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Soda Springs – What Fun!
Family Activities including Skiing, Snowboarding, and Tubing!
By Tammie
Thompson
I’ve got to say, I’m impressed!
All the years that I’ve lived and skied at Tahoe, I’ve never been to Soda Springs.
And I’ve been missing out!
 Soda
is a great little ski area. But it’s more than a ski area – it a fun center just
perfect for families. Let’s hit the fun first, then the amenities.
Soda offers just two chairlifts,
but they access a variety of terrain. Beginners can get off at mid-station which
is also attractive. Advanced skiers will find plenty of terrain with some trees,
good vertical and the Kid’s X Park, full of kid-sized terrain features. We hit
it a day after new snow and the snow was excellent with plenty of untracked. Unbelievable
by Tahoe standards.
Now for the fun! Not to
say that skiing and boarding aren’t fun – but it was the tubing that attracted
my kids. My son was racing in a Tahoe League ski race, but couldn’t wait for the
race to be over so he could go tubing. As the race ended, close to a hundred kids
descended on the tubing line. Soda offers two tubing tows that access gentle tubing terrain fro they younger kids, and the Tube Express for tubers looking for some radical rides! The tubing runs are
groomed tracks with plenty of terrain variations, banked turns and a slick track!
Smaller kids can go on the milder runs in a double tube or a small tube. Fast
trackers all get the same size tube and boy do you fly! Soda was rocking with
whoops of glee, lots of giggles and plenty of action! You had to drag the kids
off the tubing track for race awards.
So that’s the fun – a given.
Now for the amenities. Soda Springs has easy access just off of Interstate 80.
Parking is simple, and close to the base lodge. The lodge is family friendly as
well. Great deck, affordable food and easy rest room access. Nothing fancy, just
family friendly. Soda’s size makes it wonderful for parents who want to hang out
and watch the kids. All trails lead back to the lodge, so kids can go off on their
own for a bit and not get lost.
 Options
– Soda has lots of options for families. Go skiing, boarding, tubing or mini snowmobiling.
Or do all of them for one ticket price (snowmobiling separate)! Plus lesson packages are very affordable.
Want to get the kids out for a few hours? Children under five get a free lift
ticket (excludes tubing). Soda also has mini snowmobiles - $5 for 5 laps. For kids 6-12, they can ravage the circular track. Helmets are provided.
So test the waters – or
the snow. Try tubing, you may get hooked. It’s a blast!
More on Soda Springs
in our KidzResort section here.
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