We’re on Spring Break! So today, a guest post from freelance writer, Hilary Smith.
California and neighboring Nevada have recently experienced near record-breaking rainfall along with some serious flooding. All this precipitation has brought a ton of snow up to the Sierra Nevada Mountains and lifted the spirits of many snow-goers anticipating an enormous pile of fresh powder just waiting for them up on the slopes.
While skiing and snowboarding are certainly enjoyable and extremely popular, here is another option for families and their best friends, their dogs.
Take your kids and critters up to the snow and enjoy some good old-fashioned fun. Build a snowman (or woman), go sledding, have a snowball fight or hike, , blasting through the snow for the pure enjoyment during springtime.
California Sno-Parks
There are eighteen “Sno-Parks” in California that provide paved, parking areas free of snow along with sanitation and other amenities for the whole family and their four-legged friends.
As activities can be dependent upon snowfall, it’s important to check with each individual site to see what’s currently available and whether they allow snowmobiles. A day pass will cost $5.00 and a season pass valid from November 1st to May 30th is $25 plus a $1.95 fee for internet purchase. Pass are also available from local vendors near each Park.
Here’s a list of the 18 California Snow-Parks (along with other details like pass purchase) where you can have fun in the sun and snow with your kids and canines, regardless of their size or age.
Out of the Ordinary Snow Fun
Snowball fights, building snowmen and making snow angels are pretty run-of-the-mill activities for colder winter months. If you’re looking for new ideas, check out these other ways to have some fun with snow.
Snow Creatures: Try something different from the three-ball stack when creating your next snow sculpture … what about a snake, a turtle or a shark?
Snow Castles: Bring along some buckets and gelatin molds from the kitchen to make some interesting, temporary architecture. These can also be used to make excellent additions to snow forts.
Get Colorful: Add a few drops of food coloring into some reusable spray bottles and watch your kids become winter Rembrandts.
Hula Hooping: See who can keep a hula hoop going the longest while wearing puffy snow clothes!
Tic-Tac-Snow: Make a board with some sticks in the snow and use rocks and twigs as game pieces to form three across (winner gets to destroy the board).
Target Practice: Make a bullseye in the snow or choose a tree (or two or three), take aim with snowballs and fire away.
When You Go…
Don’t forget to check the local road conditions before heading into the mountains as there can be sporadic closures and detours depending upon the weather. And as any seasoned winter warrior knows, always carry chains even when the forecast calls for clear and sunny skies. It’s always better to be safe than sorry, and to be mobile rather than stranded.
Pack up the pups, corral those kids, grab some snacks and head up to the hills for some winter fun this spring. Enjoy winter’s bounty before the warmer months of summertime arrive.
Hillary Smith loves technology and hasn’t met a gadget that didn’t catch her attention. After graduating from the Northwestern Medill School of Journalism, Hillary began a career as a freelance writer focusing on the telecommunications industry. She works out every day and spoils her English bulldog, Chauncey.
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