Posted By:

Maggie aka "The Turninator"

Picture this: the classic family ski vacation with snow angels and hot chocolate, where faces are buried behind goggles and neck warmers instead of smartphones and tablets. Well, to be honest, a ski getaway with kids isn’t the easiest vacation to plan, but we think it’s worth it. Here’s your kid-friendly guide to Sugar Bowl, a complete list of tips and tricks to make your family time on the snow memorable.

1. Score a $10 lift ticket for kids 5 and under. 

Did you say $10? Yep, at Sugar Bowl, kids 5 and under ski for just $10. Kids 6-12 ski for as low as $59. With ticket prices so affordable, it’s going to be a breakthrough year for your kid’s skiing or riding… without breaking the bank!

2. Nail the timing: door-to-door from San Francisco to Sugar Bowl in just over 3 hours.

We all want less “are we there yet??” If you are traveling with kids to Sugar Bowl on a midwinter weekend, consider driving on i80 during non-peak times– the night before, or extra early the morning of. A little creative scheduling pays off big time.

If you are traveling west on i80, Sugar Bowl is 20 minutes closer, at minimum, than other large resorts in Tahoe.

Since you won’t spend time backed up in traffic on highway 267 or 89, you can wrap up a day of skiing at Sugar Bowl and be home for dinner.

3. Choose the best time of year to ski with kids

The best time to visit is probably going to be when kids aren’t in school. But hey, we promise not to judge if you’re letting your kids play hooky to go skiing! To avoid busier periods and ski with kids in a more relaxed environment, choose midweek/non-holidays whenever possible. 

Any month of the winter season can be a great time to ski with kids. Want a preview of the typical conditions we get throughout the season?

Blog Post: Conditions Throughout the Year

4. Get the Kids Outfitted

Warm kids = happy kids, let’s break down all the essentials to keep little fingers and toes warm.

If you forgot something, the Village Lodge and Judah Lodge are both equipped with retail shops. You’ll be able to replace that mitten that got left in the driveway, no problem. If a binding malfunctions or your kid’s foot mysteriously increases in size— it’s that fast, right?— you can head to the rental shop in Judah Lodge for a spare pair of boots, board, skis, or poles. 

Want a link to a handy packing checklist?

• Water / wind resistant jacket & pants
• Long underwear
• Fleece midlayer top
• {continued}

5. Know where to park with kids in the car

If you want to get from car to slope with kids as fast as possible, Mt Judah Lodge is the easiest and most convenient place to park. There are three large slopeside parking lots with free parking. Pro tip: If carrying skis across the parking lot doesn’t sound like your idea of a good time, use the 10-minute drop-off zone next to the Judah Lodge for easy unloading. If you’ve signed up for ski or ride lessons, you can use the free, upfront ski school parking near the big white tent at Judah. Here’s a handy link.

Alternatively, show your kids the scenic route and take the Village Gondola ride across the Van Norden Meadow and the train tracks. You’ll arrive at the Village Lodge after a 10-minute ride and you can access the resort from there. Just remember, if you need to access the car again, it’s another round trip on the Gondola.

6. Choose the best terrain to ski with kids

1. Take it easy: If you parked at Judah, the easiest kid-friendly zone is White Pine. You’ll find short lifts, a moving carpet, and mellow terrain great for the kids to warm up on. 
2. Send it! If the kids are ready for more adventure, bring them to our new “flow park” off the Judah lift. The flow park is a new kind of terrain park that is full of creative snow features and is accessible to a wide range of skiers and riders. 
3. Let’s go explore: When the kids are ready to continue exploring the whole mountain, head to the top of the Disney lift and look for the the Disney Traverse. Skiing or riding through the giant snow rollers is always a winner.

7. Skiing with kids is great but… when you need an hour to yourself

We hear you! Lapping the bunny hill all day can be a task when the bigger mountain is calling your name.  A half-day group lesson or even a one-hour private lesson can provide just enough time to get your fill. Our certified ski & board instructorslk are professionals at making sure your kids have fun on the slopes. We offer four different levels of lessons to make sure that your kid is matched up with a group appropriate for their skill level. In a kid-specific lesson, your kid will learn new ski/board skills, meet new friends, and give YOU some time to ski and relax on your own. 

8. Show the kids a little Disney Magic

We may be hundreds of miles from the closest theme park, but did you know Sugar Bowl comes with it’s own Disney History? Showing your kids these three Disney connections is a surefire way to get them excited to explore the entire resort. Walt Disney was an early investor in Sugar Bowl and his legacy lives throughout the resort, especially Goofy. 

1. Find our new Goofy statue near the Disney lift for the best skiing selfie ever.
2. Watch the 1941 cartoon “The Art of Skiing,” where Goofy goes to Sugar Bowl to learn how to ski. Look for the Village Lodge featured in the cartoon at 2:39.
3. Grab a copy of our trail map and scour the trail names for Disney-related characters.

9. Keep h-anger at bay: because even the best powder day of the year won’t make a hungry kid excited to go skiing.

If there’s one thing we’ve learned, it’s that hungry kids have less fun on the slopes. Plan for success and schedule some midday R&R into your ski day. Here’s our top 3 kid favorites:

• Mac & Cheese Bar at Mid Mountain Lodge 
• Sweet sticky BBQ ribs outside on the sundeck Mt Judah Lodge
• Warm homemade Cinnamon Buns on the sundeck at Village Lodge

On a budget? Make sure there’s a Clif Bar in everyone’s pocket for chairlift snack breaks. Brown bag it at the Ratskeller for lunch. 

10. Find the Goldilocks of ski destinations: not too big, not too small

Sugar Bowl is the perfect destination for your family ski vacation. You’ll enjoy the small resort feel, while having access to a big variety of terrain. You’ll find plenty of accessible kid-friendly terrain across the resort, but there are plenty of steeps & chutes just a chairlift ride away. Join us for a trip to the mountains that the whole family will enjoy.

Posted By:

Maggie aka "The Turninator"

Interview by Maggie aka “The Turninator,” edited by Katie aka “K2.”

The votes are in and we have a winner! Abe Lincoln is once again a head above the rest – he is the star of our crowd favorite beanie design in the second annual Sugar Bowl passholder design contest! We hopped on a zoom call with Lincoln beanie designer Destiny to discuss. 

Destiny grew up in South Lake Tahoe and is a passionate designer – she wears many hats, from her own freelance work, to commissions for a local design company, and working as a barista in a local coffee shop. Full disclosure, we spent the first eight minutes of our interview talking about our shared experience working as a barista. We chose to exclude that dialogue here but if anyone wants to chat about coffee or design, Destiny is your gal!

Can you tell us how you came up with your design? 

President Lincoln is iconic and there’s a reason there is a mountain named after him. He was an inspirational leader. I think that if he were around today, I could see him going skiing or snowboarding at Sugar Bowl with a big pair of goggles on. 

I love that you could envision Lincoln out enjoying Sugar Bowl! Do you imagine that he is a snowboarder or a skier?

I think he would be a skier. Even though I love to snowboard, I really feel like I could picture him up there with his ski poles. [chuckles]

[laughing] I have to agree, with that scruffy, big beard, maybe he’s even a tele skier! So you’re a snowboarder but it sounds like you haven’t gotten to come up and ride Sugar Bowl yet. Will you come up to ride with us this winter?

I definitely will! I plan on going up to Tahoe during the winter and hopefully, we have some good snow this season. The first run that I’m going to go on will be something off Mount Lincoln. 

For sure! We’d love to have you come check out Sugar Bowl. Okay, let’s get into a little bit more about your design background. Can you tell us how you got started?

I would play around with Photoshop a lot when I was in high school. It still had fancy features back then but not like it is now! I first learned how to do all of my designing on Photoshop and I didn’t start using Illustrator until about six or seven years ago and that was a whole game changer.

Now, I’ve been running my own business for graphic design, Design by Destiny which I started six years ago. I also work for an awesome company based out of Tahoe called Hatchback Creative and they contract me out whenever they need designs done.

Sounds like you’re wearing a lot of hats (pun intended) between all the different projects you have going on! Had you entered a design competition before?

Nope, this was my first contest ever!

Wow, you have a 100% success rate!

I do, yeah. My friends and family always send me contests and things like this. I never went for it before because until recently, I didn’t feel super confident in my own work. It wasn’t that I didn’t think I did good work, I know I do. But sometimes you’re just so close to what you’re doing, you are your own worst critic. Doing this contest showed me that, wow it’s not just my friends and family that think my work is great. Seeing my design get voted to the top was really affirming to me.

When you are designing something, what is your creative process like?

There were a lot of ideas that I tossed around in my head at first. One of the methods that I learned early on is, write down the first three to five ideas that come to mind and then don’t use any of those ideas. Those are typically going to be the ideas that everyone else comes up with or they can sometimes be a little generic. It forces you to think outside the box. You cross out those first ideas, and it’s like okay, how can I make this better or more personal? So that’s how I ended up looking at the trail maps and found Mount Lincoln. 

In case anyone is out there, scratching their head because they don’t understand the connection, can you lay it out play-by-play?

At Sugar Bowl Resort, one of the four main peaks is called Mount Lincoln, and I decided to base the beanie design on it.

We’ve ordered thousands of your beanies. When our shipment arrives, we’re going to send you a big stack of beanies to share. Who are you most excited to share them with?

There are definitely a couple of coworkers who I would like to give a beanie because–  I actually recently moved away from Tahoe and when I moved, I only really knew my boyfriend. I didn’t even know my roommates. To have the support of my new coworkers voting for my design and totally believing in me and following up with me. They kept asking me, “did you win? Have you found anything out?” That was so special to me and so I definitely want to give a couple of them the beanies that they voted for.

Sounds like you’ve got some great folks to give them to. Outside of your close friends and family, who in the world would you most like to see rocking your beanie?

You know, it would be so cool if Johnny Depp was wearing my beanie. [laughing] I don’t really know if it would go with his style but he seems like he might like the quirkiness of my design.

I’m sure he’s gotten weirder stuff in the mail than a Sugar Bowl passholder beanie. Let’s send him one!

No doubt about that. But you know, I would really love to send a couple to this design company in Tahoe called Rise Designs. The owners’ Mike and Marly are the coolest guys ever. They are actually the ones who got me started with Illustrator. 

I got in contact with them and they sacrificed their time and sat down with me to show me the basics of Illustrator. Thanks to them I was able to not only do this contest, but I was able to start working at Hatchback, and I’ve been able to grow my design world. Those guys are on the top of the list of people I’d like to see wearing my beanie. 

When you look forward to this winter, besides being stoked to wear your winning design, is there anything else you are excited about?

I’m really looking forward to quality time with my family, especially since I don’t live in Tahoe anymore. When I am up there I really want to soak in every minute that we can talk together, eat together, and adventure together. We had a pretty big shift and a family emergency at the beginning of the year and it’s actually bonded us closer together as we’ve all processed through it. I don’t regret moving but I look forward even more to being able to visit and get in as much time with them as possible.

So if we get some really good snowfall, maybe I can go up to Sugar Bowl with my brother and my boyfriend to just get out and enjoy Tahoe together.

Please do come up and see us. Getting out and skiing with family, those are such special memories. Please bring your crew to Sugar Bowl this season and we’ll make sure everyone gets out there. We can’t wait to see everyone together wearing your beanies.

I’ll probably lose my mind seeing everyone wearing it. Like OH MY GOD, that’s my beanie! 

We can’t wait to see that happen. Destiny, thanks again for taking the time!

If anyone is reading along, keep an eye on our socials for how you can get yourself a Passholder Beanie.

Interview by Maggie aka “The Turninator,” edited by Katie aka “K2.”

Posted By:

Maggie aka "The Turninator"

It’s no secret, Tahoe is a popular place on winter weekends. Traffic can get jammed and lines can grow long. But if you choose Sugar Bowl and follow our five favorite tips, you can make lines on the mountain instead of waiting in them! (Hint: #5 is our favorite.)

1. Don’t Drive Farther on I-80 than you have to.

The the closer you get to Lake Tahoe, the more congested the roads get. Sugar Bowl’s exit (174 at Soda Springs) is the first ski area exit off of I-80 when driving up from Sacramento and Bay Area communities. You’ll be taking your first Sugar Bowl chairlift ride while others might still be stuck in a traffic jam farther down the road. And since you’ll skip that same traffic jam when your day is done, you can be home for dinner!

2. Nail the Timing

Let’s talk about days and hours. If you want a ski & ride experience that’s as quiet and relaxed as possible, you’ve come to the right place. Even on a peak weekend, we preserve the skiing and riding experience at Sugar Bowl by not overcrowding the resort.

Here are some ways to optimize your timing even more:

• Visit midweek. Of course, midweek days – especially Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Thursdays – are the least popular days to ski or ride. You’ll often score non-existent lift lines on Fridays and Mondays, too, so if you can extend or shift your weekend by a day… you might even get lonely out there.

• Get an early start. Our early birds who catch the lifts at the crack of 9:00 am are often rewarded with short lines until everyone else gets themselves together an hour later. But don’t kid yourself about the amount of time it takes to get on the road. Early birds are booting up in the parking lot at 8:30 am at the latest, and they’ve already defrosted their windshields and eaten their breakfasts. Set your alarm!

• Start when others leave. Alternatively, you can opt for an afternoon start. When most skiers and riders get “lunch legs” at noon and head home, you’ll be fresh and ready to go. Perks of the 12:00 to 3:00 pm ski day? You’re lined up perfectly to enjoy our legendary après. Sugar Bowl hosts Rockin’ the Bowl every Saturday and Sunday from 1:00 to 4:00 pm on both the Judah and Village sundecks, so wrap up your ski day right with live music and your beverage of choice.

3. Really, Really Get Out of Dodge

If you’re up for an adventure, here are three ways to separate yourself from the pack:

• Hike for turns. Try some hike-to inbounds terrain like Crow’s Peak or Roller Pass.

• Extend your ski/ride day. Get your heart pumping with a lap or two of uphill travel outside of normal operating hours. Uphill travel is open from 6:00 am to 7:00 pm, as conditions allow (and you’ll need a touring set up with skins.)

• Head up and out. Take advantage of Sugar Bowl’s open boundary policy and plan a day of backcountry skiing/riding. Avalanche training and safety equipment is recommended for any form of backcountry travel, so be sure to inquire about training with your preferred guide service. We recommend ASI (Alpine Skills International), headquartered near Sugar Bowl on Donner Summit.

4. Alpine Lodge > Alpine Start

Choose to spend the night a snowball’s throw from the lift you plan to ride in the morning. Don’t spend your morning driving to Tahoe with the I-80 crowd. The Hotel at Sugar Bowl is located in the heart of Tahoe’s only snowbound village. Wake up slopeside, grab a breakfast burrito from the Nob Hill cafe, and still have time to nab first chair.

5. Choose a Resort that Manages the Crowds, so you Don’t Have To

Sugar Bowl follows a simple, yet radical, rule. Each season, we choose a specific number of season passes to sell, and we just stop selling ‘em when we hit that number. On top of that, we also limit lift tickets each day to preserve the on-mountain experience.

Less traffic getting here, less people in line, and less skiers on the mountain. That means more fun for you. Our proudly independent resort has been operating since 1939, and our team cares deeply about continuing our legacy of authentic alpine experience. We believe that requires managing how many skiers and riders come to enjoy our resort, every single day of the season.

Bonus Time-Saving Tips:

Closest Parking for Ski & Board School

If you are signed up for a group or private Ski & Board School lesson, we offer free priority parking directly in front of the big white tent located near the Judah Lodge. You’ll be steps away from the check-in desk for your lesson.

Reload & Go Direct to Lift

Save your ticket! If you decide to ski/ride another day, you can login to your sugarbowl.com account and purchase online. Choose to “reload your existing ticket” and you’ll be ready to go straight to the lifts next time you visit Sugar Bowl, no stop at the ticket windows needed.

Beat the crowds and come see how we do things differently at Sugar Bowl. Next time you visit Tahoe, you’ll be making lines on the mountain, not waiting in them.

Posted By:

Maggie aka "The Turninator"

There’s a Better Way

When the first thing you say about your ski weekend in Tahoe is how long you sat in traffic, something is broken. Here at Sugar Bowl, we value providing an uncrowded experience. To fulfill this commitment to our mountain community, we choose to do things a little differently.

We Manage the Crowd, so you Don’t Have To 

It’s pretty simple– Each season, we choose a specific number of season passes to sell, and we just stop selling ‘em when we hit that number. On top of that, we also limit lift tickets each day to preserve the on-mountain experience. 

What does Limited Sales Mean?

It’s not complicated; by selling a limited amount of season passes and lift tickets, we don’t overcrowd the mountain. Less traffic getting here, less people in line, and less skiers on the mountain.  That means more fun for you. Our proudly independent resort has been operating since 1939, and our team cares deeply about continuing our legacy of authentic alpine experience. We believe that requires managing how many skiers and riders come to enjoy our resort, every single day of the season.

Okay, it’s Less Crowded, but is it Affordable?

We invite you to shop around; you’ll find that our lift tickets are more affordable than many resorts in the area. The earlier you buy, the more you save. View the monthly ticket calendar to find deeply discounted lift tickets. Buy online in advance for the best rates, up to 40% off. Sign up to be notified when there is a sale coming up.

Authentic Alpine Experience

Your time is valuable, so spend it skiing and riding, because ski trips are too short for traffic (on the roads and the slopes). We’re excited to show you how we do things differently at Sugar Bowl. Remember, tickets are subject to sell out each day, so be sure to purchase in advance.