Grab your sleds or just grab your gloves! It’s time to play in the snow! One of the great things about Sacramento is its close proximity to Tahoe. Whether you want to take your kids to the snow for the first time or want an alternative to the expense of snow skiing, there’re plenty of fun places to play in the snow for the day up either Hwy 50 or Hwy 80.

Sno-Park at Yuba Gap
1776 Yuba Gap Dr.
Emigrant Gap, CA 95715
(530) 389-8241

One of four great value California Park and Recreation Sno-Parks off Highway 80 in the Tahoe National Forest, this one’s fun for kids, adults and even dogs! Choose from different size sled hills for the beginner to the thrill seeker. Bring your own sleds, but this well maintained park has everything else from hot food, to bathrooms, and a small general store for anything you might have forgotten.

Playland Tubing at Boreal Ridge
19749 Boreal Ridge Rd
Soda Springs, CA 95728
Hours: (not posted)
(530) 426-3666
http://rideboreal.com/winter/rates/playland-tubing

Playland is the place to go if you just want to get in the car and go. Located at the far end of Boreal Ski Resorts parking lot, this tubing hill provides the quality equipment, makes the return up the hill easy with a moving carpet, and the lanes are wide, groomed and free of obstacles. This is better for big kids though since little ones are not permitted to ride on laps.

Hansen’s Snow Tube and Saucer Hill
1360 Ski Run Blvd.
South Lake Tahoe, CA
(530) 544-3361
Hours: Open daily 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Cost: Ages 5 and up $10 per person per hour, 4 and under free with paying adult(includes use of
tube and saucer.
http://www.hansensresort.com/lake_tahoe_snow_tubing.htm

This 400 ft. groomed snow tube run is worth every penny! With high walls, a small hill to stop you, and walkway back to the top it’s a great thrill ride for young and not so young in the shadow of Heavenly Valley Ski Resort. No need to bring your own gear, they supply it and with tandem chutes you can race side by side.

Adventure Mountain
21200 Hwy 50 (Top of Echo summit, 2.8 miles east of Sierra At Tahoe ski resort)
South Lake Tahoe, CA 96151
(530) 577-4352
http://www.adventuremountaintahoe.com/

Pack your sleds, shovels, buckets and carrot nose to enjoy Adventure Mountain’s 40 acres of winter wonderland featuring a groomed sledding hill and plenty of room for snow play. Build a snowman or rocket down one of the multiple downhill runs divided into beginner, intermediate and advanced. If you’ve forgotten something or don’t feel like packing a lunch there’s a snack shack and store for purchasing snow play necessities.

Blizzard Mountain
1111 Sierra at Tahoe Rd.
Twin Bridges, CA 95735
(530) 659-7453
Hours: Weekdays 10 a.m. – 4:30 p.m., Weekends 9 a.m. – 5 p.m.
Cost: $19 – $74 (prices vary according to age; free admission for children 4 and under)
http://www.sierraattahoe.com/events-activities/tubing-snow-play

Let the people at Sierra-at-Tahoe® Resort do all the work while you and your family have fun! Take a ride in a gigantic doughnut down the two lift-accessible tubing lanes that have a start deck for easy take-off with a gentle stop at the bottom. Getting back to the top is easy – just lay back and relax while the rope tow pulls the tube up to the start deck!

Tip:

If you get a Sno-Park pass through the California State Parks, it is a cost effective way to enjoy the Sierras and opens up more nature areas to take advantage of playing in the snow. It’s only $5 for a day pass or $25 for a seasonal pass (November 1 – May 30). You can go online to get a mail-in order form (http://ohv.parks.ca.gov/?page_id=25760) or go to http://ohv.parks.ca.gov/pages/1233/files/sno-park-2011vendorlist.pdf to find a local store selling the permits.

Kelli Wheeler is the author of MOMSERVATIONS® The Fine Print of Parenting, a family columnist and mother of two living in Sacramento. You can read her humorous Momservations blog at www.momservations.com and follow her on Twitter at www.Twitter.com/Momservations .