Hello Mammoth!
I’ve been to a few different ski resorts; Aspen, Vail, Big Bear and Steamboat to be exact. All of which without a toddler, hence why we chose Mammoth for our first family trip given it’s proximity to Los Angeles (about 5 hours northeast) and the ease at which we were promised by our hotel concierge over the phone.
I had been pretty set on Big Bear because I’m familiar and it’s close but Arthur has always wanted to try out Mammoth and I am so glad we did. Mammoth is quite the mountain resort with spectacular options for every level of skier/snowboarder available. And since we had Parker with us Arthur actually got his chance to go for the more intense trails he typically avoids with me and I was able to perfect my parallel skiing with a lesson and few days worth of practice.
Of course there were some hiccups bringing Parker to a new place with altitude but outside of that it’s a trip I would highly recommend to anyone traveling with kids, here are all my recs!
The Drive There
We left super early, on the road exactly by 5am as scheduled so Parker (and Arthur) could get as much sleep in as possible given 5 hours is a long time to entertain kiddos. I would highly recommend you leave early to avoid traffic and if you’re an early bird like me get some time alone with your coffee and favorite podcasts. It was quite beautiful seeing the sunrise in the desert, especially with some much appreciated silence from my boys!
They both woke up around the time we had passed the last signs of human life and were fully immersed in the dessert which was beautiful but meant we had to detour to a local town off the pathway to Mammoth for breakfast so I recommend making a plan in advance. Fortunately for me we were able to stop at a Walmart after I realized I had forgotten my long parka coat and snow boots!
We also grabbed some snacks and toys for the road, new toys (and pre-downloaded movies) are always preferable for a long car ride!
Once we got closer to the mountains we found a quite a few places to stop, including some playgrounds and the most charming little French bistro on our way back in Independence, California called Still Life Cafe. I highly recommend you stop on your way in or out!
Where we Stayed
Since both of the larger resorts were fully booked, The Westin Monache (right across from ours) and Juniper Springs, we settled on The Village Lodge, which ended up being absolutely perfect for our stay given the location next to the gondola, kind staff and full condo setup. All of the rooms are equipped with a full kitchen, living area and balcony, ours directly facing the gondola and The Village below us!
The Village is a cute little shopping center with a bunch of great restaurants, shops, a toy store and the most quaint little market we utilized almost everyday of our trip. They also had festive decorations and Santa show up as we were there for the holiday, a wood burning fire each night and plenty of other kids and families around.
The Village
Steps away from our until was the gondola entrance to take us up to the base of Canyon Lodge where we kept our ski rentals and had access to the lifts, ski school and all the aprés action, including a full bar and DJ steps away.
The concierge promised us we wouldn’t see our car until it was time to drive home and that’s exactly what happened!
Since the The Westin Monache was right across the gondola from us it’s the only other spot I can recommend with as much convienance as ours, except I don’t believe they have suites with full kitchens just fyi!
Restaurants we Loved
Since we were so delighted to avoid our car we didn’t check a bunch of the places I had on my list to for dinner that came highly recommended like Mogul Restaurant, The Lakefront and Mammoth Tavern.
Instead we chose to stay in The Village and keep it easy and warm!
As warm as these little snow globe huts just a few steps from our place!
Side Door Wine Bar & Cafe // A cute little cafe bar with a relaxed atmosphere and yummy French food. I was delighted to see fondue on the menu; different from a more traditional alpine style but still worth ordering to warm up on a chilly evening!
Smokeyard BBQ & Chop Shop // Another casual spot in The Village with a sports bar vibe and delicious BBQ. We loved the cornbread, shrimp, BBQ chicken and mac and cheese. They also had a vegan burger on the menu for Arthur, a good mix for everyone but not exactly the most family vibe!
Snow Globe Dining
Vulcania // Unfortunately they only allowed larger parties with an advance reservation for a seat in the snow globe hut but we still loved the modern Italian food they served. Very impressive for a small ski town, they had a beautiful bar and great cocktails, delicious salads, pizza and a chicken parm sandwich we ordered with the delicious bread on the side. Definitely a great spot for a fancier fare or date night although they are certainly kid-friendly.
Lakanuki // A tiki bar with American food that we didn’t end of having time for but seemed like a fun spot.
Busy Beez General Store // The most quaint little market for your stay, especially given our hotel had a full kitchen setup we ended up here almost everyday of the trip stopping in for pasta, cookie dough, honey, cheeses and wine. They aren’t as equipped as a full grocery store but they do have a small drugstore like section and fondue. I was beyond pleased!
Canyon Lodge
Mammoth Mountain has several base lodges to rent gear, dine and get on various lifts. We chose Canyon Lodge for the ease of the gondola from The Village.
Canyon Lodge also offers a ski school for the little ones and had a lot of blue and green trails for me so it was a no-brainer. Regardless, I’d recommend calling 1-800-Mammoth and have the guides help you plan the trip/logistics based on what you are looking for. They were extremely helpful when I called and saved our itinerary so we could reference it before booking.
What to Do
Woolly’s Adventure Summit // We didn’t end up here this trip but definitely a great spot for kids and families that aren’t skiing and want to have fun in the snow.
Ski School and Adult Lessons // Ski school is a drop off lesson for kids of all ages and great so you can have your own time to hit the slopes or take in the view from the lodge. We made the mistake of staying too long so I recommend you say your goodbyes, waive a few times and then disappear! I also always take an adult lesson to brush up on my skills since I don’t get to go too often and I’ve never regretted it.
Aprés // Canyon Lodge had a full party going each afternoon in the Lincoln Bar that Arthur and I weren’t able to partake in since we had Parker with us but if we were by ourselves we definitely would have enjoyed the DJ in the Gondola and nice indoor/outdoor setup. Even if you’re not skiing you can still take the Gondola up for for the fun.
More to Do
The Village and Gondola // Like I referenced earlier, The Village is a super cute shopping center with tons of great spots to eat and shop, including a market, toy store, gift shop, chocolate shop and several clothing stores. During the holidays that have Santa visits and everything looks festive. You can also take the Gondola from the Village up to Canyon Lodge to see the mountain and enjoy some hot cocoa with a view.
Scenic Gondola Ride // This wasn’t the gondola we used from The Village to Canyon Lodge but apparently is for views only, not snow sports so would be a great activity for families on a non-ski day.
Ski Weekend Links
