Playing in the Snow “Free”ly

At the start of every year, our family eagerly waits for the snow to fall so we can head up the mountains and let the kids play in the snow… for FREE.

Since the kids are still small, our philosophy is to give them as many exposures as possible. Many of these experiences require more effort from the parents than money. So this year, we packed up the two little ones and headed to the mountains to let them play in the snow to their hearts’ content.

California weather is quite warm, so if it snows in the mountains (Big Bear or Lake Arrowhead), you have to take advantage and go immediately before it melts—especially if you want to do a day trip from Orange County. Because of this, our snow trips are completely spontaneous.

Fortunately, I had already prepared snow clothes for the kids for an upcoming Yosemite trip, so the whole family was ready to hit the road.

Mom’s Prep: Budget-Friendly Gear & Foods

My job was to prep the gear for the whole family. Here is a list of very affordable items for a short snow trip:

Clothing:

Free Country Toddler Kids 2-Piece Snow Set: (On sale for $16). This set looks just as good in photos as the pricey Columbia sets while keeping our son warm.
Carter’s Baby Full Body Coverage Snowsuit: (On sale for $7). This isn’t heavy-duty, but it’s perfect for short play sessions in California’s sunny mountain weather.
Toddler Fleece-Lined Snow Mittens/Ski Gloves: ($7).
Sunglasses: A must-have for the kids, otherwise they won’t be able to keep their eyes open against the snow’s glare.

Essentials for the Kids:

Zojirushi Stainless Steel Mug: This is the “holy grail” thermos. It keeps water hot all day for mixing the baby’s milk.
Sleigh/Sled: Head straight to Costco for this!

I’m very happy with these choices. We also cooked sticky rice and braised pork (thịt kho tàu) to bring along for lunch.

Dad’s Prep: Navigation and Driving

Dad’s job was to pick the spot and handle the driving to Lake Arrowhead. He downloaded offline maps before heading up and drove around until he found a quiet, uncrowded area perfect for sledding.

For the kids, playing in the snow, building a snowman, and going sledding was more than enough. Our family had a wonderful day filled with fun and laughter.