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Winter holiday season at Squaw Valley and Alpine Meadows

December 6, 2021 By Amy Hagstrom

We’ve reviewed Squaw Valley in the past, and the info linked is still relevant, helping you plan your Squaw Valley ski trip! But we’re in the heart of the holiday season at Squaw Valley right now, and it’s amazing! For a taste of what this iconic ski resort is like during the festive holiday season, read on!

Holiday season at Squaw Valley:

For our family, spending the holidays at a ski resort cannot be beat. We absolutely love spending Christmas amid evergreens, snow, and ski slopes. Throughout December, The Village at Squaw comes alive during their annual Merry Days and Holly Nights, with holiday decor, a massive tree, and outdoor fire pits ready for marshmallow roasting. Events are ongoing (described more below). This festive ambiance is really all we need to get into the holiday spirit, but if you need more, you’ll find it!

In the days between Christmas and New Years, you can ski and ride with Jonny Moseley, go disco tubing (see more on this below!), try the mini snowmobiles, and enjoy holiday-themed concerts.

Learn about all your holiday options here!

Last year, during our two ski days leading up to Christmas, Squaw Valley got dumped on, with almost two feet of snow in two days. It was powder heaven on the slopes, and when we’d had enough, our lodging in the Village at Squaw Valley was only a few steps from the slopes. We spent the late afternoons in the hot tub in our building, playing Monopoly, and sneaking away for a hot toddy at the Plaza Bar (grown-ups only!). While in the lodge for lunch, Santa came by our table with candy canes.

We ate a holiday meal pre-Christmas at Plumpjack, located in the Squaw Valley Inn. Our four-course meal with the family was made even more special by the snow falling outside. And we never had to get in our car…a huge plus while on a ski vacation where weather becomes a factor to be reckoned with.

This year, we tried something new with Christmas Eve dinner at High Camp (much recommended, even though it had to be moved to the Olympic Lodge due to storm conditions on the mountain!), and saved our evenings for disco tubing. LED lights, lasers and live DJs made the snow tubing lanes festive (and exciting enough for teens!) from 5-8pm.

If you come to enjoy the holiday season at Squaw Valley, don’t miss:

The festive holiday atmosphere in the Village at Squaw Valley
The holiday meal offerings at Plumpjack, High Camp, or with Olympians at farm-to-table events.
Free sleigh rides: catch a ride between the Village at Squaw Valley and the Olympic Village Lodge
Free train rides through the ice sculpture garden: North Tahoe Catering sculptors create animals and shapes from ice in the Ice Garden at Olympic Village Lodge.
The chance to glimpse Santa on the slopes: during our visit, we caught sight of his bright red hat several times!
New Year’s Eve celebration: includes a torchlit parade and fireworks!

Photos courtesy of Squaw Alpine and Amy Whitley.

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5 tips for successful holiday family ski trips

December 6, 2021 By Amy Hagstrom

We spend many Christmases away for the holidays. By far our favorite holiday vacation: a holiday family ski trip in a ski resort condo. Three years ago, we spent Christmas tucked away in a South Tahoe HomeAway vacation rental, and past Christmases have found us exploring Big White Ski Resort in Kelowna, BC Canada and the North Shore of Tahoe. Spending the holidays away allows us to focus on our family and leave busy schedules behind, but it can also seem daunting. Below are our best ski trip tips for enjoying a family ski vacation away for the holidays.

1. Go before Christmas Day.

Ski resorts (much like theme parks and beach resorts) remain relatively quiet until December 25, after which they experience their peak season crowds (through early January). No one wants to spend their family ski trip waiting in lift lines, so if you can swing it, book your trip in the first half of your kids’ winter school vacation (or earlier). You’ll experience fewer crowds but also lower lodging costs. Plus, stress-fee pre-Christmas holiday travel is easier to come by.

2. Consider your ski trip one of your family gifts.

Older kids can understand that a family ski vacation costs considerable money, and can be considered a family gift. Plus, bringing a mountain of holiday gifts along on your vacation can be difficult: we bring everyone’s Christmas stockings and one special present for each child if our ski trip will extend to Christmas Day. Kids can also be gifted with experiences: surprise them with a day on zip lines or a sleigh ride at your ski resort as an extra holiday gift you don’t have to bring with you.

3. Bring holiday traditions with you.

You may not want to pack a lot of extra items on your family ski vacation, but some things are worth the space. We like to bring our usual Christmas linens so we can set our table for Christmas Eve, and we bring stockings and special Christmas pajamas. It’s easy to bring a travel Hanukkah menorah, and Hanukkah gifts can double as travel toys. If you like to have a tree in your living room, find out if your ski resort is near forest service land that permits Christmas tree cutting. If so, it’s relatively easy to obtain a permit and have a family outing finding the perfect vacation tree.

4. Make your own holiday meals.

We always book ski trip lodging with a full kitchen. During the holiday season, this allows us to make our usual holiday meals, which makes it feel more like Christmas when we’re away. Find the local grocery store when you arrive, or check to see if nearby stores offer grocery delivery service to your ski resort (many do).

5. Use a ski trip checklist (and check it twice).

Before you pack and depart, write a ski trip checklist with needed gear and supplies. Everyone remembers to bring the basics: skis or boards, boots, and outerwear, but did you remember to pack the following lesser-known items on our ski trip checklist?

extra pair of gloves for everyone
hand warmers (just pack them in coat pockets before leaving home)
chapstick for everyone
laundry detergent and dryer sheets (you’ll want to at least dry outerwear a few times)
base layers or long underwear for all
the makings of s’mores
a cheap box of Christmas ornaments or decorations for the room or condo
a strand of Christmas lights (this can help you find your window or door easily)
batteries or chargers for those new toys

Are you planning a holiday ski trip? What tips can you share for enjoying your time away?

Five tips for successful holiday ski trips

Best Ski Towns: Luxury Vail ski vacation

November 25, 2021 By Amy Hagstrom

It’s impossible to have a ‘best ski towns’ series and not include Vail, Colorado. There’s a reason Vail has been absent from our list thus far…it’s already on everyone else’s list. That said, Vail deserves a place on ours as well, because with perhaps the exception of Deer Valley Utah, Vail and its neighbor and Vail Resorts partner, Beaver Creek, offer up the most luxurious ski vacation experience we’ve tried. If you’re looking to book a luxury Vail ski vacation, here’s how to do it.

Luxury Vail ski vacation planning:

Start by setting the tone for your vacation by staying at The Sonnenalp. This Leading Hotels of the World-classified hotel delivers that coveted and rare combination: it’s both luxurious and comfortable. It’s right in the heart of the Vail Village, and the Sonnenalp ski concierge service ensures you never have to carry your own gear anywhere (plus you get a private ski locker and changing area directly across from Gondola One). I love the amenities at a hotel, but still want the space of a rental during a ski vacation, and at the Sonnenalp, almost all the rooms are suites. Vail Resorts-owned Arrabelle is also a home run, located in the Lionshead Village (a very short shuttle ride from Vail Village).

At Vail, the skiing and snowboarding can be fantastic, thanks to its sheer size and diversity of terrain, but a vacation here is also about the overall experience. To that end, when planning a luxury Vail ski vacation, take as much time to plan your dining reservations as you do your ski days. (Yes, it almost hurts me to write this, as an avid ‘go all day long’ skier, but when in Rome…)

With kids, definitely make at least one reservation at Swiss Chalet, located in The Sonnenalp. They’ll love the authentic Alpine cuisine, and fondue is fast to the table and fun to eat, keeping kids entertained. Other sure bets in Vail with kids: Bully Ranch, with casual burgers and to-die-for tater tots, and Blue Moose Pizza (a crowd-pleaser for sure).

If you and your partner or spouse can get away for a long lunch on the mountain, head to The 10th, Vail’s premiere on-mountain option (in my opinion). There’s just something so luxurious about a sit-down lunch during the heart of the day. Plus, the views are amazing, so even if you’re not skiing, it’s worth booking (you can take Gondola One up without ski gear).

Additional must-do’s for the grown ups: La Tour on East Meadow Drive for French cuisine in the heart of the village and Tavern on the Square in Lionshead Village. If you’re in the mood to stay out late, head to the Red Lion in Vail Village for the best live music (and a very local scene), then finish your evening out with a nightcap at King’s Club in Sonnenalp.

In addition to skiing, hotels and ski rental shops alike will rent or lend you snowshoes, which families can take on their own around the villages or up the nearby summit passes (if you have a car), or guided snowshoe trips are offered at Sonnenalp and other luxury properties.

Plan an evening in which you simply window shop (or productively shop…your choice) in Vail Village, Beaver Creek Village, or Lionshead Village, where you’ll find the top stores in outdoor gear, lifestyle wear and more, and then go ice skating on one of the many outdoor rinks (we counted three in Vail and one in Beaver Creek, but there are probably more). If interested, look to time your visit around world-class ski and board competitions: Vail and Beaver Creek host many, including the Burton cup and the Birds of Prey stop on the World Cup downhill tour. Best of all, viewing these competitions is often free.

Kids’ ski lessons are among the best quality in the world at both Vail and Beaver Creek (BC especially often wins awards and recognition for theirs), and as an added incentive (if you need it), near Vail’s ski school learning areas in Lionshead, a full ropes adventure course is on offer…tempt your kids to try this after their lessons are over for the day!

What do you love to do as part of a luxury Vail ski vacation?

Vail luxury ski hotel: Sonnenalp hotel review

December 16, 2019 By Amy Hagstrom

I have been lucky enough to stay in many luxury ski hotel properties, from Whistler to Tahoe to points east. My stay at The Sonnenalp, a Leading Hotels of the World property in Vail, Colorado, met the expectations that properties like the Fairmont or the Ritz Carlton had set for me, but also exceeded those expectations in subtle ways.

What do I mean by this? The Sonnenalp Hotel, which is a true family-owned property, in the same family for four generations, has a very understated and timeless style of luxury and service. From the moment you drive into the porte-cochère and your ski gear is whisked effortlessly away by the ski concierge team to the simple yet thoughtful texts sent by the front desk staff, inquiring how your stay is going and whether there is anything they can do for you, at The Sonnenalp, it’s all about quietly and efficiently serving, while providing a timeless and lovely place to call home in the heart of Vail.

While beautiful, the Sonnenalp exhibits a cozy Bavarian elegance, not a flashy or sleek luxury vibe. Inside, the long halls with meandering staircases with wooden handrails call to mind a European ski chalet; in fact, in some parts of the hotel, I truly would mistake my location for the Alps. All the guest spaces of the hotel, from the small front lobby to the expansive King’s Club lounge (arguably the heart of the hotel) exhibit an understated but sophisticated elegance. You’d never make the mistake that you were in a budget hotel, by any means, but you are also spared any sort of stuffy or snooty ambiance.

Sonnenalp rooms:

Ever stayed at a five-star, very expensive property and looked around your hotel room and noted you were actually lacking a lot of useful items, like a fridge, table, or microwave? The Sonnenalp has 112 suites to its 15 rooms, with a focus on comfort. I stayed in one of their two-level mountain suites, which was laid out with a living room and wet bar space downstairs (with fireplace) and two bedrooms upstairs, with over 1300 square feet total space. Be sure to ask for a few room fans upon check-in, as we found the upstairs to get stuffy. I appreciated having a Nespresso machine, a minibar, a second fridge for storing our own things, a microwave, and two and a half bathrooms.

We enjoyed turndown service, lovely robes for use in the room and at the spa area, and eco-friendly bath amenities. The only thing I found missing: access to a washer and dryer, or even just a dryer, in the suites. When skiing with a family, a dryer is huge.

Sonnenalp European spa:

At The Sonnenalp, the European spa concept means that in addition to their luxurious spa, most of the spa’s 10,000 square feet is accessible for all guests, including children. What this looks like: when you enter the spa area, you are not stopped at a sign-in desk (though they have one). Instead, you’re invited into the large space that houses a 360 degree fireplace with sunken seating, a full bar (with oxygen bar), and the indoor pool and hot tub. Off of this room are the men’s and women’s locker rooms, sauna, steam rooms, and fitness center…open to everyone (though children under 16 are not allowed in the back locker rooms or fitness center of the spa). Out glass doors by the pool, the outdoor section of the pool and two additional outdoor hot tubs await.

While kids need to be respectfully quiet in this greater spa area, they are welcome, and what results is a very cozy, warm space for families to gather apres-ski or anytime. For adults, complementary yoga classes are held here almost daily, as well as personal training services. While the fitness center is not large, it has the cardio and weight training equipment needed.

While I love that most of the spa can be appreciated by everyone, I do recommend booking at least one spa treatment during your stay. My aromatherapy massage was one of the best I’ve ever had, made even more relaxing in the knowledge that the rest of my group could be having fun in the pools and hot tubs. A poolside/spa-side menu is available (though outdoor pool deck service is seasonal).

Sonnenalp dining:

The Sonnenalp has multiple restaurants onsite, and of course, you’re in the heart of the Vail village, so many additional restaurants are within walking distance. As noted above, the cozy King’s Club, with bar, a ‘living room’ type space, and even a library, is the place to start your evening with a drink during their happy hour. It’s also the place to return later in the evening for live music. A must do is Swiss Chalet, Sonnenalp’s nod to Alpine cuisine, with fondue and raclette, and for the most casual dining option, head to Bully Ranch, the hotel’s Western-themed restaurant (where you’ll instantly feel like you’re in Wyoming, not Germany).

While Sonnenalp may be best known for Swiss Chalet’s fondue dinner, their breakfast buffet, held daily at Ludwig’s, is in danger of outshining it all. There’s more than any one person could possibly eat at this gourmet buffet of hot dishes, granolas, fresh fruits, berries, cheese spreads, bagels and lox, smoked salmon, artisan breads, and more. The buffet is $35 per person (or $23 for the continental version), but don’t gasp just yet: with most reservations, it can be included in the cost of the stay as an add-on (well worth it). If you don’t add the buffet on and don’t want to pay that price, there is also an a la carte menu, as well as room service. By no means is Sonnenalp dining inexpensive, but it is part of the overall experience of the hotel.

Sonnenalp activities:

The hotel has a kids’ club, which is complementary with activities planned for kids daily, with drop-in options. At the time of my visit, the club was open from 4 pm to 6 pm, which was great: parents can enjoy happy hour while the kids are busy. This service is for kids three and up who are potty trained, but even if you have a younger one, stop by for a complementary box of sanitized toys to take back to your room. For older kids, there’s a game room adjacent. Get always updated kids’ club information.

The planned activities for adults, beyond the spa and fitness offerings, such as the snowshoeing treks aforementioned, were offered six days a week during my visit. Of course, a main activity for parents is simply relaxing. I recommend sitting in the library with one of their famous mudslides.

If visiting in winter, most families plan to ski. Here’s how the ski concierge services work at Sonnenalp:

Because the hotel is about three blocks from Gondola One (where you can upload for Vail skiing), Sonnenalp guests have access to nearby Gorsuch Ski Cafe. The ski concierge team will transport your gear there upon your arrival to the hotel. Guests walk the few blocks in comfortable winter boots, instead of ski boots, and grab their gear from the concierge there. The space has ample room for getting on gear and storing skis and boards. You can also apply sunscreen here and there’s seating for 40-50.

For summer season guests, Sonnenalp has their own private golf course, with a much large fitness center and pool complex, as well as on-site dining, Harvest. The fitness center and Harvest are actually open year-round, and shuttles can be arranged from the hotel. There is a daily fee for golf, but I was assured hotel guests have use of the fitness area complementarily.

Photo credit: Amy Whitley and Sonnenalp.

Disclosure: I stayed at Sonnenalp as a guest of the hotel, for the purpose of review. All opinions remain my own.

Ski trip planning hack: Using GetOutfitted to rent ski wear

November 22, 2017 By Amy Hagstrom

Ski and snowboard wear is expensive–very expensive, in fact–and for some families, the cost to outfit everyone for one or two ski trips per season is simply not worth it. Our family skis much more often than that, but with the rate my teens are growing, I never know what will still fit them, even from month to month! Enter an interesting solution: GetOutfitted.

What is GetOutfitted?

It’s a new service that rents outer wear, plus ski gear ranging from ski packages to Go Pros. You select the items you need online, picking your jacket and snow pants a la carte based on the styles you like, or selecting a pre-determined package. I’m very familiar with the latest outdoor wear brands, and they’re all here. Once you’ve made your selections, you input your vacation dates and destination, and GetOutfitted will FedEx your ski wear directly to your hotel, condo, or vacation home. If you opt to rent skis and/or snowboards, too, they’ll be delivered to your door via a local ski rental partner. When you’re done with you vacation, you just put the ski wear in their pre-paid, included package and drop it off at any USPS mail center. You get free shipping both ways.

What can I get?

Premium outerwear packages for women or men include a top-brand jacket, pants, gloves, and googles and rent for approximately $45/day. Standard packages include the same items, with slightly less trendy brands, and cost $30/day. Kids’ packages are $18/day, which is a true deal. As mentioned, you can also shop a la carte, plus can add base layers and socks, which you buy instead of rent. If you don’t have base layers, we highly recommend getting them. They’re listed for approximately the same prices you’ll pay anywhere else.

In the ski gear category, you can rent full ski or snowboard rental packages, starting at just $25/day for adults and $15/day for kids. Rental packages come with helmets as an optional addition (recommended). All ski wear and gear has a three-day minimum rental period outside of Colorado Rockies resorts.

Where is it offered?

Just about everywhere you might go for a destination ski vacation. The company is based on Colorado, but we used the service for a ski trip to Lake Tahoe, California.

Our experience with GetOutfitted, start to finish:

We didn’t need to rent full outerwear packages from GetOutfitted, which is the most affordable way to do it. We still got a good value, however, renting pants for our Pit Stops for Kids’ dad. His pants were $48/3 days. Buying him a pair of pants for the trip would cost $150 at the minimum, assuming we found a good deal on quality pants, and buying the exact pants he rented would have been $299.

Pit Stops for Kids’ dad in GetOutfitted ski pants.

While we were renting pants, we decided it would be fun to rent a Go Pro for the teens to use on the mountain. Merry Christmas to them! The Go Pro rented for $40/3 days, and the chest mount to wear it cost $12/3 days. Is this $52 critical to our ski trip? No, of course not. But it’s a vast savings on buying action camera equipment we’ll only use occasionally, and the kids really loved it.

While on the site, I initiated a chat with a GetOutfitted expert, who answered my questions promptly. What I asked: ‘Can I reserve for fewer than three days?’ and ‘Do you rent helmets’. The latter is not obvious until you select the ski resort or town you’ll be visiting, which pairs you with a local rental company. When I placed items in my shopping cart, I selected the exact dates of rental, and when I checked out, I entered our vacation rental home address. The ski wear and gear were sent directly to our rental.

When we arrived at our vacation rental, the box from GetOutfitted was waiting for us by the front door. Inside, we found the ski pants and Go Pro, plus a large, prepaid return envelope. Included with the Go Pro was a set of instructions, which, combined with a Google search for the Go Pro website, proved adequate for figuring it all out. We were provided with a memory card, USB cable, and the chest mount equipment (which we paid for), plus a few more mounts, which we could use to mount the Go Pro onto our helmets (after buying disposable adhesive mount stickers, which are found at any ski gear store at most ski resorts).

The kids had fun taking video on the mountain, which we downloaded to our computer at the vacation home (use the USB cable). You’ll want to make sure to download all your videos before returning the Go Pro (or pay a fee for GetOutfitted to download it all for you).

The ski pants worked perfectly, and we returned everything at the end of our trip by dropping off the package at a USPS store. Easy-peasy. To rent your own ski gear, start at GetOutfitted.com and go from there!

We tried out GetOutfitted free of charge, for the purpose of review.

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!

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.

Alta for everyone: Why this Utah resort should be on your radar

November 9, 2016 By Amy Hagstrom

With fourteen ski resorts within 45 minutes of Salt Lake City, it can be hard to decide which to call your own for your next destination ski trip. I love Park City, but don’t forget about the resorts tucked into the canyons just behind Provo, too!

Alta Ski Resort sits in Little Cottonwood Canyon right next to Snowbird. Due to the terrain, skiers immediately feel completely tucked away and isolated from the bustle of Park City and SLC. In fact, you won’t find a ski village here, complete with manufactured pedestrian streets, ice rinks, and Patagonia shops. There’s nothing wrong with any of those things, but that’s just not what Alta is all about. Instead, Alta boosts five boutique lodges (the largest has only 90 rooms) nestled into the canyon, where guests sleep, eat, enjoy apres ski, and yes, dream about Alta’s epic powder.

What Alta’s all about:

The first thing I noticed about Alta is, the people are different here. Firstly, they’re all skiers. Snowboarding is not permitted. For the most part, they’re serious about their winter recreation, and, in the case of Alta Lodge’s stellar return rate, over 70% of them have been here before.

Everywhere I went on the mountain, skiers were ardent Alta fans. The terrain is largely black diamond (expert), the chairs are mostly slow-moving doubles and triples, and the slopes are fairly unforgiving. Unlike at some resorts that plan out numerous cat tracks and groomers, Alta expects a lot of its skiers: there are many places its necessary to traverse, many opportunities to hike for higher terrain, and even a rope tow needed to get from one base to the next. In fact, long-time skiers affectionately joke Alta stands for Another Long Traverse Ahead.

Alta is an experience more than it is a mountain. It’s about the people, the traditions, the light, deep snow.

Average snowfall in Little Cottonwood Canyon is a whooping 551 inches per season, and Alta uses it to the max, with 2,200 lift-served acres (more if you skin it) and over 115 runs. Words to come to mind while I ski Alta include ‘authentic’, ‘old-school’, and ‘no joke’.

While Alta is known as an ‘expert hill’, there’s terrain for everyone. On its Sunnyside base, the Alta ski school provides a welcoming, genuine experience, and there are plenty of green runs to get you going. What I noticed Alta lacked was the in-between: if you like long, blue groomer or rolling corduroy, it seemed to be in short supply. If you’re an expert, the Supreme and Collins lifts will take you to big bowls, powdery slopes, and tree stashes. We skied on a powder day, and there was so much terrain (with so few crowds), we easily found powder well after lunch.

Alta Lodge:

As mentioned above, Alta Ski Resort has five lodging options, as well as a collection of mountain homes for rent privately. I stayed at Alta Lodge, situated just above the base area overlooking Goldminer’s Daughter and the expanse of the canyon. From the outside, Alta Lodge is decidedly rustic; in fact, it reminded me of the lodges we stayed in at Tahoe back in the ’70s and ’80s. A poma lift takes you to the door, which opens onto a cozy, warmly-appointed lobby and living space. Here, skiers can warm themselves by the fire in comfy chairs, enjoy coffee, tea, and cookies in the afternoon, and take in stunning mountain views in the small sitting room.

Downstairs, the ski locker room has been recently redone, and even features a ping pong table to use before or after your ski day. The lodge is ski in, ski out, and a four-course dinner and full breakfast is included in your nightly room rate.

Down the winding hallways of the lodge, two hot pools and saunas await skiers needing to soak, and upstairs, the Sitzmark Club offers incredible ambiance for apres ski drinks. It’s true that when not skiing, your Alta lodging choice will be where you spend all your time while in Little Cottonwood Canyon, but trust me, you won’t mind.

In fact, I loved the simplicity of knowing I’d park my car once, and spend all my time in the same cozy place.

During my stay at Alta Lodge, I noticed it was not unusual to see the CEO and the owners frequently. This lodge has been family-run since 1959, and is currently celebrating their 75 anniversary (of opening)! Guests come back year after year; in fact, return guests get first dibs at rebooking for the following year. I loved the all-inclusive feel to the lodge, as well as the genuine community atmosphere. Skiers mingled in the bar and at dinner, sharing stories of the slopes.

Included in the room rate:

In addition to a full dinner and full breakfast daily, guests have complimentary ski lockers, the hot tubs, and a full childcare program. Kids are taken to ski school and brought back, given a kids’ dinner separately (while adults are still enjoying the bar or pools), and entertained in a staffed childcare area after dinner. They also transport kids to and from ski school lessons. (Note: full-time childcare is not available). I met the childcare staff and was impressed by the quality of this free program.

Guests can invite additional friends to dinner (using credit for the next night…eat out or trade with friends) or substitute a lunch for dinner. A full lunch is available at the lodge during the day (extra charge unless substituting). There’s also the daily afternoon tea, including pastries, cookies, and hot beverages, and complimentary yoga classes in the mornings before the ski day.

Standard room rates are around $400, with lower priced rooms that have not yet been remodeled, and even dorm rooms for as low as $122. All rooms, regardless of type, come with meals. I believe the value is absolutely there. We will be back with the whole family!

Skiing at Snowbird:

While at Alta, you should absolutely ski Snowbird as well. Located right ‘next door’, Snowbird offers terrain that rivals Alta (some say it’s better) and both can be skied with the same Mountain Collective Pass. It’s possible to ski from one resort to the other, so I absolutely recommend the dual pass. Alta lift tickets start at $89/day for adults, making it significantly less than larger Park City area resorts. Snowbird is under $100, and in spring, is reduced as much as 50%. It’s possible to upgrade day passes to include both Snowbird and Alta.

We experienced Alta and the Alta Lodge as guests of Ski Utah, for the purpose of review. All opinions are my own.

Mammoth ski trip tips: Overview of Mammoth Mountain

February 19, 2014 By Amy Hagstrom

If you’ve been to Mammoth Mountain, you know that this California ski resort in the Eastern Sierras is bigger than life. Massive in size at 3,500 skiable acres, and with 28 lifts and 150 runs, this world-renown ski resort can be overwhelming to families. Read on for Mammoth ski trip tips gleaned from a first-time visit to Mammoth:

Plan where to stay carefully:

Given the sheer size of Mammoth, it’s very important for families to decide on lodging location with their needs in mind. Stay in the ‘wrong’ section of Mammoth for your needs, and you’ll be spending precious time you should be on the snow in the shuttle or gondolas. Most families stay in the Mammoth Village and Canyon Lodge area, because the majority of services are here, but this means the majority of congestion is also present. If you want ski school for your kids, it is also available at the far less crowded Main Lodge area, to the far side of the resort. Our pick is the Mammoth Mountain Inn, located directly across the street from the lifts at Main Lodge. There are fewer restaurants here, but what there is is great, and far less crowded. The Main Lodge is old-school—you’ll be reminded of ski lodges of your youth if you’re in your 30s or 40s—but has all the essentials without the crowds: lift ticket sales, rentals, ski school, cafeteria, and gear.

Break for lunch before or after the noon hour:

Mammoth gets crowded, and even with three main lodges spanning the base of the resort, plus mid-mountain options like McCoy, families will want to steer clear of dining services from 12 pm to 1 pm. We like to hit the slopes early (you have them practically to yourself in the first hour of operation…a fact that hold true at all resorts) then eat lunch around 11 am. Our pick: The Mill which sits at the base of Chair 2. The Mill is small, but oh-so quaint, and offers amble deck seating. It is accessible via car, so that’s a negative, but if you arrive before noon, you can grab food fairly easily.

Use the shuttle service:

No matter where you stay in Mammoth lodging, the shuttle service runs regularly and, we found, on time. Trust me, you do not want to hunt for parking constantly at Mammoth! When heading to lift areas (again, we recommend starting all the way over at Main Lodge), families who drive and park—with the exception of very early risers—will often walk blocks with their gear. Shuttles will drop you off right at the front, and have plenty of space for skis and boards. Shuttles also run in the evenings for area dining and entertainment.

Ski or ride the mountain in sections:

With three main sections, based around Eagle Lodge, Canyon Lodge, and Main Lodge, skiers and riders can spend significant time transitioning between sections. Instead, pick one for the first few hours on the snow, working your way around. We suggest transferring (via shuttle or lift) to Main Lodge area first, where the crowds are smallest, then tackle Canyon area after an early lunch at The Mill.

Don’t try to cover the entire terrain of Mammoth in one day! If you only have a few days, concentrate on the area that appeals to you most instead of attempting to transverse the hill multiple times. Keep an eye on the Mammoth Mountain app (available for iOS or Android) for the most recently groomed runs.

Head to June Mountain for ski school lessons and family-friendly skiing:

Many people don’t realize that Mammoth Mountain lift tickets are good at nearby June Mountain. Only 20 minutes away, June offers manageable terrain with a low-key, family friendly atmosphere with the fraction of the crowds (and with ski school prices at a fraction of the cost of Mammoth). Spend a few days here (kids ski free!) if your kids are learning. If you opt for ski school lessons at Mammoth, definitely take advantage of the discount for multiple days.

Prepare for the altitude:

Mammoth Mountain’s village sits at 7,953 feet elevation…a significant change if you’re coming from sea level. The ‘top of California’ peak (at the top of the Panorama gondola) is 11,053. Signs of altitude sickness include headaches, stomach aches or thirst. Be sure to give your kids plenty of water during and before their ski day (start hydrating on your travel day) and take it easy your first morning on the slopes.

Rates:
Regular adult ticket price (non-holiday or early season) bought online pre-trip is $94. Kids are $35.

Lodging:
Families have every possible lodging option at Mammoth, from single family vacation homes to village condos to hotel rooms. Start with Mammoth lodging, narrowing down the options by which area you want to base yourself in, what type of lodging you need, and what services you want (shuttle, hot tubs, rental services in-lodging).

Directions:
From Southern California, take I-5 north to State Route 14 north to US 395 north to State Route 203 (300-375 miles). From San Francisco, take Interstate 80 to Hwy 50 to Kingsbury Grade cutoff to US 395 south to State Route 203 (320 miles).

Disclosure: I experienced Mammoth Mountain as the guest of the resort, for the purpose of review. All opinions are my own.

June Mountain skiing for families: the best kept secret of the Sierras

February 17, 2014 By Amy Hagstrom

Skiing families have heard of Mammoth Mountain, one of the largest ski resorts in the western US. But are your familiar with Mammoth’s little sister, June? June Mountain Ski Area is located less than 20 minutes from Mammoth, tucked into a blissfully serene corner of the Eastern Sierras adjacent to pretty June Lake. Arrive at June—which cozies up to the boundary of Yosemite National Park—and you’d swear you’re a world away from busy, often crowded Mammoth.

June Mountain closed its doors for the 2012-2013 season, much to the dismay of the local community and its loyal patrons, and re-opened this season (2013-2014) with new energy, new ideas, and a new focus: families.

June Mountain skiing for families:

The potential as a family-focused ski area has been present in June’s foundation all along: arriving at June, families find just one parking lot (as opposed to half a dozen), one chair over the face of the mountain to the main lodge, and plenty of greeters to help with all that ski equipment. The ‘Chalet’ lodge is beautiful, peaceful, and offers breathtaking views of the Sierras, and provides families with all they need (and not more): dining services, lockers, rentals, and a roaring fireplace.

The terrain at June is 45% intermediate and 35% beginner, making it an ideal place to focus on making those first turns without crowds or distractions, but the 20% of advanced terrain is nothing to scoff at: I practically drooled looking at the black diamond chutes at June, and the ski area is known for its excellent backcountry. In this manner, June offers skiers and snowboarders two extremes: intense off-trail glade and tree skiing and easy groomers. Note: the only less-than-young-kid-friendly aspect of June Mountain is the initial J1 chair, required to access the lodge and ski terrain. This double chair rises up and over the June face, and can be more difficult to load than most chairs (due to the bar in the center). Families with backpacks or other gear and young kids will want to ask the lifties to slow the chair until they’re well-versed, and you’ll want to use the safety bar on the ascent. This chair can be downloaded as well, for families not wishing to ski to the bottom at the end of the day.

Families’ ski vacation dollars will stretch much farther at June than Mammoth. Lessons are roughly half the cost, and kids 12 and under ski free at June any and every day of the year. No blackout dates. No restrictions. What this means to me: I can afford to pay for multiple-day lessons for my school-aged kids!

Youth (ages 13-17) pay just $48 for a regular one-day lift ticket, and adults $72, but if you’ll be there more than four days in a season, June season passes offer even steeper savings. With 1,400 skiable acres, June is far more manageable for families; parents can allow kids free reign to explore, and with only one lodge, there’s no fear of school-aged kids getting lost on the hill. You get seven lifts and 35 named trails, with plenty more in the trees.

The nature nut in me loves that fact that June appreciates its location on National Forest Service land and incorporates nature walks and interpretive programs into its kids’ programming. Expect to see scheduled nature walks during the day, and check out signage pointing out animal tracks to be observed in the snow. Pretty different from your average ski resort, right?

Still not sure? If you’re skiing at Mammoth Mountain, you can try June risk-free: your Mammoth lift ticket is good here. Our recommendation: start at June for lessons for the kids (or yourself) and work your way up to Mammoth. We’re fans of both mountains, but our ultimate goal at Pit Stops for Kids is to help families make the most of their vacations and spend their ski trip budget wisely. Try June and see the value of a relaxed, friendly, low-key ski community!

Lodging:

There are several options in June Lake, just minutes from the ski area. However, if you’re staying at Mammoth, rest assured: you’re only 20 minutes away.

Dining:

You’ll find good ski hill fare at the Chalet lodge at June, but this resort is ‘sack lunch friendly’ as well. In the town of June Lake, apres or dinner options can be found along the main drag from the ski area.

Directions:

June Mountain, Ca. is located about 20 miles north of Mammoth Lakes in June Lake. From US 395, take Hwy. 158 west at the June Lake Loop. Drive approx. 4 miles to the ski area.