Vacations Blog

Kettle Bowl Ski Hill

This Christmas, I was lucky enough to take my daughters to what absolutely has to be the world’s greatest family ski hill. It’s called Kettlebowl and it’s located near my hometown - Antigo, WI.

For little ones learning to ski, from age about 3 to teens, there can be no better spot on earth. Run by volunteers of the Langlade County Ski Club, it is amazingly affordable ($4 adults, $2 children over 6). The affordability extends to the food as well - if you spend more than $6 on lunch, you must be really hungry.

Kettle Bowl Chalet

View from the top

The 200 foot vertical drop hill is open when snow is available and school is not in session, usually weekends and holidays from Christmas or mid-January through March. It’s very family oriented so there are many parents out teaching their kids. Its common to see any adult helping out any little kid who has fallenwhether they know them or not.

My four-year-old mastered the rope tow in about an hour. My six-year-old advanced from the “baby” hill to the “bunny” hill, and could go up and down all by herself without Dad having to be there at all. The self-confidence and feeling of independence this gave her was amazing. Kettlebowl is not like most hills where the kids first learn the magic carpet and then have a whole new set of challenges with the chair lifts, which are usually too tall for them to get on and off. Each hill is just a little bigger and each tow rope just a little faster. My 10 year old nephew loved that he could leave his Dad behind and go anywhere he wanted on any of the 10 runs, except the one called “Face” which is still too hard for him - so he still has something to grow towards.

My little ones in 2006

In 2006 the Langlade County Ski Club did a fund raiser to build a new chalet and upgrade some of the rope tows to have electric motors as the power source. Previously the power source had been old farm tractors (I’m not kidding).

We made two days of skiing on a short trip home and I think that was the best present Santa brought.

If you enjoyed this post, make sure you subscribe to my RSS feed!

Beyond the neon and glitz of the world-famous Las Vegas Strip lie numerous opportunities for families to discover Southern Nevada’s colorful and often overlooked natural landscape. From flourishing desert meadows to red, rusty cliffs to pine tree-covered mountain peaks, just a short drive from The Strip visitors can experience hours of exploration and fun.

Located in the middle of the city and built on the site of the birthplace of Las Vegas, visitors can start their adventures at the 180-acre Springs Preserve, offering a glimpse at the region’s geology, desert plant-life and numerous animal species that call Southern Nevada home. Children are amazed by the wild jackrabbits, lizards, insects and desert tortoises on display at the Origen Experience. For those not afraid of getting a little wet, a popular exhibit is the flash flood simulator where visitors experience the exhilarating rush of water that results from the summer rains in the area deserts, canyons and mountains. 

The Springs Preserve also features nearly two miles of picturesque walking trails and lush gardens. Bottled water is recommended for exploration during the hot summer months. A visit to the Springs Preserve is also not complete without lunch at the Café by Wolfgang Puck. Pick a spot on the terrace and enjoy a view of the gardens and the nearby Las Vegas Strip. General Admission prices range from $6.95 to $18.95 and annual family passes are a great bargain for frequent visits.

A 25-minute drive west from the Las Vegas Strip is the 197,000-acre Red Rock Canyon National Conservation Area. Once the bottom of a vast ocean, millions of years of exposure and oxidation have created a breath-taking canyon of red and orange. A 13-mile, one-way scenic drive through the canyon provides many picture-taking opportunities. For adventurous families, nearly 20 trails offer easy, moderate or strenuous hikes into the canyon where wild burros and other animals roam and ancient petroglyphs await discovery. Designated picnic and camping areas are also available.  Maps and information on seasonal trail conditions can be found at the Visitor’s Center near the entrance to the canyon. Like the Springs Preserve, bottled water is recommended for exploration during the hot summer months. Entry into Red Rock Canyon is $5.00 per vehicle with annual passes available for purchase.

Rising high above the Las Vegas Valley to the northwest, Mt. Charleston offers visitors a dramatic change in climate and scenery. The highest peak of the Spring Mountains Range in the Humboldt-Toiyabe National Forest, Mt. Charleston’s temperatures are typically 20 to 30 °F lower than in Las Vegas, making it a popular place for visitors to escape the heat of the desert floor. Mountain biking, hiking, picnicking and camping are popular summertime activities atop the mountain, as is enjoying the spectacular views. Winter transforms the mountain into a snow-covered playground for sledding and snow play. The Las Vegas Ski and Snowboard Resort features 11 trails for beginners, intermediate and skilled winter sports enthusiasts. Ski and snowboarding lessons are available for both adults and children. Equipment rental, restaurants and bars are all onsite.

For accommodations on the mountain, the Mt. Charleston Lodge features 23 comfortably furnished log cabins nestled along a mountain ridge. The Mt. Charleston Hotel features 62 charming bedrooms, with a choice of mini-suites, king suites and a Presidential suite. Early booking is recommended for the holiday season.

Photos: Red Rock Canyon by Superfish/Springs Preserve by Jason Roth

If you enjoyed this post, make sure you subscribe to my RSS feed!

I live in the San Francisco Bay area. A place where light rain often causes traffic disasters. My vacation home is in North Lake Tahoe where ice and snow typically covers the roads from late November through April or May. I have moved around a lot so I have been exposed to many different road conditions and have learned how to navigate through them. Unfortunately, many of the drivers with whom I share the trek eastbound on Interstate 80 once or twice a month have never seen snow much less driven in it. In fact, many of them don’t even own a car (it is not necessary if you can utilize public transit) so driving in general is a bit foreign. Seven hours into the drive that should normally take four I decided this blog needed to be written.

Tip 1: All wheel drive does not equal four wheel drive

Sliding towards a guardrail that will hopefully keep you from plunging hundreds of feet to your death is no time to discover this truth. Not all “All Wheel Drive” vehicles are created equally. There is a big difference between “full-time all wheel drive” and “automatic all wheel drive”. The manufacturers of automatic all wheel drive vehicles want you to believe that these cars possess the same properties as their four wheel drive counter parts, but this is simply not the case. All four wheels do not have power at the same time. If the front wheels lose traction power is shifted to the rear wheels. This does not always provide enough traction in icy situations, especially on hills. Most four wheel drive vehicles are equipped with snow tires and all wheel drive vehicles typically are not. Additionally, all wheel drive vehicles can not use normal snow chains. If you are renting and have requested a four wheel drive vehicle, don’t let the rental agency sell you an all wheel drive substitute unless it is truly full-time all wheel drive.

Tip 2: Read the manual

The book in the glove box will contain valuable information about how to operate the vehicle in icy weather. It will also contain information about what to do if something goes wrong. For example, going from 2 wheel drive to 4 wheel drive on a Jeep doesn’t always work immediately. Sometimes you need to put the car in reverse and then back in drive before the transmission engages. Every make and model is different. It is best to know this in advance before the problem occurs so that you can respond calmly.

Tip 3: Be prepared

You wouldn’t dive into the deep end without a couple of swimming lessons. Why would you put your friends and family (not to mention the other motorists on the road) at risk? If you know you will be vacationing in an area with unfamiliar road conditions, take some time to learn the basics. Many websites offer tips for avoiding problems while driving in ice and snow. Check out Weather.com , the National Safety Council, and Edmunds for more information.

If you enjoyed this post, make sure you subscribe to my RSS feed!

It is time to give cross country skiing another try. I have tried this sport a few times and each time it felt like it was downhill skiing’s poor relation. But, the hills are getting more crowded each year and if I can learn to telemark, I will be able to enjoy the beauty of the winter mountains in silent splendor. I like the idea of finding my own trail through the snowy woods. I plan to check out Bear Valley again, it has been a few years since I last visited and they seem to cater nicely to the cross country crowd.

Bear Valley offers an extensive trail system of more than 3,000 acres. They have 35 trails for track, skate skiing and snow shoeing, plus rentals and a number of options for ski in/ski out rentals. I have heard there are usually no traffic snarls getting there and back from the bay area–unlike Tahoe. The Bear Valley Lodge offers a sweet deal if you want stay and ski special during the week. If you prefer a vacation rental, check out VRBO.com for cabins and condos in Arnold. It is only a short drive to the ski areas from this cute little town. If you like a little more adventure, you can also try a cross country snow camping trip. I did that once. I recall it as one of the most miserable nights of my life. If you can imagine trying to sleep on top of a giant ice cube in a big, dark freezer, you too can capture the experience. My friends returned again the next year, I did not. If snow camping interests you, try this moutaineering adventure company, they promise to make the experience warm, comfortable and dry. Is that possible? Let me know.

If you want to mix in a little downhill, the nearby Bear Valley Mountain Resort offers downhill skiing with 9 lifts and 2,000 vertical feet of scenic runs. This is a great resort for young families or beginning skiers. Finally, if you are looking for the sleek ski scene, you will be disappointed, this is more homey than sophisticated, and that can be quite nice.

If you enjoyed this post, make sure you subscribe to my RSS feed!

From guest blogger, Marsha Takeda-Morrison, of Sweatpantsmom.

When Kango asked me to make this week’s post about wintertime in Los Angeles, I thought about it for a moment, as I sat outside in my tank top and capris sipping an iced tea. What do Angelenos know about winter anyways? Even a drop of rain has the weatherman on the local news drooling with excitement. Speaking for myself, any day where it drops below 65° is reason to bundle up in a ski parka and thermal underwear.

But there are places where us sun worshippers can get a little taste of what the rest of the country experiences during these winter months. We may point and laugh when we see you on TV, digging out your cars and putting on boots just to get your newspaper, but we secretly want a little of the cold weather - just as long as we can still drive home in our shorts.

see more »

If you enjoyed this post, make sure you subscribe to my RSS feed!