From Nancy D. Brown of What a Trip

Snowboarder at Yosemite's Badger Pass

Snowboarder at Yosemite

The snow has arrived at Yosemite’s Badger Pass and for those who prefer snowshoeing in the Sierra National Forest, Tenaya Lodge is a wonderful home base.  As a California girl, I think winter is one of the best times to visit the Yosemite region with the blanket of snow in the sierras and icicles hanging from misty waterfalls.  Even the animals seem more serene this time of year.

Ski Packages

The Lodge has three winter packages to please spa girls, snow bunnies or snow boarders. Available midweek, starting at $169, packages include nightly accommodations and two all-day adult lift tickets. The Learn to Ski or Snowboard package includes nightly accomodations, two lift tickets, two all-day rentals and two group lessons.  This is worthwhile if your kids are eager to try snowboarding but you don’t want to shell out the bucks to purchase equipment that might get parked in the hall closet.

Ahh Spa!

Tenaya Lodge Spa

Tenaya Lodge Spa

The last package is more of a Girlfriend Getaway or “Keep Mom Happy” while we ski package. It includes lodging, two one-hour Champagne-Mimosa Massages, two one-hour Fire & Ice Facials, two ice skating sessions with rentals and a spa welcome basket starting at $709. For those of us with champagne tastes and beer budgets, Tenaya has an indoor swimming pool. Our kids thought the underwater speakers were very cool.

Winemasters Weekend – March 6-8, 2009

Tenaya Winemasters Weekend

Tenaya Winemasters Weekend

For the foodies among us, check out the Winemasters Weekend, a joint venture between Tenaya Lodge and California State University Fresno. While UC Davis has Mondavi cache, Fresno has a world-class viticulture and enology center graduating California’s newest winemakers and cellar rats. The Winemasters Weekend includes two nights accommodations, a welcome reception, top notch cuisine and if you can manage to lace up your skates; ice skating is included. Also included, three hands-on workshops with fellow food and wine lovers and the Winemaster’s Masterpiece Gala Reception and Dinner.  For pricing, schedule of events, menu and more details, visit TenayaLodge.com/Winemasters

 Photos courtesy Tenaya Lodge

Tenaya Lodge (800) 722-8584

1122 Highway 41, Fish Camp, CA 93623