by Erica Green

Created on: August 22, 2008   Last Updated: April 18, 2011

Mammoth Lakes can act as your home away from home during the holiday season. Imagine nestling by the fireplace, sipping on a mug of hot chocolate and watching it snow on Christmas Eve. Instead of dreaming of a white Christmas, make it happen with a picturesque holiday season at Mammoth.

Mammoth's name holds true to size, it's big! The largest vertical drop falls 3,100 feet! It offers travelers 3,500 acres of skiable terrain with an 11,053 foot mountain summit. Over 150 named trailed exist for skiers of all levels. This magnificent setting places Mammoth as one of the premier ski destinations in the United States.

This destination furnishes plenty of entertaining snow activities. Dogsled tours give visitors a unique winter adventure, while letting huskies mush through the snow. The Mammoth Ice Rink allows skaters an outdoor skating experience in a charming setting. For the extreme sports seeker, Mammoth Mountain offers snowboarders a 90 acre park with eight trails and three halfpipes. Other winter activities to check out include cross country skiing, snowshoeing and snowmobiling.

Generally, the mountain opens in early to mid-November. While the population of Mammoth Lake rests at about 7,500 permanent residents, during the holiday season and peek weekends the population rises to 35,000. Mammoth receives over 400 inches of snow annually so conditions can change quickly. During the winter months, lows bottom out in the teens, while high temperatures climb to the 30's and 40's. Mammoth gets over 300 days of sunshine a year.

A winter trip to Mammoth provides a magnificent holiday destination, but start planning early. Many resorts, hotels and inns book early especially during this time of the year. It's not unusual to start planning six months in advance. During the winter months, permitted parking is not allowed on the town roads. This allows for easy snow removal on city streets. However, the town offers a free bus service to most venues.

Several local events highlight the Mammoth area during the winter season. The Sierra Classic Theatre's Murder Mystery Dinner quickly sells out every November. The Night of Lights in December celebrates the magic of snow with a winter light show against the majestic backdrop of Mammoth's ski slopes. A few other events to savor include the Festival of Trees, the town tree lighting and the Christmas Art Festival.

A unique family tradition to start in Mammoth, shopping for a distinctive holiday ornament at the local store, Once Upon a Christmas. This tradition provides a special remembrance of each holiday season spent in Mammoth. The stores in Mammoth delight every shopper with apparel, art, hand-made crafts, t-shirts, souvenirs and sweet treats.

So pack your bags and treat your family to a white holiday. Create fond memories of snowball fights and snowmen building, while spending a holiday season in the winter wonderland of Mammoth.

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