Here’s my 2020 day-by-day California family holiday diary of what we did, where we went & how to do it!

Our one week California family holiday diary

Looking for a one week California road trip instead? Watch our YouTube California Road Trip video playlist here.

Day 1 – January 29

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No time to read? Watch our Perisher beginner guide on YouTube here!

Three years in the making, this has the most up to date locations, prices, options and information to help you prepare – and enjoy – your time in the NSW Snowy Mountains at Perisher Ski Resort!

1 – Perisher is the biggest resort in Australia

Made up of four ski areas, Perisher Valley (once known as Perisher Blue), Mount Blue Cow, Guthega and Smiggins Holes, Perisher is the biggest ski resort in Australia. Being the biggest resort comes with advantages – a large number of resources geared to first-timers and beginners. Your ski ticket covers all areas of the ski resort, which means you can ride or ski beginner runs in Perisher, then traverse over or catch the Skitube between Perisher and Mount Blue Cow and then ski beginner runs there too if you want to! There are twice as many hire centres, ski lessons, restaurants, etc….the list goes on.

2 – Perisher has Front Valley

Front Valley is the very first ski slope you see when you arrive at in Perisher, and it’s mostly beginner friendly. The base of Front Valley on the right-hand side is where the beginner snow boarding and ski lessons are held or run too. It’s as simple as walking out of the ski hire centre to your lesson meeting point. Alternatively you can jump straight onto a beginner ski lift to go and try your luck skiing down from the top!

Front Valley offers a huge area for first-timer beginners to learn in comparison to many other Australian ski resorts. This gentle ski slope is serviced by a slow loading beginner chair lift (more about the Village 8 Express Chair next) and is usually populated with skiers and snowboarders of all ages and sizes. Front Valley is a big favourite with beginners in particular, and there’s plenty of room to fall down and pick yourself up, surrounded by others doing exactly the same thing!

Some ski resorts require you to catch a lift all the way up to the top section of their resort mountain areas to where the snow is of good enough quality for their beginner ski areas. At Perisher you are already high up above the snow line, so you’re already there. This also means that the non-skiers in your party can watch a lot of the fun from below without having to buy an expensive lift ticket.

Snow guns top up the snow cover with man made snow throughout the night so that every morning, even if it hasn’t snowed, there is still good snow cover awaiting you. As an added bonus, there is also a huge ski jump constructed at Perisher Front Valley, so you can take a break and go sit at a café to watch some incredible snow boarding and ski jumping stunts whilst you relax and have a drink.

3 – The Perisher Centre has a large ski hire centre

At the base of Front Valley is the Perisher Centre, a shopping-mall type building which houses a lot of eateries, some snow gear shops, the Perisher ticket and information office, lockers and a very large and well-stocked ski hire centre. This ski hire centre has a good system which moves a lot of skiers through quickly. This means you can be in and out without delay, getting set up with the right ski hire clothing and gear that you need, and get lots of support and advice as a beginner along the way.

It’s a little more expensive than using the hire shops at Cooma and Jindabyne on the way to the snow, but if you hire your gear in Perisher then if you encounter any problems with your gear, then they can be fixed on the spot. If something breaks or doesn’t fit right then you can just pop back into the Perisher ski hire shop and change or fix it. This is a better alternative to having to pay someone to fix your ski or board bindings, or rehire the faulty gear from Perisher anyhow and then return the broken gear to wherever you hired it from – probably miles away – later. Been there, done that!

It also saves having to carry all the gear from the SkiTube or your car, which is a juggling act – especially if you have little kids. Ski gear is really heavy and awkward! In my experience, hiring on site at the Perisher Resort is definitely worth it from a convenience aspect.

4 – Perisher Ski Resort has dedicated beginner ski lifts

Sure, everywhere has some kind of beginner type ski lifts, but Perisher’s beginner ski lifts line up is pretty impressive. For starters, there are at least two magic carpets in the beginner ski lesson area (plus one at Mount Blue Cow). Magic carpets are rubber conveyor belt step-on/step off skier and boarder lifts that carry you up the beginner slopes. These are very easy to use and are very difficult to fall off, as you are already at ground level. (See how magic carpet ski lifts work in our video here). Magic carpets are great starter lifts before moving on to T-bars and chair lifts.

Once you’re feeling more confident about skiing, you can head to the Village Eight chairlift which not only automatically moves you to the right spot for loading via a small magic carpet step-on conveyor belt, the chair lift itself slows down for you to sit down safely – plus it is also slow and level to get off at the other end. These things matter when you’re a beginner. User-friendly beginner lifts are great to learn on and bolster your confidence, too. You can see what it’s like to board, ride and unload on the Perisher Front Valley beginner chair lift in our Youtube vide here.

5 – Perisher Valley has lots of ski lessons for kids and adults

Whether you’re an adult or child, there are lots of different ski lessons on offer at Perisher Valley. Group lessons and private lessons are all available for both kids and adults. For children’s ski and snow boarding lessons, helmets are compulsory. For adults, they are strongly recommended. You can come down hard on the snow, even beginner skiing!

Kids lessons go for two hours, adults snow board and ski lessons go for one hour. You can book before you go or at the Perisher services and information office when you arrive if you are lucky, but I strongly recommend booking well in advance, as even though there are lots of lessons, there is also a huge demand.

There is some child care afterwards available, but children must be toilet trained to take part in ski and boarding lessons at Perisher.

6 – You can catch the Skitube to Perisher

A big advantage that Perisher offers to those who have never visited the snow before, is the Skitube. The Skitube mountain railway cuts right through the mountain, climbing up from Bullocks Flat (located on the Thredbo road) to Perisher Valley and then Mount Bluecow.

Ski Tube tickets are expensive. Prices fluctuate depending on when you buy the tickets. The Skitube is not a cheaper way to get to Perisher, but it does have a lot of advantages, especially for beginners.

You can park your car for free short or long term at Bullocks Flat. It’s below the snowline, and although it can snow there, it doesn’t happen frequently. You can be pretty confident that snow plows will clear the road promptly if that does occur. (There can be ice on the road very early in the morning)

Your Skitube ticket does include your entrance fee into the Snowy Mountains National park (around $25 a car, which you need to pay if you drive to Perisher or Thredbo). You are not permitted to park overnight at Perisher (excepting a few ski lodges with private parking). So if you’re staying at a lodge or a hotel at Perisher, you need to either need to catch a coach or bus (not plentiful from Jindabyne – there was a trial bus in 2022 I believe) or the Skitube train.

I often choose to use the Skitube because I don’t like worrying about having to put snow chains on my car (compulsory for non-4WDs to carry in the National Park during the snow season), or having to drive in snowy conditions. That said, the Skitube does cease operating before the end of the ski season, so if you visit during the shoulder periods you may need to find another way to get to Perisher.

FUN FACT! The Skitube between Perisher Valley and Mount Blue Cow is absolutely FREE! No ticket is needed

7 – Perisher has lots of green beginner ski runs

Whilst there are beginner ski and snow board runs at all Australian ski resorts, Perisher Valley has a huge, interlinking network of green runs that you’ll love to explore. Some favourites of ours which are very long and beautiful beginner runs with a gentle slope include Pretty Valley and Pleasant Valley. There is an easy to understand sign and marker system showing beginners where they can ski safely (green runs).

You can even ski between some of the ski village centres such as Perisher Valley and Mount Blue Cow, so you can literally ski for miles once you have reached an adequate level of skiing – and that won’t take long. A day or two of lessons and most kids and adults are capable of turning on gentle slopes.

Perisher Valley really does have a huge beginner skier and beginner snow boarding advantage with the sheer volume of green runs they can offer.

8 – The Matterhorn Lodge is great Perisher accommodation for beginners

When we visit Perisher we are hosted by the Matterhorn Lodge, a beautiful on-snow Perisher accommodation ski lodge with a gentle slope down straight from the lodge’s front door to Front Valley where all the main Perisher beginner ski areas, lessons and lifts are. This means even beginners can ski from their lodging at the Matterhorn Lodge to the ski lifts and areas.

The Matterhorn Lodge accommodates all, from singles to couples, friends and groups, and is very family – and budget – friendly. They welcome children of all ages, from the tiniest baby to teenagers. The lodge is super cosy and serves delicious dinners every night – with no washing up for mum or dad to do! There’s a free laundry, drying gear room and tea and coffee station. They even have plastic toboggans for the kids borrow to slide down the surrounding snowy slopes.

Head off to the cosy lounge and bar after dinner to kick back in front of the log fire whilst the kids play on the games tables. This is a great way to unwind when you’ve been physically exhausting yourself learning the art of skiing or snow boarding!

The best thing about the Matterhorn is that you don’t have to worry about anything once you arrive, other than having a fun, relaxing stay. Matterhorn staff really look after you.

As you may be able to tell, we genuinely love staying at the Matterhorn. You can read all about our stays at the Matterhorn Lodge here or alternatively you can book your Snowy Mountains accommodation at Booking.com here

9 – Perisher has night skiing

Not the only resort to offer night skiing it’s true, but it’s super fun, just the same – and beginners are welcome. Night skiing is run under the lights on Perisher Front Valley, which is a green run beginner area.

It does get very cold skiing at night at Perisher – minus 4 to minus 7 can be common – so rug up and wear a warm, waterproof jacket if you do decide to go. If the weather is calm, you often get to see the Perisher fireworks display on the same night too!

Night skiing is usually run twice a week (Tuesday and Saturday nights) for an extra cost. Kids and Epic Pass holders can ski for free. A single Night Skiing pass in 2021 was $40 for an adult – book as far in advance as possible, as it can book up early.

10 – Should I buy an Epic Pass?

Currently, my answer would be no, you probably shouldn’t buy an Epic Pass, however I am still including it in my list, as like anything, there are advantages – and disadvantages with everything.

What are Epic Passes?

Epic Passes are basically the name for Perisher season passes for skiing and boarding. You need to buy them in advance of the ski season, and they usually go off sale around April. Epic Passes normally give unlimited access to Perisher Ski Resort Lifts (with the exception of 2020 number limiting) throughout the Australian ski season. You also get free night skiing, and ski lesson and ski hire discounts. Plus you have the option of adding on discounted Skitube season tickets.

Epic passes also include ski lift ticket access and discounts to other resorts, including two Victorian ski resorts, as well as selected ski resorts in Japan and the USA.

Should beginners buy an Epic Pass?

Epic Passes offer some significant Perisher discounts and beginner skier benefits for the reasons stated above, but in particular the 20% off ski lessons and ski hire can save a fair amount of money, in addition to ski lifts. Ski lessons can be almost as expensive as your lift tickets, if not more (you can see our video here for some price examples). But it’s important to point out that you will only save money on ski lift prices using an Epic Pass IF you are intending to ski or snow board for more than one week. This is roughly the cost of an Epic Pass.

The gamble with Epic Passes for beginners being – are you going to enjoy skiing?! Many people love skiing and snow boarding straight away. Some try it once and walk away. Therefore it’s probably best to skip buying an Epic Pass in your first year at least, until you work out if you actually like skiing and snowboarding.

Epic Pass buyer beware

Whilst Epic passes can represent great value for money normally, in the last couple of years they have created a lot of skier and snow boarder controversy due to lock downs making the resort periodically inaccessible. A promised refund for certain conditions can prove highly difficult to obtain. with slow response rates and contentious condition disagreements. With the same policy still active this year, I would recommend caution before outlaying the significant investment of thousands of dollars (as I did for my whole family) in these current unstable times – or you may find yourself losing money instead of saving it.

How we lost money buying Epic Passes

I purchased Epic passes with additional Ski Tube access for my family last year (the 2021 Australian Ski Season), and now have cause to regret it. We were only able to use our Epic Passes for one ski trip during the 2021 ski season. The remainder of the snow season we couldn’t access the Perisher ski resort due to lockdowns, both Perisher and personal, including our own local council region lockdown. Almost a year later I’m still attempting to get a refund after receiving an initial rejection from Perisher administration – and that notification came several months after my refund application. Indeed, I’m still waiting for a reply to my twice-emailed objections. It hasn’t been a seamless experience, thus far.

Have you ever been to Perisher Ski Resort, or do you plan to go one day? Tell me, or ask your questions in the comments below…

All information is correct as at April 2022 – please check the official Perisher website here for relevant, up to date information and prices.

We are frequent hosted guests at the Matterhorn Lodge at Perisher Valley. As always, all opinions remain firmly my own.

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In February of 2020 we took a trip from Sydney, Australia to the USA with Visit California to experience three different Californian destinations. We found that an incredible USA family vacation awaits where you can travel from theme parks to snow and back again to the sunny beaches of California – all within the same American state – and in the space of just one week!

Famous for its amazing beaches, theme parks and year-round warm temperatures, there’s a whole Californian winter wonderland that is just waiting to be explored! California makes a fantastic family holiday destination any time of year, but travelling during the Californian winter offers several big advantages that you may not have thought of.

Not only are there less crowds at tourist attractions and theme parks during winter, California winter holidays also happen to be less expensive due to the lower, off-peak season demand. This stretches your all-important family vacation dollar further! Year-round sunny weather means you can still have your beach holiday and add on a side trip to the mountains for some skiing too. These are just a few of the many advantages of visiting California during winter.

Watch our complete California trip in 5 minutes video!

Planes, trains and automobiles – or buses! Our California trip had it all. Watch our 5 minute video of what’s possible on an Australian family holiday to California here!

Of course there is so much more to see of California that just three locations as you can see in our video, however these particular Californian towns and cities are all stand-out holiday destinations – feature-packed with stunning sights and amazing attractions.

So without further ado, here are three amazing Californian winter holiday destinations we know you’re going to love just as much as we did!

Destination 1: Anaheim, California – home of Disneyland Resort

A family trip to California just wouldn’t be the same without visiting at The Happiest Place On Earth – Disneyland Resort!

Disneyland Resort is located in the Californian city of Anaheim, a 45 minute drive from Los Angeles.

Made up of two incredible theme parks, Disney California Adventure Park and Disneyland Park, as well as the Downtown Disney District – plus the official Disney hotels – Disneyland Resort is an essential part of any USA family holiday.

One of the best things about Disney Resort is that even if you’ve been there before, it’s constantly changing. There are always new rides being added, new entertainment to enjoy and features to see. It’s what keeps Disney fans coming back year after year!

Disneyland Park, California

Disneyland Park, California is THE Disneyland where the Disney magic was first created by Walt Disney in 1955. It’s here you’ll find all the famous, original rides – plus some fantastic new attractions, such as the new Disneyland world, Star Wars Galaxy’s Edge.

Read and watch videos of our Disneyland Park and the new Star Wars world experiences here!

Read our tips on what to see and do at Disneyland Park here!

Disney California Adventure Park

Disney California Adventure Park is an exciting theme park encompassing 8 different lands full of wonderful experiences and thrilling rides.  Some of the famous Disney rides you’ll find here are the Incredicoaster roller coaster, the iconic Mickey Mouse head Ferris wheel and Cars Land – a faithful recreation of the fictional town of Radiator Springs.

Read our tips on what to see and do at Disney California Adventure Park here!

Downtown Disney District

Downtown Disney District is a shopping, restaurant and entertainment precinct located between the two Disneyland Resort theme parks.

You don’t need a ticket to Disneyland to visit Downtown Disney, which means you can access this area whenever you like for a bit of shopping or a great meal.

With live music and entertainment as you eat, Downtown Disney is a great place to sit back and soak up the Disney atmosphere – setting the scene perfectly for all the Disney magic to come!

Cali trip tip! At Downtown Disney we recommend the Black Tap Anaheim restaurant – it’s a great place to grab a delicious American craft burger and wash it down with some of the most elaborate milk shakes you’ll ever see!

Visit Anaheim

Whilst Disneyland is a huge attraction, there’s much more to Anaheim than just Disneyland! Find out what other things there are to do and see in Anaheim, California here!

Where to stay in Anaheim

Whilst in Anaheim we stayed in the Anaheim Marriot Suites, in Garden Grove.

Located only minutes from the Disneyland Resort attractions, this elegant full-service hotel is the perfect base for your Disneyland family holiday.

Find out more about our Anaheim Marriot Suites stay here.

Destination 2: Mammoth Mountain, California

To pack even more into your California winter holiday, all you need to do – is just add snow!

Just one hour’s flight hop from LAX – or half a day’s road-trip – you’ll find California’s Mammoth Mountain ski resort.

From sun to snow holiday in just a day, it doesn’t get any easier or more convenient to enjoy the best of both worlds on your family holiday. Simply jump on a quick flight to Mammoth Lakes – and get skiing!

Mammoth Mountain ski resort

At Mammoth Mountain you’ll find a huge range of family snow fun!

The skiing at Mammoth is world-class with a huge network of ski trails and lifts to explore – plus ski lessons and great snow quality for all skiing levels.

But Mammoth isn’t just about the skiing – there’s a whole range of snow activities, traditions and fun on offer!

Read more about our adventures at Mammoth Mountain here!

Where to stay at Mammoth Mountain

Whilst at Mammoth Lakes, we stayed at The Village Lodge Mammoth – a luxurious hotel set in a beautiful village complex, boasting year-round entertainment and superior shopping and dining.

The Village also has its own direct-access gondola to the skiing trails of Mammoth Mountain. This is the perfect place to base yourself for your snow holiday at Mammoth!

You can read more about The Village Lodge hotel at Mammoth here.

Destination 3: Santa Monica

After all the winter fun of Mammoth, it was time to take advantage of that sunny Californian beach weather and head back to the coast – and gorgeous Santa Monica!

Conveniently located just 25 minute’s drive from LAX and 45 minute’s drive from the Disneyland theme parks, Santa Monica is a beautiful, family-friendly city.

It’s here you’ll find a miles of stunning sandy Californian beaches, fun entertainment and fabulous food and shopping – making it a wonderful all-round family holiday destination.

The iconic Santa Monica Pier takes pride of place on this sweeping coastline with its resident fun fair and iconic big wheel. Nestled beneath the Pier you’ll also find the Santa Monica Aquarium, plus several shops and restaurants lining the Pier boardwalk. A favourite tourist photo spot is at the Pier sign proclaiming it the “end of Route 66”, the famous American road trip route which snakes across the USA.

From year-round surfing lessons to skateboarding, or enjoying a family bike ride along the miles of paved bike paths, Santa Monica truly has something for everyone.

You can read all about our adventures in Santa Monica here.

Where to stay in Santa Monica

Whilst in Santa Monica we stayed at the stunning Shore Hotel.

The Shore Hotel is located directly opposite the famous Santa Monica Pier neon archway sign, and backs onto the main shopping precinct.

A truly green hotel, The Shore Hotel prides itself on being an eco-conscious, environmentally sustainable hotel.

You can read about our stay at the Shore Hotel here.

Book your 2021 family California holiday adventure now!

A winter California holiday truly is a very clever choice for your Australian family.

With exciting theme parks and world-class ski resorts only a short flight away from the mild winter climes of the beautiful California coast, you really do get to enjoy the best of all holiday worlds.

California is an incredibly beautiful, exciting and fun destination for the whole family. Why not book your own Californian family adventure now?

The Let’s Go Mum family partnered with Visit California and their supporting partners for this trip.  As always, all opinions are our own.

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It would be fair to say that these goggles are SO scientifically superior in design overall, that they’re way too advanced for me to reliably talk about!  So forgive me if I borrow a little bit from the messy weekend designers themselves…

Magnetic construction

Eight powerful magnets hold the goggle lenses securely in place. They form a tightly sealed environment, eliminating any chance of gaps occurring that might cause a change in vision. The logic behind the magnet technology is not simply that they fit perfectly, but also the ability to exchange using only one hand.

The FLOAT II

The FLOAT II snow goggles lenses are spherical in appearance and available in two different colour variations: the XE2 Green Revo and the XE2 Silver.

Taking a look at the exterior, you can see the frame is a lightweight thermoplastic polyurethane which is an extremely flexible and durable materials This is covered with a cutting-edge protective and insulating foam technology. The foam is triple layered and therefore provides an exceptionally comfortable fit. While being secure, the foam enables a pleasantly light airflow to prevent the fogging of the lenses and moisture-wicking.

Accessories are included

Each pair of goggles has an assortment of additional items including: a yellow overcast lense which provides greater distinction and clarity, a microfiber bag to ensure safer scratch-free protection, a stylish MessyWeekend sticker and a hard case for safe storage and transport enabling all your hurtling-down-a-mountain needs.

ACHTON

The name ACHTON originates from the Danish arctic explorer: Achton Friis who was one of the original trailblazers on the Denmark Expedition to Northeast Greenland in the early 20th century.

In comparison to the FLOAT II, the ACHTON lenses are cylindrically shaped which provides a greatly enhanced peripheral field overview. The shape of the lenses improves the individuals’ field of view by 18% compared to the FLOAT II and most other snow goggles.

The lenses are available in three different colour variations: XE2 Green Revo, XE2 Silver and the newest update XEp photochromic.

The Float II has similar features as the ACHTON frame – covered with the same lightweight thermoplastic polyurethane foam.

All of the same exciting additional extras are provided with the ACHTON.

Further in-depth information about MW goggle lenses

Messy Weekend XE2 goggle lenses

The XE2 dual-pane lenses ensure that there is minimal space between the panes which are filled with air-pockets that provide insulation from the cold, outside air and the body heat from inside.

The lenses are made from the highest Grade 1 polycarbonate optical quality which contributes to the practicality, durability and lightweight feel of the goggles.

THE XE2 lenses offer a purple base and with a high-contrast view. These different kinds of contrast maintain a higher visibility under all circumstances meaning sight in different weather conditions is a challenge the XE2 can handle with flawless ease, especially when it comes to snow activities.

The inside of the XE2 lenses has an anti-fog coating that provides clear eye vision in wetter conditions. When combined with the ventilation system; picturesque views are promised, even when it gets a little steamy.
The outside is also coated with a nano-coating to maximize scratch resistance and a superhydrophobic coating brings valuable water repellency and in turn, an easy clean.

The Revo variation and the mirror surface coating technology were developed by NASA – it is the same technology astronauts use for solar protection – ensuring astronomical levels of protection.

Besides all the cool features they of course also block harmful blue light and cover the regular protection of full UV400 (UVA+UVB).

Messy Weekend XEp goggle lenses

The XEp lenses adapt to whatever weather conditions Mother Nature can throw at you and allow great sight on the mountain. The XEp lenses provide upgraded and enhanced versions of the same features as the XE2 lenses and therefore make them practically unbreakable.

The difference from the XE2 lenses is that the photochromic molecules included in the lenses are constantly adapting and recalibrating to light stimuli.

The photochromic molecules contain patented photochromic dyes which enable them to fully darken the lenses in under 25 seconds when introduced to powerful solar rays.

Even during that transition, a full UV400 protection can be guaranteed.

THE XEp is produced with a patented molded-in film technology that ensures perfect sight, uniformed color change and heavy weather resistance. Even with encountering a change in lighting, the tint of the goggles adapts perfectly.

Clean Oceans Initiative

We especially love that this forward-thinking European eyewear company give back to the environment with every sale.

MessyWeekend partnered with the NGO 4THEPLANET to found the project “ORIGINES.”

The initiative is determined to design a sustainable method for the clean up of plastic waste in the Pacific Ocean. For every pair of MessyWeekend sunglasses and snow goggles sold, 2 kg (4.4 lbs) of trash is collected.

Use our exclusive Messy Weekend discount promo code

I’m excited to let you know we have a 15% discount code for you to use to obtain a great sale price on your Messy Weekend snow goggles order! Just include the promo code   “LETSGOMUM15” at checkout!

Go to the Messy Weekend website to browse the different ski goggles range here.

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Beautiful Mammoth Lakes is a bustling little ski town with its own airport, and a whole mountain of family snow-fun!

Just an hour’s flight away from LAX, a trip to Mammoth is an easy Disneyland holiday add-on – or wonderful California winter holiday in its own right.

The surrounding scenery of Mammoth Mountain is breathtaking – huge, snowy mountains covered with majestic trees and unique wildlife. It’s not unusual to spot an American black bear wandering through the town of Mammoth Lakes!

From beach holiday to snowy mountains just doesn’t get any easier or more convenient than this!

Beginner snowboarding and skiing lessons

If you’re a beginner skier, Mammoth Mountain is a great place to learn how to ski. It’s a very easy process to hire all of your ski gear at the Mammoth Main Lodge and organise ski lessons.

Watch our Mammoth Mountain YouTube

To see what skiing Mammoth Mountain is really like, watch our YouTube video.

There are excellent beginner runs on the lower slopes of Mammoth Mountain. Mammoth ski instructors will have you and/or your children off and skiing independently  in just one day!

Family-friendly skiing

My family loved skiing Mammoth together – even late in the ski season, this ski resort offers beautiful snow conditions. With 25 lifts and 150 trails spread over 3,500 acres, you can explore to your heart’s content!

Mammoth Mountain lift queues are fast, lift attendants are friendly and helpful, and the skiing can be as easy or challenging as you choose.

I’m an intermediate skier, and my girls are now handling blue intermediate runs quite well. We started off on green beginner slopes to get our ski legs back after our break over the Australian Summer.

After a couple of easy ski runs, we were ready to head up Mammoth Mountain in the main gondola to see more of Mammoth Mountain!

Mammoth Mountain Gondola

The Mammoth Mountain Gondola is a beautiful ride. Whilst skiers use it to access the upper mountain areas, you can also go a scenic ride to enjoy the amazing views.

We loved exploring the Mammoth Mountain upper trails, and followed trail after trail of gorgeous tree-lined runs with stunning mountain views. Mammoth is a truly spectacular Californian ski resort.

Snowboard half-pipe competitions

Back down the mountain, Mammoth also features a world-class snowboard half-pipe where freestyle skiers and snowboarders Grand Prix and World Cup competitions are held. We watched an event featuring USA Olympic champions – it was great entertainment to watch their amazing gravity-defying skills!

For a bit of extra daring ski fun of your own, at the bottom of the mountain there’s a small jumps trail which is perfect for both ski and snowboarders. My girls loved trying the mini-jumps!

Disabled skiing

Mammoth Mountain also have disabled skiing programs and support. This ski resort prides themselves on being inclusive, and disabled skiing lessons are also available.

Family Snow Fun

If you’re not a skier, or are looking for more variety in your snow holiday then never fear – there’s plenty more family fun on offer!

Snowmobiles are a great snow activity you can do together. With a parent driving, pop a child on the back and you’ve got a really fun way to explore and enjoy the stunning scenery together.

Tube rides, or “Tubing” is just that – climb aboard a big inflatable tube go for an exciting slide down a gentle slope. This activity will have you and the kids laughing with delight, and is suitable for both children and adults.

Dining options at Mammoth Lakes

Skiing is a hungry business, and there are many and varied dining and eatery options at Mammoth. We sampled a range of delicious restaurants during our stay.
The Yodler is located near the Mammoth Mountain Main Lodge. Straight off the ski slopes, it’s the perfect place for an amazing Bavarian style lunch.

At The Village in Mammoth Lakes you’ll find the cosy Campo Mammoth, specialising in delicious wood-fired Neopolitan Pizzas.

Also in the town is Toomeys in the Village, where you can enjoy a relaxed and hearty breakfast surrounded by sport-themed decor.

The Warming Hut is another Mammoth Lakes stand-out, with it’s unique log-cabin atmosphere.

Its rustic charm is reflected in the food, which is warm, comforting – and features absolutely massive servings to keep you going all day!

If you still have energy to burn after a long day’s snow fun, be sure to spend an evening at the Mammoth Rock ‘n’ Bowl. Here you can knock down a few pins (or practically none if you’re a member of our family!) and enjoy some delicious grazing, bowling-alley-side! Be prepared for great finger food with lots of bowling-fail laughs thrown in!

Whilst it can be very hard to pull yourselves away from the culinary fare on offer in the restaurants of Mammoth, don’t miss the opportunity to experience one of the great fun American dessert traditions – gather around an outdoor fire pit to make and eat S’mores! Find out more about making S’mores at The Village Lodge here.

Where to stay at Mammoth Mountain

Whilst at Mammoth Lakes, we stayed at The Village Lodge Mammoth – a luxurious hotel set in a beautiful village complex that boasts direct gondola access to the ski slopes – plus year-round entertainment and excellent shopping and dining options. There’s even an outdoor heated pool where you can swim and relax in hot tubs surrounded by snow!

Read all about our stay at The Village Lodge at Mammoth here.

Find out more about booking your Australian family holiday to Mammoth, California at Visit California

Read all about the three exciting California destinations we visited in 2020 here!

If you enjoyed reading this article, please consider giving us a Facebook “Like” or leaving a comment below!

This article is meant to inspired travel to California once it is safe to do to. The attractions and experiences featured in this article may be temporarily unavailable due to the COVID-19 outbreak. Please consult official travel resources and individual businesses to confirm future plans.

The Let’s Go Mum family partnered with Visit California and their supporting partners for this trip.  As always, all opinions are our own.

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