FAMILY FUN
Family Fun WINTER EDITION
T A H O E
G U I D E
Enjoy s’mores, fun activities for the kiddos and lots more at Squaw Valley’s Kid-o-Rama, Bucket List #14.| Courtesy Squaw Valley Alpine Meadows
FAMILY FUN
TheTahoeWeekly.com
SLEDDING WITH THE FAMILY
STORY BY MICHELLE ALLEN
An Easter sledding party in Tahoe City on a do-it-yourself track. | Katherine E. Hill
O
ne of my family’s favorite winter activities — and
one of the best ways to wear
SLEDDING ATTIRE Avoid cotton | Once it gets wet it will stay wet and will pull heat away from
out your kid — is sledding. Whether it be in the backyard
your body. Instead, choose clotting
or at a groomed sledding hill,
made from synthetic materials or
it is great way to spend time
wool for really cold days. Layer it | Layers are the best defense against cold weather. Start with a lightweight base layer, followed by an insulating mid-layer and a waterproof jacket, pants and gloves. Trust me, if you wear pants that are not water-
with the family and enjoy the snow. What better way to bond with the family is there than sliding down a hill letting out screams of joy?
proof, you will have a wet backside after the first few laps. Pack extra | Bring extra gloves, and a dry pair of clothes for the kids, including extra shoes, to change into after sledding.
Create a backyard sled hill We like making our own sled hill in our yard, but there has to be just the right amount of snow. Usually 6 inches is enough to cover the ground and any small obstacles to provide an open path. Our yard has the right pitch: short, with a slight pitch that runs into a longer, steeper pitch that runs out into an embankment. We stay away from the road. When making a sled path in fresh snow, we have to make several laps — at least four to five — while pushing the snow down with the sled to make a slick,
flat path. This can be a difficult task, especially if there is a lot of fresh snow, and usually requires some strange scooting and squatting positions along with lots of pushing and pulling to compact the snow. It gets easier with every lap and eventually we have a fast, fun sledding track. We prefer long, rectangular sleds for speed but the plastic saucers offer better control.
slopes for those looking for a fast and exciting ride — like my son Anikin. We usually bring Anikin’s small snowmobile to make fast laps on the sled hill. Tahoe Meadows is a popular spot and parking can be difficult, especially on weekends and during holiday periods. The most popular sledding spots at Tahoe Meadows are next to the highway and are well used and packed down, which
What better way to bond with the family is there than sliding down a hill on your butts letting out screams of joy? Explore the region If there isn’t enough snow at our house or we are looking for a more exhilarating ride, we head up to Tahoe Meadows located on Mount Rose Highway (State Route 431). Tahoe Meadows offers a winter wonderland for everyone to enjoy. Although it’s a popular spot for cross-country skiing, snowshoeing and snowmobiling, it is also the perfect spot for sledding. There are several different slopes with different pitches to choose from. There are gentle slopes for a mellow cruise down the mountain or long, steep
makes for easy sledding. But, the hardest places to find parking are right there, as well. If you are feeling adventurous, you can find your own spot, away from the crowds, to make your own sled hill. You might have to work a little harder but if you have the patience to drive around until you find a less crowded spot, it will be worth it in the end. Free sledding can also be found at any U.S. Forest Service Sno-Park in the region. Visit ohv.parks.ca.gov for a full list of Sno-Parks in the area (a parking
FAMILY FUN
Let the
Good Times Snow
at Granlibakken
Best in Snow
Keoki Flagg | Squaw Valley Alpine Meadows
Family fun is right outside your door at Granlibakken Tahoe. Affordable skiing, snowboarding, and sledding in Tahoe City. Lessons & Rentals available. Lodging guests receive half-priced sledding passes and full-day lift tickets.
PICKING THE RIGHT SLED Do-it-yourself track | If you are creating your own sled track, the rectangular, plastic sleds are a great tool for packing down the track and making it slick. The round saucers can also be used but can take longer since the surface area of the sled is much smaller.
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Local sled hills | If you are sledding at a well-used sled hill with packed trails, the lightweight, round saucers are a good option for high speed laps. But they can be hard to steer and hard to control the speed. The rectangular sleds are easy to steer and stop, making them great for the more timid or for two passengers.
permit is required). There are also a few unofficial sled hills that pop up during the winter around the region. Keep your eyes out for places near you where others are sledding. Make sure it is not on private property and be careful not to park in an unauthorized area such as someone’s driveway, the shoulder next to the highway, on or off ramps, etc.
Pros & cons of toboggans | Other types of sleds include traditional sleds, called toboggans, which are made of wood and have steel rails or runners. They are excellent for steering and maximizing speed, but they are heavy and many of them require you to lay down face first
Groomed sled runs
on your belly. Not the safest option but
You can always pay to sled or tube on groomed hills at local ski resorts, the Tahoe City Winter Sports Park or Adventure Mountain on Echo Summit. These areas offer tubing or sledding on well-maintained, groomed trails. For a unique and groovy sledding experience, check out Disco Tubing every Saturday from 5 to 8 p.m. at SnoVentures Activity Zone at Squaw Valley. The sledding trails are decorated with laser and LED lights, with live music provided by a DJ.
are lots of fun and a great challenge.
Michelle Allen is a nearly 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.
530-583-4242 | Granlibakken.com
if you are feeling nostalgic, toboggans
Tubes | There are also inflatable tubes with a slick, rubber material on the bottom for increased mobility and are ideal for machine-groomed trails. The rubber material can be a hindrance on
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ungroomed trails creating drag over loose snow and ungroomed obstacles.
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TheTahoeWeekly.com Priya Hutner explores the many sides of Hot Chocolate Winter fun at the Tahoe City Winter Sports Park Sledding & tubing hills in the Tahoe Sierra
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FAMILY FUN
KidsUltima t
TheTahoeWeekly.com
Courtesy TCPUD
Winter B u
Swim | Skate | Climb Truckee’s Ultimate Recreation Destination
CLIMBING WALL
#9
TAHOE WEEKLY PUTS TOGETHER an annual Ultimate Tahoe Winter Bucket List each season of the best activities, outings, events and more to do. This year, we’ve added a version just for the kids. Explore all that Tahoe has to offer this winter on and off the slopes. Details at TheTahoeWeekly.com; click on Events Calendar.
1 Take in a magic show at The Loft. 2 Make homemade hot chocolate. 3 Make snow angels. 4 Practice making snowballs. 5 Have a good, old-fashioned snowball fight. 6 Use your skills at the Tahoe Donner Snowball Throwing Contest on March 31. 7 Take the kids sledding.
INDOOR SWIMMING
8 Enjoy s’more fun with the family with special events all season: Northstar’s S’morey Time, Après S’mores at Squaw Valley, Get S’mores Saturdays in Kings Beach and S’moresapalooza at Northstar. 9 Try a Treetop Adventure Park. Yes, the ropes courses are open in the winter. 10 Take the kids to an indoor climbing wall. They’ll love it. 11 Spend the day at the Tahoe City Winter Sports Park – ice skating, sledding, snowshoeing and cross-country skiing.
ICE SKATING RINK
12 Winterpalooza. Enjoy tubing, snowman building & more Jan. 26 at Tahoe Donner. 13 Enter Kirkwood’s Tahoe Junior Freeride Series on Feb. 2 and 3, with it moving to Mt. Rose on Feb. 8. 14 Kids rule at Squaw’s Kid-O-Rama from Feb. 16 to 24.
BIRTHDAY PARTY RENTALS
15 Pack a picnic and spend the day at Tahoe Meadows – snowshoeing, sledding, snowmobiling & skiing.
WWW.TDRPD.ORG
16 Record snowflakes. Order a Stories in the Snow Citizen Science kit.
AVAILABLE AT EACH LOCATION. Main Office Phone: (530) 582-7720 | 8924 Donner Pass Rd. Truckee, CA 96161
17 All kids love fire trucks, snow cats and groomers. Take them to Big Truck Day at Squaw on Feb. 18 to enjoy them all.
FAMILY FUN
a te Tahoe B ucket List Courtesy Treetop Adventures
S T O R Y B Y K AT H E R I N E E . H I L L
Courtesy Woodward Tahoe
#30 18 Little ones will have a blast at Tahoe Tot Spot in South Lake Tahoe with activities for ages 8 and younger. 19 Join the fun at the annual Glowstick Parade & Carnival on Feb. 23 at Tahoe Donner Downhill. Kids 10 and younger who can ski or ride unassisted in the dark on the Snowbird run can join the Glowstick Parade. 20 SnowFest! Enjoy family friendly activities for all ages during the 10-day winter carnival from Feb. 28 to March 10. 21 Help devour a 200-foot banana split at the Banana Split Extravaganza on March 16 at Tahoe Donner Downhill. 22 Families can tube to the sounds of a DJ was Disco Tubing every Saturday at Squaw Valley until March 23. 23 Enjoy Friday Fun Nights every Friday until April 5 at Northstar with disco lights on the ice skating rink, face painting, live music and more. 24 Enjoy the Winter Fireworks every Saturday at Squaw through March 30. E X C L U S I V E C O N T E N T AT
TheTahoeWeekly.com Check out our annual Ultimate Tahoe Winter Bucket List Discover more kidfriendly activities. Click on Family Fun under the Out & About tab.
25 Make it a family affair and enter the local downhill dummy contests held each spring at Diamond Peak on March 24 and Tahoe Donner Downhill on April 14. 26 Take a free Young Eagles airplane ride the second Saturday of the month of ages 8 and older with the Experimental Aircraft Association in Truckee. 27 Get creative at the free Kids Art Saturdays at the North Tahoe Arts Center on March 3, March 31, May 12 & June 9.
28 Visit the KidZone Museum in Truckee with fun activities designed for ages 7 and younger. 29 Practice your snowman-making skills, then enter the Snow-Man Building Contest on March 2 at Tahoe Donner Snowplay. 30 The kids will have a blast at Woodward Tahoe with foam pits, an indoor skate park and pump track and much more. 31 Take a turn on the ice. Enjoy local community rinks in Tahoe City, Truckee and South Lake Tahoe, and at local resorts. 32 Learn about Tahoe environmental and natural history at the Tahoe Science Center with kid-friendly science exhibits for ages 8 and older. 33 Catch snowflakes on your tongue.
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FAMILY FUN
TheTahoeWeekly.com
Keri Oberly | Tahoe Donner Snowplay
For the Kids Visit the Event Calendar at TheTahoeWeekly.com for a complete list of events. Early Literacy Storytime
Preschool Story Time
South Lake Tahoe Library South Lake Tahoe | Jan. 25, Feb. 1
Kings Beach Library Kings Beach | Jan. 29, Feb. 5
Build a child’s pre-reading skills with this engaging and interactive program designed to support a child’s early literacy development for a lifelong love of reading and learning. Suitable for children ages 3 to 5 with parents and caregivers. 10:30 a.m. Free | (530) 5753185, engagedpatrons.org
Pups, PJs & Popcorn Movie Night Humane Society of Truckee Tahoe Truckee | Jan. 25
Teen Tuesdays
Humane Society of Truckee-Tahoe will be offering parents an opportunity for a kidfree evening. Drop the kids off in PJs along with a sleeping bag and pillow and we’ll provide pizza, popcorn, arts activities and the movie: “The Secret Life of Pets.” Must RSVP and pay ahead of time. 5:30-8:30 p.m. $25 | hstt.org
Kids in grades 6-12 can shoot hoops, play volleyball, climb the rock wall and play arcade or video games. 6:30-9 p.m. $5 | (775) 586-7271
Enjoy a day for family friendly activities at Winterpalooza on Jan. 26 at the Tahoe Donner Snowplay area with tube racing, snowman building, relay races and more from 9:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. | (530) 587-9437, tahoedonner.com
Mother Goose on the Loose
Code Crew: Coding Basics for Kids
South Lake Tahoe Library South Lake Tahoe | Jan. 24, 31, Feb. 7
Incline Village Library Incline Village | Jan. 24, 31
Jump start your child’s brain development with this award-winning program that combines music, movement and literature. 10:30 a.m. | (530) 573-3185, engagedpatrons.org
Toddler Story Time Incline Village Library Incline Village | Jan. 24, 31, Feb. 7
Photography and Family History Sierra College, Tahoe Truckee | Jan. 25
Truckee Library | Truckee | Jan. 30, Feb. 6
The Truckee Library has joined forces with the Humane Society of Truckee-Tahoe to bring the RUFF (Read Up For Fun) Program to children in the library. Children can practice their reading skills by reading aloud to trained therapy animals. Kids can play and do crafts while waiting their turn to read. 4-5 p.m. Free | (530) 582-7846, truckeefol.org
Friday Fun Nights
This 4-week series will introduce kids ages 7-12 to the logical, sequential nature of coding. Discover what coding is and what coding can do through a variety of group activities and hands-on coding. Every week is different so plan on attending all four classes. Ages 7-9 require caregiver in attendance. Registration is required: 4 p.m. Free | (775) 832-4130, libraryaware.com
Kids Night Out
Northstar California Resort Truckee | Jan. 25, Feb. 1
Join the fun in the heart of the Village as the disco lights surround the ice skating rink every Friday night with drink specials, complimentary face painting and live music. | (800) 466-6784, northstarcalifornia.com
5-9PM | Truckee | Feb. 1
Kids ages 4 to 9 are invited to an evening of fun at Northwoods Clubhouse while parents enjoy a night on the town. 5-9 p.m. | tahoedonner.com
Weird Science Wednesday Incline Village Library Incline Village | Feb. 6
Come join the fun and experiment with weird wacky science. 4-4:45 p.m. | (775) 8324130, events.washoecountylibrary.us
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Babysitting Training for Teens
RUFF, Read Up for Fun
Join Sierra College Photography Professor Randy Snook for this interactive presentation on the history and cultural, as well as per-sonal, meaning of family photographs. Participants are encouraged to bring a few old photographs. Refreshments at 6:30 p.m., program from 7 to 8:15 p.m. | sierracollege.ticketleap.com
With stories, puppets, music and movement for ages 18 months to 3 years. 11:1511:45 a.m. | (775) 832-4130
FREE SKIING
Offers kids a fun way to explore different ways to learn about technology. A new activity each week. 4-5 p.m. Free | (775) 832-4130, libraryaware.com
If you would like to become a babysitter, take this class to learn about keeping kids safe, the business of babysitting, creative ideas for entertaining children and tactics for dealing with misbehaving kids. Upon completion, participants will receive a certificate from the American Red Cross for Babysitting Training. Grades 6 and older. 3-5:15 p.m. | tdrpd.org
Kahle Community Center Stateline | Jan. 25, Feb. 1
is snow much more
Incline Village Library Incline Village | Jan. 29, Feb. 5
Truckee Community Pool | Truckee | Jan. 30
Teen Scene
Winterpalooza
The Kings Beach Library hosts a Preschool Storytime every Tuesday from 10:30-11am. Each week has a different theme. In a lively, silly and casual environment kids work on multi-sensory pre-literacy skills. Stop by for loads of fun, and read books, sing songs, learn nursery rhymes, and do a fun and easy crafts. 10:30-11 a.m. Free | (530) 546-2021, placer. ca.gov
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