by Marmars Schlottman

Created on: July 16, 2008   Last Updated: February 02, 2010

BIG RESORTS vs. Little Resorts

Have you ever noticed the difference between ski resorts that are extravagantly big and impressive? Compared to the little ski resorts that are a family orenited and very well manner to their guests. I haven't skied in the last three years but I finally went this last season. I noticed I enjoyed Homewood ski resort on the North Shore of Lake Tahoe area much more for the homey aspect compare to Northstar. Even though I love both resorts for the skiing but Northstar is becoming more of the Evil Empire like in the movie Star Wars. Do you hear the music?

The music is getting louder along with the prices of skiing nowadays. Northstar lift tickets are up from $74 for a full day of skiing compared to Homewood or Sugar Bowl for $39 or $42 for a full day of skiing. Unless you want to ski half a day at Northstar for $59 and get in on ice skating, climbing a mountain wall or shopping, or just pay a little more for inner tubing. Northstar has built quite a bit of shops to condos and many other attractions just like Squaw Valley. I used to be able to walk in to get my ticket and hopped on the gondola within 15 minutes! Now I noticed it takes me almost over a half hour to get through all the stairs, pass by all the shops then get your ticket and eventually dragged yourself on the gondola where you can finally rest and cool off from working up a sweat! Northstar is still a pretty good place for the food and the people who work there are very courteous towards the guests. I only had one encounter with an employee that did give me a snobbish look at me at one point but I totally blew it off. I just dig all the ski trails from top to bottom to the front and back of the mountains til I could not ski no more.

If you lke to ski but can't afford the prices you would probably lean towards the smaller resorts. Another small resort that is gear towards children is Soda Springs. This ski resort may be smaller but it does have more to offer because they have inner tubing for the kids along with a rope tow to pull you up the hill rather than walking up. Soda Springs also has moe reasonable pricing for skiing. The tickets for adults is $25, youths is $16, children at 7 and under is $10 but for seniors for age 70 and over it's a whooping $6 to ski! Soda Springs also has a good ski school for the kids along with a terrain park for the snowboarders. Northstar has the tubing and a huge area devoted to snowboarders and skiers who may like to jump off bumps to skiing on railings. Soda Springs is probably one of many resorts that have been around for many years since it opened in 1935!

A few other ski resorts that lean on a smaller scale to ski at and save money is Diamond Peak. Diamond Peak like Homewood is a likeable ski resort geared towards the family orenited atmosphere plus the view of Lake Tahoe is spectacular from these ski resorts.

The overall outlook for your pocket book for next season would probably be at the smaller resorts, yet ski resorts like Sugar Bowl and Soda Springs to name a few are also a little closer to the San Francisco Bay Area.

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