2020
FAMILY FUN GUIDE
Family Fun WINTER EDITION
T A H O E
G U I D E
Kids enjoy sledding at the Tahoe City Winter Sports Park. Wade Snider | TCPUD
FAMILY FUN GUIDE
TIPS FOR
KEEPING KIDS SAFE ON
W
Michael Reitzell | Boreal
Courtesy Northstar California
STORY BY MICHELLE ALLEN
inter sports in Tahoe offer fun-filled days for the whole family. But as in any sport, there are inherent risks in playing in the snow. Once we know the risks, we can practice snow-safety
strategies to keep everyone safe.
The skier and rider responsibility code Ski California has written a Mountain Safety Guide for skiers and snowboarders. Ski California is a brand created by the California Ski Industry Association, a nonprofit organization of 32 ski resorts in California and Nevada, including many Tahoe area downhill and cross-country ski resorts. The guidelines in the Mountain Safety Guide are part of its member resorts’ safety programs. Although developed for skiing and snowboarding, these guidelines along with the Skier & Rider Responsibility Code can be applicable to other winter sports like sledding, snowshoeing and general snow play. The skier and rider responsibility code outlines a code of conduct for safe skier and rider behavior like staying in control, not obstructing trails, staying out of closed areas and looking uphill when entering a trail.
Snow safety tips 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.
Dress your child for safety and fun. 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. Wear a helmet. 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. Wear eye protection. At altitude, the atmosphere is thinner than at lower elevations, which magnifies 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. Wear goggles or sunglasses. The intensity of the sun can be especially damaging to kids’ eyes and anyone with light-colored eyes.
outlines a code of conduct for safe skier and rider behavior used in safety programs at ski resorts across the United States. Wear sunscreen. 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. 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. Check equipment. 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. For the complete Mountain Safety Guide, the Skier & Rider Responsibility Code and other safety topics such as chairlift safety, visit skicalifornia.org.
Ski California Safety Day January is National Safety Awareness Month and Ski California is hosting the second annual Ski Safety Day on Jan. 25. Tahoe-area ski resorts will be hosting events to highlight and educate the public on mountain safety.
FAMILY FUN GUIDE
THE SNOW Boreal/Woodward Tahoe | Boreal/Woodward Tahoe will partner with High Fives to offer Woodward tools to help guests personalize their helmet. In addition, the resort will broadcast the “Helmets are Cool” video throughout the in-resort digital displays and on social media. Diamond Peak | Enjoy live music and educational activities such as Safety Selfies and chances to win raffle prizes. There will be a chance to meet the new Ski Patrol director and patrol dog, a behindthe-scenes tour of the Village Terrain Park and a chance to ride with the Ski Patrol sweep at the end of the day. Heavenly Mountain Resort | There will be with opportunities to collect raffle tickets and events including Terrain Park Safety clinics at Groove Park, Avalanche Dog demonstrations, Avalanche Beacon Park and Backcountry Preparedness, A Helmet Head photo booth at Stein’s and employees will be at the top of First Ride, Patsy’s and Canyon lifts throughout the day to award raffle tickets to guests who rode with the bar down, didn’t raise it too soon and unloaded the lift safely. Homewood Mountain Resort | Five interactive stations will be set-up in the resort’s base area from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. where Homewood patrollers and ski instructors will give short demonstrations on topics including deep snow and cold weather safety, safe riding distance and chairlift safety. There will also be opportunities to meet Ruckus the avy dog and free helmet rentals all day. Kirkwood Mountain Resort | There will be candy rewards for Bars for Bars Down on chairs 6 and 9, stickers and candy for those who are SMART stylin’ through the park, and ski patrol will have hot dogs and avalanche dogs at the top of chair 2. Look for beacon basin and airbag demonstration, and banners with the skier responsibility code. Mt. Rose Ski Tahoe | Stop by the welcome booth outside the Main Lodge to review Responsibility Code, terrain park and other safety info and enjoy free hot chocolate and coffee. Ski patrol will be at five locations around the mountain discussing safety practices and engaging guests in an On-Mountain Safety Poker Run; pick up cards at the welcome booth. A kids’ fun course at the Galena Spines Terrain Park will offer terrain park safety tips, with an opportunity to meet the patrol dogs at 12:30 p.m. Northstar California | Guests are invited to open the mountain with patrol on a first-come, first-served basis by pre-registration, and all are welcome to participate in a Northstar Avalanche Rescue Dogs demonstration with live burial at midmountain. National Ski Patrol will host a safety scavenger hunt and raffle, and lift operators will give small candy Bars for Bars Down on select lifts. Mountain Safety will hand out resort branded trail map
buffs to guests demonstrating safe skiing and riding behavior, and Ski California Safety Day will kick off Northstar’s first day of this year’s Junior Ski Patrol program. Sierra-at-Tahoe | Watch avalanche dog demonstrations and patrollers will discuss back-country hazards, how to stay safe on off-piste terrain, tree-well and inversion danger and how to use a beacon. Copies of the Ski California’s Mountain Safety Guide will be available, and guests can show their safety guide and enter a raffle for a pair of Dragon Goggles and other prizes between 1 and 3 p.m. on Solstice Plaza. Those who can recite the Skier & Rider Responsi-bility Code will be entered in a second raffle for a pair of Wells Lamont gloves. Squaw Valley Alpine Meadows | Guests are encouraged to visit the Safety Booths at both resorts to learn more about the Ski California Mountain Safety Guide, Responsibility Code and how to Share the Mountain. Prizes will be offered for correct answers, and those who take selfies with their helmet on. A meet and greet with the Squaw and Alpine patrol dogs is also scheduled from 9 to 11 a.m. Sugar Bowl Resort | The resort will encourage guests to take selfies with the Ski California Mountain Safety guide in scavenger hunt style at specific spots around the mountain for a random drawing for a $250 gift card. Sugar Bowl will also host a poster contest for kids ages 12 and younger for kids participating in Sugar Bowl’s ski school programs. Tahoe Donner Downhill | The Ski California’s Mountain Safety Guide will be available, and employees will discuss the skier and rider responsibility code. There resort is emphasizing new chairlift safety with new signage on lift towers and safety demonstrations and education. Michelle Allen is a 20-year resident of Tahoe and mother to a rambunctious 6-year-old and understands the challenges of keeping kids entertained. She may be reached at michelle@tahoethisweek.com.
Tahoe Science Center
Bring the family and take part in FREE admission, activities, storytelling, live performances, and hands-on art projects on the Second Saturday of each month from 10 am – 4 pm. February 8 March 14 April 11 May 9
June 13 July 11 August 8 September 12
October 10 November 14 December 12 January 9
Title sponsorship for Hands ON! Second Saturdays is provided by the Estelle J. Kelsey Foundation.
Hands-on science activities, Guided tours & 3-D movies Open Tues.–Fri., 1–5 p.m.
(or by appointment, closed all holidays)
TahoeScienceCenter.org
(775) 881-7566
Donald W. Reynolds Center for the Visual Arts E. L. Wiegand Gallery 160 West Liberty Street in downtown Reno 775.329.3333 | nevadaart.org
FAMILY FUN GUIDE
KidsUltimate Tahoe
Winter Bucket List STORY BY MICHELLE ALLEN
Courtesy TDRPD
#29
#21
Discover more kid-friendly activities
at TheTahoeWeekly.com
THERE ARE LOTS OF WINTER ACTIVITIES in the Tahoe area and it can be hard to decide what to do. To help the kids in your family decide, we have come up with a short list of events and activities that will keep them smiling and happy this winter.
1 Stop, look around and take a minute to appreciate the beauty of the Tahoe area. 2 Catch a snowflake on your tongue. 3 Drink lots of hot chocolate. 4 Compare hot chocolate at your favorite coffee shops or restaurants. 5 Visit the Tahoe City Winter Sports Park. 6 Ski or snowboard at as many Tahoe area ski resorts as you can this season. 7 Take a cross-country skiing lesson. 8 Make frozen bubbles outside when the temperature dips below freezing. 9 Download the Junior Snow Ranger book and earn a badge. 10 Capture snowflakes for the Stories in the Snow citizen science project. 11 Go bowling at Bowl Incline in Incline Village, Nev., or Tahoe Bowl in South Lake Tahoe. 12 Join the fun at Winterpalooza on Jan. 26 at Tahoe Donner’s Snowplay Area with tube racing, snowman building, relay races, a snowstrider course and more. 13 Make a snowman or snow angel.
EXPERIENCE NORTH LAKE TAHOE’S
ONLY ALL-INCLUSIVE
WINTER RECREATION FACILITY SLEDDING • XC SKIING • ICE SKATING • SNOWSHOEING
W INTER S PORTS P ARK . COM | 530-583-1516
14 Go snowshoeing or cross-country skiing at a local state park: Donner Memorial State Park, Sand Harbor State Park or Sugar Pine Point State Park. 15 Make a backyard sled trail. 16 Go tubing at one of the local ski areas. 17 Take a UTV tour at Heavenly Mountain Resort. 18 Make a craft at All Fired Up! with the whole family.
FAMILY FUN GUIDE
LEARN TO SKI + RIDE AT Courtesy Tahoe Donner
#48
THE BEST PLACE TO BEGIN
19 Participate in more than one winter sport in a day. 20 Take a horse-drawn sleigh ride at Sand Harbor Nevada State Park. 21 Take a scenic gondola ride at Heavenly Mountain Resort or an aerial tram ride at Squaw Valley Ski Resort. 22 Take a full-moon snowshoe tour. 23 Snowshoe in Tahoe Meadows or Chickadee Ridge.
Courtesy Heavenly Mountain Resort
24 Take a soak at Grover Hot Springs State Park in Markleeville or Carson Hot Springs in Carson City, Nev. 25 Take a snowmobile tour at Jackson Meadows or Brockway Summit. 26 Attend a SnowFest! event or two or three or more. 27 Check out Burton Star Wars Experience at Sierra-at-Tahoe. 28 Visit an indoor climbing gym. 29 Make a splash at one of the local pools. 30 Practice making snowballs. 31 Have a friendly snowball fight. 32 Indulge in the tasty treats at Northstar’s S’moresapalooza on Feb. 1 and 15, March 7 and 14. Get their early before they run out. 33 Spend time at a local library. 34 Play in the snow on the beach at Lake Tahoe. 35 Walk the lakeside bike path. 36 Go to an avalanche patrol dog demonstration. Read our feature on Kids Snow Safety for upcoming events. 37 Play board games with family members. 38 Have at an overnight party at a local resort with a video arcade and a pool. 39 Bake cookies. 40 Read your favorite books.
Check out our annual
Ultimate Tahoe Winter Bucket List
41 Cut out paper snowflakes. 42 Sip hot apple cider by a fire. 43 Put together puzzles.
at
TheTahoeWeekly.com
44 Watch the snow fall. 45 Take in a magic show at The Loft in the Village at Heavenly. 46 Check out the weeklong Kid-O-Rama from Feb. 15 to 23 at Squaw Valley. 47 Get an up-close view of the vehicles and machines of Alpine Meadows and Squaw Valley at Big Truck Day on Feb. 17. 48 Participate in the annual Glowstick Parade and Carnival at Tahoe Donner Downhill on Feb. 22. 49 Enjoy winter fireworks every Saturday night at Squaw Valley until Feb. 22. 50 Visit the KidZone Museum in Truckee. 51 Take a trip to Woodward Tahoe at Boreal Mountain. 52 Explore kid-friendly environmental displays at U.C. Davis Tahoe Environmental Research Center in Incline Village, Nev. 53 Enjoy Friday Fun Nights in the Village at Northstar every week until April. 4 with ice skating, live music and face painting. 54 Disco Tubing takes place Saturdays until March 7 at Squaw Valley. 55 Help devour a 200-Foot Banana Split Extravaganza on March 14 at Tahoe Donner Downhill.
TAHOE DONNER DOWNHILL SKI RESORT Safe, Low-Angle Learning Terrain 40% Novice | 60% Intermediate
Some of the Region’s Best Instructors
Affordable + Convenient Learn-to-Ski Packages for Kids as Young as 3 Years Old
Lift tickets start at $74 for adults and $44 for children ages 7-12
GET SKIING AND RIDING TODAY! TAHOEDONNER.COM/DOWNHILL
FAMILY FUN GUIDE
Ice Skating & Tubing
FOR THE KIDS 2’s & 3’s on the Go
Teen Scene
South Lake Tahoe Library | Jan. 22, 29, Feb. 5
Kahle Community Center Stateline | Jan. 24, 31
10:30 a.m. Free | engagedpatrons.org
6:30-9 p.m. $5 | (775) 586-7271
Make and Take
EXCLUSIVE CONTENT AT
Lego Block Party
Incline Village Library | Jan. 22
4-4:45 p.m. | (775) 832-4130, washoecountylibrary.us
South Lake Tahoe Library | Jan. 25
Mid-Day Movies
Tahoe Junior Freeride Series Junior Regional Event
TheTahoeWeekly.com
10-11 a.m. Free | engagedpatrons.org
Community Arts Center Truckee | Jan. 22, 29, Feb. 5
Find more family-friendly activities to enjoy. Click on Out & About: Family Fun.
Kirkwood Mountain Resort Kirkwood | Jan. 25, 26
1 p.m. Free | (530) 582-7720, indd.adobe.com
7 a.m. | kirkwood.com
RUFF, Read Up for Fun
Winterpalooza
Truckee Library | Jan. 22, 29, Feb. 5
Tahoe Donner | Truckee | Jan. 25
RUFF: Read Up For Fun
Play and Learn with Together We Grow
4-5 p.m. Free | (530) 582-7846, truckeefol.org
9:30 a.m.-4:30 p.m. | facebook.com
South Lake Tahoe Library | Jan. 22, 29, Feb. 5 4 p.m. Free | engagedpatrons.org
South Lake Tahoe Library South Lake Tahoe | Jan. 27
10:30 a.m. Free | (530) 543-8204, engagedpatrons.org
Toddler Time TV Shows Community Arts Ctr Truckee | Jan. 22, 9, Feb. 5
IV Quad
Incline Village Library Incline Village | Jan. 28, Feb. 4
11:30 a.m. Free | (775) 832-4130, libraryaware.com
Incline Village Library | Jan. 23, 30
3-5 p.m. | (775) 832-4130, libraryaware.com
NORTHSTAR
MOUNT ROSE
Open air rink. Free access. TART
Near the Mount Rose summit, enjoy sledding in Tahoe Meadows off Highway 431. Bring equipment.
SOUTH LAKE TAHOE
NORTH TAHOE REGIONAL PARK
Indoor facility open year-round. South Tahoe
End of National Avenue off Hwy 28. Rentals available. TART
TAHOE CITY WINTER SPORTS PARK
TAHOE CITY WINTER SPORTS PARK
Ice skating & rentals. Club House. TART
Sledding & cross-country trails. Rentals available. Club House. TART
(530) 562-1010 | northstarcalifornia.com
(530) 542-6262 | cityofslt.com
(530) 546-0605 | northtahoeparks.com
TRUCKEE
(530) 582-7720 | tdrpd.com At Truckee River Regional Park. Skate rentals, broomball leagues, ice dancing & hockey lessons. Skate rentals & season passes available. TART
Toddler Story Time
25-yard, 8-lane indoor pool at Incline Recreation Center, swim lessons, aqua fitness, 1-meter spring diving board, inflatable slide (weekends).
Twosday Morning Kahle Community Center Stateline | Jan. 28, Feb. 4
9:30-11 a.m. $3 | douglascountynv. hosted.civiclive.com
Friday Fun Nights
Weird Science Wednesday
Northstar California Resort Truckee | Jan. 24, 31
Incline Village Library | Feb. 5
4-4:45 p.m. | (775) 832-4130, events. washoecountylibrary.us
5-8 p.m. | (800) 466-6784, northstarcalifornia.com
(530) 452-4511 | squawalpine.com
placer.ca.gov
(775) 832-1300 | inclinerecreation.com
OLYMPIC VALLEY
(800) 403-0206 | squawalpine.com
11 a.m.-12 p.m. Free | kidzonemuseum.org
SQUAW VALLEY
Free snowplay area. Free parking to access cleared walking paths in Olympic Valley to Tahoe City. TART
11 a.m. Free | (775) 832-4130
KidZone Museum Truckee | Jan. 24, 31
OLYMPIC VALLEY
INCLINE VILLAGE
10:30 a.m. Free | engagedpatrons.org
Family Fun Fridays
(530) 583-1516 | wintersportspark.com
SQUAW VALLEY PARK
Incline Village Library | Jan. 28, Feb. 4
South Lake Tahoe Library | Jan. 24, 31
Snow Play Area on Fairway Blvd., next to the Chateau, on the driving range. Bring equipment.
SWIMMING
10:30 a.m. Free | engagedpatrons.org
Early Literacy Storytime
Open air rink. South Tahoe
4-5 p.m. Free | (775) 832-4130, libraryaware.com
Incline Village Library | Jan. 28, Feb. 4
South Lake Tahoe Library | Jan. 23, 30
INCLINE VILLAGE
(530) 542-4230 | theshopsatheavenly.com
Tubing & mini snowmobiles. TART
Teen Tuesdays
Mother Goose on the Loose
HEAVENLY VILLAGE
(530) 583-1516 | wintersportspark.com
Baby Story Time
10-11 a.m. Free | (530) 582-7200, tdrpd.org
ICE SKATING
Community Arts Center Truckee | Jan. 24, 25
Highway 50 at Echo Lake Road. Bring equipment.*
SAWMILL POND
SOUTH LAKE TAHOE
TAYLOR CREEK
25-yard indoor/outdoor year-round pool. Lessons. South Tahoe
Highway 89, north of Camp Richardson Road. Bring equipment.* South Tahoe
(530) 542-6056 | cityofslt.com
On Lake Tahoe Blvd. Bring equipment. South Tahoe
(530) 543-2600
TRUCKEE
(530) 582-7720 | tdrpd.com Indoor pools with competition pool and warm water pool, diving board, swim training, hydraulic lift and lessons. TART
STATELINE
KAHLE PARK
(775) 586-7271 | douglascountynv.gov Off Highway 207. Bring equipment. South Tahoe
TRUCKEE & BEYOND
TRUCKEE
DONNER SUMMIT
Community Recreation Center offers 29’ climbing wall & 12’ bouldering wall. All ages & levels. Lessons available. TART
South side of I-80, Castle Peak exit beyond Boreal Inn frontage road. Bring equipment.*
(530) 587-3558
(530) 582-7720 | tdrpd.com
7 p.m. | tdrpd.org
(530) 644-2324
Swimming Lagoon & Spa at High Camp at Squaw Valley, free form lagoon with 50-meter lap lanes, two islands with waterfalls and native boulders. Closed for 2020. TART
ROCK CLIMBING WALLS
“Shrek, The Musical”
SOUTH LAKE TAHOE
ECHO LAKE
TAHOE DONNER
(530) 587-9437 | tahoedonner.com
SLEDDING & TUBING
At Trout Creek Recreation Center. No personal sleds. Family events all season.
OPEN AS CONDITIONS PERMIT.
•
• •
•
(530) 994-3401
SPOONER LAKE
• •
YUBA PASS
EAST SHORE
•
Highway 49 at Yuba Pass. Bring equipment.*
(775) 831-0494
•
State park open for general snow play. Bring equipment. Parking fee.
WEST SHORE
BLACKWOOD CANYON (530) 543-2600
HOPE VALLEY AREA
CARSON PASS
Snowplay area off Hwy. 89, 3 miles south of Tahoe City. Bring equipment.*
Highway 88 near Carson Pass. Bring equipment.*
GRANLIBAKKEN
HOPE VALLEY
Machine-groomed snow play area; no tubes or toboggans allowed. All ages.
(209) 295-4251
(775) 882-2766
Highway 88 at Blue Lakes Road. Bring equipment.*
MEISS MEADOW
(530) 581-7533 | granlibakken.com
TAHOE CITY Gentle slope on Highway 89 South, one-eighth mile south of the wye. Bring equipment. TART
(209) 295-4251
Highway 88 near Carson Pass. Bring equipment.*
South Lake Tahoe’s only climbing gym! 1259 emerald bay rd. Phone: 530-600-2761 Www.BLUEGRANITECLIMBING.com
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