As the warmth of winter and sun of spring beckon families, the local California ski resorts at Big Bear and Mammoth continue to up the family amenities.

Just before the ski season opened this year, our 15-year-old daughter, Christina, broke her leg. Although she clearly wouldn't be swooshing downhill with us, we plowed ahead with plans for two ski trips. After all, California's ski resorts are not only blessed with great snow conditions, but also many offer family-friendly slopeside lodging and services - with plenty of non-skier activities as well.

Mountain resorts' efforts in reaching out to families is a big factor in the increase in numbers of parents and children skiing and snowboarding together in recent years, says Michael Berry, president of the National Ski Areas Association (NSAA). Nationally, 50% of skiers and snowboarders were families with children, according to the 2003/04 NSAA National Demographic Study.

Not only are more families skiing together than ever before, there is an increase in adults older than age 45 still carving up the slopes. "One of the most fascinating trends we've seen in the past five years is the growth of multi-generational participation," adds Berry. "We're seeing that more and more of our visitors are grandparents, parents and grandkids skiing and snowboarding together."

Making the Ski Vacation Easier

It's no wonder mountain resorts roll out the welcome mat, beckoning families with tantalizing vacation packages and charming villages. Visitors are indulged with ski in/ski out lodging (and many lodging packages include lift tickets), easy-access gondolas, and dependable mountain shuttle service. Such amenities make ski trips with children much more manageable - both on and off the slopes.

In addition, the shapes of skis continue to evolve from long and narrow to short and wide - and wider - which helps to decrease the learning curve. Now there's no excuse not to join your kids on the slopes!

Keeping safety in mind, the use of helmets is also on the rise. The NSAA's Lids on Kids campaign provides helmet information (www.lidsonkids.org). Most ski classes require children to wear helmets during lessons and rent them for about $6/day.

Those planning a California ski trip will be pleased to know that as fine as winter skiing can be, spring is also a great time to visit, making the season that much longer. And when winter is especially generous with snowfall, as it has been the past few years, fantastic ski conditions can last throughout the spring season.

Spring skiing also means shedding bulky outerwear and steep rates. Some resorts, such as Mammoth Mountain, typically stay open through June. Just don't forget the sunscreen!

Big Bear Mountain Resorts

Big Bear Lake
630 Bartlett Road
Big Bear Lake, CA 92315
800-4 BIG BEAR

Big Bear Mountain and Snow Summit Resorts
880 Summit Blvd / P.O. Box 77
Big Bear Lake, CA 92315
909/866-5766

Just two hours from Los Angeles, these contiguous resorts areas along Highway 330 - Highway 18 around Running Springs pack in a lot of fun. Traversing the two resorts is easy since they share lift tickets, season passes and an express shuttle service. The Park at Bear Mountain, a snowboarder's haven, has more than 117 jumps, 57 jibs (rails, logs, etc) and two pipes on 198 acres with 34 trails. Snow Summit is a good choice for families, traditional skiers and beginner snowboarders. My kids enjoy Summit's Family Park, a fun terrain with moderate jumps and rolls - just enough to catch air.

Around Mammoth Mountain

Mammoth Mountain
1 Minaret Road
Mammoth Lakes, CA 93546
800/626-6684
Mammoth, reached by US395 north to Highway 203 (Mammoth Lakes Junction), has retained its cozy ambiance despite extensive expansion in town and on the mountain. We stayed in a spacious and cozy two-bedroom condo at White Mountain Lodge, taking advantage of the Village Gondola, which transported us directly to the slopes in six minutes. We bought lift tickets and rented our gear in the Mountain Center just outside the gondola. Guests can also store their sport gear just outside the gondola to eliminate lugging it around. What convenience! With the good mix of family restaurants, shops and markets in the large Village designed by Intrawest, and free shuttle service about town and to the golf and mountain biking trails (in summer), we didn't need our car. Look for 3,500 skiable acres, lots of grooming, 400" annual snowfall, a high-speed lift near Canyon Lodge and an 11,000 foot peak. With 28 lifts and 150 named trails, Mammoth handles crowds well, so the daily non-stop flights on Horizon Air from LAX make it especially popular for short breaks.

June Mountain
Highway 158 (June Lake Loop)
Mammoth Lakes, CA 93546
888-JUNEMTN, 760/648-7733
With just seven chair lifts and 35 named trails, skiing and snowboarding at June, treated like Mammoth's little sister, is an intimate experience. Although it lacks some of the updated lifts and flashy pizzazz found at nearby Mammoth, June is a charming resort and has some fun terrain parks. Great lodging options in nearby June Lake Village.

Mountain High Resort
24510 State Highway 2
Wrightwood, CA 92397
888/754-7878
It's cheap and it's fun, a great learning spot for young teens. Mountain High can be reached via the Golden State Freeway (5) north to the Antelope Valley Freeway (14), to Highway 138 in Palmdale; from here take 138 E to Highway 2 to Wrightwood. As the nearest ski area to Los Angeles County (just a bit over an hour away), Mountain High gets crowded and attracts a lot of snowboarders - but the rates are very competitive. Each base area is complete with ticket windows, restaurants, rentals, lessons and shops. It's part of the Angeles State Forest and well cared for too.