Well, for me local skiing/snowboarding isn’t that much fun, but it’s great if you’re just starting out…it won’t matter where you go, because you’ll be busy learning the basics, and frankly, you probably won’t really enjoy i fully until about the 4th or 5th day or the second time you go, when you stop falling on your butt all the time depending on how quickly you learn (the trick is to not give up, otherwise, you’ll forever think skiing/snowboarding sucks)
1. Moutain high/Big bear? Both should be fine for your purpose.
2) As far as local rentals…. REI and sport’s chalet come to mind. Keep in mind though, unless you have large car or truck or van, you most likely will be challenged to carry them. See if you can borrow a ski rack from someone.
3) Chains aren’t that hard. But, you should definitely pick one up here before you go there and at least try to put them on yourself. (or pay like $15-20 to a person up their that puts them on and take them off each way, if you really don’t want to do it).
The “cable chains” are easier to put on than the “chain chains” in my experience. But cable chains break easier. You might not have an option if your car/truck is running a low profile tire or you don’t have that much clearance. I prefer cables versus chain.
Also if you have an AWD car/truck with decent all season M+S tires with a lot of tread, you might not need chains. I have a AWD car, but i still pack chains just in case. The chains go on the wheels where you car has the drive (FWD or RWD). For AWD, I put them on the two wheels where most of the power is distributed (on my car that would be the front).
Still you can buy them, and if you never use them, just return them when you get back. Also, make sure you get the large “rubber bands” that you use to keep the chains/cables tense on your tires.
The rubber band thing is the gray/black thing in front.The keep the tension on the cable around your wheel so they don’t slop around.
Cables also do less damage to your wheels/tires than chains (though if you get the proper size, neither should cause that much damage).
I think i’ve used my chains about a total of 2 times in 10 years. But again, I have an AWD car and usually have a winter set of wheels that I put on when I go skiing.
4) If you are definitely sure you are going, you can buy a pass locally, but to be safe, I’d just buy the tickets up there. I had friends that had stories that they pre-bought their tickets, then got stuck in somewhere and couldn’t go. And the tickets weren’t refundable.
5) Bring gloves hats, good socks,thermals, and preferably a weather proof slacks/jackets (if you aren’t going to buy ski jackets/pants). Also for windy conditions, buy a pair of googles. (You should be able to pick a cheap pair up at something like Big 5 for something like 10-15 bucks a pair). Trust me. if it’s windy, skiing/boarding with a par of sunglasses blows). Also bring scarf you can wrap around your face if it is windy or buy one of these
(don’t think you’ll need when you are starting out though).
Helmets for kids are optional ( i never wore one, an still don’t wear one), but your individual parenting choice.
6) Skiing versus snowboarding. They’re about equal difficult to pick up the first time, but gets easier the second/third time. Kids learn quicker than parents (obviously). Which is why I’m planning to teach my kid when she’s 3 1/2
