Planning a Successful Family Ski Vacation

We have fresh powder at Lake Tahoe today. According to The Weather Channel this morning, it's supposed to snow 9 out the next 10 days. We're in for a fabulous February. If you're planning a trip to Lake Tahoe this Winter, here are a few ideas:

Make sure you dress the kids warmly. Nothing can make or break your ski vacation quicker than how you dress your kids!

To make packing easier, take a look at our Winter Packing Lists. We've put together time-tested and family-approved packing lists for everyone in the family.

Check road conditions, if you're planning to drive. In addition to the road condition telephone numbers, we have live videos of Lake Tahoe roads.

Enjoy a few of our favorite stops along I-80, between the San Francisco Bay Area and the Lake Tahoe Area.

Decide Where to Stay. You can stay either at a resort, a nearby cabin, a local hotel or at a ski resort during your ski trip. While staying at the resort might be more expensive, it also eliminates the hassles of driving in the snow each day, loading and unloading skis. This process, especially with younger children, can add frustration to the families' day, before it really has a chance to get going. Price may outweigh convenience, however, if you have a family larger than four people. For larger families, a cabin, condo or nearby hotel may be your best bet.

Decide About Skis. One of the hardest decisions may be choosing whether to buy or rent your skis. Unless you're going to be doing a lot of skiing this season, renting is probably the best option. As you're hurriedly signing the rental agreement, give some consideration to the damage insurance plan, just in case something goes wrong.

Buy Lift Tickets. If you are going downhill skiing, you will need to buy lift tickets. You can buy lift them at the bottom of the slope, or you can purchase your tickets in advance. Multi-day tickets usually cost less per day. Here are the best discounts we've found.

Plan Family Activities: Our Winter Fun, Calendar and Year-Round Fun pages will help you plan your family activities. There is so much more than just skiing!

Take a Break - Enjoy a Parents' Day or Night Out: You can connect with a babysitter by visiting our Babysitter Referral Service.

Shop On-Line for Your Groceries: If you're staying at South Lake Tahoe and plan to prepare meals during your vacation, Raleys.com offers on-line grocery shopping (Map to Raley's South Lake Tahoe). With sufficient lead time, and for a nominal fee, Raley's will gather your groceries and have them ready for you to pick up.