Tahoe North Shore: Family Trip

Eat & Sleep

You’ve got two options: resort or rental. We’ve done both over the years, but I am starting to enjoy resorts a little more now that we’ve got a toddler in tow. Having everything right there, including a chair lift less than a block away, makes things so much easier. This year we’ve stayed at both the Resort at Squaw Creek and Northstar-at-Tahoe. Both are ideal for families that need a kitchen and separate sleeping quarters, but each bring a unique offering to the table, and the choice between the two really comes down to family preferences. 

Squaw Creek is your best bet for a cost-effective (not budget by any means.) family ski escape. They have fun-for-the-whole-family activities, like sleigh rides, dog sledding, ice skating, not to mention Squaw has a better ski school, according to my very picky Sister-in-Law (our son is still a year away from his first trip down a slope). The family suites are nice, each with a kitchen and separate living room, plus you’ve got a heated pool and two hot tubs on-site.

The dining options leave a bit to be desired, but they do their job of feeding hungry families after a day on the slopes. Stick to Sandy’s Pub, which serves up a mean burger and has games for the kids in the back. The fine dining option is a bit overpriced for what you get, but we did enjoy a nice brunch on our last day. Either way, skip desert inside and instead order a smores platter for the outdoor firepit.

If you’re willing to spend a little more, the Northstar-at-Tahoe village rentals are a great choice. Book at One Village Place, Iron Horse (where we stayed), Big Horn, Great Bear, or Catamount. There are some great dining choices in the village, sledding out back, and an ice skating rink with a bar for the big kids (probably not wise to combine the two).

For a mid day lunch, Rubicon is pretty tasty, but our family favorite is Mikuni Japanese Restaurant & Sushi Bar. The kids get their choice of a mini bento, which is about the same price as a slice of pizza. The Freaky Edamame and the Black & White Toro are delicious.

Play

If you have children under five, skiing might not be an all day thing – or a thing at all, so finding something to do can be challenging. Located 15 minutes from either resort, Truckee – meaning everything is all right, not only has a Train Museum and indoor Kid Zone for the kids, but a few chic shopping finds and a tasty pub.

If you’ve got a Thomas fan in your household, the train museum might be worth the trip alone. From cool historic photos of robbed trains in the 30s to a Thomas & Friends set-up in the middle, we could have spent a good two hours here. How does one get out without a meltdown? A real life freight train coming through that’s what! I’ve never seen Grant’s eyes so big in my life. When he looked at me, raised his little finger, and said, “one mor” I knew we had found a goldmine.

From there, I made my way into DrakeLulu's Art Shed, a store for local artists to show off their talents. I ended up with a pair of mittens worthy of New York sidewalks and a pair of big silver stud earings.

My husband ventured into Sweets for some moose crunch.

Then, we gathered for some grub at Bar of America. The food was pretty darn good, but the Gin Fizzes are the reason to go.

On our way out of town, we stopped by the Kid Zone, after a local shop owner gave us the inside scoop on winter-time fun for toddlers. This place is AWESOME. It does smell a little funky, but that’s to be expected in a dome that caters to small ones.