Northstar Village Survival Guide
On a recent winter morning, I found myself at Northstar Village with a full day to while away and two antsy children. Maris (4) and Anaya (10) had planned to take their second snowboard lesson, but the conditions were icy and the girls were sore from frequent falling the day before. I’d done my fair share of falling myself, so my sore bum and I volunteered to entertain the girls while Eben snowboarded. Should you find yourself in a similar situation, Maris, Anaya, and I offer the following hints:
snow play at Zephyr Lodge
Maris & Anaya building a snowman outside Zephyr Lodge
Perched at 8,000 feet, Zephyr Lodge has a full bar with fresh-squeezed grapefruit juice for salty dogs, buckets of savory French fries, and tasty noodle bowls. If you are skiing or boarding, you take a chairlift to get there, but there are also a few gondola cars on the Zephyr Express for sightseers. We took one of those. For starters, the gondola ride is picturesque as you glide quietly to the top of the mountain through a gentle snowfall. You might even see your Dad whizzing down the mountain on a snowboard if you time it just right. At the top, it’s a short walk through the snow to the lodge, which has everything you’d expect from a modern ski lodge (food, drinks, a small gear shop), along with something the other Northstar lodges lack—stunning views of the backside of the mountain and the mountains beyond. I put a few tables together at a window, bought hot chocolates and fries, and watched the kids through the window as they built a small, squat snowman in front of the lodge. Every now and then, they’d come in to read a book, play with their toys, or warm up. Eventually, they coaxed me out into the snow to help them build a snow slide and make snow angels. When the girls got bored with snow play, we took gondolas back to the village.
Ice skate
To skate or not to skate, that is the question… Skate!
The 9,000 square foot ice skating rink in the heart of Northstar Village is surrounded by cushy sofas around fire pits for lounging. An open air bar sells cocktails and s’mores kits. It’s a pleasant place to sit and watch the world go by, even if you aren’t skating. My kids wanted to skate. Anaya used real ice skates. For littler kids like Maris, I recommend bringing double-runner strap-on skates like these. Strap the runners on to your child’s tennis shoes or boots to give her the feel of ice skating and help her get her balance without the frustration and falls of the real thing.
Go tubing
Northstar has a fun tubing run for kids 42-inches and up. Your hourly ticket gets you access to the tow lift and a 200-foot, J-shaped tubing run with three whoops for thrills. Buy tickets early at the lift ticket windows to reserve your spot.
Explore the toy store
Northstar Village has a charming toy store called Ambassador Toys that specializes in classic toys (no electronics, no computers, no buzzers). I tasked my girls with picking out a game we could play while we waited for Eben to finish boarding. We ended up with a set of 6 classic card games (including Go Fish, Old Maid and Slap Jack). Good, old-fashioned fun.
Play a game
There’s a big, cozy Starbucks right across from the ice skating rink. Anaya and I sipped hot drinks and played cards, while Maris napped in my lap. If it’s nice out, you can play checkers on the kids table outside Ambassador Toys.
Anaya getting silly at Euro Sweets
Bag a treat
Euro Sweets, the candy store by the ice skating rink, has tubs of candy and jelly beans for mixing and matching a buy-by-the-pound treat. For a healthier option, try the soft-serve frozen yogurt.
Catch a movie
Village Cinemas, right in Northstar Village, has 2 cinema screens with stadium seating and new releases. When we were there, they were showing Spiderman and Aquaman. Cuddle up with a bucket of popcorn and enjoy.
arts & crafts
The Villager Candle Shop offers candle, soap, mosaic and stuffed bear making in a cute, kid-friendly studio in the village.
Trampoline
Above the village, at the Village Central Overlook, you’ll find a bungee trampoline like the kind they have at county fairs. I tuckered my kids out before they could try it, but I have it in my hip pocket for the next time we’re wandering around the village looking for fun.
To visit Happy Cabin during your trip to North Lake Tahoe / Tahoe Vista / Kings Beach, click here.
After a few months of frequent trips to Northstar California Resort, we’ve nearly gotten the hang of snowboarding in a pandemic. Here’s our candid take, and some tips to get the most out of your Spring Break trip to the snow.