Winter Wonderland!
We just got back from our 2nd trip to Tenaya Lodge on February 11, 2019. A storm had just dumped 4+ feet of snow and that was storm 3 of the season...
This resort is amazing- here are some photos and your packing list:
Packing list:
3. Bathing Suit- indoor heated pool and spa
4. Books/Kindle/Magazine/or your phone to play on as you relax in the lobby by the fire!
5. Your bar if you want to save some money. This martini was lovely, but can get pricey!
The Bloody Mary's are phenomenal and HUGE (not pictured), and again... might break the bank ($15 each). So bring your own to make!
6. Snacks for the family. The food on site is pricey and leaving to get "cheaper food" is really not an option. Bring in some easy snacks along with the bar.
7. Family Competition... bring it! The game room has been updated in the past 6 months and it went from cheesy arcade to a true GAME ROOM! Pool, Shuffleboard, Jenga life size, and video games. (free).
8. Activities! Ice Skating on site ($$) and Archery (was closed after the large storms). There is even a nature hike daily + a kids adventure course (also closed after big storm). Big storm also KNOCKED out DirecTV- but the were nice to comp us some movies on demand. They have a kids club to drop off kids, we did not do this.. There is a weekly schedule of events- you get this when you check in.
Mom's - SPA!!! It is really amazing!
9. Chains for your car! Yup- Yosemite was closed from the storms, and the 7 miles below Tenaya needed CHAINS! CHP was there stopping cars. If you are driving at night be sure to check the CalTrans site for updates. If it says "chains required" be sure to pull out once you start seeing the snow on the road and get those chains on. The road gets bad QUICK! From perfect normal to OMG slush/ice/ugliness/spinning tires.
For my budget peeps: this place can get very expensive (kids meals are $10 ea). Our lunch/dinner cost was $60+ each time. I do recommend you bring in breakfast (cereal/milk)- no microwave, but you do have a fridge. Bring in the bar. Bring in snacks. Gazelle intense peeps: Lunchables + cold pizza.. hello! There is coffee/tea/hot cocoa in the room! (hot water for oatmeal)
I do recommend 2 nights- snow play once a day both days a must :) Be prepared to burn some calories up and down the hills.
Enjoy Tenaya Lodge!!! We love this place!
Be sure to read my other initial review of Tenaya (less snow review):
NinjaMom Tenaya Review #1
----------------------------
As always I explain our my family spends 25K a year on vacations while still have a $630 a month daycare bill.
1) Working REWARDS!
a) Disney Chase Credit card. 2% back. Use if for EVERYTHING except 3 things. We have one of us cruise for free on Disney every other year. AND Disney Vacations are 6 months 0 % interest.
b) Costco Citi card! We make over $1500 a year back from 2 cards and the Executive Membership. That cash (sent as checks you cash at Costco registers) is used to pay for our entire Carnival Cruise this spring break!
c) Alaskan Airlines Credit Card- companion fares, free baggage, miles.
d) EBATES! In 8 days I have made $63 in cash and $30 is pending travel. You start at the EBATES website and simply shop like normal online. The referral link within Ebates makes you money.
ex: Amazon says "hey EBATES send me people to shop" Ebates loads up the % back and posts it. You start on Ebates and click the Amazon link, it sends you to Amazon KNOWING you will earn cash back. You shop on Amazon like normal (be sure to stay in that referral link) and BAM % back in your EBATE account the next day. It is THAT easy!
Cash is sent to your Paypal account (or paper check) every quarter. This alone pays for our spending money for our Thanksgiving Cancun Trip. Here is my snip-it proving what I have earned and (promise, legit)! And the link to sign up.
Below in the photo #1) All money made on Ebates to date (8 days people)! #2) My last PayPal deposit. #3) how I earned cash back on shopping.
LINK to sign up: Ebates Link
2) We do not have car payments. Hubby drives a 2003 Accord, me a 2010 Swag Van we paid off in 2 years (hence, didn't travel much those years).
3) Our mortgage is lower. We are both full time educators and could have afforded over 2K a month on a mortgage, instead we opted for a cheaper home for a cheaper mortgage.
4) Shop travel deals online during good sales. Our entire April spring break Carnival cruise is $1400 for all of us. Our Alaskan Cruise we got the alcohol package for FREE when we upgraded to a Balcony (which I had always wanted). In Mexico always Kids Stay FREE deals.
5) YNAB! You Need a Budget is an online cloud budget tool. It is budgeting on steroids! You have to account for EVERY penny! I have been using YNAB for 5 years and I am able to FULLY fund my vacations thru budgeting each month. I set aside 2k a month for travel, this tool allows me to budget monthly and set goals. It tells me what we spend the most money on (ahem, food and shopping) and allows us to have discussions about habits we NEED to change to reach our goals. They have amazing training videos, and a FREE 30 day trial. Try it, no obligation (it is better than MINT which I used for 2 years and EveryDollar). Try it here: Try YNAB Free
-Auggie
We just got back from our 2nd trip to Tenaya Lodge on February 11, 2019. A storm had just dumped 4+ feet of snow and that was storm 3 of the season...
This resort is amazing- here are some photos and your packing list:
Packing list:
- Smores Items - huge fire out by the ice rink! Poles are there, just bring your cracker/chocolate/Marshmellows! (Yes they have kits for sale $4)
- Sleds & shovel. Snow GEAR... My kids wore a base layer, one more layer and then snow gear. Warm socks w/snow boots. They were FINE sledding down the mountain on and off the sled. The tallest hill at the top, my 8 yo enjoyed sliding down on bottom (bc I refused to allow him to sled down and rocket off the entire hill to his doom).
- **Note- they have a sledding hill!!! It was under 6ft of snow and closed! -sniffle
3. Bathing Suit- indoor heated pool and spa
4. Books/Kindle/Magazine/or your phone to play on as you relax in the lobby by the fire!
The Bloody Mary's are phenomenal and HUGE (not pictured), and again... might break the bank ($15 each). So bring your own to make!
6. Snacks for the family. The food on site is pricey and leaving to get "cheaper food" is really not an option. Bring in some easy snacks along with the bar.
7. Family Competition... bring it! The game room has been updated in the past 6 months and it went from cheesy arcade to a true GAME ROOM! Pool, Shuffleboard, Jenga life size, and video games. (free).
Mom's - SPA!!! It is really amazing!
For my budget peeps: this place can get very expensive (kids meals are $10 ea). Our lunch/dinner cost was $60+ each time. I do recommend you bring in breakfast (cereal/milk)- no microwave, but you do have a fridge. Bring in the bar. Bring in snacks. Gazelle intense peeps: Lunchables + cold pizza.. hello! There is coffee/tea/hot cocoa in the room! (hot water for oatmeal)
I do recommend 2 nights- snow play once a day both days a must :) Be prepared to burn some calories up and down the hills.
Enjoy Tenaya Lodge!!! We love this place!
Be sure to read my other initial review of Tenaya (less snow review):
NinjaMom Tenaya Review #1
----------------------------
As always I explain our my family spends 25K a year on vacations while still have a $630 a month daycare bill.
1) Working REWARDS!
a) Disney Chase Credit card. 2% back. Use if for EVERYTHING except 3 things. We have one of us cruise for free on Disney every other year. AND Disney Vacations are 6 months 0 % interest.
b) Costco Citi card! We make over $1500 a year back from 2 cards and the Executive Membership. That cash (sent as checks you cash at Costco registers) is used to pay for our entire Carnival Cruise this spring break!
c) Alaskan Airlines Credit Card- companion fares, free baggage, miles.
d) EBATES! In 8 days I have made $63 in cash and $30 is pending travel. You start at the EBATES website and simply shop like normal online. The referral link within Ebates makes you money.
ex: Amazon says "hey EBATES send me people to shop" Ebates loads up the % back and posts it. You start on Ebates and click the Amazon link, it sends you to Amazon KNOWING you will earn cash back. You shop on Amazon like normal (be sure to stay in that referral link) and BAM % back in your EBATE account the next day. It is THAT easy!
Cash is sent to your Paypal account (or paper check) every quarter. This alone pays for our spending money for our Thanksgiving Cancun Trip. Here is my snip-it proving what I have earned and (promise, legit)! And the link to sign up.
Below in the photo #1) All money made on Ebates to date (8 days people)! #2) My last PayPal deposit. #3) how I earned cash back on shopping.
LINK to sign up: Ebates Link
2) We do not have car payments. Hubby drives a 2003 Accord, me a 2010 Swag Van we paid off in 2 years (hence, didn't travel much those years).
3) Our mortgage is lower. We are both full time educators and could have afforded over 2K a month on a mortgage, instead we opted for a cheaper home for a cheaper mortgage.
4) Shop travel deals online during good sales. Our entire April spring break Carnival cruise is $1400 for all of us. Our Alaskan Cruise we got the alcohol package for FREE when we upgraded to a Balcony (which I had always wanted). In Mexico always Kids Stay FREE deals.
5) YNAB! You Need a Budget is an online cloud budget tool. It is budgeting on steroids! You have to account for EVERY penny! I have been using YNAB for 5 years and I am able to FULLY fund my vacations thru budgeting each month. I set aside 2k a month for travel, this tool allows me to budget monthly and set goals. It tells me what we spend the most money on (ahem, food and shopping) and allows us to have discussions about habits we NEED to change to reach our goals. They have amazing training videos, and a FREE 30 day trial. Try it, no obligation (it is better than MINT which I used for 2 years and EveryDollar). Try it here: Try YNAB Free
-Auggie
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