We love exploring Death Valley National Park with kids! And no, you won't swelter in the heat if you follow our tips! After our fourth visit with kids (stay at either Furnace Creek Ranch or Furnace Creek Campground), we’ve narrowed down our list of favorite Death Valley hikes to our top three. These hikes--detailed below--are best for active, school-aged kids who love exploring, climbing, … [Read more...]
Grown-Up Getaway: How to spend a weekend in Reno, Nevada
March 14, 2018 By
I know...you thought I was going to say Las Vegas, right? But I prefer Reno, Nevada to Vegas any day...this medium-sized city is nestled at the base of the Sierra Nevada mountain range and offers plenty to do in the outdoors in addition to gaming and entertainment. Here's what to do and where to go...with some unexpected surprises along the way! Grown Up Getaway: Reno Nevada Where to stay: You … [Read more...]
Mammoth Mountain lodging option: Mammoth Mountain Inn
February 24, 2014 By
Mammoth Mountain Resort’s Mammoth Mountain Inn isn’t the flashiest lodging in the Mammoth area. Nor is it the newest. But for families needing all the basic ski lodging amenities—hot tubs, game rooms, restaurants, and ski rentals and valets—it has it all, and in the most prime location on the hill. Located directly across the parking lot from the Main Lodge and Panorama Gondola (and Broadway … [Read more...]
Mammoth ski trip tips: Overview of Mammoth Mountain
February 19, 2014 By
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 … [Read more...]
June Mountain skiing for families: the best kept secret of the Sierras
February 17, 2014 By
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 … [Read more...]
Why Reno, Nevada should be on your family travel radar
February 5, 2014 By
Never considered spending family vacation time in the Biggest Little City in the World? I get it: Reno, Nevada is usually a stop-over for road tripping families, a pit stop en route to Tahoe, Vegas, or the San Francisco Bay Area. However, Reno has grown in both population and stature, helping this 'little city' deliver big on family-friendly attractions. The city is affordable (hello, casino-hotel … [Read more...]
Manzanar National Historic Site
December 20, 2012 By
If you're driving along US Highway 395 through California, take an hour or so to stop at the Manzanar National Historic Site, the site of a World War II Japanese-American Internment Camp, outside of Bishop, CA. Built only in 2004, this National Park Service site is wonderfully well run and free for visitors. When you enter the site, you'll be struck by the stunning high desert views and … [Read more...]
Touring Virginia City, Nevada with kids
December 13, 2012 By
Located thirty minutes outside of Reno Nevada, Virginia City takes families back in time to an era of unprecedented wealth in silver and gold mining history. The drive to the boomtown from either Reno or Carson City is scenic and dramatic (and kids should be on the look-out for wild horse herds…we were lucky enough to spot one). Virginia City lies over the crest of a hill; the first thing … [Read more...]
Reno with kids: a stay at the Peppermill Hotel and Casino
December 10, 2012 By
We enjoy the high mountains and desert surrounding Reno, Nevada, but dislike casinos with their dark, smoky interiors and gaudy decor. It can be challenging to find truly family-friendly accommodations. The newly remodeled Reno Peppermill Hotel and Casino fits the needs of families while adding a degree of elegance and luxury I haven't experienced elsewhere in Reno. Now a Preferred Hotel, … [Read more...]
Atlantis Casino Resort and Spa
March 28, 2010 By
3800 South Virginia Street Reno, NV On our long drive from Southern Oregon to Death Valley National Park, my family and I had the pleasure of pit stopping' for one night at the Atlantis Casino Resort and Spa in Reno, NV. We've made it a point to stay in Reno in the past, praising Reno's all-season outdoor recreation opportunities and increasingly evident family atmosphere, but this time, the … [Read more...]
