So we came across this very unusual exhibit while we were in Venice, Italy called the Authentic Human at the Palazzo Zaguri. We decided to check it out and were both amazed and a little freaked out. The exhibit actually takes real human bodies that I assume have been donated to science, and they were dehydrated and manipulated to follow the anatomical drawings that Leonardo did, including the Vitruvian Man. Many of the illustrations came from the royal family of England. The exhibit can be a little disturbing but it’s amazing to see the detail revealed underneath the skin in the human body and I highly recommend it for older kids who are taking human anatomy or art students who need to understand the underworkings of the human body. Click here to learn more about Authentic Humans.
It’s definitely something I don’t think we’d ever see in the states but maybe I’m wrong. Either way, it’s definitely something to see. Make sure you have a chat with your kids first because these are real human beings who are now part of the exhibits so they should be respectful of that.
From the museum’s website, “For the first time in the world an exhibition with real anatomical findings inspired by Leonardo da Vinci’s drawings and anatomical studies. An extraordinary and unprecedented journey to discover the human body through the eyes of universal genius.”
According to the museum exhibit, “From the most famous drawings by Leonardo Da Vinci, some anatomical works have been reproduced: “Figure in orgasm”, “Vitruvian”, “Embryological study” and many others.”
https://www.palazzozaguri.it/en/leonardo/
The Venice show has closed but for information on more Authentic Human Body Exhibits go to:
So before I my daughter I had been scuba diving for years. I couldn’t wait to get her certified one day as I envisioned being under the sea with exploring fish and seeing turtles and finding big Caribbean lobsters together. It took me awhile to get around to it, but after Covid I said that’s it. Let’s go live!
Getting Started in Scuba
We had done one recreational walk in dive at Cokie Beack with Cokie Beach divers, which was so much fun. They gave us a dog biscuit in the water and we watched the little fish go nuts. Got some great shots. That got Morgan comfortable with the idea and ready to go for more.
Getting an Open Water Certification
We made an appt with the local dive shop up on 90th street. Met a really nice man who walked us through the paperwork, and then fit my daughter for gear. He found her a great mask that fit her eyesight. He walked her through the program and gave her her new PADI book.
When I took scuba you had to do all the lessons in a classroom and then do the other half in the pool. Now you’re able to do it online. So she went through all the online lessons with PADI and once she had passed everything she was ready to go to the pool. They had two nights of pool training and she loved it. As I sat up in the bleachers I was so proud watching her work with her group. Since it’s NYC, we walk everywhere, so we walked home smelling like chlorine and hungry. We had some great conversations talking about everything she learned.
Certification Dives in St. Thomas, Virgin Islands
So while the dive shop offered local cert dives out in Dutch Springs, PA, we decided to do something a little more exotic. So I booked a trip to St Thomas and her cert dive with the Red Hook Dive shop.
I could not have been happier with the owners and the instructors. They really made us feel like home. We still had to wear masks inside the store and on the boat (unless we were eating or drinking) so we did so that we’d not get anyone in trouble. I went on three dives with another group while Morgan went off with the cutest scuba instructor and he put her through her paces.
Last Certification Dive
Her instructor invited me along for the last dive and we had a great time. He gave her his dive watch so that she could do orienteering. She led the dive and I got to watch her take us around the coral reef. She was a little fast and we had to keep up and very excited. I learned that it’s different to dive with an excited teenager. Twice she bumped me with her fins and banged in me and she almost lost her mask. So I learned I have to give a new diver a bit more leeway and also keep a close eye.
After that we had a great rest of the trip, sitting back in our room and looking through the GoPro videos. It was something I’ll never forget. Our hotel was up on a hill that had a million steps, but it was fun because there were iguanas all over the place.
Here’s our favorite Dive shops. Highly recommend. And Adventure Scuba does all their training at Asphalt Green in NYC, which has a beautiful, huge pool.
Here Are Our Dive Centers that We Highly Recommend
You can do what everyone else does and just follow the herd to your local, overpriced university or you can try something new. Not only will your child get a college level education, they will learn about the world around them and meet people from other cultures. This one could argue is even more valuable than the classroom work they do.
It’s Cost Effective
The cost of a college education has risen outrageously over the last four years. It’s an absolute tragedy how many kids come out of school with huge debts that make them risk adverse. They can’t afford to start a business because they have to start paying off those debts in six months, so they have to find a job and be on someone else’s payroll. They can’t even goof around and travel for a year if they want, because these education debts are weighing them down.
The US should be ashamed at what they are doing to our young adults, at the most vulnerable periods in their lives. It’s a form of indentured servitude if you ask me. It’s the only loan that can’t be thrown into bankruptcy, so there really is no way out. You either pay it off or have it haunt you for years. Europe and other countries do not do this to their students. In Germany, it’s even free to non-residents after a year.
There are also so many programs now in English taught in Europe that with a little extra work, and a little nerve, your child can walk away with a solid education, great connections and little to no debt.
Your Child Can Learn a New Language
Didn’t do as well as you’d hope they would in those couple of language classes they taught your kids in school? Not surprised. It’s really tough to learn a language and stick with it, in the US. Unless you go out of your way to find those that speak the same language–some are easier than others depending on the language–it’s tough to maintain it.
I have always regretted not speaking at least one other language and am always so impressed when I hear someone switch back and forth. It will open up a world of doors and give your child a competitive advantage in this global economy. By going to college abroad, even if your child’s program is taught in English, they will still be exposed to another language outside the classroom. And, since it’s going to be used for practical purposes, the language your child picks up with be more functional and stay in their heads longer, than if they learned it in a classroom.
It Builds Confidence
As adventurous parent types, we know getting out there into the unknown and trying new things and meeting new people, and seeing that you can succeed, is the biggest confidence booster you can have. When I was an exchange student I remember being terrified at first, but then realizing, this isn’t so bad. I think I can be dropped anywhere and be able to figure it out. That lesson stayed with me from my 20s all through my life. Finding out that the world is not as big and scary as you thought, and people are not as different as you thought, gives you the confidence to know you can make it anywhere, even if it’s only for a few days. It changes your mindset to think globally, and understand that you are part of this big world, and not on the outside looking in from just your little corner.
You have an Excuse to Travel
Selfishly, I’d love my daughter to go to Italy. We joked that if she goes to Florence, I’ll just show up with empty suitcases. When you go to look at colleges or visit your child at school or on break, you have a good excuse to do amazing travel you might not have otherwise done. If your child goes to college in Europe, maybe you can crash at their place for the week and head out for some sightseeing fun either on your own or with them as your tour guide of wherever they have landed. Since they are already there, that’s one less ticket for you to buy. You can catch them at the end of the school year and do a little touring before heading home. I know cost can be a factor, but think about all the money being saved by having them go to school in another country to begin with.
Where to Find Out More
There’s a site I love, and when my daughter goes away to college the year after next, she’ll be leaning heavily into this site. It has everything you need to know about going to college overseas. Check it out. It’s called BeyondtheStates.com.
This was an amazing trip I got to spend with my daughter and mother. I had always wanted to go to Niagara Falls but had never been.
When my daughter was down visiting my mother in Hilton Head, South Carolina, my mom kept sending me hints that she’d really like to go see Niagara Falls with us. My daughter had never been there and neither had I. My mom has only been to the New York side.
My daughter was supposed to come home to New York City as an unaccompanied minor after I took her to visit my parents for two weeks. Hey she gets some grandma time and I get some me time. After my daughter stopped speaking to my ex-husband, it’s been a little tricky going anywhere on my own, so those are my two weeks to do whatever I need to do. And it’s great because she doesn’t get to spend much time with my parents since they moved to Hilton Head, SC. I also noticed that when I was there, she would focus on me, so by me just going down and spending a few days and then letting her fly home direct on her own, means she gets to focus a little more on my parents while visiting.
Instead of Traveling Alone, We Made It A Girls’ Trip
So I took a look at the prices and since you have to pay $100 for unaccompanied minors to fly, I said to my mom, “tell you what. I’ll buy your ticket and you can fly up to Buffalo, NY with my daughter and we’ll spend a few days in Canada. She thought that was a great idea. Then she decided to rent a car and drive back to New York City with us and spend a few days in New York visiting friends.
Traveling to Niagara Falls
So it was perfect. I took Amtrak out of Penn Station for a whole $68 one way to Buffalo and caught an Uber up there and took it to the airport where we picked up the rental car. I would have just let my mom pick me up but we needed to put my name on the rental car so I could drive home. My mom and daughter flew from Savannah, Georgia for about $120 each and I was able to use my Chase Sapphire points and card to book them cheap flights.
It was my mom, me and my 14 year old daughter so it was the girls weekend! We headed out to town in Buffalo and stayed local the first night. To be honest, there’s not all that much to see in Buffalo, NY but we found a pretty cute restaurant and got some burgers.
The next morning we started out early because I realized I could squeeze in an interview with customs to complete my daughter’s Global Entry before we headed to Italy in a week. It’s pretty hard to book an interview at JFK so it was I think, a stroke of genius to book the interview at the Canadian border.
Interviewed at the Canadian Border for Global Entry
By the way, I had a letter to visit Canada from Morgan’s dad but it didn’t occur to me to get one for Global Entry because there was nothing on the website that said she needed permission from both parents. She had that for her passport so I figured it wouldn’t be needed for Global Entry, which is all about getting back IN to the country. But luckily they accepted the letter he had sent showing that he was allowing her to enter Canada. That would have been a real bummer if they didn’t accept it because we were flying to Italy a week later.
After that we headed over to the border and went through in the car. Ironically, they checked my daughter’s passport, asked us all a few questions and let us through. They never asked for the letter giving her permission to enter from her Dad. I always make sure to get them though. The one time you don’t bring it is when they are going to ask.
Visiting Niagara Falls in Canada
Once you go over the border to Canada it’s a whole other world. Niagara Falls on the Canadian side is built up with beautiful hotels and gardens and things to see like a small botanical gardens and others. The only big problem is parking. My mom has trouble walking so I dropped her and Morgan off in the middle of town and then drove all the way to the nearest public parking, which was about $25. But once I found the parking lot, it was pretty easy. I went over to the bus station and bought three passes for us to take the busses from that point on. I took that bus back to where my mom and daughter were and we walked to the nearest restaurant and had something to eat. We stopped at the Hard Rock Cafe and had lunch outside and did a little shopping.
I will tell you that it’s pretty hard for someone who has trouble walking to get around. My mom has a walker but she really should had had some sort of motorized wheelchair or one of those little carts that fit in the trunk of a car. I would have rented one of those if I had thought of it. I looked around and did not see a lot of people with any mobility issues and I think they could do a lot more in this area. It’s pretty packed and even when she was getting on the bus with her walker, it seemed a little out of the norm and people were confused about how to drop the platform to let her up. And some were a little annoyed including the driver. But we worked around it. I did a whole lot of walking and getting the car and picking up and driving and dropping off but there’s no way she could have gotten around on her own.
We headed over to the boatride and bought tickets. That’s what my mom was looking forward to the most. We bought tickets through Hornblower because they manage the cruises on the Canadian side. The woman who worked for the boats for some crazy reason recommended we take the Funicular instead of the elevator as she seemed to think it would be easier for my mom. If I could go back and tell that woman off I would have. My mom had to wait on a winding line and then down ramps in her walker and when we got to the bottom we watched people in wheelchairs roll right off the elevator. It was a little tough getting her back up to the elevator and I worked up a good sweat in the August sun pushing her in her walker that converts to this seat with wheels.
We made it to the boat. There are two sets of boats, one from the Canadian side and one from the New York side. The maid of the mist is the NY side. Be prepared as you are going to get wet. This for me, was the highlight of the trip. Here I was with my daughter showing her the sheer awesome power of something as simple as water. The pounding white mist was just incredible and like looking up at the night sky, it reminds you how small and fragile you are. The water looks so refreshing and you think to yourself how bad would it be to just take a dip. The truth is you would very quickly become a crisis if you popped in and only the seagulls get to luxuriate in the brisk blue and green water. They are the only ones who dare to wade in the water as they are the only ones who can pop up and fly themselves out of danger as they move closer to the edge.
I think if I were a seagull I would still worry if I was coming that close to the end. What if suddenly a wing didn’t work. Or I got dizzy, but I’m thinking like a human, or more specifically a human mom, and not a seagull.
The gorgeous Table Rock Center directly overlooking the falls, has great shopping, a yummy candy shop, an outside deck, and a beautiful high end dining room. We made reservations for dinner at The Table Rock Restaurant. We were not disappointed. For a fairly reasonable price you can have a prix fix dinner and watch the sun go down over an up close view of the falls. In the evening they light the falls up and you are treated to a wonderful display of colors and when it’s dark enough, each night the Canadians set off fireworks.
We stopped by the Botanical Gardens in Niagara Falls and it was a lovely break. We walked the grounds and saw little model houses built out of plant material and saw the most beautiful flowers. It was a nice break to walk the gardens and see many flowers that you might see at Lowe’s if you live in the Northeast but so much bigger and better looking than they ever looked in my backyard. Check out the Botanical Gardens in Niagara Falls for yourself.
On our last day my daughter and I went on the zip line, by WildPlay, which was sneakily built into the side of the falls to get a good view without destroying it for everyone else. The line was way too long compared to the amount of time you rode down on the cable, but it’s well worth doing at least one. The best part I thought, was the crazy ride back up to the top in the open back of a jeep. That was by all means the best part of the ride.
I highly recommend taking the trip up to Niagara Falls. It’s a great way to connect with your kids and besides the beautiful falls there are a lot of side things to do for the day to keep you entertained. I’d say two or three days is a good amount of time to hang out in the Niagara Falls area. Also, there are some terrific malls about 15 minutes away. We did some serious back to school shopping there and bought really nice gear. Making a run up to Canada just for the shopping if you are from the states is well worth it in my opinion.
When we were there we notice everyone running around with these Adventure Passes around their necks. I found out later I should have gotten them as they give you two days of access to the WeGo hop on hop off buses that came in so handy (don’t plan on parking anywhere near where you actually want to go so you need the WeGo busses). You also get 67% off all the major stuff with a pass. If we ever go again I’m definitely getting us those Adventure Passes.
Are you are like me, with a teen at home who is constantly on her phone? And you might even be worrying that she or he might be spending too much time on that phone? You want to get him or her out doing something a bit more adventurous, amIright? Does it make you climb the walls?
Well, I have a great idea. Instead of you climbing the walls, let’s get them climbing the walls. OK you can too if you want. Here in NYC it’s a little on the cold side and my daughter likes to use that as an excuse to do nothing but draw, listen to music, text etc. It’s also the holiday break so amazingly she doesn’t have a ton of homework to do.
Indoor Rock Climbing
I had enough looking at her laying around so I signed her up for a $50 group lesson at Steep Rock Bouldering on the Upper East side in NYC that covered the day’s admission and shoe rental. It turned out even better because no one else showed up for the lessons so we had the instructor to ourselves.
Morgan started out all gung ho thinking it was going to be easy. She did well for the first twenty minutes and then kept shaking out her hands. Since the most exercise her arms has gotten lately is texting her ligaments up and down her arms were screaming at her. It’s OK though, she’s pretty psyched and wants to go back next week. I’m going to get a $22 day pass myself and we will climb together. If we like it we can sign up for a monthly fee or right now I can buy a 10 punch pass special for $150 that is normally $200.
Morgan, trying out the different handholds with her instructor.
The place is pretty chill and the walls aren’t crazy high so there’s no need to be on belay. You just put your climbing shoes on and head on up. The handholds are color coded from easy to hard and you follow the route based on the difficulty. So you can spider your way all over the walls all day if you want. There’s a nice big pad at the bottom and a little bit of a gym to work on your upper body strength.
Good for Your Kid’s Back Muscles
My daughter is totally psyched to go back next weekend and is thinking of signing up for the after school program. I think it’s great since it’s way cheaper than skiing, which is the only other thing I can get her out of the house for in the winter. She’s also really excited because at school she has to drag around a really big backpack and she thinks this might give her a chance to stretch out and build up her back and shoulder muscles a bit more. I haven’t seen her this excited about something in awhile so I’m looking forward to going with her next Sunday and hanging out on the walls with her.
Morgan and her instructor discussing strategy while waiting for the feeling in her fingers to come back, while indoor rock climbing in NYC.
And my daughter has asthma so she’s been a bit worried about sports that make her wheeze. This didn’t make her wheeze at all and she could go at her own speed.
If you’d like to get your child into bouldering check out what’s available in your area. If you are in the New York City Area, Steep Rock Bouldering has two locations, one on the upper east side and one on the west. For pricing and classes, check it out here.
Alta is one of the oldest ski areas in the United States and has been running the lifts since 1939. Sorry snowboarders, Alta Ski Area restricts access to skiers only.
Located only about a mile up the road from Snowbird in the Little Cottonwood Canyon, Alta Ski Area features 2,200 acres of prime skiable terrain with average snowfalls each season of 560 inches.
Alta Ski Area is renowned for having excellent snowfall combined with some of the most diverse and challenging terrain in North America.
The key to enjoying winter sports is to dress right. There’s nothing more miserable and potentially day ruining than letting your child get cold, wet and uncomfortable kid. It’s important to also take into account what your activities are, what the weather predictions throughout the day will be and since most of it will change from hour to hour, you need to dress in layers. And layering in the right gear is also important.
Follow these guidelines and you’ll be good to go for a full day of family adventure.
First, what are you planning on doing? Will there be a lot of hiking up a mountain, skiing, duck walking up to the lift line? Will you be Alpine or Nordic skiing? What I’m getting at is, how hot do you expect to get under all those layers? If you think you’ll be sweating that’s important to know.
Dressing Your Core in The Winter
Base Layer (top and bottom):
A good moisture wicking, tightly woven, flexible technical fiber will keep you cool and dry. Keeping dry is important because while you are hot while you are sweating, if you don’t get rid of the moisture you just shed, it will make you colder than when you started out. Remember why we sweat in the first place? We sweat to cool our bodies down by evaporating the moisture off our bodies. Getting soaked even in your own sweat is just as bad as if you accidentally got wet. So, moisture wicking is key.
Also keep it flexible. The more flexible your under layer is the more you’ll enjoy yourself. And try to find the thinnest, with the most protection that you can. It can be a bit more costly but it’s so worth it when you are out there in the elements. Cold weather gear is not the place to cheap out.
For really cold days, you can add a layer of fleece on top of the under layer. Make sure that’s flexible as well for both your torso and legs. You want to be free to move at your own pace. Remember the kid in Christmas Story that looked like a marshmallow? Don’t be him.
Your Core Middle Layer:
We’ve already talked about Fleece but there are a number of technical fabrics you can use to layer up over your base layer. Wool is also a good choice as long as it’s flexible. This middle layer is the part you will want to remove and add as the weather changes. So for really cold days one more thin layer that can be easily taken off and stuffed in a bag if the sun comes out, might not be a bad idea. Just don’t make this layer a big heavy one. Stay away from the big cable knit sweaters. A turtle neck is fine to throw over your base layer but try to avoid cotton. Make sure if you do put anything cotton on, that it’s sitting on top of your base layer (as opposed to touching your skin directly–neck is OK) and you can peel it off easily.
Your Core Outer Layer:
First it MUST cut the wind. It’s not worth anything unless it cuts the wind. I don’t care how pretty the jacket is, you’re not going to care if you are miserably cold. Tight fibers like Gortex and other types of material are good for blocking wind and water. You want a nice, water and windproof shell. This way even if you do get sweaty under there, the wind won’t be getting through to evaporate the sweat. You can get a super heavy duty jacket that has goose down or layers of insulation that will keep you super warm standing still. If you will be standing around watching an event or minimally active outside, this is a good choice.
For skiing, or hiking I’d recommend a mid weight shell with air vents and plenty of pockets to hold your stuff. If you think it might be super cold out, I’d go with yet another fleece layer with a shell on top of it, than a very thick jacket. The weather can change on a dime and when you are skiing hard or Nordic skiing (which you’ll find yourself dripping in sweat even on the coldest days) you will get hot. If you have a fleece layer that you can remove and a shell with vents under the armpits you can better regulate your body temperature. If you only have a big honking goose down jacket to remove, you’ll be stuck with either freezing or sweating your brains out. Or you’ll be putting it on and taking it off every five minutes. One important thing to remember about technical fiber, don’t stick pins in it. No name tags, no stick pins. If you push a pin through that fiber, you’ll start to ruin the whole “wind-proof” part of it.
Preparing Your Head for the Cold
If you grew up under a rock you might have missed the fact that 70% of your body heat leaves through your head. That includes if you have a thick skull or a thick head of hair. So ladies, I know I hate them too, it’s hat time. Granted if it’s not super cold out, you can get away with a fleece headband or earmuffs but a hat is your ticket to long term fun. I have always hated hats, but I’ve come to Jesus about it and found a better way. Instead of a hair flattening, stupid looking hat, I bought a neoprene full head hood. I look like I’m ready to dive off a pier but it has this great affect of keeping my head warm, plus my hair stays relatively intact. It’s similar to when you put your clothes in a suitcase still wrapped in the dry cleaner plastic. My thick hair is flattened out and tucked away so it’s not getting stuck under my goggles, so it makes it easy to put on my helmet (also another item I finally grew up and started wearing).
Ski Helmet:
If you are skiing, helmets are not just for kids anymore, everyone should be wearing a helmet. It took me awhile to get over the dork factor, even though I’d think nothing of wearing a bike helmet, but seriously, there are rocks out there, and ice as hard as rocks. When you think about how crazy it is to be strapped to a board sliding down the side of a mountain…on snow… it’s kind of crazy that we didn’t always wear helmets. So invest in a good one. Make sure it comes from a reputable company and make sure it fits comfortably on your head. Air vents are also a nice feature to have. Another nice feature are the kind that come with cushioned pockets that let you drop little speakers in. Make sure to replace it every few years and for kids, check every year to see that it still feels comfortable or go get a new one. Never use a hand-me-down helmet. Treat helmets like you would car seats.
Mounting Things on your Helmet:
I know a lot of people like to mount cameras on their helmets. I’m not an expert on them by any means, but something about drilling through or attaching mounts to a helmet never sat right with me. If the helmet comes with a mount that’s a better choice. When I read that the formula one racer, Michael Schumacker’s freak off-piste ski accident, which left him in a coma, was possibly caused by his Go Pro mounting, that kind of made sense to me. It’s just good policy not to modify safety equipment after market.
Ski Goggles:
My least favorite piece of equipment. I am yet to find the perfect pair that never fogs, is dark enough for sunny days, and still lets me see the dips and peaks of a very gray/white looking terrain. Depth perception is the bane of my existence when the sun is not out. And I want ones infused with Google Glass or something like that, that shows me where to go and how to hit the mogul…and an arrow pointing to the lodge, but I digress. If you are a heavy breather like me, invest in a pair that leads with no fog as their key feature. They even have ones with fans in them. Truth is, it’s best to have a couple of pairs ready, one for sun, one for clouds, or a set that allows you to change lenses. And it has to fit your face or you’ll be miserable. There’s no easy win with Goggles, do your research and take your time to get them fitted. This is one of those items (unlike Swaravski- encrusted ski jackets) where the more you spend, the better the gear will be.
Keeping Your Neck Warm
Scarves are Ok in a pinch but if you are planning to be active at all, invest in a neck gator. It’s a nice round, usually fleece scarf that stays snug around your neck (not too tight of course) and you can pull it up over your face when you need.
Try to have at least one of your layers zip up your neck. You want to make sure there’s no way for air to get down your shirt, or blowing on a naked neck. When skiing your chin gets cold because along with your nose, it’s one of the first body parts heading into the wind. So at the least a gator, at the most, something that zips up completely covering your neck.
Scarves are also bad because they get caught in chair lifts and under skis. They’re kind of deadly actually, so if you have a scarf tied around your neck, be very careful about loose ends.
Keeping Your Legs Warm During Winter Activities
The same as mentioned above applies for pants. My recommendation is get the most flexible, comfy pair you can find. They can be baggy as long as they cling to you on the inside and are water repellent. Unless you don’t plan on ever falling, ever, or it’s warm enough for you to ski around in wet drawers, only invest in water resistant. The more waterproof, the less flexible they tend to be, so try to strike a balance, or don’t plan on falling down. And no sitting in the snow while waiting for your less than perfect friends to catch up either.
Keeping Your Feet Dry and Happy
Winter Socks:
Wool, silk or technical fiber socks. No cotton. Repeat. No cotton. They can come in different thicknesses so choose them based on how cold you think it will be. Keep in mind what boots you are going to be wearing. I usually go with thinner. My boots are pretty well lined and hopefully stay water proof (but even the best boots can manage to get water in them). Feet sweat too remember. Avoid doubling up socks unless you have to. And did I mention, no cotton?
Boots–for Winter Hiking
Waterproof, covering your ankle is preferred. In summer I’d say a lighter shoe is fine, but when there’s a potential for any snow or slush, you want something covering at least your ankles, preferably up to your calf. You want a good grip on the bottom of your shoe. If you hit ice and there’s no tread on your shoe, down you will go unceremoniously. If it’s really icy, invest in a pair of crampons, it makes exploring in icy areas, so much easier. They are not just for ice climbing. Any hiking trail that gets trampled in the snow is going to get icy.
Boots–for Specialized Winter Sports
With any specialized boot you need to get fitted properly. Nordic, Alpine and Snowboarding boots are all different, so you need to get fitted by an expert and discuss the features that best work for you. Most importantly, they should feel comfortable even with a pair of mid grade thickness socks on as it’s likely that’s what you’ll be wearing. Don’t try them on with light, dress socks. Make sure your toes are not jammed in there and that if they lace or buckle up, they can handle your calf. For front entry boots for example if you have big calves, you might need to have the buckles moved. I’ve never tried the molded fit boots but they sound fabulous, but can be pricier. The idea behind them is the less wiggle room between you and the boot, the better control you’ll have over your equipment. I’ve also heard complaints from people who say the fitting wasn’t done right and it’s too tight out on the hill (which is just the worst). So you’ll have to explore that one on your own with a qualified sales rep.
Also, this may sound weird but make sure you clip your toe nails. If you are in between pedicures your nails might not be bothering you in regular sneakers as you walk around but you’ll find that if you are in a pair of boots and hiking, walking, running or skiing downhill and your nails are a little long, it won’t take long before they start cutting into each other. This can be really painful, so don’t underestimate it. Clip them good and lace up tight before you head out.
Keeping Your Hands Warm
Gloves
This is a key item. The first things that will get cold are your hands and feet. Invest in a good, waterproof, windproof, insulated ski glove. If you need to, you can also buy inserts as they can wick sweat away and keep your gloves dry for days of skiing. Just make sure your gloves still fit when you put them on. You don’t want your fingers to be too tight in them, or cut off your circulation. The last thing you want is less blood flowing to your fingers, since as it is, it will be making a mad dash to protect your core as soon as you get a bit chilly. Even with the best gloves, your fingers are likely to get chilly. Go inside when you need to, or take the time to warm your hands up, even if it means sticking them under your armpits. My recommendation, especially if you have kids with you, buy a big box of hand warmers, the kind you shake and they heat up. They are the best thing in the universe when you are out skiing and the only thing making you uncomfortable are your bitter cold hands. There’s no shame in them. I have them for the boots as well but they tend to bunch up in my ski boots and end up hurting. It really depends on the shoes and socks you have on so try them out before you go.
How to Handle Kids and Cold
Now I’ve written this with an adult in mind, but everything applies to a child even more so. When you are with children in the cold, remember they get cold faster, and are less tolerant that us adults. Keep checking on them, ask them how they feel because they may not always tell you, and be ready to carry their layers if they need to take them off or put them on. Keep an idea in your head of where all the good spots to warm up will be, and be realistic about how much you can push them.
Having a kid have a melt down because they are cold and miserable in the middle of nowhere on a cold, snowy day, believe me, can be a bit scary. I know because it happened to me. It was late in the day with a zero wind chill factor and my daughter threw a tantrum and refused to move, half way down the hill. Luckily I convinced her to move, but it was frightening to think what do you do to keep them from freezing. So cold weather is not the time to push them, even though you are dying for one more run, or to check out that ridge just a little further up ahead.
Oh and those hand and toe warmers? They are fantastic for shoving down a pair of kids ski pants if needed. They work magic. I just stockpile them each winter and bring fistfuls with me on every outdoor trip.
I’d love to hear about your outdoor winter adventures with your kids. Feel free to share below in the comments section. –Chris
Ski Family Vacation at Heavenly Mountain in Lake Tahoe
With a higher elevation and the most skiable terrain in Tahoe, Heavenly ski resort is one of the most unique ski and snow sport destinations in the world. It’s calm, has beautiful views, plenty of mountain and not overwhelming so it’s a great place to take the kids. You will save yourself money if you buy your lift tickets online as opposed to at the mountain. Buy Heavenly Resort Lift Tickets here.
At Heavenly Mountain Resort, skiers and snowboarders alike get access to a varied degree of terrain that spans the California-Nevada border and includes rolling glades, terrain parks and challenging technical steeps. You can ride from one state to another state to get your full day of skiing in.
There are also plenty of family-friendly events at Heavenly to choose from. When you need a beak from carving powdery turns, you can head out to try some tubing and ice skating. For the kids, there’s also the kids ski school, the Ripperoo Parade, shows and arcades.
An experience at Heavenly offers something for everyone. Beginners can practice on groomed runs while more seasoned riders can explore the back-country-like canyons, tree runs and terrain parks.
There are 4,800 acres of Heavenly ski and snowboard terrain, 97+ trails, and 3,500 feet (of vertical. The area is the largest of the California ski resort.
Ski and Snowboard Terrain
Heavenly Resort has a mix of terrain for all abilities, but in particular it’s an intermediates’ paradise, so if you’re looking for super expert and extreme terrain, this may not be the resort for you. However, if you have young children, it’s a perfect mix to keep everyone happy.
Heavenly Lake Tahoe has 29 lifts that include a gondola and lots of high speed six-packs and quad chairs, and Vail Resorts has been investing heavily in more lifts and terrain.
Heavenly Mountain Resort is extremely convenient for travelers from all over the world, located within an hour of the Reno-Tahoe International Airport, and two hours of the Sacramento International Airport. Click here to learn about Heavenly Mountain in Lake Tahoe.
Traveling by car is easy as well since Heavenly is located off three major U.S. highways and interstates. The drive from the Bay Area and Northern California only takes a few hours and is easy at any time of year.
Check out this video to get a sense of the insanely beautiful terrain at Tahoe.
If you want to have a good time skiing, and better yet, have your kids want to go back for more, it’s important to pick the right ski pants for your child.
Ski pants should be breathable, and waterproof but still be flexible so they are not still like a board
I recommend a color that helps you spot them easily. I picked pants that were highlighter yellow that I could spot a mile away.
You also want to find pants that can expand so that you’re not buying them every year. Good pants usually have buttons and stitches that will allow you to get several years out of the same pair of pants.
Check out my video for how to select the right ski pants for your kids.
