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What to do in Amsterdam with kids

Amsterdam gets plenty of attention for its adult-oriented attractions, from its coffee shops and bars to its cultural offerings like world-class museums. But Amsterdam is also a fantastic place to take the kids, either on vacation or even for longer stays. Beyond the families who’ve always called the city home, the city has plenty of expat families who appreciate the excellent international schools and wealth of kid-friendly activities — from boating in the canals to swinging hundreds of feet off the ground. The fact is, Amsterdam is a great place for kids and, if you’re going to the Netherlands, you should definitely bring the little ones along. Here’s what to do when you get there.

Learning through doing

Amsterdam’s outstanding museum offerings stretch beyond just art. Places like its science museum also have special hands-on exhibitions designed with children in mind.

NEMO Science Museum

Photo: Anton_Ivanov/Shutterstock

The NEMO Science Museum, located right in the center, is a family favorite. Every exhibit is interactive, colorful, and super fun. Kids can discover math through shapes, explore how the five senses work, and learn new things about energy, hydraulics, and machines. They can also attend a workshop in the laboratory, where they can conduct their own experiments.

Amsterdam Museum

What was it like to be a kid in the past? You can find out at the Amsterdam Museum’s children’s exhibit, “The Little Orphanage.” The building that now houses the Amsterdam Museum was once the city’s orphanage. The museum uses its own building to tell the story about the kids who lived there. Short children’s tours of the orphanage, as well as the Amsterdam DNA exhibit, are available in Dutch and English.

National Maritime Museum

Photo: InnaFelker/Shutterstock

The National Maritime Museum, also known as the Scheepvaart Museum, is a dream come true for any child who has ever played pirate. The museum has several exhibits designed with families and children in mind, including ones about whales, life aboard a sailing ship, the history of sea travel during the Dutch Golden Age, and how the port of Amsterdam has changed over the centuries. And when that’s done, kids can play on a full-scale replica of a real VOC ship from 1749.

Fun with animals
Artis Zoo

Photo: DutchMen/Shutterstock

Artis Zoo has been delighting the children of Amsterdam for almost 180 years. Recently remodeled, this modern zoo is sure to have your child’s favorite animal. They might also discover some new animals in the aquarium and in Micropia, the world’s only microbe zoo. If you want to take a load off your feet, you can visit the planetarium and explore the farthest reaches of the universe.

Petting zoos

Photo: Vojtech Flidr/Shutterstock

Petting zoos, called kinderboerderijen, are a feature of life in the Netherlands. Every town has at least one and Amsterdam is no exception. Kids can pet goats, sheep, chickens, ducks, deer, pigs, rabbits, and sometimes more exotic animals — if they can catch them.

There are about 20 petting zoos located throughout the city, most of them outside the canal ring in the residential areas. Some of the most popular for families include Petting Zoo De Pijp in Oud-Zuid, Stichting De Dierencapel in Centrum, and Zimmerhoeve Kinderboerderij in West.

Parents also highly recommend the Goat Farm and Petting Zoo in the Amsterdam Forest in Amstelveen. There the kids can pet and feed all kinds of animals, not just goats. There is also a restaurant nearby where you can watch the animals while enjoying a Dutch favorite: pancakes with powdered sugar.

Outdoor sport and play areas

Every neighborhood in Amsterdam has public parks and playgrounds, the most famous being Vondelpark and the Museumplein. While these are excellent places to enjoy the fresh air, there are a few places in Amsterdam specially designed for kids to play outside.

Jeugdland | Maakland

Jeugdland | Maakland, which means “youth land” and “make land,” isn’t just a playground. It’s a place where kids can let their imaginations run wild. This gigantic recreation area is located in Amsterdam-Oost and has beautiful views of the IJ river. Jeugdland is perfect for free-range kids. They can get their hands dirty in the vegetable garden, build their own forts with hammers and nails, paint and do crafts, or splash around in the fish pond. You can also organize your child’s birthday party there, or attend one of the other fun events planned.

Fun Forest

Photo: Fun Forest Amsterdam/Facebook

Amsterdam Forest, or Amsterdamse Bos, is an enormous nature and recreation area located in the suburb of Amstelveen. There really is something to do here for everyone, kids and adults alike. You can rent a boat and paddle around in the river, go swimming in an indoor pool, or rent a bike. For the adrenaline junkie, there’s the kid friendly “Fun Forest climbing area” in which you can go zip lining and climb through an obstacle course suspended in the trees.

Mokumboat

Photo: Mokumboot, Boat Rental Amsterdam/Facebook

Amsterdam’s canals are listed as a UNESCO World Heritage site, and there’s no better way to experience this magnificent feat of engineering than in an electric boat. During the summer the Dutch love to take boats out onto the water, so this is an excellent opportunity to experience Amsterdam like a local. Mokumboat has six locations around the city and you don’t even need a boating license. Just pack the family in and bring a picnic.

For the whole family

Amsterdam offers plenty of opportunities for the whole family to get in on the fun. Here are a few activities that are as fun for adults as they are for kids.

Sherlocked Mystery Experiences

Photo: Sherlocked/Facebook

If you’re looking for an activity to do with older kids or teens, an escape room is a great option. For an unforgettable experience, check out Sherlocked Mystery Experiences in the Beurs van Berlage right in the heart of Amsterdam. You can choose from two escape rooms: The Architect and The Vault. Both rooms are totally immersive, challenging and beautifully designed.

See Amsterdam from the sky

Photo: maicasaa/Shutterstock

Amsterdam North, or Amsterdam Noord, is an up and coming neighborhood that’s worth visiting as a day trip. You can attend a kids film workshop at the Eye Film Museum, get a breathtaking view of the city from the A’DAM Tower, and even swing back and forth on Europe’s highest swing, which is 330 feet above the ground.

You can get a bird’s-eye view of the Netherlands at This is Holland. This 5D experience simulates the experience of flying over the cities, countryside, and beaches in the Netherlands. It’s full of sights, sounds, movement, and even the wind in your hair. You can even get a combo ticket for This is Holland and the A’DAM Tower for 25 euros (about 27.50 USD) for adults and 12.50 euros (13.75 USD) for kids online; it’s more expensive at the door.

Secret City Trails

Photo: Secret City Trails/Facebook

If you have a kid or teen who won’t look up from their phone, then you can transform that phone into a way to explore the culture and get moving. Secret City Trails offers games that the whole family can play together using their smartphones as a guide and the city of Amsterdam as a game board. The objective is to solve riddles and discover hidden cultural gems along the way. Secret City Trails also has game trails in dozens of nearby cities like Delft, The Hague, Rotterdam, and Haarlem.


More like this: The most kid-friendly cities in Europe

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6 small but mighty destinations

Is bigger better? Let’s discuss. Sure, bucket-list trips to the world’s big-name locales will always be on our minds. But does it have to be an epic-ly hyped destination to make for an epic adventure?

We happen to think good things come in quieter, more unassuming packages. Inspired by the 2020 Mitsubishi Outlander Sport, we’ve come up with this list of small-but-mighty destinations and the experiences you can have there. After all, when you’re not in the spotlight, you’re off-radar. Exclusive. Uncommon.

You may not even know where the world’s smallest countries are or what unexpected adventures they hold, but you’re about to find out — and you’ll see just how mighty they can be.

1. Andorra

Photo: Shutterstock/Ingus Kruklitis

Where is it?

Straddling the border between France and Spain, the Principality of Andorra has plenty going for it, but top honors go to its 186 miles of fantastic ski slopes. They’re the best in the Pyrenees.

How small is it?

Covering some 180 square miles, Andorra is the sixth-smallest nation in Europe and the 16th-smallest in the world. You could fit eight and a half Andorras into the borders of Rhode Island!

What makes it mighty?

Skiing! And more skiing! Grandvalira, the Pyrenees’ largest resort, is divided into six areas with runs for skiers of every skill level. The nearby resort of Vallnord/Pal-Arinsal — under 30 minutes away — is another whole zone of downhill fun.

Snow not your thing? Care for a long walk? Thanks to a network of footpaths called the Senderos de Gran Recorrido (aka the GR Trail) that winds through this part of Europe, hikers can cover Andorra entirely on foot. And when you get a little weary, there are 29 mountain huts to take respite in, breaking up your trek across the Pyrenees.

2. Maldives

Photo: Shutterstock/Siraphob Werakijpanich

Where is it?

Hop off the tip of India and head roughly 620 miles southwest until you reach a cluster of coral in the Arabian Sea. Here in the Maldives, you’ll stroll uninhabited islands, spend a night in a fishing village, swim with the rays, and snorkel to your heart’s content.

How small is it?

This is Asia’s smallest country by land — only 115 square miles. And while that land is spread out over 35,000 square miles of ocean, that’s still just the size of Maine. But the views are big, big, big.

What makes it mighty?

The 26 atolls that make up the archipelago offer virtually unlimited calm beaches, ultra warm water, endless blue skies, and thriving coral reefs. Hop aboard a posh catamaran and spend the next 11 days exploring the sheltered lagoons of Baa, Raa, and the other atolls.

When you’re out of sunblock, do a deep dive into the culinary offerings of this Islamic nation with a cooking class. Start at the market in Malé, where fish are plentiful, coconuts abound, and the starch of choice is breadfruit. Then whip up a few island specialties including fish cakes, sweetened sticky rice, and tuna salad spiked with onion and chili.

3. Saint Kitts and Nevis

Photo: Shutterstock/Maridav

Where is it?

These sister islands lie roughly 250 miles east of Puerto Rico and offer a near-perfect combination of fast and slow life. Where once tobacco, sugar, and indigo ruled, tourism now makes the country tick.

How small is it?

Saint Kitts is the larger of the two islands, 18 miles long and five across. If only Queens, New York City’s same-sized borough, were as scenic!

What makes it mighty?

On smaller and quieter Nevis, plunge toward the reefs and wrecks in the tropical waters of the West Indies. Keep your goggled eyes open for anchors and cannons, remnants of the 28-gun frigate HMS Solebay that wrecked here on the first day of the Battle of Frigate Bay, January 25, 1782.

Back on Saint Kitts, get “all aboard” the St. Kitts Scenic Railway. Dating back to 1926, these narrow rails once transported sugarcane from plantations to factories in the capital of Basseterre. Now it shuttles visitors past soaring volcanic peaks, Caribbean villages, deep-green rainforests, and unending fields of sugarcane on three-hour tours across the island.

4. Monaco

Photo: Shutterstock/Lena Serditova

Where is it?

Tucked smack-dab in the middle of the French Riviera, the Principality of Monaco is bordered by France on three sides and the Mediterranean Sea on the other. High-end casinos frequented by Hollywood elite have made this tiny city-state world famous.

How small is it?

Monaco’s land area spans roughly three-quarters of a square mile, making it the second smallest country on the planet after Vatican City. That’s just three Disneylands, or five Mall of Americas!

What makes it mighty?

Live your best James Bond life with a visit to Casino de Monte-Carlo. Even if you never drop a dime on baccarat, you can still soak up all the glitz on your way to the posh Cinq Mondes spa. Once refreshed, stroll into Blue Bay for your Michelin-starred meal.

And believe it or not, there’s serious substance beneath Monaco’s twinkling lights. Get your cultural fill with a tour of Old Town, part of the city that started life as a sixth-century-BC Phocaean Greek colony. Spot the remnants of the fortified wall constructed in the Middle Ages, and visit the Oceanographic Museum, the Chapel of Mercy, and the Prince’s Palace, built way, way back in 1191.

5. Niue

Photo: Shutterstock/Molly Brown NZ

Where is it?

Head northeast from New Zealand into the heart of the South Pacific to find this stunning coral island whose neighbors include the Cook Islands and Tonga.

How small is it?

Niue is actually one of the largest coral atolls on Earth, but it’s still just 101 square miles (with a population of a mere 1,600!). Oahu alone is six times larger by area (and some 600 times larger by population).

What makes it mighty?

Sure, you’re on an island in the South Pacific, so beachy things are a given. But Niue also lays claim to the most extensive collection of caves anywhere in this part of the world. Join Ebony Rainforest Tours and check out the stalagmites and stalactites while learning about how these alcoves were used as ancient burial sites in the Polynesian wilderness.

After adventuring on the island, you’ll be in need of a wee bit of luxury. And nothing says “I’ve done something right” like a soak in an outdoor bathtub for two. In the tiny village of Avatele, Lau’s Getaway promises sweeping views from its two oceanfront villas. And, yes — flatscreens, air conditioning, and wifi too.

6. Malta

Photo: Shuterstock/Konstantin Aksenov

Where is it?

The Republic of Malta is a collection of three islands (Malta, Gozo, and Comino) in the Mediterranean Sea, roughly 50 miles off the southern coast of Italy. It’s one of the most densely populated countries on the planet and one of the most linguistically diverse.

How small is it?

At 122 square miles, you could fit 15 Maltas into Grand Canyon National Park!

What makes it mighty?

Reefs? Caves? Wrecks? Malta has ’em. The calm, clear seas around these islands make for excellent visibility, perfect for the novice diver. The more experienced can explore a 2,700-year-old Phoenician shipwreck or a WWI battleship.

Back on land, visiting the Hypogeum of Hal Saflieni will leave you marveling at millennia-old art and architecture. Thought to be an underground burial site and temple, it’s only one of Malta’s dozens of sites that tell the story of this 7,000-year-old small-but-mighty island.

The post 6 small but mighty travel destinations around the world appeared first on Matador Network.

‘The Whale’ Norway

If you love seeing whales but are skeptical of whale-watching boat tours, Norway’s next major attraction will be right up your alley. “The Whale,” an architectural project on the island of Andøya — the northernmost island in the Vesterålen archipelago — will allow visitors to see migrating whales up close, without ever setting foot on a boat. This creation, located 186 miles north of the Arctic Circle, will not only offer views of the abundant marine wildlife, but also of the island’s natural landscape.

Photo: Google Maps

To preserve the integrity and essence of the remote and pristine environment of Andenes in Andøya, as well as its incredible location on the migrating path of whales, the building will blend almost seamlessly into the landscape, without a jarring effect on the eyes of the 50,000 yearly visitors who come to see the natural beauty of the area.

Photo: Dorte Mandrup

Its rounded shape made of gray stones will not only look like a mere hill, but will also conjure images of the cetaceans that dive in and out of the waters surrounding the location. The roof will be accessible to visitors for an unbeatable vantage point.

Photo: Dorte Mandrup

From the Nowegian Sea, the building will undeniably look like a whale’s tail fluking and the vertical windows will give off the impression of water dripping from it.

Photo: Dorte Mandrup

“The Whale” will be built by Danish architecture firm Dorte Mandrup, and house exhibition spaces, offices, a cafe, and store. From the inside, the view promises to be just as jaw-dropping thanks to large windows.

The project is planned to be completed by 2022.


More like this: The 7 best spots in the world for dolphin watching

The post ‘The Whale’ is a poetic new attraction for nature lovers in Arctic Norway appeared first on Matador Network.

Yayoi Kusama’s new infinity room

Over the past several years, it’s become an inevitability in the art world — people go nuts over Yayoi Kusama’s exhibits. The 90-year-old Japanese artist draws crowds with her bright, unique style that includes paintings, sculptures, and mirrored spaces — this is especially true when she presents brand-new works that have free entry, like the current exhibition at the David Zwirner Gallery in New York City.

The exhibition, titled “EVERY DAY I PRAY FOR LOVE,” opened on November 9 and, as expected, is proving to be a roaring success. But because it’s free of charge and entrance is first-come, first-served, the lines can get extremely long. The venue’s website explains that wait times of over two hours should be anticipated and that “each person’s time inside the Infinity Mirrored Room will be limited to allow for a large number of visitors to engage with the work.”

The Infinity Mirror Room, being an immersive experience featuring colorful lights and fantastical patterns, is heaven for the Instagram-obsessed, and unsurprisingly, the most popular of her pieces. Bloomberg suggests that New Yorkers could wait up to two hours in line just to spend just one minute in the room.

Photo: ephst/Shutterstock

Thankfully, the David Zwirner Gallery posts updates on wait times on its social media channels so visitors know what to expect. On its website, the gallery also advises visitors to come on a weekday morning for a more peaceful experience.

The exhibition will remain open until December 14, 2019. But if you can’t catch this event, know that a Kusama balloon will be floating during this year’s Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade and that more of the artist’s work will be on display at the New York Botanical Garden from May 9 to November 1, 2020.


More like this: 7 places to see prehistoric art around the world

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The best things to see Samarkand

It’s no secret: Central Asia is the place to hit these days if you want to keep your world traveler street cred. For the past two years the region has been trending and it’s likely to see even more international visitors when the rumored universal Central Asian visa becomes a reality. Not that it’s currently difficult to get to the Stans — with the visa waivers of Kyrgyzstan and Kazakhstan, and the super fast e-visas of Tajikistan and Uzbekistan, it’s never been easier to check out the former Soviet states east of the Caspian Sea.

Uzbekistan, especially, is benefiting from its new openness to the rest of the world. In 2018, the nation welcomed over twice as many international visitors than in 2017, and for good reason. A key stop on the Silk Road and a hotbed of both Islamic and Soviet architecture, the nation is full of jaw-dropping sights. But if there’s one place you can’t miss in Uzbekistan, it’s Samarkand. It’s a city (and a UNESCO World Heritage site) that has been continuously inhabited for over two and a half millennia and is packed with extraordinary mosques, madrasas (schools), and mausoleums that will leave you weak in the knees.

To make sure you do Samarkand the right way, even if you only have one day in the historic city, follow this itinerary while the place is still under most travelers’ radars — which won’t last.

Fill up with Uzbek carbs at Siab Bazaar.

Photo: monticello/Shutterstock

Siab Bazaar, located in the old town and close to some of the Samarkand’s best sights, is busy in the morning. But the hustle and bustle should not discourage you from taking the time to get lost among the heavy conflation of spicy scents, as well as the mountains of produce, dried fruits, and nuts on display. Once your stomach starts rumbling, get your first taste of the local Uzbek non. A tandoor, wheat flatbread, non is a staple of Uzbek cuisine, and each city has its own version. At Siab Bazaar, you’ll find some traditional Samarkand ones: beautifully round, golden, decorated with nigella seeds, and featuring a dip in the center. Skip the ones with splashes of bright colors — those are are meant to be eaten to celebrate the engagement of a couple. If you don’t mind savory food in the morning, make sure to also grab an onion patyr — another type of delicious flatbread that should keep you satisfied for a while. You’ll be doing a fair bit of walking, so don’t cheap out on the sustenance.

Tour the enormous Bibi-Khanym Mosque.

Photo: eFesenko/Shutterstock

A two-minute walk south will take you from the covered market to the colossal Bibi-Khanym Mosque, whose mosaic tile work and vibrantly colored cupola are nothing short of impressive. The mosque, supposedly built by Emperor Timur’s wife while he was campaigning in India, is said to have been, at some point in history, the biggest in the whole of the Islamic world, accommodating 10,000 worshippers. One among many examples of the grandeur of Samarkand as an imperial city under Timur, Bibi-Khanym can be toured for less than 3 USD.

Wander the lanes of the Shah-i-Zinda Necropolis.

Photo: MehmetO/Shutterstock

A 10-to-15-minute walk northeast will take you from Bibi-Khanym to the Shah-i-Zinda Necropolis. Don’t follow Google Maps to get there as it’ll make you go around the highway for double the time. Instead, use the white bridge to cross the busy stretch of road.

Although it’s mostly all tombs, Shah-i-Zindha is remarkably colorful. Legend has it that the ensemble contains the tomb of Kusam-ibn-Abbas, the cousin of the prophet Muhammad, who brought Islam to the region. As such, the site is not only a tourist attraction but a place of pilgrimage, so be respectful of worshippers. Family members and friends of Emperor Timur and his grandson Ulugbek are buried here, too. Because of the important remains they house, just about every tomb in the necropolis is intricately decorated. Your eyes won’t be able to keep up with all the amazing tile work done there, but try — this is Islamic architecture at its best and you won’t want to miss any of it. The entrance fee is less than 2 USD.

Rest your legs and have lunch in Russian Town.

Photo: Гостиница «Арба»/Facebook

Except for the bazaar, there’s not much in the way of authentic food near the mosque or the necropolis. Instead of falling for an overpriced tourist trap, grab a taxi from Shah-i-Zinda and make your way out of the old town to Russian Town to have a sit-down lunch at Staraya Arba (walking will take you about 50 minutes). Decked out in an elaborate traditional decor, the food served at Staraya Arba adheres just as much to tradition. With some international items to appeal to picky tourists, there are mostly Uzbek options on the menu. Try the signature bedana (stuffed quail), or Central Asian staples like plov, a rice dish with meat, caramelized onions, and carrots. The coffee and pastries on offer don’t disappoint either.

Tremble at the tomb of Timur (the Gur-e-Amir Mausoleum).

Photo: NICOLA MESSANA PHOTOS/Shutterstock

After you’ve had your fill at the restaurant, make your way to the Gur-e-Amir Mausoleum on foot. In less than 20 minutes, you’ll find yourself at the tomb of Uzbekistan’s most famous ruler.

Often compared to Genghis Khan, Timur was an ambitious and vicious conqueror, whose military campaigns killed more than one million people. Timur’s empire, with Samarkand as its capital, included all of Central Asia, Iran, Iraq, and parts of Syria, India, Russia, and Turkey. Timur’s custom after he left the regions he conquered in an utter state of devastation was to forcibly send the finest local craftsmen to apply their skills in Samarkand and make the empire’s capital the most beautiful city out there. Clearly, the tactic worked.

The mausoleum starts with an immense portal ornately decorated with blue tiles, both characteristics of the Timurid architectural style. After a courtyard, another portal opens on the mausoleum, topped with mosaiced, textured cupolas — another signature composition of the Timurid dynasty. Inside, a grandiose display of shiny and intricate mosaic tiles covering just about every surface will amaze you. The bodies of all those buried at Gur-e-Amir lie in a crypt below the mausoleum, inaccessible to the public.

The rumor goes that the tomb of Timur is cursed. Carved into the grave, the warlord supposedly left two dire warnings for future generations: “When I rise from the dead, the world shall tremble” and ‘Whosoever disturbs my tomb shall unleash an invader more terrible than I.” You’ve been warned. There’s more than just Timur resting for eternity in this magnificent building; his sons, grandsons, and some of his beloved teachers lie in Gur-e-Amir.

Photo: monticello/Shutterstock

Entrance to the mausoleum will set you back approximately 3 USD. If you have time to come back when the sun has set, you’ll see the mausoleum lit up spectacularly. It’s a sight worth returning for.

Time travel in Registan Square.

Photo: posztos/Shutterstock

A short walk back toward the old town will take you to Registan Square, the heart of Samarkand for centuries and a remarkable sight to behold.

The square used to be a marketplace where traders stopped while traveling the Silk Road. Later, when the three madrasas were built around the square (Ulugbek Madrasa in 1420, Sher-Dor Madrasa in 1636, and Tilya-Kari Madrassa in 1630), it became a center of learning. Today, it is a place to admire the splendor of Islamic architecture and remind you of the significant place Uzbekistan played in the history of the world.

Tours run regularly, and there are many private guides available that will tell you all about the gorgeous details of each madrasa.

Photo: volkova natalia/Shutterstock

Stay in the square until dusk settles and the tourist crowds fade — at night, the place is beautifully lit up. But no matter the time of the day, if you don’t feel small and in awe when standing in the middle of Registan Square, you’re doing it wrong.


More like this: 7 sights that make Uzbekistan a must-see Central Asian destination

The post How to spend 24 mind-blowing hours in Samarkand, Uzbekistan appeared first on Matador Network.

A family guide to skiing Mammoth

Family ski trip to Mammoth Lakes:

Everything you need to know

The Mammoth Lakes overview
Before you go
On the mountain
Off-mountain activities
Mammoth Lakes local guide

Images by Scott Sporleder

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Riding Mammoth Mountain in the right conditions is as good as it gets. Averaging 300 days of sun and 400 inches of snow a year, the ski season here is among the longest and sunniest in the US. And it’s not just the ski hill itself but the vast surrounding wilderness — one of the largest roadless areas in the lower 48 — that feels so surreal, especially given you’re only a five-hour drive from Los Angeles…and minutes from crackling fireplaces, hot cocoa, fresh snow, and take-no-prisoners snowball fights.

As we’ll explore in this guide, there are many factors that make Mammoth Lakes an ideal first (or 10th) family ski destination. Start with these suggestions, add a little creative planning, and you’ll have everything you need for a memorable trip.

Let’s bundle up and head for the Sierra.

This post is proudly produced in partnership with Mammoth Lakes Tourism.









The Mammoth Lakes overview

Great ski trips are about more than just the sport. Ultimately, they’re bonding experiences — both for your family and with the place itself. After all, the best travel experiences feel as if you’re not just visiting a place but starting a relationship with it.

So as you’re considering your itinerary, consider — and include — the space. Block out some time for the unexpected excursion off the mountain. For going back wherever you and the kids enjoyed most. For rest and recovery, some unstructured play time in town. For exploring.

Here are the basics of what’s in store in Mammoth Lakes.

 

Getting there

The Mammoth Yosemite Airport (MMH) is 10 minutes from town…

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Getting there

The Mammoth Yosemite Airport (MMH) is 10 minutes from town. Connect from flights anywhere in the States or abroad through Denver, San Francisco seasonally or year-round through Los Angeles on United Airlines. JetSuiteX also makes the trip from smaller regional California airports like Orange County and Burbank in the winter. Check the flight schedule for more info.

The other option is driving from LA — an incredibly scenic five-hour ride up US-395 through the Owens Valley — or from Reno, equally scenic and right under three hours.

Accommodations

Possibly the hardest decision when it comes to Mammoth Lakes is where to stay…

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Accommodations

Possibly the hardest decision when it comes to Mammoth Lakes is where to stay. There are tons of lodging options in the centrally located Village at Mammoth — including the upscale Westin Monache Resort, which offers their own rental facility and ski valet service so you don’t have to deal with getting gear on the mountain or bringing it back to your room.

For a pet-friendly option, consider the Edelweiss Lodge, which has a number of rustic cabins. Similarly, Tamarack Lodge & Resort offers various studio, deluxe, and two- or three-bedroom cabins right along the Nordic trail system near Twin Lakes. Browse all of the Mammoth Lakes lodging options and find the perfect place to stay in Mammoth Lakes.

Mammoth Mountain

At the top is one of the most unique interpretive centers in the country…

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Mammoth Mountain

Mammoth Mountain is the highest lift-serviced resort in California (11,035 feet), and anyone can make it to the top via scenic lift rides on the Panorama Gondola. Kids 12 and under ride free on scenic rides.

It’s a perfect first-day activity, as it introduces your clan to the volcanic landscape of the Sierra. At the top is one of the most unique interpretive centers in the country, Eleven53. And it all starts with being in the mountains, away from your home terrain, up at elevation.

The town of Mammoth Lakes

This mountain town is super fun to explore, from the skating rink to the bowling alley to the food scene…

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The town of Mammoth Lakes

This mountain town is super fun to explore. From the skating rink to the bowling alley to the food scene, there’s plenty to check out. After the ski day ends, the Village at Mammoth comes alive with people enjoying drinks, food, and heated outdoor spaces. And you’ll find plenty of upscale shopping and boutique gear stores, craft distilleries, and some amazing restaurants. Check the local guide section below for more detail.

Off-mountain activities

To fully appreciate Mammoth Lakes, you have to spend some time off the mountain…

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Off-mountain activities

To fully appreciate Mammoth Lakes, you have to spend some time off the mountain. Try the Mammoth Ice Rink or bowling at Mammoth Rock ‘N’ Bowl. And definitely pick at least one frontcountry adventure via snowshoes, cross-country skis, or fat bike. There’s also Woolly’s Tube Park & Snow Play in between the Village at Mammoth and Mammoth Mountain’s Main Lodge, or you can just toss a sled in the back of the car and drive the Scenic Loop looking for perfect hills.

Consider pairing a half-day lesson skiing or riding with side trips to nearby Convict Lake, Hot Creek, or Mono Lake. We’ll cover more options in the off-mountain activities section below.

Before you go: Notes for first-timers

Being on the mountain is physical. It quickly exposes everyone’s comfort level when it comes to being in the sun, wind, cold, up at elevation, etc. Proper gear is essential.

Of course, there’s a certain stoke that helps push through all this: a sense of learning. Of progression. Whether it’s your kids’ first run in the terrain park or just getting more comfortable on a snowboard and overcoming those initial jitters, it’s all one endless learning experience.

 

Timing, seasons, and crowds

There’s plenty of space at Mammoth Mountain for even holiday weekend crowds…

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Timing, seasons, and crowds

There’s plenty of space at Mammoth Mountain for even holiday weekend crowds, but if you can avoid the peak days/times by skiing midweek or early morning (be at the lifts at 8:30), it can help everything go even more smoothly.

As far as seasons, Mammoth Lakes often gets great snow early (November), and the warm days of spring skiing (mid-March to end of season) can be absolutely unreal. Both late and early season will see fewer crowds. That said, high season is also a fun time to be in Mammoth Lakes, with holiday events and other festivities filling the calendar.

Gear rentals

Picking up your gear (skis, board, boots, helmet) can be quick and easy…

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Gear rentals

Picking up your gear (skis, board, boots, helmet) can be quick and easy. That said, if you have a lesson scheduled, make sure to get to the rental shop at least 45 minutes (an hour is better) before it starts, just in case.

There’s a discount when you reserve gear at least a week in advance at some rental locations, and there’s also a premium rental service that makes getting your gear even faster and comes with locker service.

If you’re a seasoned rider/skier, consider the demo option. You can test out various new (sometimes brand new) boards or skis over the course of your stay.

What to bring from home

Shopping for gear (let the kids help choose!) and trying it on beforehand can be a fun way to build anticipation…

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What to bring from home

You’ll want to bring: goggles (all kids taking lessons must have protective eyewear in addition to their helmet), ski socks, thermal underwear (tops and bottoms), snow pants, jacket, and hat, plus a balaclava to keep in a pocket in case the wind comes up. Shopping for these items (let the kids help choose!) and trying it on beforehand can be a fun way to build anticipation and get kids used to gearing up.

Setting expectations

Novice skiers and riders start off on gently sloped areas…

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Setting expectations

Novice skiers and riders start off on gently sloped areas, runs with easy conveyor-belt-style lifts. From there, instructors will work on fundamentals. The big breakthrough comes when students can stop on command, turn, and stay in control, which allows instructors to take them up on the chairlift for the first time, giving learners their first real taste of the mountain.

It’s important to remember that each person learns at their own pace. Alleviate the pressure. Whether or not people make it up on the chair the first day, second day, or not at all on this first trip doesn’t really matter. The goal is having fun and a positive first experience.

On the mountain

To understand Mammoth Mountain, you have to start with the terrain. As storm systems come in from the Pacific, they sometimes drop heavy snow on the Eastern Sierra. Mammoth Mountain averages 400 inches of snowfall or more each season — with some seasons extending into August. Storms of three feet, four feet (sometimes more!) can be routine.

At times, these big weather events can be accompanied by winds, creating temporary lift closures. But the moment they’re open again, a kind of feeding frenzy occurs, with powder-crazed riders and skiers looking for first tracks down their favorite lines. And this is when Mammoth Mountain turns legendary.

The infrastructure is built around four base lodges (as well as the Village at Mammoth, which has its own Village Gondola up to the mountain):

Main Lodge — summit access via Panoramic Gondola. Gets first sun in the morning.
The Mill — less than a mile before Main Lodge, easier parking. Good meeting point between Main Lodge and Canyon, yet limited services and storage.
Canyon Lodge — accessible from Village Gondola. Busiest of all four lodges.
Eagle Lodge — closest to the center of town, yet limited parking.

Lift tickets can be purchased directly at any of the four bases (as well as the Village at Mammoth), and each has food options as well. Ski school is available at Main Lodge (which also offers daycare), Canyon Lodge, and Eagle Lodge.

While not directly part of the lift-accessed infrastructure, a “fifth” lodge — Tamarack Cross Country Ski Center — is a quiet alternative located on 19 miles of groomed Nordic trails.

 

Skiing & snowboarding

The 25 lifts at Mammoth Mountain give access to more than 3,500 acres of skiable terrain…

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Skiing & snowboarding

The 25 lifts at Mammoth Mountain give access to more than 3,500 acres of skiable terrain, with 3,100+ feet of vertical, over 150 named trails, and several different terrain parks. The terrain breaks down to 15% expert, 20% advanced, 40% intermediate, 25% beginner. Download the free Mammoth Mountain Mobile App for interactive trail maps, lift ticket purchasing (and specials), mountain cams, events, and more.

The Panorama Gondola gets you from Main Lodge to the summit comfortably in 10-15 minutes and runs (as do all lifts) from 8:30am to 4pm. Conditions permitting, the protected steeps off Chair 22 (Avalanche Chutes) are classic expert runs. Intermediate riders, try lapping Chair 12 for some sweet (and often uncrowded) features, as well as the overlooked glades on the mid-to-lower mountain.

Mammoth Ski School

At Mammoth Mountain Ski School, you’ll meet passionate instructors from all over the country…

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Mammoth Ski School

At Mammoth Mountain Ski School, you’ll meet passionate instructors from all over the country. Kids’ (or adults’) group lessons are a fun way to get started; you’ll work through a proven method for developing mountain IQ and riding/skiing.

Group lessons are offered daily in both the morning and afternoon. There are also full-day lesson + childcare packages for days when you might want to just leave the kids and spend the day shredding. Private lessons are also available for riders of all skill levels, which really accelerates learning curves.

On-mountain dining

Midway up the Panorama Gondola, there’s a food court at McCoy Station with lots of options…

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On-mountain dining

Midway up the Panorama Gondola, there’s a food court at McCoy Station with lots of options open 10:30am to 3:30pm. At the Main Lodge, Tusks is a sports bar with live music on weekends.

If your crew makes it to the backside of the mountain, The Outpost is a really cool sundeck/open-air sandwich stop with plenty of craft beer. If you’re basing out of Canyon Lodge and it’s still warm and sunny when you’re done, The Beach Bar is a great outdoor hang spot. If folks are cold, head upstairs to The Grizzly Bar. Just keep in mind that some spots stop serving food at 3:30.

The IKON Pass

With the IKON Pass, you get more than an unlimited, no-blackout-date pass to the slopes…

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The IKON Pass

The IKON Pass — which gives access to the world’s best ski destinations — naturally includes Mammoth Mountain. But you get more than an unlimited, no-blackout-date pass to the slopes. Here, your IKON Pass comes with serious discounts: 25% for up to 10 Friends & Family lift tickets, as much as 20% off your Mammoth Mountain lodging, and more discounts at local restaurants and retailers. Then there are the reduced lesson and rental rates, the special events like “Early Up” days (where pass holders score early access to the lifts and a free breakfast)…the list goes on.

Off-mountain activities

Beyond being on the mountain, there are so many ways to explore the Sierra and enjoy the town of Mammoth Lakes. Some, like ice skating, make great early evening or after-dinner activities. Others, like side trips to Hot Creek or Mono Lake, are awesome rest-day activities.

And still others, like snowshoeing or exploring Mammoth Lakes by fat bike or snowmobiling, can be their own half-day or full-day adventures, which give you a totally different perspective on the terrain.

 

Ice skating

Something about watching people ice skate around in circles makes it impossible not to smile…

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Ice skating

Something about watching people ice skate around in circles makes it impossible not to smile and have fun. The Mammoth Ice Rink is especially enjoyable, with a dramatic outdoor setting: the Sierra towering along the horizon.

Operated through a partnership of the local school district and the town, the rink has a youthful, welcoming vibe. Open fairly late (till 10pm some nights), it makes a great pre-dinner or later evening option. Check for special events such as hockey matches and “superhero skates” for the kids.

Where: 416 Sierra Park Road, Mammoth Lakes

Snowshoeing & Nordic skiing

Some of the most beautiful forests in all of the Sierra can be found here…

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Snowshoeing & Nordic skiing

Some of the most beautiful forests in all of the Sierra — with huge Jeffrey pines and other conifers — can be found along the secluded trails leading from the Tamarack Cross Country Ski Center. Here, you can rent Nordic skis or snowshoes (also gear sleds for hauling toddlers and/or picnic supplies), and day passes are very affordable (kids 12 and under are just $5).

The trail systems include over 19 miles around Lake Mary, across Twin Lakes, and way into the Mammoth Lakes frontcountry, with every kind of distance and difficulty, from flats and gently sloping glades to awesome vistas like Panorama Dome. If your visit coincides with a full moon, don’t miss the opportunity to take a guided full moon snowshoe hike.

Where: 163 Twin Lakes Rd, Mammoth Lakes

Hot Creek

After having spent time on the slopes, Hot Creek will deepen your appreciation for the landscape…

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Hot Creek

After having spent time on the slopes, Hot Creek will deepen your appreciation for the landscape. The same volcanic forces that created Mammoth Mountain are still visible here. As subsurface magma heats the waters within the gorge, it creates a variety of steaming, bubbling hot springs and otherworldly colored, mineral-rich pools.

The road should be passable in the winter, especially for an SUV, but you’ll want to check conditions before heading out. After big storms, snowshoes might be necessary to make the trip.

Where: Take US-395 south out of Mammoth Lakes, then follow Hot Creek Hatchery Road. It’s 15 minutes south of town.

Mono Lake

Mono Lake is among the most surreal landscapes you’ll ever see…

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Mono Lake

Mono Lake is among the most surreal landscapes and unique habitats you’ll ever see. Nearly all California gulls are hatched here, their parents flying inland from the coast to Mono Lake’s super saline waters.

Perhaps the most notable features of Mono Lake are the hundreds of bizarre “tufa” towers, formations that are actually the petrified remnants of freshwater springs. And at the center of the lake you’ll see the volcanic dome of Paoha Island, which was created in an eruption less than 500 years ago. A gentle hiking trail leads down through the sagebrush to the water’s edge, where it’s hard not to spend hours marveling at the formations.

Where: Take US-395 north from Mammoth Lakes to Lee Vining. Follow signs to the end of Test Station Road. It’s about 45 minutes from town.

Fat biking

This one is a great DIY adventure. You can rent fat bikes that also have electric assist…

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Fat biking

This one is a great DIY adventure. You can rent fat bikes (with huge studded snow tires) that also have electric assist, allowing you to pedal virtually anywhere. This makes for fun local explorations: You can start right in town, taking the Sawmill Cutoff Road across from one of the Starbucks up to the Shady Rest area for a variety of quick and easy loops through the frontcountry.

For a bigger day, follow the road from Main Lodge (closed in winter to cars) all the way to Minaret Summit (or as far as you can).

Where: Rent from Wave Rave.

Mammoth Lakes local guide

Mammoth Lakes has a special vibe for a number of reasons. It feels very familial here, part of which may be the legacy of the ski area itself, which David McCoy ran as a family business for more than 60 years.

Leaving the Village at Mammoth and heading south along Minaret Road to Main Street, you’ll find Mammoth Lakes’ business district. Between Main Street and Old Mammoth Road is everything you’ll need, from restaurants and shopping centers, to gas stations and the local Vons grocery store, to the pharmacy and a Bank of America. Note that during peak winter season, reservations at restaurants are a great way to ensure you have a table waiting for you after a day of adventures.

 

Getting to and around the mountain

Getting up to the mountain is super easy, as many lodging options are within walking distance…

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Getting to and around the mountain

Getting up to the mountain is super easy. Many lodging options are within walking distance of the slopes, but even if yours isn’t, there’s a free shuttle service, Eastern Sierra Transit Authority (ESTA), that runs every 20 minutes around town and to each lodge.

Park your car and download the Transit app, which shows you in real time where and when the next ride is coming.

Breakfast and lunch

Powerhouse breakfasts and refueling lunches are critical…

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Breakfast and lunch

Powerhouse breakfasts and refueling lunches are critical. Strong on-mountain/Village at Mammoth options include Toomey’s and the Old New York Deli & Bakery Co. (open at 6am).

Down in town you’ll find a lot more. Shea Schat’s Bakery is a Mammoth Lakes institution, having powered skiers with their fresh breads, pastries, and breakfast sandwiches for decades. The Stove is likewise a 40-year-plus hearty breakfast institution. For crack-of-dawn organic coffee & pastry runs, Stellar Brew and Looney Bean are two beloved local java houses.

Two more local favorites that have bigger menus and also serve lunch: Base Camp Café (with trail-meals packed to go) and Good Life Café (with healthy Mexican options).

Dinner

Mammoth Lakes dining can be a full-on event, or more of a low-key, booth-seating fuel-up…

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Dinner

Mammoth Lakes dining can be a full-on event (like The Lakefront Restaurant at Tamarack Lodge), or more of a low-key, booth-seating fuel-up (like sushi and ramen at Samurai). If your clan is worn out and wanting to keep it close to the mountain, the Village at Mammoth has solid options, like Campo for wood-fired pizza, Smokeyard BBQ for ribs, and Mammoth Brewing Company for burgers and craft beer. There’s also The Yodler down by the Panorama Gondola for quick pub fare, and the Mountainside Bar & Grill at Main Lodge for a more expansive dinner menu.

Heading into town, Roberto’s Cafe is your spot for margaritas, homemade tamales, and SoCal Mexican; Giovanni’s is your go-to pizza parlor. Study the Mammoth Lakes dining guide for more info.

Shopping & arts

Mammoth Lakes has the most wonderful slew of mountain gear stores…

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Shopping & arts

Mammoth Lakes has the most wonderful slew of mountain gear stores and rental and repair shops you’ll ever see, from Footloose Sports and Mammoth Mountaineering to Wave Rave. The folks at these shops are great resources for local activity recommendations as well.

If you’re looking for clothing, try Mammoth Lakes’ discount outlet mall, which includes several luxury brands. There’s also a superb independent bookstore, Booky Joint.

Finally, check out local fine art photography from the Eastern Sierra at the Vern Clevenger Gallery.

Family fun

There’s plenty of off-mountain family fun to be had in Mammoth Lakes…

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Family fun

There’s plenty of off-mountain family fun to be had in Mammoth Lakes. One classic is the Mammoth Rock ‘N’ Bowl, which features plenty of bowling, darts, and pub-style eats.

If your crew is feeling like a movie night, there’s Minaret Cinemas, a funky, retro cinema with comfy seating and both new and classic releases.

Finally, if you’re looking for a great sledding/tubing area, check out Woolly’s Tube Park & Snow Play, which has fun little sled runs and a variety of slide-y toys to play on.

Special events

Throughout the ski season, Mammoth Mountain hosts weekly special events…

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Special events

Throughout the ski season, Mammoth Mountain hosts weekly special events. Seeing amazing pro riders go off during slopeside races and freestyle competitions can really open kids’ eyes to what’s possible on the mountain.

Then there are just fun family festivities, like the kid-favorite Woolly’s Saturday Parade that takes place each Saturday afternoon in the Village at Mammoth.

The town of Mammoth Lakes also hosts several important cultural happenings, like the annual spring Mammoth Lakes Film Festival. It’s also around this time when Mammoth Mountain’s infamous Pond Skim takes place, where costumed skiers and riders bomb down Canyon before hitting a 110-foot pond. Check the Mammoth Lakes event calendar for more.

This post is proudly produced in partnership with Mammoth Lakes Tourism.

The post Family ski trip to Mammoth Lakes: Everything you need to know appeared first on Matador Network.

Mammoth Lakes, CA, off the mountain

Mammoth Lakes is more than a place for pow shots (although if you’re lucky you’ll get some). More than a place to see Woolly, the world’s only skiing pachyderm, ripping mid-mountain (although that’s fun too).

Mammoth is the place to bring your family if you want to truly experience winter in all different ways. You get the high Sierra terrain. You get the festive vibe of a rad little mountain town. And you get unbelievable access to all kinds of unexpected geologic sites, huge wilderness areas, and lots of ways to explore them.

For families introducing their kids to skiing and snowboarding — and for anyone visiting the region — make sure to build time into your itinerary to experience Mammoth beyond the mountain. Here are a few ideas to get you started.

1. Ice skating at the Mammoth Ice Rink

The Mammoth Ice Rink is an awesome outdoor facility operated by the town in partnership with the local school district. This gives it a welcoming, community-focused, and kid-friendly vibe. They’re also open fairly late — till 9:30 or 10pm most nights, though check the calendar for public and free skate times.

As luck would have it, we rolled in on a Friday night, and something about the rink all lit up and the local kids slicing across the ice — lots of smiles and goofing around — gave it an air of being at a skating party. We just needed some ’80s tunes.

A couple of nice things happened while we were there. First, my kids were befriended by a local boy who saw how they were just starting out. He accompanied them on their first steps along the wall, encouraging them and helping them learn. Second, a fellow dad, seeing us out there as obvious newbies, slid a skating “seat” our way — allowing us to take turns holding onto the handles and pushing each other (or better said, me pushing the kids), which was pretty fun.

Getting your bearings on skis or a board always takes a few hours, but the learning curve on skates goes much faster. Within a few minutes, my kids went from holding the rail to cruising around the rink.

2. Pizza night at Campo

We tried Campo Mammoth our first night in town. With their rich, persimmon-colored dining room, handmade salumi, James Beard-nominated chef Mark Estee’s seasonal menu, and profligate cocktail selections, it seemed at first like more of a spot for date night than family pizza night.

Part of it might have been the pasta dishes. I saw a powerhouse bucatini carbonara arrive at a nearby table, followed by a bountiful bowl of gnocchi. Deliberating over a glass of Malbec, I decided to order the Paccheri with red-wine-poached octopus, tomatoes, garlic, chiles, green olives, and chorizo — getting a nod of approval from the server.

But the wood-fired pizzas (with optional pancetta, salami, and farm-fresh egg add-on) looked insanely good as well. We decided to share a simple Margherita (the ultimate test anyway), along with a Prosciuglia, a prosciutto-loaded pie with a mountain of arugula in the center.

Of course my youngest, Mica (8), opted for the kid’s grilled cheese.

On Thursdays over the winter, Campo does indeed do date nights (5pm-close), serving a four-course dinner for two for just $50, along with a half-priced bottle of wine. On Sundays from 5 to 8pm, kids eat free. There’s also happy hour drink specials, 4:30-6pm.

3. Winter fat biking

You might have to ask around town to find fat bikes (try Wave Rave Snowboard Shop), but they make for a super fun way to cruise around Mammoth Lakes. As e-bikes (electric assist when you pedal) with gargantuan studded snow tires, these bikes will go anywhere, turning even crusty parking lot snow into fun terrain.

If your crew is fit and looking for big views, just take the road as far as you can from Main Lodge to Minaret Summit. Another great out-and-back is Tamarack Lodge to Lake Mary and/or Twin Lakes.

For a variety of shorter, more beginner options, check out the Shady Rest area. You can ride right from town (Sawmill Cutoff Road across from Starbucks).

4. Downtown / village / slopeside events

Mammoth Lakes hosts exciting events year round. You have weekly family-centered festivities like Woolly’s Saturday Parade. And then there are the top-shelf ski and snowboard competitions like Volcom’s Peanut Butter and Rail Jam and the US Grand Prix. There’s also the high-profile Mammoth Lakes Film Festival, which takes place in late spring.

We had the chance to check out Woolly’s Parade, which happens every Saturday afternoon during ski season. Expect face painting, hot chocolate, and Woolly — “the world’s only skiing pachyderm” — cruising around with all the kids. After being on the mountain a couple days, my guys were stoked to see some familiar faces here, including one of the girls from rentals who helped them get ready for the slopes.

Perhaps the most infamous — and entertaining — event on the calendar is the Mammoth Pond Skim. For one day each spring, skiers and riders bomb down Canyon and hit a 110-foot pond. The competition is limited to 50 contestants, and all are in costume.

Other events, such as Night of Lights (a winter fireworks celebration) and Bluesapalooza (beer and blues festival), round out the calendar. Finally, there’s the Mammoth Food & Wine Experience, offering seminars and tastings with world-class chefs, sommeliers, and brewers.

5. Coffee, breakfast, and pastries at Schat’s

The only real stress I saw in Mammoth Lakes was in the line of people in Shea Schat’s Bakery waiting to pick up their pre-adventure bread / pastries / snacks. It was like they couldn’t wait to get their fix.

Meanwhile, my daughter Layla was holding everyone up, flummoxed over the impossible selection of apple fritters, eclairs, cookies, biscotti, florentines, chocolate bark, donuts, cinnamon rolls…and it just went on and on.

I’d promised her and her brother one(!) — whichever one they wanted. Meanwhile, I’d just finished one of the best breakfast sandwiches I’ve ever tasted: ham, egg, and cheese on a croissant with cloud-like textures encased in perfect golden flakiness.

Schat’s deserves every bit of their hype. This place has been a culinary institution in Mammoth for decades, baking sheepherder bread in the tradition of Basque immigrants who came to Owens Valley for the gold rush. They’re open from 6 to 6, and often jammed in the morning fuel-up hours. We rolled in mid-morning and took our time over coffee in their small seating area. It was impossible not to stop here again on our way out of town.

6. Learning about the Sierra at Eleven53 Interpretive Center

No matter what else you’re planning to do in Mammoth Lakes, on a clear day you have to make it to the top of Mammoth Mountain. This is the highest lift-serviced peak in California (11,053 feet). Every moment on the gondola ride up to the summit gives you panoramic views of Mammoth’s smooth lava domes, the jagged Sierra beyond, and the vast Long Valley caldera far below. It’s truly a remarkable vista.

At the top you’ll find the glass-walled Eleven53 Interpretive Center, and we made this our first stop on our first morning in Mammoth (their winter hours: 8:30am-3:30pm). Not only did we get optimal bluebird colors / photo conditions, we got the lay of the land before embarking on several days’ adventures.

Eleven53 helps you learn the landscape, with dozens of different scopes aimed at various peaks and geographic features. There are also a surprising amount of geology and wildlife exhibits, including some of the most beautiful pelts I’ve ever seen — mule deer, mountain lion, red fox, beaver — many of the local mammals. Our whole crew was fascinated learning about Mammoth Lakes’ natural history.

For non-skiers looking for a scenic ride to the summit, the gondola is super affordable for adults, and kids 12 and under ride free.

7. Snowshoeing / cross-country skiing at Tamarack

Saving my favorite for last — the Tamarack Cross Country Ski Center (and Tamarack Lodge) is the most chill place in Mammoth Lakes. It has a very personal, intimate feel, a getaway from the bustle on the mountain. A network of groomed Nordic trails takes you past historic cabins (where I want to stay next time), a mid-century lodge, and on up to beautiful alpine lakes. Within just a few hundred yards, you’re deep in the forest.

The center rents both Nordic skis and snowshoes and offers guided outings, including full-moon snowshoe treks. My crew spent the morning on snowshoes, making our way back through gently sloping glades where we found some truly enormous Jeffrey pines.

For the kids, it was one of the trip’s first chances at free unstructured snow play, and they wasted no time building a snowman.

Studying the trail map, you’ll quickly see there are endless adventures to be had back there. Trails lead up to Lake Mary, across Twin Lakes, and way into the Mammoth frontcountry, with all kinds of glades, vistas, and special spots like Panorama Dome.

If the lift-accessed parts of the mountain are high-energy, Tamarack is the peaceful side. Along the way, we crossed paths with some interesting people: a solo skier out birdwatching, a family skiing in with a naturalist, an all-female party who looked like they were catching up on old times. But for the most part it felt like we had it to ourselves.

Lastly, in keeping with the intimacy of the area, the Lakefront Restaurant at Tamarack Lodge is among the most unique dining experiences in the Sierra. Overlooking Twin Lakes, the restaurant has only ten tables and serves seasonal menus based around locally sourced ingredients.

Final note

The trip ideas above are just the very start; the list goes on and on. There are day trips to Hot Creek, Convict Lake, and Mono Lake. There’s simply piling the crew into the car and driving the Mammoth Lakes Scenic Loop until you find your own winter wonderland to hike into / sled down.

So when you and your family go to Mammoth Lakes, hit the slopes, but make time to explore the surrounding terrain. It will deepen your experience of Mammoth in a huge way.

The post 7 ways to experience winter in Mammoth Lakes, beyond snowboarding appeared first on Matador Network.

Family ski trip to Mammoth Lakes, CA

“Can we move here?” That was my daughter Layla’s first reaction, stamping through moonlit snow and into the Village at Mammoth, the gas log fires and twinkling holiday decorations making it feel suddenly as if we’d walked into wonderland.

I’m with you baby, I thought. I had to admire her 11-year-old sense that anything was possible. Then again, over those 11 years we’d spent seasons in so many one-of-a-kind places (think Puerto Escondido in Mexico, or the Alpujarra region in Spain) that her spontaneous idea of moving here made perfect sense.

Meanwhile, her brother Mica didn’t need to say anything to express how he felt. He just ran along the top of a flagstone wall and launched off, 8-year-old parkour style.

The thing was, somehow in those 11 years I’d missed getting them started snowboarding. Anchoring all of our travels abroad was a home base in Asheville, NC. It was a place we loved, but still, every time we’d get a few inches of snow (slush) I’d start geeking out, breaking out my ancient Burton, giving them little sit-down rides in our neighborhood forest.

Inevitably this would lead to tales of my long-ago seasons in the Rockies and the Sierra, floating through steep powder, carving endless waves, being in, as I described it, “real snow.” Ah yes, the glorious pow, the proper high country. “One day,” I promised, “We’ll all get there.”

This had been building up now for several years, and Mica called me out with the very first flurries in Asheville last fall. “Papi?” he said. “Will you take us snowboarding?”

By day two, it felt like I was back in the flow, working across the glades, looking for little banks and wave features, picking up right where I’d left off years before. This element of snowboarding, the way it became a lifelong progression, was one of the things I was most excited about sharing with the kids.

I didn’t know Mammoth Mountain at all yet, but these glades — cathedral-like forests of Jeffrey’s pine and Douglas fir — were perfect for little surf turns, especially down in the gullies.

My friend Scott Sporleder, who’d joined the family trip as both photographer and helpful “uncle,” had been riding with me on the lower mountain while the kids were down in snowboard school. We kept traversing across — Avalanche, Side Show, and then under Canyon Express (Chair 16) — before working back towards Schoolyard Express (Chair 17) and the fenced-off learning area by the magic carpet where the kids were on their second afternoon of lessons.

I sat for a while just watching them. Layla was braking, practicing her heelside edge, timid but more or less in control. Meanwhile, Mica was strapping himself in — something he still needed help with yesterday. And I felt that stab of sweetness: a parent seeing their kids out in the world doing something new. Learning.

Now Mica was up — wobbling — and then sliding heelside about 15 feet, semi-under control. I could see him trying to get his weight back on his back foot (go buddy!), but then he just let the board swing downhill and tried to ride it out. Halfway down he caught an edge and fell.

Layla was slowly pushing back to the magic carpet. At the end of their first lesson yesterday, their instructor Max had said how they were getting it; they just needed “more mileage,” to which I thought: Don’t we all?

* * *I hadn’t told the kids where we were going. Better to make it a surprise. I’d just said we were going to have some major adventures and left the rest to their imaginations. Now that we were here, it didn’t disappoint. Mammoth Lakes — both the town and the entire Mono Basin — is one of those places with a palpable, undeniable energy. It’s something I’ve only felt in a handful of places, say surfing off the Olympic Peninsula or in our grandest parklands (Yellowstone, Badlands). It’s an energy that derives from wildness, vast open spaces, extensive wildlife habitat, migratory routes, ancient forests.

Geographically, Mammoth Lakes is the backdoor to Yosemite National Park in the summertime (via the Tioga Pass), and there’s limitless access from the frontcountry back into the Ansel Adams and John Muir Wilderness areas. It’s a place where, as noted by local David Page (in his indispensable Explorer’s Guide: Yosemite & the Southern Sierra Nevada), “a person can still walk 200 miles from the porch at Tamarack Lodge without crossing a single road.”

We’d had the option of flying directly to Mammoth Lakes (the Mammoth Yosemite Airport is only 10 minutes from town and offers year-round flights from LAX.) But, given this was the kids’ first time in California, I thought it would be more fun to link up with Scott in Los Angeles and share the mini road trip together.

The best setups always feel a bit surreal. In just a few hours we’d gone from eating overpriced oatmeal and checking glassy six-foot swells at Venice to one of the most remote mountain towns in the US. To reach Mammoth Lakes from LA you blaze across the Mojave, past airplane graveyards and wide open desert terrain before heading up the Owens Valley on 395 (Eastern Sierra Scenic Byway).

From here it gets truly spectacular: You pass alongside Kings Canyon National Park, Sequoia National Park, and the backside of Mt. Whitney — the tallest peak in the lower 48. The sun was just setting when we reached this point, the kids begging to stick their heads out the window as the sky lit up gold and pink over the valley.

That first morning, we had a window of bluebird conditions and took advantage with a gondola ride to the top of Mammoth Mountain. This is the highest lift-accessed summit in California (11,053 feet), and even if you don’t ski or board, the panoramic views into the Sierra are worth the trip.

At the top of the gondola is the Eleven53 Interpretive Center and cafe — perfect for getting the lay of the land. Little scopes aimed through the glass help you identify different features across the Long Valley Caldera and the Sierra beyond.

What becomes immediately apparent is that for all the jaggedness of the Sierra, Mammoth Mountain is itself very smooth and rounded — a complex of lava domes. According to the USGS, the eruptions that created Mammoth Mountain happened between 220,000 and 50,000 years ago. Since then, numerous eruptions have continued along this chain (the Mono-Inyo), each adding new domes to the landscape.

“Literally each chairlift here goes to the top of a lava dome,” explained Julie Dorio, an interpreter at Eleven53.

Then she brought out a collection of pelts from local mammals — red fox, bobcat, mountain lion, beaver, weasel, black bear, mule deer — as well as antler and skulls. There was a horn from a bighorn sheep. Teeth, claws. Molds of bear paws and a mini sandbox to make tracks. It was a strange juxtaposition — all of us touching the fur, noticing things (“You can see the cat’s whiskers!”) — in this high, sunny, glassed-in space where just outside people were skiing off the top.

Back at snowboard school at the bottom of Schoolyard Express (Chair 17), I high-fived Mica and Layla as they got off the magic carpet. Their instructor, a Californian in her early 20s, came over with a look of having made progress.

“So, a bit more practice before they go up on the hill, no?” I said.

“Yeah, they’re getting it. Layla has it, she’s just…”

“Super timid?”

“Yeah.”

“Papi, watch me!” Mica said, strapping in and then heelsliding again in his goofy foot stance. He did this funny move with his back hand, some kind of kung fu counterbalancing.

I huddled up with Layla. She didn’t remember it, but back when she was two we’d walked up a snowcat road together deep in a coihue forest in Patagonia. I carried my board, and the two of us took a few rides sitting down on it sled-style. She’d squeal each time and yell, “Más!” How did all these years go by without taking her to the mountains more times?

“Listen, baby, don’t worry, you’re doing awesome,” I said. Layla looked at me like she wanted so bad to show me that she could do it, but that she was also kind of cold, and tired, and needed like six cups of hot chocolate and a slice of pizza.

“I’m super proud of you,” I went on. “You don’t have to go up if you’re not ready. We still have a bit more time, though. Do you want to keep practicing or are you done? If you want to keep practicing I’ll go do one last run and then come back and get y’all.”

“I’ll keep practicing.”

If anything, this was a trip of firsts. The kids’ first time in California. Their first time ice skating (which ended up being so fun we did it twice). Their first time bowling (I guess I deprive my kids). And earlier that morning we’d visited Tamarack Cross Country Ski Center for their first time snowshoeing.

Mammoth Lakes has plenty of accommodations for even the busiest holidays, and a range of options from cozy B&Bs to 200-guestroom hotels to upscale condo developments. Truth be told, I was more than comfortable in our vintage ’90s diagonal-pine-paneling and wall-to-wall-carpet condo. Besides a VCR (and bonus tape of Bette Midler in Beaches), we had what mattered most: a working fireplace/firewood supply that occupied an entire balcony, and a five-minute walk to Canyon Lodge.

But as soon as I saw the little rustic cabins along the Nordic trails at Tamarack Cross Country Ski Center, I knew I’d found where to stay the next time we come to Mammoth Lakes.

Like all the best places, these cabins would require you to go just a bit further. To take a little sled with you to help haul in your gear and groceries. But then when you stepped outside, there was no parking lot, no garage, no pavement. You were stepping onto snow. You were already in the quiet forest, the miles of trails around Twin Lakes and into the backcountry beyond.

We snowshoed in a ways until the kids took the command decision to just stop and make a snowman. Meanwhile, little parties skied by. A group of women in their 40s. An older man with a pair of birding binoculars. I carried my board (old habit) and explored some unnamed glade, strapping in beneath a gigantic, rather guardian-like Douglas fir.

The art of travel — something kids are naturally good at — is allowing yourself to be drawn into random spots like this. Spots that give you a strange sense of arrival, as if they were there waiting for you. It’s like a delayed reaction sometimes: Long after the plane has landed and the car has parked and the first travel objectives are checked off, you slow down enough to just wander into the terrain and realize, I’m actually here.

* * *That evening, high lenticular clouds were setting up to the east for potentially mind-bending colors. Scott made a spontaneous call for a sunset mission to Mono Lake.

Perhaps from all the hours in my goggles in the snow, as we sped along across the edge of the Great Basin, the dry ground — endless thickets of greasewood, sagebrush, and rabbitbrush — seemed to form a blanket of the most beautiful muted earth tones. I thought back to the animal skins — the red fox, the mountain lion — and how they fit into this palette.

As we entered the South Tufa area, the land seemed strangely abandoned. From a distance, we could see Paoha Island, a volcanic dome rising in the middle of the lake, formed by the Mono-Inyo Craters’ most recent eruption less than 300 years ago. The full moon was huge over the water, with rolls of passing clouds that reflected so much ambient light we didn’t need headlamps as we hiked in (or out).

Piling out of the car, Layla started skipping ahead, singing to herself. Scott ran ahead to set up some long exposures. It’s as if we all received sudden shots of energy. Mica’s eyes were alert, studying the terrain, maps, and signs with me.

“See, Bubba? Those towers are actually petrified springs. They’re where fresh water used to flow into the lake, and as the lake has evaporated, the water’s lowered and it leaves those formations. It says here to look for evidence of fresh springs near the lake.”

As we crossed the valley floor, the dry air was pungent with sage. At the water’s edge, Mica just plopped down in the sand, taking it all in. From here we examined the tufa towers, their textures sparkling in the moonlight. Half of the lake reflected the deep indigo sky above the Sierra; the other side glowed with the moon. After blowing for hours, the wind had finally died down. A vast stillness prevailed over the terrain.

“Look, Papi.” Mica’s voice, a few feet away. He was inspecting something in the beach. “I found one.”

“What is it, Bubba?” He scooted over and showed me: a hole leading down into the sand at the water’s edge. A spring.

* * *Heading up Canyon Express one last time, I realized with a kind of shock that it had been 18 years since my season in Tahoe. I’d joked with a couple kids in rentals about how I’d used to work at a resort, too. How I envied their mountain time. How before you know it you’re on the other side.

The Mono Lake mission ended up being a pivotal, before-and-after moment for our crew, locking us into this trip, this place, and giving the next two days around Mammoth an air of silliness and congeniality: Layla’s behemoth Philadelphia Roll at Samurai Sushi (the server moving her hands like snowboards, saying, “I love it here, I ride the mountain”). A local Mammoth boy befriending Mica and Layla and making their day at the ice rink. Our Shea Schat’s Bakery misadventure, where, faced with a paradise of pastries — ham, egg, and cheese croissants (an all-time breakfast sandwich), cinnamon rolls, donuts, chocolate, and every kind of fresh bread imaginable — Mica asked for Sour Patch Kids.

It was there throughout, this kind of effortless access, as we scouted the greatest sled hills of all time. (Look for the pull-offs as you drive two or three miles out of town on the Mammoth Scenic Loop. Bring the snow surfer.) As we made quick side trips to Hot Creek and . As we boogied with Woolly, the world’s only skiing pachyderm, at the Saturday Parade.

In the meantime, I still had a few turns left. I was starting to really get how my board (a never-ridden K2 87 I demoed) wanted to flex and float and turn off the nose. I kept looking for this one maneuver: the old dad ollie onto the log (to mini backside carve), and somewhere back in the glades, untracked, right there on the lower mountain, I found it.

When I ducked back in by the magic carpet, both Mica and Layla were wanting to show me how they were doing.

“Yeah, y’all!” I said. “Starting to feel it?”

The post Real snow: Taking the kids to Mammoth Lakes appeared first on Matador Network.

How to travel only with a small bag

If you’ve ever lugged heavy rollaway suitcases down a cobbled European street, or desperately tried to find a single Cliff Bar in the abyss of your massive backpack, you know that when it comes to packing for a vacation, most of us overdo it. Whether it’s infrequent travelers who check three bags for a two-night stay, or veteran backpackers who travel with massive hiking packs that take 30 minutes just to untie, we just pack too much — half of what we’re bringing on vacation could probably be left at home. But with a little bit of discipline and creativity, you can travel pretty much anywhere in the world with a mid-sized backpack — the same backpack you’d use to carry your books to class. Here’s how to do it.

Kill your darlings

There’s a popular piece of advice designed to help writers avoid wordiness and cumbersome language: “Kill your darlings.” It applies to packing, too. We tend to bring along things from our wardrobe that we like — not necessarily what we need. If you’re going away for three nights, you don’t need five dress shirts, four pairs of pants, and three pairs of shoes. If the thought, “Well, just in case…” creeps into your mind while looking at a piece of clothing, you probably don’t need it. Consider each day of your trip, what you’ll be doing, and what clothes you actually need to be comfortable. Take this approach, and your backpack will become half as heavy.

And this doesn’t just apply to warm-weather destinations with relatively light packing demands. One of my most ambitious packing accomplishments was preparing for a trip to Greenland. Given the trip’s fast pace and multitude of outdoor excursions, lugging a suitcase into glacier tents, onto ferries, and over dirt roads was unthinkable. Determined to bring only my backpack, containing nothing but the bare essentials, I drew confused glances from airport baggage workers, tour operators, and pretty much everyone else. “That’s all you’re bringing?” said the woman at the Air Greenland check-in counter. “You know you’re going to Greenland, right?” Sure, I may have worn the same thermal shirt and pants four times that week, but it was Greenland — not the Met Gala.

The Smart Squish

The most important packing technique is something I call the “Smart Squish.” Don’t be afraid to cram your clothes and other necessities anywhere you can find free space — but do it smart. You don’t need a separate, zippable compartment for your socks or toiletries. Start with the big stuff, then squish the small stuff anywhere it fits. I always start by putting shoes at the bottom of the biggest compartment — arranged side by side like a tetris piece — followed by pants, thermal shirts, and T-shirts. Underwear and socks can usually fit in the margins. If you have nicer shirts you don’t want to get wrinkled, use the laptop compartment. That’s right, it’s not just for your MacBook, folks. Fold up your flannels or button-downs and you can actually slide one or two into this handy little slot — and there should still be room for your laptop.

Think outside the backpack

Creativity is key in the world of packing. Don’t make your backpack do all the work — you’re perfectly capable of pulling your own weight. Especially for trips to cold-weather destinations, which require heavier fleeces and jackets, you might need to bring clothes that won’t fit in a backpack. That doesn’t mean, however, that you have to wave the white flag and check your bag. Wearing seven layers on the plane is a terrible piece of advice, but tying a fleece around your waist or stringing an extra pair of boots to your backpack strap is perfectly feasible. You’d be amazed what you can bring on a plane, reasonably comfortably, if you get creative with your body. Wear your sweatshirt like a belt, and layer a thermal under your shirt and jacket. You can always remove layers on the plane so you’re not sweltering hot. Layering pants is also an option — they tend to take up valuable room in your backpack — though removing the extra pants on a plane might be a bit more embarrassing.


More like this: The ultimate packing list for your next solo trip abroad

The post How to travel anywhere in the world with a small backpack appeared first on Matador Network.

Best things to see at the Acropolis

The Acropolis is an extraordinary archaeological site comprised of several 2,500-year-old monuments, such as the Temple of Athena Nike, the Erechtheion, and the Parthenon. Being the greatest artistic complex coming out of Greek antiquity, visitors could do with some help to understand the Acropolis’ significance and appreciate its monuments’ beauty — especially if they are racing against the clock. To make your Acropolis visit as dazzling as the rest of your stay in Athens, we asked two professional tour guides, Jessica Van Der Does and Dr. Dimitria Papadopoulou, to provide some tips on how to make your one-day visit a cinch.

Jessica Van Der Does has a BA and an MA in archaeology. Van Der Does has been working in the tourism sector in Greece since 2014, and she is the co-founder of Little Owl Tours, which offers guided tours of Athens in Dutch and German.

Papadopoulou is a tourist guide and a national trainer of tourist guides in Greece, licensed by the World Federation of Tourist Guides Associations. She accompanies tourists all over Greece.

Before you go: The #1 piece of advice for visiting the Acropolis
The best times to visit the Acropolis
Guided tours
Where to start your visit
Must-see monuments and why they matter
If you have more time
Additional tips



Before you go: the #1 piece of advice for visiting the Acropolis

Photo: Savchenko/Shutterstock

You don’t have to be an experienced trekker to reach the Acropolis. That said, Van Der Does and Papadopoulou strongly advise that you wear comfortable shoes and are mindful of the slippery, worn rocks on the way to the top. In the summer, remember also to pack your hat, sunscreen, and water, especially if you are visiting after 10:00 AM or before 5:00 PM when it’s hot, hot, hot!

You can purchase your ticket at either of the two ticket offices stationed at the central gate called “Propylaea” or outside the Theatre of Dionysus, on the south slope of the Acropolis, but to avoid any possible long lines, we suggest that book your ticket online for fast-track access through both entrances. Reserve a single-use ticket valid for one admission to the Acropolis for the selected date, or a combined ticket, valid for seven sites (i.e. Acropolis, Ancient Agora, Roman Agora, Hadrian’s Library, Temple of Zeus, Kerameikos, and Aristotle’s School) for five consecutive days.

The best times to visit the Acropolis

Photo: Camera Rules/Shutterstock

The operation hours of the Acropolis, as of most archaeological sites in Greece, are different during the summer and winter months. To avoid crowds and the sunshine during summertime, Van Der Does recommends visiting the Acropolis as soon as it opens, at 8:00 AM, or after 5:00 PM. “In winter, you can visit anytime as it’s neither too busy nor too hot,” she explains.

If you are in Athens on any of the following days, the Acropolis offers free admission to all visitors:

March 6
April 18
May 18
The last weekend of September
October 28
Every first Sunday from November 1 to March 31


Guided tours

There are no audio guides available in the Acropolis, meaning that expert guides are your only option for a crash course in the glory of ancient Greece. Papadopoulou firmly recommends a guided tour because “you receive a deep knowledge of the site, even if you have a limited amount of time at your disposal. A guide gives meaning to the site and interprets the cultural heritage. They can even organize a tailor-made tour to accommodate your needs, interests, and health conditions.”

If you aren’t visiting the Acropolis as part of an all-inclusive holiday, you can contact a licensed tourist guide directly through the official page of the Association of Licensed Tourist Guides.

Where to start your visit

Photo: saiko3p/Shutterstock

A visit to the Acropolis goes hand in hand with a tour of the Acropolis Museum. To get an overview of the importance of the temples and statues on the Acropolis, it is highly recommended to visit the museum first and then the Acropolis and its monuments.

Allow yourself no less than two hours inside the museum, and if you must skip something, let it be the temporary exhibition on the ground floor.

Start your visit from the first floor, where a unique collection of statues dating back to the Greek archaic period (800-479 BC) is on display. “This collection is well-preserved because the statues were buried in the Acropolis hill, protected from natural disasters and human impact,” explains Van Der Does.

The entire top floor of the museum is dedicated to the Parthenon temple and showcases the sculptural decoration of the monument. The inner frieze displayed at the museum is made of 150 marble blocks and consists of the actual decorative elements used to decorate the Parthenon (164 feet of it) and cast copies. The rest of the original blocks are to be found at British Museum (over 262 feet), the Louvre (one block), and other museums throughout the world. Note that the decorative elements you see on the Parthenon at the Acropolis are cast copies.

Check the museum’s opening hours and fees before you organize your visit, as they change throughout the year. For a faster entrance in the museum, buy your tickets online via a straightforward e-ticketing service.

If you are worried about big crowds, bear in mind that on weekends, the museum cafe and restaurant are meeting spots for Athenians, generating a busier vibe than usual. Throughout the year, Friday nights in the museum restaurant are always a hit, as the museum stays open until 10:00 PM under the rhythms of a live band. The unobscured views of the Acropolis, gourmet dishes, and exceptional wine will cure you museum fatigue instantly.

Must-see monuments and why they matter

There are four main monuments on top of the Acropolis hill, built to celebrate the empire of Athens after it triumphed over the Persians. The white-marble buildings date back to the fifth century BC, which is also known as the Golden Age of Athenian culture. It is during this period that democracy, philosophy, architecture, and the arts, including theater, flourished in the city. Even though the architectural wonders have been prone to damages due to wars, accidents, and natural disasters, the ongoing restoration and conservation project, which is about to finish in 2020, is giving visitors an excellent idea of their original design.

Once you have obtained your ticket to the Acropolis, it takes about 20 minutes of a moderately paced walk from the entrance to the top. For a fulfilling visit, be prepared to spend at least two hours on the Acropolis summit. “On a clear day, the 490-foot-tall rock offers panoramic views of the entire city of Athens, the surrounding mountains, Piraeus Port, and even the ranges of the Peloponnese region,” says Papadopoulou.

1. Propylaea

Photo: Viacheslav Lopatin/Shutterstock

Propylaea — a 78-foot-long rectangular building with two smaller wings — is the gate to the site. Propylaea was the physical division between the secular and spiritual parts of Athens. To reach the Propylaea, you must climb numerous steep steps, which were added to the original design in 52 AD by the Roman Emperor Claudius. In Greece’s more recent history, Propylaea has served as the palace of a Byzantine bishop, a Florentine palazzo, and the residence of a Turkish governor. Yet, rigorous restorations have ensured that Propylaea has regained its glory.

2. Temple of Athena Nike

Photo: oscarporras/Shutterstock

The Temple of Athena Nike (meaning “victorious in war Athena”) at the southwestern edge of the Acropolis hill is the smallest temple of all four. Worshippers of Athena were performing their rituals at an altar, outside the temple, and could only catch sight of the goddess’s sculpture in the center of the temple through the space between the four columns. The temple, which commemorates a victory against the Persian Empire, was designed by architect Kallikrates, who supervised the construction of the Parthenon. Note that you shouldn’t confuse Athena Nike (Victorious Athena) with Nike, the goddess of victory. An easy way to differentiate the two is the wings or lack thereof on the statues that represent the two deities: Athena Nike is always wingless, as opposed to goddess Nike.

3. Erechtheion

Photo: Anastasios71/Shutterstock

Adjacent to the Parthenon, the Erechtheion is characterized by slender columns. Despite being the temple of Athena, who rightfully won the title of the protector goddess of the city, the Erechtheion was named after the semi-god king of Athens, Erechtheus. In one of the rooms of the temple was an olive-wood statue of Athena, which was said to have dropped from the heavens.

The highlight of the Erechtheion is the south porch of the maidens, the frieze of which is held by six meticulously sculpted female figures known as caryatids or kore. Five of the original caryatids are in the Acropolis Museum and one is in the British Museum. All the caryatids at the Acropolis are replicas.

4. Parthenon

Photo: anyaivanova/Shutterstock

The Parthenon is the most iconic building of ancient Greek architecture, and, partly due to its size, it outshines all the buildings on the Acropolis. Like all the monuments on the Acropolis, the Parthenon was part of Perikles’ (Athens’ political leader) development plan, showcasing the city’s magnificence and sense of aesthetics. The Parthenon was built in 15 years (between 447 and 432 BC) and was home to Phidias’ 39-foot-tall, ivory, and gold sculpture of Athena. It is unknown what happened to the statue, but the most accurate replica is (surprisingly) in Nashville, Tennessee, along with a full-scale reproduction of the Parthenon.

Other decorations included an outer frieze made of 92 carved marble metopes (rectangular architectural elements) demonstrating scenes from mythology, such as of the mortal battle between the Greek Lapith people and the centaurs, as well as the fights of the Athenians against the Amazons. Those metopes are on display at the Acropolis Museum. On the inner frieze, artist Phidias chose to depict the Great Panathenaea, a musical and athletic festival in honor of Athena. The inner frieze was made of 115 metopes. Today, 164 feet of it are in the Acropolis Museum, 262 feet in the British Museum, and one block in the Louvre, while precise replicas are adorning the Parthenon. The triangular upper parts of the Parthenon were decorated with colossal sculptures representing the birth of Athena from the head of Zeus, and the fight between Poseidon and Athena over the land of Athens.

In its thousand years of existence, several unfortunate events hit the Parthenon. In early Christianity, the Parthenon was converted into a church, and in the 15th century, when Athens was conquered by the Ottoman Empire, it was changed into a mosque. During the Sixth Ottoman-Venetian War (1684–1699), Turks used the Parthenon to store gunpowder, and in a Venetian bombardment (1687), the damage was immense. More vandalisms and lootings occurred through World War II when the monument served as barracks for German soldiers.

If you have more time

If you are not on a time crunch, Van Der Does suggests that you visit the south slope of the Acropolis to witness the foundations of Greek theater in the remains of the Theatre of Dionysus, and that you attend a performance at the Odeon of Herodes Atticus.

Theatre of Dionysus

Photo: Aleksandar Todorovic/Shutterstock

At the bottom of the south slope of the Acropolis is the Theatre of Dionysus, the oldest known theater in the world. As its name suggests, it was dedicated to Dionysus, the god of wine and the patron of drama. Here, in the fifth century BC, distinguished Greek poets such as Aristophanes, Euripides, and Sophocles saw the premieres of their plays along with 17,000 other spectators as part of playwright competitions. The theater was initially made of wood, but in the fourth century BC, it was given a stone makeover. Until the beginning of its decay in the fourth century AD, many alterations took place, including the addition of Roman marble thrones for exclusive members of the audience.

Odeon of Herodes Atticus

Photo: Kamil Saks/Shutterstock

Next to the Theatre of Dionysus, at the foot of the Acropolis, is the Odeon of Herodes Atticus (commonly known as Herodeon). The Roman theater was built between 160 AD and 174 AD by the Roman senator, Herodes Atticus in memory of his late wife, Rigilla. The original design accommodated a circular orchestra, which is now a marble-paved semi-circle. The auditorium is made of 35 rows and seats 4680 people. Since its restoration in the 1950s, Herodeon has hosted legendary artists such as Nana Mouskouri, Luciano Pavarotti, and Frank Sinatra, to name a few. Every summer, from June to October, Herodeon is the prime venue for the Athens and Epidaurus Festival.

Additional tips

Papadopoulou and Van Der Does agree that you don’t need to possess any previous archaeological interest to enjoy the Acropolis and the Museum of Acropolis. “The view from the top of the hill, the energy of the place, the Athenian blue sky and natural light will not leave anyone unaffected,” explains Papadopoulou. She adds, “If you want to be informed though, I recommend you read the Daily Life in Greece at the Time of Pericles by Robert Flacelière. It is excellent for beginners who want a gentle dive into the ancient history of Athens.”

Seeing the monuments of the Acropolis up close is precious, but admiring the hill from a distance is just as incredible. “My favorite spot to take pictures of the Acropolis is from the Pnyx, a hill, which in ancient Athens was an assembly spot, opposite the main entrance of the Acropolis. You can also take nice shots from the other hills in Athens, such as the Areopagus, Lycabettus, and from the entrance of the Ancient Agora. For good night shots of the well-lit Acropolis, head to one of the many rooftop bars in the heart of Athens.”


More like this: 8 archaeological sites and museums you can’t miss in Athens beyond the Acropolis

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