By Jane Haworth

It is never too early to book a cabin in the Sierras.  By now winter is almost upon us, the first snows have arrived this winter season, so if you haven’t already done it now is the time to book a vacation rental for your winter getaway.  Sometimes when we are enjoying beautiful sunny days it its hard to imagine the 6 foot snow drifts, highway closures on Interstate 80 and ski season is just around the corner if not already started. So my advice is to get online and make a reservation for a cozy, winter cabin.

The perfect location is just a short car ride up Interstate 80 from the Sacramento area to Soda Springs.  Here you are transported into another world.  Gone are the green fields, side walks and strip malls.  Instead you will find snow everywhere; dripping from pine trees, banks of it higher than your car and a tunnel that will guide you to your front door!  Serene Lakes is a perfect winter destination.  With its convenient location, just a couple of miles off the freeway it’s a great place to rent a cabin for a weekend getaway with family and friends.

Serene Lakes is a residential community with a number of custom designed cabins built around two adjoining lakes with access to a beach in summer and very conveniently Ice Lakes Lodge serving food and drinks all year round. The community is made up of residential and vacation homes, some of which are available to rent through companies like: http://www.castlepeak.com . The house sizes range from 2 bed up to 5 bed but from my experience the sleeping accommodation extends further than just the bedrooms! The sofa could be a sofa bed, a closet may conceal bunk beds and the stairway landing area may be a second sitting area and even curtain off for privacy when sleeping. It’s all very ingenious! This enables you to book the accommodation, invite friends and families and split the cost so you are paying no more than you would pay for a hotel bedroom!

Now you are here and are looking for ways to fill your days apart from throwing snow balls and building snow men in the front yard!  This location is great as within a couple of minutes drive you have Sugar Bowl, Boreal, Soda Springs and Donner Ski Ranch. If you enjoy cross-country skiing Royal Gorge Resort, voted one of the best cross-country resorts in the USA, is located within Serene Lakes and trails pass through the area. What could be more opportune!

Cross country skiing is an excellent activity for all ages as you are able to ski at your own pace and enjoy the crisp mountain air as you amble down the trails.  Initially these skis seem ‘out-of-control’ but as you become accustomed to gliding in the groomed tracks, it is really fun.  Kids take to this very easily and don’t seem to mind slipping on the behinds nearly as often as the parents!  Royal Gorge offers free trail passes for kids under 13.

Soda Springs offers a variety of activities and is very reasonable priced.  Here you are able to choose from skiing, snow boarding in the terrain park, tubing on a circular track with an up-hill tow or even younger kids can experience the thrills of riding a snow mobile.  Kids under 4 are free, so they can join in the fun with Mom and Dad.  Separate passes need to be purchased for the skiing and tubing.

If you or your kids have never skied before, it’s good to start somewhere away from the big crowds and where it won’t cost you hundreds of dollars for the family’s lift tickets!  At Donner Ski ranch they offer a variety of ski and lesson packages, very reasonably priced rental equipment and depending when you chose to go lift tickets starting at $5 a day!  Children under 5 and seniors ski for free. 

For a larger ski-resort experience Sugarbowl is again located nearby with its four mountains to ski, a large number of high-speed quad lifts, restaurants and facilities to occupy you for the whole day.  Children 5 and under free. 

Boreal is another great ski resort reached just off Interstate 80 at Donner Summit and offers reasonably priced skiing for the whole family, as well as a tubing park.

If the kids love to sled, and to be honest who doesn’t, there are plenty of places around the neighborhood in Serene Lakes to find a spot or even the driveway might work!  There is a fantastic sledding spot located opposite Donner Ski Ranch facing the road that takes you to Sugarbowl.  Parking is easy and it’s just a short walk across a flat meadow to the slope and there is plenty of ‘run-out’ so less chance of injuries!  This spot rarely get busy so kids and adults can have plenty of laughs.

Finally, after all that activity and fresh, mountain air what could be better than to go to Ice Lakes Lodge back in Serene Lakes to relax by their log fire and choose something off their delicious menu for dinner.  Or head back to the cabin get the fire stoked and put that chicken stew in the oven.  You knew there was a reason why you went to the trouble of preparing early and packing it with you!  So book online a vacation rental home, then dig out the old snow shoes and take advantage of this wonderful location and great alpine activities.

Here are a few tricks and tips to bear in mind whilst preparing for your relaxing break in the mountains:  

• Always check out the weather and driving conditions for Interstate 80 and it is always helpful to carry tire chains, even if you never get to use them.
• Driving home on Sunday late afternoon or evening is always very busy during ski season, so if possible try to avoid this.
• Remember to pack sun screen, lip protection and a good hand or body moisturizer cream as the combination of sun, wind and dry air makes your skin pretty uncomfortable.
• When traveling with young children and babies remember your first aid supplies, Tylenol and thermometer as the stores close by are not that well stocked.
• It is always more convenient to bring your groceries with you as the local stores are expensive and may not have those delicious Tuscan olives you are looking for!
• The closest major town for grocery stores and emergency room is Truckee.
• Pre-plan your meals and do as much preparation at home, so meals can be heated and served so you are not spending all your time in the kitchen.

 

For more information:

www.castlepeak.com    530 426 1226
www.sodaspringsrentals.com   866 679 8300

Donner Summit is now at risk, plans are in the works so if you are concerned about the environmental changes and exploitation of this beautiful and unspoiled part of our region look at www.savedonnersummit.org.

Jane Haworth©2007