in at Woodward, and cubbies in which to store your ski stuff. There’s a nice counter-service lunch and drink place upstairs, where there’s also a nice viewing and lounging area for anyone not participating.

What to expect on the slopes at Boreal:

As noted above, Boreal is known for its terrain parks, and it definitely delivers. We were there in late December, and not every terrain park was up and running yet, but there were still about four to pick from. As a parent, I appreciated the option of an extra-small park, where the jumps and ramps were beginner-sized. Sometimes, beginners and young kids can get in the way or even hurt on large terrain parks. From there, it goes up all the way to expert level. There’s a half pipe, and an additional park called Neff Land, which is sponsored by Neff and includes fun elements like tunnels and side walls.

For those not into terrain parks (like me), Boreal has a surprising amount of glade and off-piste skiing, which I found on the extreme far sides of the resort. The Cedar Ridge chair was especially lovely, with a ride up the mountain amid deep forests. While the overall ambiance at Boreal is still snowboarder-centric, I did find my own place there.

Using The M.A.X. Pass:

As noted above, I visited Boreal after so many years because it is one of the 39 resorts included in our M.A.X. Pass, which our family is trying out this year. Yes, you read that right: the M.A.X. Pass includes 39 different resorts across the US. Many are on the east coast, with a handful in Utah, Colorado, California, and the Pacific Northwest. I’ll be reviewing additional M.A.X. Pass resorts later this winter. For $749, M.A.X. Pass users get five days at each of the resorts, with no blackout dates. I buy a season pass at our local mountain annually, and I can tell you it’s not far off that $749 price just for one property. If your family plans to spend five days at a single M.A.X. Pass resort on vacation this winter, plus could use the pass for a day here and there throughout the rest of the season, the value is definitely there. Check out all the resorts offered on the MAX Pass.

I visited Boreal in partnership with the M.A.X. Pass, for the purpose of review. All opinion remains my own.

Hometown skiing at Homewood Mountain Resort

December 14, 2016 By Amy Hagstrom

When families think of skiing at Tahoe, they usually think of big, expensive resorts with fancy hotels and all the latest in snow science and technology (apps that track your laps, anyone?). Tahoe skiing IS all this and more, but there are still a few Tahoe ski resorts that remain the same as when I grew up here in the ’80s…and that’s a good thing.

Homewood Mountain Resort is the very first Tahoe ski resort I ever skied as a child, and I remember the ‘wow factor’ well: that first chair up Homewood’s face, you feel like you’re flying. Behind you, the lake is a huge blue expanse that seems to stretch forever, and before you is a black diamond run that goes all the way (practically) to the water.

I’m happy to report that skiing at Homewood again last spring, I felt the exact same way, years later. What’s more, the comfortable and rustic lodge is still the same, sitting right on the edge of Highway 89 on the west side of the lake shore, and the lifts are still (for the most part) slow doubles and triples that allow for ample family time on the way up.

With four major lifts (plus a beginner poma and magic carpet), Homewood is big enough for families to explore but still manageable for those with tweens and teens who want to ski on their own, without mom and dad. We loved the Old Homewood Express area best, which leads you to the side of Ellis Peak with plenty of long groomers and a terrain park for those who want it.

Note: at the top of Old Homewood Express, you might spy the Homewood cat skiing ‘ride’…new as of the 2015-16 season, Homewood now offers cat skiing adventures for skiers and riders from intermediate level and up. Learn more!

We also did quite a few laps on Ellis chair, so we could tackle the expert terrain on the sides of this little canyon, plus traverse to a wonderful spot called ‘Hobbit Land’ and even further to a wide bowl that drops skiers down to the top of the Quail Chair. We found that in late spring, there was a bit of hiking and skating to get ourselves back out of the bowl, so be ready for that in big powder or wet powder, like we had, but otherwise, there’s less hiking and traversing here than at most resorts, when accessing off-piste terrain.

At Homewood, it still feels like a local mountain. There are not big hotels at the base (though there are certainly accommodations), and this part of the west side of the lake is fairly unpopulated. We stayed nearby a year ago at a HomeAway rental up on the hillside just a mile from Homewood, and really loved the relative isolation. But most skiers here seem to be local or long-term visitors, which suits us just fine. The vibe is very casual and friendly, and you get the impression that at Homewood, it’s still all about the skiing. Then there’s the views: at Homewood, there is not a spot on the mountain where you DON’T have an amazing view of Lake Tahoe. It’s truly breathtaking.

There’s plenty for beginners as well, but it’s worth noting that the learning area is at the very base of the mountain. This is normal of course, but a shame in this case, because those skiers and riders miss out on the amazing views.

Dining options:

For dining, there’s a nice overlook bar and grill just above the front face, with, of course, amazing views, and there are several food options at the base. Mostly though, you’ll see plenty of sack lunches here, which, again, reminds me of childhood and reminds my kids of our days on our local mountain at home. In fact, my 11-year-old said, “HOMEwood is like ‘at home’. It’s like they named it that on purpose.” Well said!

Lift tickets:

Day passes are often discounted for one reason or another. Definitely buy online before your visit to save. Prices during our visit were around $45 for adults on weekdays, and far less for kids. It’s a very affordable mountain. If you have a season pass to another mountain, check to see if there is a partnership or discount. Ditto for kids in ski racing programs.

Directions:

From Tahoe City, drive south on Highway 89 to Homewood. From the south shore, you’ll take Hwy 89 north. Pretty simple!

We experienced Homewood as guests of the resort, for the purpose of review. All opinions are our own.