We had a gala of time over 3 days. First day was Snow tubing…read more(they were not open for sledding)... while it was crowded being the 2nd day after the first snowfall of hte season, it was fine. The kicker was that they gave a 50% off Learn to Ski package (cross-country skiing) which saved us several $$$ the next few days. Not only did cross-country skiing was fun (first time for us), the instructors were very patient and effective. The 2nd day I went (on a Monday morning), my group lesson became Private lesson as I was the only on in the class. Even more savings :-) The Warming Hut cafe is a great touch after doing some trails. The food was great here. The tracks for cross-country skiing was kept up. Our entire group (multiple kids and adults) had a great time. Weather was good as well as a bonus.

It was a toss up between BV or Leland's...after reading the reviews for Leland's, I opted for BV…read more It was my kids first time in the snow and I didn't want them to have a horrible crowded first experience. We had to leave early because I wanted to be there close to opening time if 9am, we got there around 10am and there were plenty of parking spots and tubes for the kids to ride. For 6 people, 4 tube rentals for 2hrs it cost me $160. At Leland's I would've paid $240. It was a pleasant experience. The staff was very friendly and seemed genuinely happy doing their job. We had so much fun, the kids were whooped after the two hrs. At first I don't think that two hrs would be enough, but it was perfect. It's an honor system for the amount of time you use the tubes, don't be the one who tries to use them all day. There are a lot of people coming into the park at all times of the mid morning. 2 1/2hes is more than plenty to wear the little ones out. We will definitely be back and would recommend Bear Valley Adventure Co to anyone who has kids.

I've been to the Village for tubing and snow play, this was my first time at the resort because my…read morekids were taking snowboarding lessons. The cost for lessons is comparable to other places, and somewhat of a good deal as it also includes a lift ticket. The lesson itself was less than two hours, so I wish they had a half-day lesson for this age group (13+). That being said, after the first lesson my kids were able to get on a lift for the easiest run and practice on their own. The process for parking, checking in, and rentals was STRESSFUL. Get there early!! The resort itself is kind of MEH. We came during one of the holiday dates (literally when else do folks come as we all have work and school) and it was over-crowded and kind of gross. Food was tragic, and over-priced. Leave food in your car and go eat in your car, it's that bad. I'd come again for my kids, but would arrive as early as possible with a big breakfast.

You can tell that Bear Valley is a ski area that time has left behind. It's not on any major ski…read morepass systems, and the day lodge is dated and run down. Flashiness is not their thing - The entrance to the lodge from parking looked like the back door to a grade school, so for a minute we were worried we had gone the wrong way. It didn't help that the info on the website was so poor we knew nothing about the lodge - like if they had food (they did), or lockers, or a store, etc. (Turns out they do have lockers but they no longer work). The only "modern" touch since my last visit (15 years ago) was the addition of RFID lift tickets (used on the main lifts at the bottom). The vibe here during our Friday visit was: small town; locals and families. There had been 6 inches of overnight snow (with more still falling), so several groups had come up for the day from nearby towns in the Central Valley. There was also a lift ticket deal that day ($30 off when you buy two), but it was not advertised on the website, nor at the ticket area (just some unexplained jargon on a sign near rentals). My friend N and I were on different morning routines so we bought our tickets at separate times and missed out on the deal. We only found out later - Very annoying. Apparently we had to be "in the know" to take advantage. On the plus side, each adult lift ticket was pretty inexpensive for the Sierras ($135 in Spring 2024). The food situation here was the worst I've ever seen at any ski area, anywhere. We had intentionally returned very late to the day lodge to miss the main lunch crowd (Note: It's the only place with food on the mountain). But there was still an incredibly long, slow line to order. The offerings were meager (mostly fried-up frozen food), and they were under-staffed by a sullen crew who were cooking most items to order, one burger and chicken sandwich at a time. Just stupid. When we saw this, my friend and I opted for a yogurt, a bag of chips, and a bag of cookies to tide us over. I also had a snack bar in my pocket - But god forbid that they find me with outside food; there were signs everywhere stating this was verboten. (Note: If I'm ever at BV again, my future self will be putting a sandwich in my pack and eating it off-piste in some secret alcove). Other oddness. All lodging, including a ski lodge/hotel, is on the opposite side of the mountain and only available by shuttle. A few ski runs went down that way, but there were no lifts to get back. Turned out we were staying in that lodging area, but we didn't know exactly where the runs terminated; the map was too vague. Again, it appears you have to be in the know. In short, I found Bear Valley to be a below-average (a.k.a. 2-star) ski area. But it turns out they're in luck, because the snow on that day was so fluffy and fun that - despite all the negatives - I had one of the best ski days I've had in awhile. So I'll level-up for that.

I haven't been to the snow in years and my ten year old daughter had never touched snow. The four…read moreof us drove to Spicer Sno park and had a ball. The roads were clear and it was an easy drive from San Leandro. We built a snow man and found a leftover sled to sled with. I would recommend Spicer Sno park to anyone who wants to ok lay in the snow.

Took a day trip from the bay. Lots of fresh snow after a new year storm. I strongly recommend…read moresnowshoeing or walking down the spicer reservoir road. Just a couple hundred feet and there are plenty of sledding options, with longer runs and fewer boulders. Paid $15 to park for the day ($40 for a season ticket). We arrived at noon and although the lot was full, people were constantly coming and going, so we were able to find a spot after one loop around the lot. It's 2hrs 40mins and about 150miles from our part of the Bay Area. This was a good amount of time for a day trip. more than 3 hours and it starts to feel a little less appealing.

The Lodge is a cabin style stay. It shows tattered worn out signs of accommodations and old simple…read morecharm it once served. Although in need of a face lift it served its purpose. Don't pay more than 150 a night then you will feel that you were greatly taking advantage of. The hotel provide the shuttle service to the mountain. There's absolutely nothing in the area as far as convenience stores or shops. The Lodge 'convenience store sold some small, very expensive package goods and T-shirts but it smelt like Grandma's armpits. Bring cases of water and your favorite beverages and a cooler!!! Maybe you could bring your own little small barbecue for outside your car if you wanted ! We also brought a coffee maker of our own, which was recommended to us. Best thing we did. Don't forget to bring your favorite treats and snacks up and instant soups and oatmeal. We decided to have wine last night by the fire pit, and it was gas lit very loud and no warmth We went to the grizzly lounge. We had a few cocktails and appetizers that were Mid. You come here to ski, but when you rest your head, you want some convenience and comfort Have a great season ! Pray for snow!

Just got back spending 2 days in Bear Valley. The Bear Valley lodge is a wonderful place but oh…read morethese guys are stuck in the 60s! The overall lodge and the rooms are dated and could definitely use a refresh. They have janky & clunky keys to open doors, old heaters to heat rooms & the world's oldest elevator. Not only that they don't provide coffee machines or an iron in the rooms, forget a microwave or a fridge. For the hefty price they charge, they don't even refresh your rooms or offer turndown service if you stay more than a night. I saw several active leaks in the common areas on the 4th floor and at the check-in desk. The staff literally had a paper cup to catch the leaking water. Plus the restaurant options they have are terrible. If I had another option in BV, I'd definitely avoid this place. But they will continue to have customers as there isn't too many other options for people.

We visited Bear Valley snowmobile today! We wanted to do the one hour tour, which is first come…read morefirst serve. I was nervous about crowds so we got there at 8:45. We got checked in right at 9 AM and then we were ready to go. We rented 2 snowmobiles, my husband drove 1 with our 9 year old and I drove the other with our 8 year old. Our tour guide was Kai and he was great. Gave us a quick rundown of how things go and we were off running. He took us up in the village and showed us several "landmarks" in the area. We had tons of fun and this 1 hour trip was a great introduction to snowmobiling. We hope to visit again and go in the 2 hour alpine trip

When it hits December or January , my son will remind me that he never asks for too much, but…read morethere's only one thing that he always makes sure that I say yes to, his FAVORITE WINTER ACTIVY the SNOWMOBILE RIDE! We trully Trust and love this place called " BEAR VALLEY SNOWMOBILE " . From the service to their Snowmobiles and tracks. Our first experience here was when my son was so young :) . They had this caddy that you can attach to your Snowmobile for the child's Safety. After a very good experience with them, we never changed our place to Snowmobile, we stick to this company when it comes to Snowmobile rides. Every time we come here we rent like 2 to 3 beautiful SNOWMOBILES and it drives really well and smooth, the tracks are also so cool. AS FAR as I KNOW .... this is the ONLY snowmobile company where YOU DON'T NEED a TOUR GUIDE. You go on your OWN and CAN ENJOY and STOP whenever you want 'coz you don't have a tour Guide to Follow. But their STAFF is all over the TRACKS patrolling the area just in case you need Help. It's SO EASY, it is guaranteed that you wont even get lost, the tracks are long, but it is easy to recognize the paths. I Strongly recommend this place for good SNOWMOBILE RIDES. This is the MAIN REASON that we visit up NORTH every year 'coz of this place. Also, Shout out to KIM who is always there to give as a very Satisfying Stay, I believe that she's been in this Snowmobile Company for almost 30 years. When I see this Person in the Front desk, I always know that our RIDE will be another AMAZING EXPERIENCE !!!

We recently visited Leland Snowplay, and while the snow area itself was fun for the most part and…read moremost of the staff were helpful and polite, our overall experience was overshadowed by extremely rude behavior from one particular staff member. The issue was mainly with one staff member in the parking lot who was also present in the play area. He was shouting at people at the top of his voice, including families with small children. The tone and aggression were completely unnecessary, and it genuinely scared some of the kids. Families drive for hours to get there, and this place is not cheap. We were told the place was "full" in a very aggressive manner, even though there was still visible parking available and the front desk was continuing to sell tickets. Groups had arrived together, and there is no network reception there to coordinate once separated. Not even allowing people to park briefly -- when space was available -- to figure out their next course of action felt unreasonable and poorly managed. To be clear, this behavior seemed to be limited to this one individual. The staff at the ticket counter and in the snow play area were courteous and pleasant. It honestly felt like this one person may have been overwhelmed or frustrated, but that does not justify shouting at paying customers -- especially around young children. Unfortunately, this kind of experience leaves a lasting impression, and it makes us hesitant to ever return.

I had an amazing time at Leland Snowplay! I drove three hours from San Francisco during a storm,…read moreand the powder conditions were absolutely perfect. I visited on a Friday with my 5-year-old, and it was a fantastic experience. One of the best things about this place is the free parking and the reduced weekday pricing. When we went, there were only about a dozen families, so we had plenty of space to enjoy ourselves. I can imagine it gets much busier on weekends and holidays. The staff was super friendly and helpful, which made the experience even better. I also appreciated that the lodge had food available--we had chicken tenders and a Philly cheesesteak, both of which were solid options. The food was by no means amazing but it was nice to have an option. The lodge itself is a nice spot to warm up, especially with the cozy fireplace. Plus, they sell essentials like gloves and boots in case you need them. My only con is reception is bad and there isn't wifi but in many ways that is probably a good thing so I could focus on spending time with my kid instead of being on the phone. The three-hour drive was totally worth it! I made it there in a Subaru Outback without chains and had no issues on the road. I'm already looking forward to coming back!

Nice hill, lots of people, but everyone was nice and friendly…read more Plenty of parking on the side of the road. Perfect spot to bring a camp stove and heat up some soup or hot cocoa!

A little hard to find but it does have its own parking lot!…read moreGreat hill for sledding, snow shoeing. Kids loved it.

Tube Tahoe was an absolute hit for my family. What really made the experience stand out was the…read morestaff. This place has a genuine mom-and-pop feel, the kind where people actually care about the families coming through the door. Bekah at the front desk was the first person who really set the tone. My day had already been a bit hectic trying to coordinate everything, and she calmly helped straighten things out and get us settled in. Lindsay was fantastic out on the hill--super attentive and very protective of my boy's safety, which any parent immediately appreciates. Erik went above and beyond helping my 4-year-old son Sebastian when he was unsure about getting on the tube. That moment meant a lot to me as a parent. The kids working at the top of the hill kept the energy up and made it exciting for my boys every run. Back at the lodge, Bekah and Dee were everywhere helping people out and keeping things running smoothly. Dee in particular seemed to be all over the place making sure everyone had what they needed. Another big plus: they have all the gear you might need right there at the lodge, and the prices are very fair. If you forget something, don't turn around or stress about it--just settle in at the lodge and they'll get you taken care of. Honestly I could keep going, because everyone there contributed to making the day great. I was trying to divide my mind and body managing the kids, but the staff ended up being the glue that held the whole experience together. If you're bringing kids to Tahoe and want something fun, welcoming, and run by people who genuinely care, Tube Tahoe is the spot.

This facility to check in is SMALL and the the bathrooms even SMALLER, it gets crowded, the staff…read moreseemed confused, on who was checking people in and who was walking people out and helping with tags. Once we finally got helped and paid we were giving tags and told end time, we were referred to go outside to wait for someone to add tags to our clothes so they could keep track of who's supposed to be an expectator and who's sledding, just to sit and watch you have to pay. Half the staff helping at the top of the snow was helpful and half was just getting by. Our kids made the best of it. Not sure if will make it back.

This place was amazing the cream foam matcha was so good and the Dubai cookie is a must try.read more

It was so much fun. And the owner it's such a sweetheart 5 we stayed for an hr and it's more than…read moreenough to have fun.

Amazing lessons for first time adult skiers! Decided to try to learn how to ski after all these…read moreyears, the beginner group lesson at dodge was my 1st lesson, and since having taken more classes at other resorts, I can say it was the most informative lesson(and least expensive) I had. It gave me the confidence, tips and tricks to pick skiing up at my first lesson! I am not athletic by any means, but learning at dodge has now provided me with a hobby I have loved for 8 years now-I still repeat tricks they taught me, and have been enjoying skiing tremendously since my very 1st lesson there. For adults and children alike-it's the best place to learn for beginners, not too challenging and has amazing instructors.

Snowboard or ski, Dodge Ridge will not only lift you up the hill but your spirits will be as high…read moreas ever! Located just an hour or two away from the bay and Tahoe, Dodge Ridge was the perfect winter getaway for the family. Operating in a cellular service black hole, your focus will be solely on the slopes and the amazing village they've built up. Before you come, be sure to make your reservations for the lifts in addition to any lessons you plan on taking. As part of the package, you'll get your choice of skis and poles or snowboard (you can switch out during your stay if you want), helmets, and boots. We decided to skip the lessons this time around but based on our impression of the lessons we observed, the staff seem proficient in skill and patience for people of all ages. After making your way up the windy road, you'll come across some parking along the side of the road. You can park there, but it's kind of a hike so you may want to consider continuing your way up where there will be a lot with reserved parking, day parking ($40 at the time), and some free parking further up. We decided to pay for parking since we planned on snacking on food that we brought and wanted our gear closer (especially for the little ones). Hopefully you came early enough to snag some convenient spots and make the most of your day. As we made our way to the lodge buildings, we first made a visit to the ticket office to redeem our lift tickets (that were reserved online). This is also where you could buy day of tickets as well but there's always a chance they get sold out depending on the season. They do have a nice bistro upstairs and restrooms in this office. Then we walked across the aisle to the equipment building where we were fitted with our gear. They lent out snowboard/ski boots and helmets (recommended) as well as did a quick measurement and adjusted bindings for our snowboards/skis. Once suited up, we ventured out to the lifts! On the far left and right were the beginner slopes where we stayed for the whole day. The lift lines were makeshift with some tape and cones to keep some order and as you made your way to the front of the line, you scan your lift tickets to open the gates to allow you to enter the lifts. During our day in the snow, the last building was a great place to recluse and recover. Inside and outside, there were plenty of seats and tables for meals which are served here at the cafe in addition to the bistro in the ticket office. For those looking to cozy up, they also have a fire pit for getting nice and toasty. Although we didn't get a taste, the food looked spectacular and reasonably priced for where you are. Throughout the establishment, the staff were super friendly and welcoming. When we had called earlier to inquire about their lessons and prices, the staff were very upfront and helpful. When we got here, we noticed they had a good number of folks working all the different stations and from what I could tell, they were constantly busy. Kudos to the training staff for preparing everyone for those mad rushes at open and close and everything in between! Overall, Dodge Ridge is a fantastic stop for those looking for the thrill of the snowy slopes! The amenities, the quality of equipment, availability of staff, and price makes this place a family favorite for us and we can't wait to come back!