Northern California's Squaw Valley Alpine Meadows offers a bit of something for every member of the family. There's 6,000 acres of terrain catering to skiers and snowboarders of all levels, and the bustling Village at Squaw Valley at the foot of the mountain features bars, restaurants, boutiques and lodging, with plenty to do for those not intent on skiing or boarding from dawn 'til dusk.
Families that book their stay at the Village at Squaw Valley, at the heart of the lively base of the mountain, will have everything they need right at their fingertips. The apartment-style lodgings offer a wide variety of room configurations, including standard rooms, and one-, two- and three-bedroom suites. Like having your own condo a stone's throw from the slopes, the Village complex also has outdoor hot tubs, laundry, fitness rooms, ski lockers, a children's game room, heated underground parking and a spa.
En route to the slopes, guests walk through a European-style alpine village that includes fashion boutiques, ski shops, toy stores, frozen yogurt, coffee and sweets shops, hopping bars and restaurants. The village, with a constant roster of live music and other festive events, is a great family-friendly place to unwind after a day in the snow, as is nearby Truckee, a charming mountain town a 15-minute drive from the resort.
Squaw Valley Alpine Meadows comprises two adjacent ski resorts that are co-owned, and ticket holders have access to both. The two resorts have more than 270 trails combined, around 25% of which are for beginners, nearly half for intermediates and about a third for advanced skiers and snowboarders. The resort's ski school takes children as young as 3 years of age and all the way up to 13.
Skiers and boarders will benefit from a recently completed overhaul of High Camp, Squaw Valley's midmountain venue that is accessed by the Aerial Tram. High Camp's Terrace Restaurant & Bar was renovated, and a new High Camp Marketplace on the top floor offers healthy grab-and-go meals, coffee, wine, beer and gear. There is also a new family seating area with couches and a play area for kids as well as a new casual dining venue called Granite Bistro.
Tech-savvy trail riders (teens and tweens included) will be happy to know that Squaw Valley Alpine Meadows is constantly updating its mobile app, and a new feature now enables users to compare their ski performance with that of other skiers and snowboarders, allowing for some "friendly competition," as the resort calls it. Real-time mountain information has also been expanded to include estimated arrival times for the Aerial Tram and for the intermountain shuttle. Real-time snow and weather conditions for three different elevations have been added, too.
For families looking for a quieter, more luxurious ski resort experience, the ski-in/ski-out Resort at Squaw Creek just down the road from the Village provides just that. Accommodations range from deluxe rooms and fireplace suites to bilevel penthouses, most with views of the mountain range. The Resort at Squaw Creek houses seven eateries, a spa and meetings and events spaces. The signature Six Peaks Grille, with sweeping views of Squaw Valley, is a high-touch, high-taste steakhouse that is a great place to book a special-occasion dinner or a kids-free date night.
The starting rate for accommodations at the Village at Squaw Valley is $199 in midwinter for a nonholiday weekend; for the Resort at Squaw Creek, it is $183. Additional information about the ski resort can be found at www.squawalpine.com.