When the first big winter storm hit the California coastline, our family clapped for joy because it meant that the High Sierra’s were getting their first serious snowfall of the winter season.  This past weekend, some parts of Lake Tahoe got as much as 2 feet of snow in one night.

Last year, Trekaroo sent out our Superoos to uncover which are the best ski resorts around the country for families.  Lake Tahoe is California’s premier ski destination and one of our top picks for family-friendly ski destinations. It boasts epic scenery, world class ski resorts, proximity to the San Francisco Bay Area, comfortable ski conditions, lots of activities for kids, and good restaurants that are welcoming to families.  Just about every ski resort in Lake Tahoe welcomes families with open arms because skiing and snowboarding are such wonderful sports that families can enjoy together.  However, ski resorts are definitely not created equal.  Depending on what’s important to your family here are our recommendations for the best ski resorts in the Lake Tahoe area for snow lovin’ families.

Best All Around Family-Friendly Ski Resort – Heavenly Ski Resort

There are lots of reasons why Heavenly Ski Resort consistently gets raving reviews from Trekaroo families.  This large ski resort with lots of intermediate  runs families are able to ski together happily for a large part of the day.  In addition, families with young children who are still learning to ski have lots of options for full day or half day ski school programs at Heavenly’s first class ski school.  Heavenly’s Day Care offers care for wee ones as young as 2 months old in their CA licensed nursery.  Heavenly Day Care even offers unique ski-play programs for 3 and 4 year olds who are ready to be eased onto the slopes but still mostly just want to free play.  This excellent program allows young ones to experience skiing and snowboarding in an age appropriate way.  We also loved the delicious on mountain dining options that offer heart warming favorites like burgers and chilli, but also healthy options like fresh salads and gourmet meals for those who like to dine well.  Having dining areas littered throughout the vast mountain makes it easy for families to take frequent breaks and rendezvous for meals.

But, that’s not all, Heavenly Village and Adventure Peak offer lots of  non-skiing activities from an extreme tubing hill, snow shoeing, ice-skating and snowmobiling, to a relaxing scenic gondola ride with epic views of Lake Tahoe.  Trekaroo was also very impressed with the friendly and attentive staff at Heavenly. From parking lot attendants to ski instructors, everyone was friendly and eager to help families find their way around, stay safe and have an unforgettably happy day.

As if these are not enough of reasons for Heavenly to earn big kudos from Trekaroo families,  Heavenly has struck it golden with us because they’ve found a way to provide all the bells and whistles of a world class ski resorts at a competitive price.  One day lift tickets for the 2009/2010 season were $82/adult (2010/2011 lift ticket prices haven’t been announced yet).  All other comparable ski resorts have lift tickets that ranged between at $71-83/adult.  But their season pass tickets are a phenomenal deal.  Read more about that below. The other activities at Heavenly aren’t particularly cheap though, but you can always be sure you are paying for a top notch experience.

Although Heavenly does not offer their own accommodation, there is a variety of family-friendly accommodation in South Lake Tahoe. Some like the the reasonably priced  Embassy Suites are within walking distance of the Gondola.  Timber Lodge by Marriott offers luxury accommodations steps from the Gondola.

Related:

• Reviews of Heavenly Ski Resort
• Reviews of Heavenly Ski School for Kids
• Reviews of Heavenly Day Care and Nursery
• Reviews of Heavenly Gondola Ride
• Kid-friendly Hotels in South Lake Tahoe

Best All Inclusive Ski Resort for Families – Squaw Valley

Squaw Valley is another favorite Ski Resort with Trekaroo Families.  It’s probably the most expensive ski resort in Lake Tahoe, but Trekaroo families think you get exactly what you pay for.  Squaw’s lodging is luxury all the way.  You arrive at Squaw Village and you never have to leave.  Upscale stores and restaurants abound. The staff at Squaw and their partner establishments located in Squaw Village sure seem to understand how welcome their guests  Ski School is fully equipped to accommodate kids ages 3 and up at all levels of skiing and the facilities have fun play areas.  The cable car ride up to High Camp is a big hit with families while High Camp offers stunning views of  Squaw Valley, ice-skating, hot tubs and a heated pool.  There is  lots of space to build snow men for little ones who aren’t ready to hit the slopes up at high camp, white down at the base of the Cable Car, you’ll find a climbing wall and other amusements.  All in all, Trekaroo families mostly agree that for the premium you pay to stay and ski at Squaw, all your needs as a family are very well met.

Related:

• Review of Squaw Ski Resort
• Review of Squaw Snowsports School
• Review of the Lodge at Squaw
• Review of the Village at Squaw (lodging)
• Review of Tubing at Squaw Valley
• Kid-friendly Weekend at Squaw

Best Value Kids Ski School – Alpine Meadows

Alpine Meadows Ski Resort is a smaller ski facility on the North Shore of Lake Tahoe.  However, it runs an excellent Ski School Program for children.  Trekaroo families love the more affordable prices for both their half and full day programs.  Alpine is also less crowded, so it is likely that they can accommodate you even if you don’t have a previous reservation.  Alpine Meadows offers ski school for children as young as 3 years old.  Half day lessons are $113 and full day lessons are $143 which include lunch and all equipment rentals.  It’s a deal when you compare the rates to some other good ski school programs in Lake Tahoe that will run you a bill at $200/day/child.  Unfortunately, Alpine Meadows does not offer day care for younger kids or a ski-play program so you’ll have to figure out something else for your young kids who can’t ski all day.  There is a small but adequate indoor play area if you have a nanny or adult hanging out with your little one in the lodge.  Alpine takes the safety of children very seriously and gives each child a Falk GPS tracking device so that your child will never go missing.  Trekaroo families like Alpine because the prices are just a little lower but the ski school program is well run.

Related:

• Full Review of Alpine Meadows Kids Camp Ski School
  

• Review of Alpine Meadows Ski Resort

Ski Resort with the Best On-Site Childcare – Minor’s Camp at Northstar-at-Tahoe

There are just a handful of ski resorts at Lake Tahoe that offer on-site child care.  Trekaroo families were very impressed with the childcare at Northstar-at-Tahoe called Minor’s Camp which accepts children ages 2 to 6 years old.  Located at the golf course base, the large and spacious facility is cheerful and filled with fun activities.  Your child will perk up the moment you enter.  This is a CA state licensed facility with a low adult to child ratio of 1:5.   The set up and staff were so welcoming that even little ones who usually have difficulty separating felt very comfortable at Minor’s Camp. And did I mention the big bonus?  Parents get one free adult lift ticket when you book your child for a full day at Minor’s Camp?  What a deal!

If you have little ones younger than 2, the only ski resort that offers childcare from 2 months and up is Heavenly Ski Resort which also has an excellent day care.

• Reviews of Minor’s Camp at Northstar-at Tahoe

Related:

• Reviews of Northstar-at-Tahoe Ski Resort (overall)
• Reviews of the Condos at Northstar-a-Tahoe
• Reviews of Ski School at Northstar-a-Tahoe
• Reviews of Tubing at Northstar-at-Tahoe
• Reviews of Cross Country Skiing at Northstar-at-Tahoe

Best Place to Teach Kids to Ski Yourself – Soda Springs

If you are bent on teaching your child to ski yourself, you might consider a visit to Soda Springs.  Their prices are unbeatable and there is a area called “Planet Kids” that has small bunny slopes equipped with a magic carpet where parents can work on “pizzas” and “french fries” with their wee ones.  It sure beats hiking up your child between each little run.  For just $25, you can enter planet kids (includes ski or snowboard rental).  If they get bored of skiing, they can ride down the small tubing hill or ride the tube carousel.  It’s a little chaotic at planet kids, but is about the only ski resort that the do-it-yourself parent can benefit from the use of a magic carpet.

Related:

• Reviews of Soda Springs Snow Park and Planet Kids

Best Ski and Snowboard Season Pass Deal for 2010/2011 – Northstar/Heavenly Season Pass

With Vail Resort’s recent purchase of Northstar Ski Resort, the Heavenly/Northstar Season Pass is the hottest ticket in town.  For just $379/adult, $199/teen (13-18), $109/child (5-12), you can ski or board at Heavenly, Northstar, or Sierra-at-Tahoe for the 2010-2011 season.  There is no better season pass deal in Lake Tahoe.

Compare this to season passes at other ski resorts with similar privileges and it’s a no brainer!

• Squaw: $999/adult
• Kirkwood: $569/adult
• Alpine Meadows: $999/adult
• Sugar Bowl: $399/adult

Other Lake Tahoe Related Resources for families:

• Where to Go Sledding and Tubing  In Lake Tahoe
• Activities for Kids in Lake Tahoe
• Kid-friendly Hotels in Lake Tahoe
• Reviews of Sierra-a-Tahoe – Wild Mountain Ski and Snowboard School
• Reviews of Sugarbowl Ski Area with Kids
• Reviews Kirkwood Mountain with Kids
• Reviews of Homewood Mountain with Kids

LiLing Pang is a contributing writer for Trekaroo – a reviews site dedicated to exploring and traveling with kids.

Travel with kids to: CA | CO | DC | FL | HI | IL | MA | NC | NY | OR | PA | TN | TX | VA | WA

Some of my favorite vacation spots are beach towns like Amelia Island in Florida. Being only 45 minutes from Jacksonville, 3 hours from Orlando and 4 hours from Tampa, it’s a great spot to take your family and disconnect from the hectic lives that we all live.

There are 13 miles of beaches to explore, wildlife to meet close-up and lots of outdoor adventures for the entire family to be entertained by. Kim Orlando of TravelingMom.com was recently hosted by the Amelia Island tourist bureau and got to experience Amelia Island first-hand with her husband and two kids. It was a battle against the electronics, but fun none-the-less.

Here’s a quick taste of what they experienced at Amelia Island:

View Kim Orlando’s full reviews of the hotel and attractions that she experienced while on Amelia Island.

Check out the 30 plus activities for families in the Amelia Island and Fernandina Beach area.

This post was sponsored by TravelingMom.com.

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Travel with kids to: CA | CO | DC | FL | HI | IL | MA | NC | NY | OR | PA | TN | TX | VA | WA

Portland, Oregon is a beautiful river city known for its aesthetics  and culture.  Its a great place to find outdoor adventure, a thriving arts & music scene, and access to all sorts of eco-friendly experiences.  There is plenty of family fun to be had in the downtown area and the rest of the Willamette Valley.  Trekaroo is proud to be launching Portland this week and looks forward to exploring the rest of the state of Oregon with all of you wonderful members of the Trekaroo community.

So, what have Trekaroo families shared thus far?

• 236 Activities listed in the Portland/Willamette Valley Region alone!  Have you been to any of these kid-friendly places?  If so, add your insight! Did you see something we missed?  Be sure to share your experiences.

• Activities and hotel reviews across the 4 main regions of Oregon: Willamette Valley (Portland), Southern Oregon, Central Oregon, and Mt. Hood / The Gorge

• A list of Kid-friendly hotels in Portland waiting to be rated by parents like you

• Lots of fun lists like:
  • Top Kid Activities in Portland as voted by Trekaroo families
  • 5 Family Activities for $5 or less in Portland
  • Cheap and Fun Eats in Portland!
  • Things to see and do around Portland with Children
  • Favorite kid-friendly restaurants in the Portland Metro Area
  • Favorite Rainy Day Activities in Portland
  • Family-Friendly Ski Resorts in Oregon with Kid Programs
  • Favorite places to walk or hike in Oregon
  • Portland Picks from a Pacific Northwestern in the Know
    

Have you experienced Portland or any other part of the beautiful state of Oregon with your kids?  Tell us all about your experiences – good and bad.  Join now and start writing reviews.  New members get to take advantage of Welcome Rewards.  A gift card to Amazon, Starbucks, or REI was enough to convince me to join way back when!

What location is next? Georgia! Be part of the founding team to help launch Georgia on Trekaroo by sharing about activities you like and the best places to stay.

Special thanks to the 47 families who have collaborated to build a list of fantastic kid-friendly recommendations with their reviews!  In particular, special thanks are due to PDXBloss, pitstopsforkids, bayareababyblog, Beaverton Mama, Living Beaverton, Camillegrimshaw, thriftyportlandmom, Leigh Anne, fani*fam, McPippi, and naturalist who have gone above and beyond to inside scoop and create such helpful lists for Portland and Oregon.

And of course, thanks to team Trekaroo who sacrifice so much to pull it all together.

Put on those rain boots and get out there!

Esther Lee (thelees3) – CEO

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Trekaroo – a reviews site dedicated to exploring and traveling with kids.
Travel with kids to: CA | CO | DC | FL | HI | IL | MA | NY | OR | PA | TN | TX | VA | WA

A few weeks ago, we visited the California Academy of Sciences specifically to check out the new Extreme Mammal Exhibit.  Our 7 year old is an “animal expert”, so a visit to the Academy of Sciences is always huge treat.  When we first entered the Academy, we were greeted by the teaser section of the Extreme Mammal exhibit.  It was really neat.  In addition to a HUGE sculpture of the largest mammal, there is also a scale where people can compare their weight to that of other mammals.  That part was fun.  The kids delighted in the hands-on aspect of this portion of the exhibit.

Pangolin at Extreme Mammal Exhibit Photo Credit: AMNH/D. Finnin

Once through the ticket queue, you enter another queue with informational posters. After a moment, the doors to the exhibit were opened for us by a young man.  He explained we were entering a temperature controlled environment and to not take any pictures.  He also said to make sure we did not touch any of the exhibits unless a sign specifically said so. No worries – there is plenty here to see and touch.

Kinkajou Skeleton at Extreme Mammal Exhibit - Photo by: Woolly Monkey Fossil in the Extreme Mammal Exhibit - Photo credit: AMNH/R. Mickens

While the exhibits were arranged in an old-school museum style, the flow of the rooms was great.  One topic naturally lead to another.  The information in each section was short and informative.  While my kids rushed through somewhat, there was enough to interest them and get them talking.  My son, Josh, was particularly moved by the section on endangered species and has been studying the causes of extinction since we came home.

Giant Ground Sloth at Extreme Mammal Exhibit - Photo credit: AMNH/D. Finnin

My only complaint with the exhibit – and it’s a minor one – is that, even though it was a new exhibit, it already had a worn appearance.   Some signage was damaged, ripped, or falling apart, and some interactive materials weren’t working properly.   The condition of the exhibit made me feel as if the exhibit was being neglected.   It did not impact my ability to learn and enjoy the exhibit, just my ability to view the exhibit in a completely positive light.

Ellesmere Island Diorama at the Extreme Mammal Exhibit - Photo credit: AMNH/D. Finnin

All in all, my 7 year old son who’s a huge animal fan was very moved by the extreme mammal exhibit.  My 5 year old daughter was just slight of bored during our 45 minute tour of exhibit.  Definitely visit with your kids 6 and up who can read and digest all the wonderful information, However, you might want to skip over this special exhibit and head straight for the wonderful aquarium with younger kids.

Related:

• Reviews of the California Academy of Sciences
• Activities for Kids in San Francisco
• Kid-friendly Hotels in San Francisco

Disclosure: This review is based on a complimentary visit to Academy of Sciences.  I received no other compensation and the business owner did not state any requirements that I express a particular point of view.

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Heather Tanner is a 2010 Trekaroo Superoo who visited the California Academy of Sciences on assignment to check out the Extreme Mammal Exhibit.

Travel with kids to: CA | CO | DC | FL | HI | IL | MA | NC | NY | PA | TN | TX | VA | WA

Whether you are visiting Pensacola, Panama City Beach, or Destin, you will likely feel the “gift” of the Florida Panhandle heat and humidity.  On even the mildest summer days, you can walk outside and feel like you just stepped into a steam room . The best way to beat the heat is to find a cool water feature.  The Florida Panhandle may be synonymous with sandy white beaches, but the beaches aren’t the only way to cool off on those sweltering summer days!

Rivers and Lakes

Falling Waters State Park - Photo by: www.floridastateparks.org

Falling Waters State Park (Chipley, Florida) – Falling Waters State Park boasts Florida’s tallest waterfall…even if it is just a little trickle most of the year!  Camp under the trees, walk up and down the boardwalks to view the waterfall and the sinkholes, and then go swimming in the two-acre lake.

Blackwater River State Park (Holt, Florida) – We love tubing down Blackwater River on a hot summer day.  There are several companies that will rent you an inner tube and bus you up to the starting point.  Hop in your tube and drag your cooler along with you.  When you float by the perfect spot, beach your tube and enjoy a picnic lunch.  When you are ready, float down the river to your car!  If tubing isn’t for you, there are also canoes and kayaks available for rent.

Blue Springs Recreational Area (Marianna, Florida) – This recreational area has playgrounds, crystal clear springs for swimming, and for the really adventurous there is even an opportunity for cave diving!

Ponce De Leon Springs State Park (Ponce de Leon, Florida) – The springs were named after Ponce de Leon, the famous explorer looking for the fountain of youth.  The springs stay a perfect 68 degrees year round and are a beautiful turquoise color.

Krul Lake Recreation Area (Munson, Florida) – Spend the day playing in this 6.5 acre manmade lake that is recharged from springs nearby.  The first half mile of the Sweetwater hiking trail includes a suspension bridge over Sweetwater Creek.

Water Parks

Shipwreck Island - Photo by: www.shipwreckisland.com

Sam’s Surf City (Pensacola, Florida) – Sam’s is a small water park that everyone in the family can enjoy but I particularly love the activities available for the 3 – 7 year old crowd.  There is a Junior Activity Pool with slides perfect for children that are at least five years old.  We spend a lot of time at the Kiddie Pool where the toddlers can splash and slide. There are also larger water slides (you must be at least 7 years old and 42”) and a lazy river.

Big Kahuna’s (Destin, Florida) – The kids will love playing in the Fun Fountains, Pleasure Island pools, the shipwreck and Crocodile Flats.  The tweens, teens and adults won’t be able to get enough of the tube slides, river runs, and speed slides.  This park is located right across the street from the sparkling blue ocean so when you are finished playing take a walk on the beach and watch the sunset!

Shipwreck Island Waterpark (Destin, Florida) – If you can drag the kids away from the Ocean Motion Wave Pool, there are so many slides and pools to explore at Shipwreck.  We spent most of the day at Tadpole Hole where the kids explored the submarine and chased each other around the shallow water.

Splash Pads

Destin Commons Kids Zone - Photo by: Dustin Commons

Plaza de Luna (Pensacola, Florida) – This beautiful splash pad is located right on the water.  It is great for the kids to run around.  There is a large grassy field to play on and when you are all tuckered out, stop by the concession stand and get an ice cream or a tasty po’ boy!  On Thursday nights during the summer, hear live music and meet cool characters at Sunsets at the Plaza.

Destin Commons (Destin, Florida) – This outdoor shopping mall has enough stores to keep any shopping mom or dad happy.  When you are finished with your shopping, take the kids to the large splash pad and let them run around.  There is also a small playground next to the splash pad.

John Duncan Memorial Children’s Park (Navarre, Florida) – Splash in the fountains, play on the gigantic playground, say hi to the ducks or have a picnic lunch.  There is so much to do at this park that you could find yourself spending the greater part of a day here.

Jennifer Close loves to explore and take new adventures with her family down the street, across the country and around the world. She writes about her adventures on her family travel blog, Two Kids and a Map, and writes about exploring Pensacola at Pensacola with Kids.

Related:

• Water Parks in Florida
• Water Parks in the San Francisco Bay Area
• Splash Parks in the San Francisco Bay Area (Peninsula)
• Splash Parks in the San Francisco Bay Area (East Bay)
• Water Parks in Washington State
• Great Places to Cool Off with kids in Texas
• Great Places to Cool Off with Kids in the Chicago Area (Chi-town)