Why do we go to the mountains? Sometimes I think it is about being surrounded by the smell of cedar and pine. If the trees could talk, they’d be saying, “Welcome to the high country, city girl, what took you so long to get here?” Breathing in their scent reminds me of seeing an old friend I haven’t talked with in a long time. Who cares what we’ve been up to, let’s go have...

Here’s the California wimp in me talking: One of the greatest things about playing outside in the snow is having somewhere warm and cozy to retreat. Renting someone’s home/cabin can feel like coming into a cozy home, but can also be a hassle to arrange. A successful lodging experience may be determined by thinking through details ahead of time: Is it centrally located? How much will the cleaning...

Since we don’t see snow where I live unless you drive there, I’ve been looking forward to taking the kids on a this-is-what-winter-is-supposed-to-look-like weekend trip. For us, that means a two hour (on a good day) drive to Lake Tahoe. Last year my little one (then 2 yrs) wouldn’t set foot on snow. He was happy to stay on solid ground, i.e. the parking lot, or have us carry him around while...

Here in California we have gotten rain, rain and more rain. This has translated in the mountains to snow, snow and more snow. My family has never been much into skiing, but that is no reason not to expose the kids to the fun of winter snow. This Monday I am dreaming of a mountain getaway. In my dreams this would be a cottage near a hill that includes a sled in the garage (like we own a sled), a hot tub on the...