great takes on family travel in the U.S.

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.

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.

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.

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