While you may only think of Tahoe in California as a wintertime destination, many ski resorts offer amazing family fun opportunities all year long. I recently had the chance with my family to visit the Resort at Squaw Creek, which is celebrating its 25th anniversary, and was blown away by the beauty of the mountain in the summertime and the wide range of activities — both on and off the mountain — for family fun. Here are some of our family favorites from our visit.
Where to STAY: Resort at Squaw Creek
We were truly impressed with the rooms at the Resort at Squaw Creek… talk about family friendly! We opted for the Fireplace Suite, which sounds fancy and romantic, but is actually super practical for families. The kids slept on the hide-a-bed in the living room while my husband and I got a king-size bed and a closed door (hallelujah!). The room has a spacious bathroom with a shower and a separate large tub, which meant there was plenty of room for this family of five to get ready.
Best of all was the kitchenette, though we might as well just call it a kitchen. It had a mini fridge, of course, and coffee pot, but also came with a stove top, dishwasher and all the cookware and dishware a family could need. I really appreciated being able to just have cereal and oatmeal in the room one morning and if we had been staying for longer, we definitely would have considered whipping up a quick dinner in our room after a long day of adventures.
The room also had an amazing bay window overlooking the mountain — a perfect view for my morning cup of coffee.
Where to PLAY: High Camp at Squaw Valley
The Resort at Squaw Creek offers a free shuttle over to the Village where you can find the gondola up to High Camp. Up at 8200-feet, you’ll be able to enjoy amazing views of Lake Tahoe, a museum commemorating the 1960 Winter Olympics, a pool and jacuzzi as well as a outdoor skating/ice skating rink (season depending). There are separate fees for the tram, swimming and skating, but I like that you can buy tickets for just what each family member will use. Plus, there are separate rates for adults, young adults and children and kids under 4 are free (though they’ll still need a ticket). (Tip: Go on Tuesdays for an automatic $10 discount per ticket.) Be sure to pack layers for the top… as you can tell from Exhibit A below, it can be a bit windy up there.
If you’re look for budget-friendly fun, the Resort at Squaw Creek offers lots of fun free options for the whole family to enjoy. There’s a fabulous pool complete with a water slide, beach, multiple hot tubs and a separate shallow kiddie pool. My boys also loved the inviting turf “lawn,” complete with giant chess and checkers, shuffleboard and pick-up soccer games with other resort guests.
The resort also has a handful of shops to browse on their promenade, including lots of good finds for the kids at the Little Dumplings Toy Store.
Where to EAT: Sandy’s Pub
There are a number of great places to eat at the Resort at Squaw Creek, and one of our favorites was the family-friendly Sandy’s Pub, named after one of the original founders of the area. You can sit inside and enjoy sports on one of the big-screen TVs or get a table outside and enjoy the view of the pools and waterfall. Sandy’s Pub has a great kid’s menu with lots of entree options, as well as a creative cocktail menu (ahem) and delicious entrees for the adults.
The Sweet Potato Deli is also another great option for families and offers lots of quick grab-n-go items as well as Starbucks coffee drinks, made-to-order pizzas and ice cream, which my boys insisted on sampling (Tip: Ice cream portions are very generous so consider sharing if you have young kids or just want a taste.)
If you’re out exploring Squaw Village after time up at High Camp, we also enjoyed dinner one night at the Fireside Pizza Company, which has live music, a wonderful outdoor patio, and room for the kids to run around.
Where to RELAX: The Spa at Squaw Creek
After being on the road with my family for a month this summer, I couldn’t leave the Resort without checking out the spa! I needed to get the road trip kinks worked out and a few minutes without anyone asking me for a snack. The Spa at Squaw Creek provides just the kind of bliss this mama needed — serene decor, an endless array of treatments and over an hour of complete quiet. I always feel a bit ridiculous in these oversized robes, but that, right there, is the smile of a steamed, sauna-ed, massaged, very happy mom.
Summer, winter, spring or fall, you’ll find lots of reasons to enjoy a family visit to the Resort at Squaw Creek. Be sure to check out their website for all the special deals and events going on to celebrate their 25th anniversary.
Savvy Sassy Moms was not paid for this post. Our travel was hosted, but all opinions expressed are our own.
