FAMILY FUN GUIDE
2022
TheTahoeWeekly.com
Family Fun WINTER EDITION
T A H O E
G U I D E
Palisades Tahoe
FAMILY FUN GUIDE
TheTahoeWeekly.com
Enjoying hot chocolate at Granlibakken Tahoe
s d i K Ultimate Tahoe
Winter Bucket List BY K AT H E R I N E E . H I L L
T
ahoe is packed with family fun outings, outdoor adventures to enjoy with the kids, places to take the kids to enjoy local history, and scores of events and live music. But if you don’t read every edition of Tahoe Weekly in print or at TheTahoeWeekly.com, follow us on social media or subscribe to our free e-edition, you’re missing out on a lot of what Tahoe has to offer. I started putting together our Ultimate Tahoe Bucket List 15 years ago sharing some of our favorite things to do in the Tahoe Sierra. It will take you many visits to Tahoe to even put a dent in this list (maybe even a few seasons), but that’s just another good reason to visit us again and again.
OUTDOOR ADVENTURES 1. Take the family snowshoeing at a local resort. Don’t forget snacks.
9. Participate in more than one winter sport in a day.
2. Make a backyard sled run or two.
10. Enjoy Disco Tubing at Palisades Tahoe.
3. Visit a local sled hill.
11. Take a horse-drawn sleigh ride at Sand Harbor Nevada State Park.
4. Tube at the local ski areas – the runs are long and fast, and many will even take you back to the top. Find a list in this edition.
12. Take a full-moon snowshoe tour. 13. Snowshoe in Tahoe Meadows or Chickadee Ridge.
5. Ski or snowboard at as many Tahoe area ski resorts as you can this season.
14. Play in the snow on the beach at Lake Tahoe.
6. Take a cross-country skiing lesson.
15. Walk along a paved trail along Lake Tahoe or the Truckee River. Check out our Winter Paths in this edition.
7. Download the U.S. Forest Service’s Junior Snow Ranger book and help your child earn a badge. 8. Enjoy snowshoeing at the state parks; you only pay for parking: Donner Memorial State Park, Sugar Pine Point State Park, Emerald Bay State Park, Van Sickle Bi-State Park and Sand Harbor State Park (yes, it’s open in winter), to name a few.
Connect with Friends. Connect with Nature.
SKI.BIKE.RUN
16. Go ice skating at a local rink; some are even free. Find a local ice skating rink in this edition. 17. Search for animal tracks in the snow and try to identify them.
Family ski day at Homewood Mountain Resort
Groomed trails with Lake Tahoe views
Lessons, clinics, and rentals tahoexc.org 14
|
530.583.5475
Holly Shankland
FREE skiing for youth and 70+
January 26-February 8, 2022
EXPLORE TAHOE 18. Take a scenic gondola ride at Heavenly Mountain Resort or an aerial tram ride at Palisades Tahoe.
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for links
19. Visit the KidZone Museum in Truckee.
bring your
other
20. Take a trip to Woodward Tahoe at Boreal Mountain.
Season Pass ticket deal
21. Check out the weeklong Kid-ORama returning this year from Feb. 19 to 26 at Palisades Tahoe. 22. Explore kid-friendly environmental displays at U.C. Davis Tahoe Environmental Research Center in Incline Village, Nev.
Save
$20
23. Explore a local museum. Read Sightseeing in this edition. 24. Spend time at a local library. 25. Check out a book from the book vending machine from the Incline Village Library.
Sledding at Tahoe City Winter Sports Park Full moon snowshoe at Palisades Tahoe
26. See how many SnowFest! events you can attend. Held Feb. 25 to March 6. 27. Visit an indoor climbing gym.
Online purchase required for BYOP tickets (Not valid for peak periods or child tickets)
28. Make a splash at one of the local indoor pools.
IT’S ALL ABOUT FAMILY
DiamondPeak.com
29. Catch a snowflake on your tongue. Borges Sleigh Rides at Sand Harbor
30. Drink lots of hot chocolate. 31. Compare hot chocolate at your favorite coffee shops or restaurants. 32. Make frozen bubbles outside when the temperature dips below freezing. 33. Capture snowflakes for the Stories in the Snow citizen science project. 34. Make a snowman or snow angel.
February 25 - March 6
35. Play board games together. 36. Bake cookies. Disco Tubing at Palisades Tahoe
Ice skating at Northstar California Resort
37. Read your favorite books. 38. Cut out paper snowflakes. 39. Sip hot apple cider by a fire. 40. Put together puzzles. 41. Watch the snow fall. 42. Practice making snowballs. 43. Have a friendly snowball fight. 44. Take in the fresh air and relax. You’re on vacation. 45. Ditch the car; it will only irritate you. Take local transit or local ski shuttles to the resorts. Walk anywhere you can.
a ten day mountain mardi-gras festival in north lake tahoe!
40th Anniversary
LEARN MORE AT TAHOESNOWFEST.ORG 15
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Ice Skating & Tubing
S U N D A Y , M A R C H 6 th i s
THE GREAT SKI RACE!
EXCLUSIVE CONTENT AT
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Find more family-friendly activities to enjoy.
Cap on Skiers NEW THIS YEAR SIGN UP NOW! New Loop Course*
ICE SKATING
HANSEN’S RESORT
(530) 544-3361 | hansensresort.com
EDGEWOOD TAHOE
(888) 769-1924 | edgewoodtahoe.com Open air rink. Rentals available.
HEAVENLY
HEAVENLY VILLAGE
(530) 542-4230 | theshopsatheavenly.com Open air rink. South Tahoe
(530) 562-1010 | northstarcalifornia.com Open air rink. Free access. TART
SIERRA-AT-TAHOE
TAHOE CITY WINTER SPORTS PARK
Blizzard Mountain offers two lift-accessible snow tubing lanes, snow play and sledding area.
Ice skating & rentals. Clubhouse. TART
(530) 659-7453 | sierraattahoe.com
TAHOE SNOWMOBILE TUBING
(530) 542-3294 | tahoesnowmobiles.com
TRUCKEE Photo by Troy Corliss
Off Highway 207. Bring equipment. South Tahoe
Indoor facility open year-round. South Tahoe
(530) 583-1516 | wintersportspark.com
TheGreatSkiRace.com
(775) 586-7271 | douglascountynv.gov
On Lake Tahoe Blvd. Bring equipment. South Tahoe
(530) 542-6262 | cityofslt.com
REGISTER ONLINE ASAP
Tubing at top of gondola with four lanes.
SAWMILL POND
SOUTH LAKE TAHOE
ONLY THE FIRST 700 RACERS TO REGISTER WILL GET SPOTS $80 Adults / $30 Kids until March 3 | $120 Adults / $60 Kids on Race Day
skiheavenly.com
KAHLE PARK
NORTHSTAR
*The Up-Up-Up is the same; the DOWN is a whole new world of wow! The new 26km course features the original epic Starratt Pass climb from Tahoe XC in Tahoe City, but after Soup Station One, we’ll circle Mt. Watson and ski toward Northstar California, then swing through the forest and return to a flying downhill finish where we started.
400-foot-long groomed tube run on Ski Run Blvd. First-come, first-served.
(530) 582-7720 | tdrpd.com
Two locations at Tahoe Paradise & Stateline, Nev. Reserve online.
At Truckee River Regional Park. Skate rentals, broomball leagues, ice dancing & hockey lessons. Skate rentals & season passes available. TART
TAYLOR CREEK
SLEDDING & TUBING
(530) 543-2600
Highway 89, north of Camp Richardson Road. Bring equipment.* South Tahoe
TUBETAHOE
(530) 600-2304 | tubetahoe.com
OPEN AS CONDITIONS PERMIT.
500 feet of machine-groomed tubing lanes in Meyers. Equipment provided. South Tahoe
EAST SHORE
SPOONER LAKE
TRUCKEE & BEYOND
(775) 831-0494
State park open for snow play. Bring equipment. Parking fee. Opening TBA
BOREAL MOUNTAIN rideboreal.com
Tubing open to everyone 42” and taller; smaller children are limited to snow play area only. Personal sleds not permitted. Night sessions available. Reserve online.
HOPE VALLEY AREA
CARSON PASS (209) 295-4251
Highway 88 near Carson Pass. Bring equipment.*
DONNER SKI RANCH donnerskiranch.com
Tubing hills with moving carpet.
HOPE VALLEY (775) 882-2766
Highway 88 at Blue Lakes Road. Bring equipment.*
DONNER SUMMIT (530) 587-3558
South side of I-80, Castle Peak exit. Bring equipment.*
MEISS MEADOW (209) 295-4251
Highway 88 near Carson Pass. Bring equipment.*
KINGVALE RESORT
(530) 427-5090 | kingvaleresort.com Snow park open Friday-Monday. Bring sleds. Plastic sleds available to buy. Tubes not allowed. Parking & snow park fee, cash only.
NORTH SHORE
INCLINE VILLAGE Snow Play Area on Fairway Blvd., next to the Chateau, on the driving range. Bring equipment.
NORTHSTAR CALIFORNIA northstarcalifornia.com TART
SODA SPRINGS
MOUNT ROSE Near the Mount Rose summit, enjoy sledding in Tahoe Meadows off Highway 431. Bring equipment.
NORTH TAHOE REGIONAL PARK
(530) 546-0605 | northtahoeparks.com End of National Avenue off Hwy 28. Rentals not available this season. TART
TAHOE CITY WINTER SPORTS PARK (530) 583-1516 | wintersportspark.com
Sledding & cross-country trails. Rentals available. Clubhouse. Reserve online. TART
skisodasprings.com Mountain Adventure offers kids tubing carousel, all-age tubing, Snow Jeep rides, Start Park, snow play area and mini snowmobiles. Reserve online.
TAHOE DONNER
(530) 587-9437 | tahoedonner.com At Trout Creek Recreation Ctr. No personal sleds. Reserve online.
YUBA PASS
(530) 994-3401 Highway 49 at Yuba Pass. Bring equipment.*
WEST SHORE
OLYMPIC VALLEY
PALISADES TAHOE
(530) 452-4511 | palisadestahoe.com Tubing area. TART
BLACKWOOD CANYON (530) 543-2600
Snowplay area off Hwy. 89, 3 miles south of Tahoe City. Bring equipment.*
SQUAW VALLEY PARK placer.ca.gov
Free snowplay area. Free parking to access cleared walking paths in Olympic Valley to Tahoe City. Bring equipment. TART
SOUTH LAKE TAHOE
GRANLIBAKKEN
(530) 581-7533 | granlibakken.com Machine-groomed snow play area; no tubes or toboggans allowed. All ages. Reserve online.
HOMEWOOD ADVENTURE CENTER
ADVENTURE MOUNTAIN
(530) 659-7217 | adventuremountaintahoe.com On top of Echo Summit with machine-groomed sledding, tubing & snowplay. First-come, first-served.
ECHO LAKE
(530) 525-2992 | skihomewood.com
At Homewood Mountain Resort with Magic Carpet. Reserve online. Opening TBA
TAHOE CITY
Gentle slope on Highway 89 South, one-eighth mile south of the wye. Bring equipment. TART
(530) 644-2324 Highway 50 at Echo Lake Road. Bring equipment.*
ALL ACTIVITIES ARE WEATHER DEPENDENT. * Sno-park permits required. Go to ohv.parks.ca.gov/snoparks or find locations at (916) 324-1222. BUS & SHUTTLE SCHEDULES
North Tahoe & Truckee: laketahoetransit.com (TART) | South Tahoe: tahoetransportation.org
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January 26-February 8, 2022
Fun
FAMILY FUN GUIDE
Tips for Family Time on the Snow BY M I C H E L L E A L L E N
B
e prepared for snow conditions and getting the kids ready for a day spent outside are essential to ensuring that everyone has a fun time in Tahoe. Here’s some of our tips for helping make your day the best it can be. Find more information on snow safety in Ski California’s Mountain Safety Guide for skiers and snowboarders.
USE COMMON SENSE Teach kids to be respectful and to use common sense. Explain how their actions affect others and their decisions can either prevent or cause an accident.
SET THE TONE Get children excited about skiing and snowboarding. Show them photos or videos of yourself or other people participating in snow sports. If you ski or ride, tell them what you enjoy about it. Kids of any age can have a hard time getting motivated but if you are excited, they might be, too. But be careful not to oversell it or your kid might go into stimulation overload and lose interest.
PICK THE RIGHT CONDITIONS
Riding the Disney chairlift at Sugar Bowl ski resort
Avoid taking them during bad weather, especially if they are new to snow sports. If their first experience is during a rainstorm or in below-freezing temperatures, they might not want to go skiing or
snowboarding again. Choose a sunny and mild day. Children will stay more focused on learning and not on how miserably cold or wet they feel.
HELMETS ARE A NECESSITY It might be the most important piece of equipment. Wearing a helmet will help prevent a major head injury if your child falls or is involved in a collision.
TEACH KIDS TO READ SIGNS Show your child how to find and read informational and directional signage. Children should know how to read a trail map and learn how to navigate the trail system. Show them signs, flags, ropes and disks posted to mark obstacles, slow zones, lift areas and trail difficulty and direction.
EYE PROTECTION At altitude, the atmosphere is thinner than at lower elevations, which magnifies CONTINUED ON PAGE 18
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the damaging effects of the sun. Sun exposure at higher elevations can quickly cause burns to the skin and eyes. On the snow, people are exposed to twice the amount of sunlight, directly from the sun and from the sunlight’s reflection off the snow. Wearing goggles or sunglasses can protect the eyes from damage. The intensity of the sun can be especially harmful to kids’ eyes and anyone with light-colored eyes.
A snack or meal that includes protein, carbohydrates and fat, like a multigrain bagel with cream cheese or nut butter, will provide the energy needed to keep them going. Avoid sugary foods and drinks. The sugar creates a short spike in energy followed by physical and mental exhaustion. On-the-mountain snacks are important, too. I stash snacks in my son’s jacket pocket so he can nibble on something between runs. Although high-sugar snacks are not ideal, I sometimes give him gummy bears for continued motivation.
CLOTHING MATTERS
Apply sunscreen every two hours to exposed skin, including the tops of the ears, the bottom of the chin and the underside of the nose.
Layers of synthetic fabrics are the best choice for winter sports. A quick-drying base layer; insulting and breathable middle layer; waterproof, windproof outer layer; waterproof, insulated gloves and warm, breathable socks will keep him or her warm and dry and will help prevent frostbite and hypothermia.
CHECK EQUIPMENT
STAY POSITIVE AND ENCOURAGING
Make sure all components are working properly. If you are not sure how to check your child’s equipment, have a professional check it out. This includes skis, snowboards, bindings, boots, sleds, snowshoes and helmets. Failing equipment can cause injury.
Let them enjoy their time skiing or snowboarding and avoid pushing them farther than they are ready to go. If they feel like it is a chore or a demand, they will be less likely to stay interested. Consider enrolling your kid in a few group lessons or a weekly camp program. They will learn the basics of skiing and snowboarding, body awareness and technique. n
WEAR SUNSCREEN
MAKE GOOD FOOD CHOICES Hot chocolate is a staple of a young skier’s or riders’ diet but save it for when he or she needs a break to warm up. Before they hit the trails, feed them foods that will sustain them during outdoor winter exercise for several hours.
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For the complete Mountain Safety Guide, the Skier & Rider Responsibility Code and other safety topics such as chairlift safety, visit skicalifornia.org.
Little rippers hit the slopes at Sierra-at-Tahoe