ski lodging - 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.

South Lake Tahoe lodging for families: Aston Lakeland Village

April 13, 2016 By Amy Hagstrom

I might as well admit it: I’m a North Lake Tahoe girl. I grew up near North Tahoe, and because of this, I simply know the area better. While I do love skiing at Sierra-at-Tahoe and Kirkwood on the South side, my heart–usually–belongs to the North. Why ‘usually’? Because until a spring skiing visit last year, I didn’t know Aston Lakeland Village existed.

Aston Lakeland Village is exactly what you want in winter ski or summer lake fun accommodations with the family: its townhouse give you room to spread out, you can cook in, you have pools and hot tubs at your disposal, and it’s affordable. Plus, in winter, you get a complimentary breakfast daily. Comped breakfast…in a townhouse? What?!

My beef with South Tahoe is the constant energy of the downtown ‘strip’. Because of its location in Nevada, South Tahoe has gambling, and a lot of it. Now, I know some people enjoy this energetic ambiance, but when I’m on a mountain getaway, I want tranquility. Even though Lakeland Village is only about half a mile from the casinos, it’s completely quiet, in a wooded setting right on the lake shore.

Did I forget to say Lakeland Village is, indeed, lakeside? This was the view from our room.

I get excited when I talk about family ski lodging with true value, because it’s hard to come by. Enjoying a ski vacation, or a summer lakeside vacation in Tahoe, is an expensive endeavor. That fact is not lost on me, trust me. At Lakeland Village, you get a swimming beach right on the lake, big townhouses with full kitchens, free breakfast (in winter), two pool complexes, free parking and wifi, and…wait for it…comped ski lift tickets with certain packages.

We tried this out at the end of March 2016, receiving lift tickets to Sierra-at-Tahoe (Lakeland Village also offers tickets to Heavenly). It was so convenient to get our tickets at check-in, put them on our jackets, and go straight to the lifts upon arrival at Sierra. Check Lakeland’s package deals before you book; it may be well worth it to opt for a lift ticket package. Discounted lift tickets are also available.

Our townhouse at Lakeland Village had a living space with TV and fireplace, a large outdoor deck overlooking the lake (with table and chairs), two full bathrooms, and three bedrooms (plus an additional bedroom considered a ‘sleeping loft’). Um, we had more room than we knew what to do with. You could easily sleep 10 in this type of townhouse, which means Lakeland Village qualifies in my favorite type of ski lodging category: perfect for multigenerational groups.

We literally stepped off our deck to reach the beachside swimming complex, where we could dip into the hot tub. (Pools are closed in winter, but an additional pool and hot tub, both open year-round, are located near the reception area and lodge.) In summer, I can imagine BBQing from the deck while the kids swim in the lake (there’s a roped-off swimming area).

Townhouse pricing:

Lakeland Village offers standard lodge rooms all the way up to five-bedroom lakeside townhouses. We had a ‘lake view’ townhouse (which meant it was 50 steps from the beach instead of 30), and during the spring season, it was listed at $359/night. Split between a couple families, that’s downright budget-friendly, right on the water in South Tahoe. Prices will vary by season, of course, but with multiple deals offered every day, this is an option families should look into when searching for South Lake Tahoe lodging.

Included in the price was the free breakfast and full maid service daily (rare in town homes). The lift ticket deal is a separate package; just call when booking if you don’t see the option online. The only thing missing was a washer and dryer, which is so helpful for skiing families. There are coin-operated laundry facilities in the main lodge, but boy did I wish we had them in the townhouse.

When we go to South Tahoe, we ski at Sierra-at-Tahoe, because of its low-key vibe, great ski school, and expert terrain. Read our full review of Sierra-at-Tahoe here.

Disclosure: We stayed at Lakeland Village as guests of the resort, for the purpose of review. Without these stays, we would be unable to provide our readers with honest reviews.

Where to stay in Breckenridge: Mountain Thunder Lodge review

October 28, 2015 By Amy Hagstrom

When we’re on a ski vacation, or visiting a ski resort in summer to hike and mountain bike, we often opt to stay right inside the ski village…the hustle and bustle can be exciting and fun. But by far, the best perk of village lodging is the easy access to the slopes. Breckenridge is a very unique ski resort, in that its lifts and peaks stretch almost across the length of town. What this means to visiting families: ski-in, ski-out options can be had outside of the ski area village.

Mountain Thunder Lodge is an official Breck resort located a bit away from the ski resort village, but still within skiing and walking distance of the gondola. The upside: families are in a quieter, more homey setting, with room to spread out while still skiing in and out. The downside: riding the access gondola can mean spending quite a bit of time traversing Breckenridge Resort once on the mountain, depending on where you want to ski or ride on an given day.

In summer and fall, the location of Mountain Thunder Lodge is an even better deal: families are in ride-in, ride-out distance of mountain biking trails and the recreational bike path. In fact, two green (beginning) and at least one blue (intermediate) bike and hike trails are located directly behind Mountain Thunder. In all seasons, guests are in easy walking distance to Main Street.

Mountain Thunder Lodge consists of studio and one-bedroom to three-bedroom condos and 1-3 bedroom townhomes. All come with full kitchens. I checked out a one-bedroom condo, which had garage and elevator access and a spacious balcony. The living room area included a pull-out bed, and flowed into the kitchen area. I stayed in Building 5, which was close to the walking trail to Main Street and directly adjacent to the outdoor heated pool and hot tubs. Building 5 and 1 have small exercise rooms and each condo has a ski locker, located off the first floor lobby. Laundry facilities are located in each building, and are free of charge. Townhomes have their own laundry in-house.

We loved having access to year round swimming, and it was easy to get to town via the pedestrian tunnel (families just walk across the gondola parking lot after the tunnel, following signage to Main Street). Bike storage is available in each garage during summer months.

Mountain Thunder does not have its own dining on-site, but I never missed this; we were close to Main Street for our dining needs, and had a full kitchen as well. In our condo, maid service was limited, but we found we did not need service every day. Daily service can be arranged.

Room rates:

One-bedroom condos like described above average just over $200 per night. Rates go up in peak season. A two-bedroom condo is only slightly more cost at around $250 per night.

Directions:

Mountain Thunder Lodge is located at 50 Mountain Thunder Drive, just off Park Street and Ski Hill Drive. It’s a five minute walk from Main Street, and on the free shuttle route.

As we disclose whenever applicable, this stay was made possible by Breckenridge tourism, for the purpose of review.

Northstar California with kids: an Aspen Grove mountain condo stay

January 3, 2014 By Amy Hagstrom

Families visiting Northstar California have a dizzying array of lodging options. If you’re staying a week or more, or have a large group, we recommend a home rental in one of Northstar’s mountain neighborhoods. If you want luxury and ski-in, ski-out pampering (recommended with small kids or short visits) or want to be close to the action, book a stay in the Northstar Village with Tahoe Mountain Lodging: start by reading our review of Big Horn Lodge. However, if something in-between is just right, Northstar’s mountain condo options are close to amenities, affordable, and manageable in size.

During a weekend visit with our family of five (three school-aged kids, plus mom and dad), we stayed in one of Northstar’s Aspen Grove condos. We were only 1/4 mile from the village, had three bedrooms, a full washer and dryer, a ski locker, two bathrooms, and a full kitchen, and plenty of space for the kids to play and explore. One of the more affordable Northstar lodging options, our Aspen Grove condo included just what we needed, and no more. Tip: condos and village lodging at Northstar can also be booked through VacationRoost.

Amenities:

Northstar’s condos are run by Northstar Lodging, the same folks who book their mountain homes, and therefore, include use of the Northstar Property Owners Association recreation center, pools, hot tubs, and exercise facility. This is a huge plus, as there are no hot tubs or pools in the Aspen Grove condo area. In summer, you can easily walk to the rec center (nice for teens who want to use the exercise rooms or the arcade), but in winter, you’ll want to drive or call the Northstar shuttle. The rec center is $2 per person to use, and worth every penny (we love the triple outdoor hot tubs!).

In Aspen Grove, you get the washer-dryer in your unit, plus the full kitchen, which makes meal planning easier and saved us a lot of money on our weekend at Northstar. You also have use of the free shuttle system, which we love. Simply call for the shuttle from any phone, and it will be there faster than you can find your missing glove, I promise. Shuttle stops are close by in the Aspen Grove parking lot, and the trip to the village to catch the gondola up the mountain takes fewer than five minutes. Ditto for the ride home, which means you can skip the crowded public parking areas or paid parking.

Condo configuration:

Our Aspen Grove condo included two bedrooms on the bottom level, plus a bathroom and the entry hallway. This hallway included lots of hooks for winter gear, and a ski locker out front. The washer and dryer were also in this level. Bedrooms had two beds (a double and a single) in one, and a queen bed in the other, plus plenty of closet space. Upstairs on the mid-level, we had the kitchen (with full-sized appliances and stocked with dishes, cooking utensils, etc) and living space (complete with TV and DVD player and wifi). On the third floor sat the master bedroom and bathroom. The second and bottom floor both featured a deck. We had more than enough space (we could have made due with a two-bedroom) and never felt far from the action.

Date last visited:

November-December 2013

Distance from the interstate:

10 minutes from I-80.

Rates:

Rates vary by season and bedroom number. One to three-bedroom condos range from approximately $259-459.

Directions:

Northstar is located 30 minutes from Reno, NV or three hours from Sacramento, CA off of the Highway 267 exit on Interstate 80 (I-80). Take an immediate right after entering Northstar Drive to check in at Northstar Lodging.

Disclosure: Our Aspen Grove stay was hosted by Northstar, for the purpose of review. While hospitality is always appreciated, our opinions are our own. The above post is also written in partnership with VacationRoost.com.

Silver Mountain Resort and Morning Star Lodge

May 8, 2009 By Amy Hagstrom

Any self-respecting ski lodging will include a hot tub or two. Maybe even a heated swimming pool. But only at Silver Mountain’s Morning Star Lodge do you get a full indoor water park to top off your ski day.

Intrigued? Let’s back up, and start with Silver Mountain itself, which offers 77 runs and 1,600 skiable acres along Idaho’s panhandle, right off I-90 in the historic mining town of Kellogg. We found the skiing here to be refreshingly authentic, with as many locals on the slopes as vacation-goers. Lifties clearly knew many skiers, and vice versa. Prices are reasonable, but services and grooming are still above standard. During our visit to the ski terrain, only about half the mountain was open (darn drought!) but what was open was very good skiing for intermediate and advanced skiers.

The ski terrain is a good 15-minute gondola ride from lodging and town amenities. Families won’t find a slick ski village in this small town, but rather a small but family-focused ski area complex at Morning Star Lodge. While additional lodging is available throughout town, this is where families want to be, for easy access to the gondola (the longest in North America, by the way), dining, shops, and Silver Rapids waterpark.

The waterpark comes included in any Morning Star Lodge stay, and is available to lodge guests only (with the exception of group private parties). At 42,000 square feet, its amenities rival those of any major indoor waterpark, Great Wolf Lodges included. Our school-aged kids loved the lazy river best, followed closely by the FlowRider surf simulator. There are several dedicated areas for families with babies, toddlers, and preschoolers, and a family raft ride for anyone over 42 inches (or even smaller, if with an adult). There are two additional tube rides, plus activity pools with basketball hoops and ‘lily pads’ to traverse. There’s a nice hot tub on the lower level, plus two additional hot tubs and a bar on an upper level. If you have kids who will want to try surfing, the line does get long on the weekends. We found the entire waterpark nearly empty during weekdays in winter, and watched the facility fill up substantially by Friday evening. Two dining areas offer standard counter service food options, including a massive sundae your kids will definitely ask for.

The waterpark is a balmy 84 degrees at all times, making it a very welcome respite after a ski day. We saw many families who booked a night just for the waterpark, too. The ‘village’ area around Morning Star Lodge reminds us of the lodging options at major Colorado or Tahoe resorts…buildings are modern and handsome, fire pits blaze in set areas outdoors, there’s a nice children’s playground, and additional hot tubs for each of four main buildings. Each building at Morning Star Lodge also features ski lockers and their own lobbies. The main lobby near the registration desk features a guest hospitality room with coffee and tea at all times, plus a lounge area.

There’s an arcade, family dining restaurant called Noah’s Canteen, plus pizza place and several shops in the village area, and no matter what building you’re in, you’re only steps from all of it (plus the waterpark). Guests have several choices in lodging, from single rooms to multi-bedroom suites. We were very comfortable in a one-bedroom suite with rollaway bed for our family of five. We debating upgrading to a two-bedroom mostly to have two bathrooms. If you have older kids and teens, you may want to consider this. Each suite has a full kitchen, including dishwasher and full oven/range and full-sized fridge. We also loved having a washer and dryer for all those ski clothes!

Silver Mountain and Morning Star Lodge is certainly a four-season resort. We’ve now visited in both summer (during our first visit nearly seven years ago) and winter, most recently. While we love the ski terrain in winter (there’s also a tubing park), in summer, families can expect hiking trails and mountain biking, including a full scale gravity-based mountain biking park.

Date last visited: First time: June 2008, most recently: February 2015

Distance off the interstate: Less than a minute.

Food Services: There are two counter food service areas within the water park, as well as a pizza place and family dining restaurant located on the resort property. A grocery store is two minutes away by car; ask for directions at the front desk. On the mountain, two venues offer food services. We found the prices on-mountain to be very reasonable (about half what we’d pay in Tahoe).

Website: http://www.silvermt.com/

Directions: Take Exit 49 (Bunker Avenue) off I-90. Drive a mile. Follow the signs!

As we disclose whenever applicable, we experienced Silver Mountain and Morning Star Lodge as guests of the resort during our most recent visit. All opinions are our own.