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California's Winter Wonderland

© Pat Pease

Every year about this time the nightly weather report on TV adds a new dimension with the latest ski conditions. In no more than half a day from almost any place in California you can find yourself in the midst of a winter wonderland. It's one of the nicest things about California. And there are a many winter sport lovers out there who are more than happy to tell you which is the best of the best among the winter resorts.

There is nothing like snow covered mountains, valley vistas, a comfortable lodge with a blazing fire in the fireplace or curling your fingers around a mug of your favorite hot beverage on a cold, winter day. The air is clean and crisp, people smile more with the approach of the holiday season, and the pace is slower - that is, until you hit the slopes.

Today's ski resorts offer a wide assortment of activities for the winter enthusiast. Some have dog sled runs, sleigh rides and snow mobile tours like Northstar at Tahoe. Almost all of them have embraced the snowboarding crowd, recognizing the tremendous following of this sport among the young and young-at-heart. If you aren't sure about skiing or snowboarding, select one with a test center that allows you to test a variety of ski and snowboarding equipment.

And speaking of the young, ski resorts have become a family affair. Most resorts offer special classes and activities for children as young as 3 or 4 years old.

If you are disabled, try Bear Mountain. It is home to the United States Adaptive Recreation Center - the only ski program for disabled skiers in the region of its kind.

Just a few of the numerous California ski resorts to select from are:

Bear Mountain This has the largest and most sophisticated snowmaking in the region and has the highest elevation. Bear Mountain also has the Extreme Test Center to test ski and snowboarding equipment, and as mentioned above, is home to the U.S. Adaptive Recreation Center.

Bear Mountain limits ticket sales to keep the crows under control, but you can purchase tickets on line at http://exchange.human.com/bear//

Check out this winter wonderland ahead with their live web cam at http://bearmtn.com/winter/news/whatsnew....

Tahoe Donner This location claims to be perfect for families, groups, first time skiers and older skiers. You can get lessons for children as young as 3 years old. In fact, it has one of the only ski schools in the region that provides a comprehensive three-hour lesson for 3 year olds. It is also the only area in the state to offer lighted night skiing.