Location, location, location.

One of the nicest things about the Sacramento area is how close it is to everything. A couple hours from the beach, a couple hours from the mountains. Wine, redwoods, surf and snow - it's all a short drive away.

Of course this time of year, many people crave a little snow. We don't want to shovel it or have to deal with the ice on the windshield in the morning - but a sunny day on the slopes is tough to beat.

Ask and ye shall receive.

Whether alpine or nordic skiing, snowboarding, snow tubing or just playing in the snow, nearly 20 first-class facilities await just over the foothills. Most are kid friendly to some extent, offering children's lessons, daycare, interchangeable lift tickets and, in some cases, family packages.

Each resort varies, however, as to what is available to children. If you have kids under 12 who want to learn to ski or snowboard, do some research to find the best fit for your family.

The closest ones to Granite Bay are just a short drive east on Interstate 80. Tahoe Donner, Sugar Bowl Ski Resort, Boreal Mountain Resort, Donner Ski Ranch, Soda Springs Winter Resort and Sugar Pine Point State Park offer something for every member of the family - even Fido.

Although Tahoe Donner's main focus is alpine (downhill) skiing, the resort also offers snowboarding and nordic (cross-country) skiing. They advertise an "intimate, friendly, family atmosphere." Tahoe Donner has 14 runs, 120 skiable acres and 3 lifts, plus 45 cross country trails on 9,000 acres, making it one of the largest (acreage-wise) resorts in Tahoe.

The nordic tracks are even lit for night skiing. Some of the family features they offer are the Snowflakes Children's Ski School for kids ages 3-6 and free ski lessons for kids 7-12 on Tuesday through Thursday.

Skiers under 6 or over 70 ski free. For everyone else prices range from $21 for a half day lift ticket to $68 for a first-timer package.

Celebrating its 65th anniversary, Sugar Bowl boasts 1,500 skiable acres, 84 runs and a 1,500-foot vertical drop (the steepest in this group of resorts). Sugar Bowl offers a number of kid's programs, including a licensed daycare ages 3-6 and a ski camp for those 6-12.

Monday through Friday lift tickets and half-day tickets run $44, while a beginner's package will run $75-85. Sugar Bowl not only offers shuttle service to area lodges, but also has on-site indoor and outdoor dining and a high quality lodge - Mountain Lodge at Mt. Judah.

Boreal offers 41 runs and caters to skiers and snowboarders of all levels. Beginners and families will enjoy such perks as their award-winning Children's Snow School and a special beginner's lift.

For those seeking something a little more exciting, Boreal offers night skiing and boarding and a Vans Boarder Park for competitive snowboarding. Though Boreal doesn't offer tubing, it does rent sleds and mini snowmobiles.

Boreal has reasonable beginner packages ($58 for adult/$50 for kids) with lift tickets from $10 for kids to $36 for a full day adult. Though Boreal doesn't have a restaurant on the premises, the Boreal Motel is only a quarter mile from the ski resort.

Donner Ski Ranch offers 45 runs and 6 lifts to accommodate skiers and snowboarders. The Ranch offers a full cafeteria and a cocktail lounge, rental and retail shop. It also provides a PSIA Certified Winter Sports School, fully certified Professional and National Ski Patrol and free, guided Ski Run/Historic Tours - giving fantastic views of the Sierra Nevada range and the surrounding area.

Lift tickets are only $29 on weekends for adults, while beginner packages start at $45 for those 13 and older and $30 for kids 6-12. On site lodging is also offered at The Summit House.

Soda Springs is the closest ski and snowboarding resort that also offers tubing as well. Tube rental is $10-16 and includes access to 2 lifts and several flumes and tube areas. Night snow tubing is also offered on Friday and Saturday nights.

Lift tickets range from $5-25 depending on age. Beginner packages that include equipment rental start at $52. Soda Springs also rents snowshoes and mini snowmobiles. A truly kid friendly facility, Soda Springs also has special lifts and introductory courses for children under 10.

Sugar Pine Point State Park is the closest Tahoe park to offer cross-country skiing, though rentals and lessons are not available. Sugar Pine has four nordic ski and snowshoe trails with heated bathrooms on site.

The park offers 175 campsites, though reservations need to be made three months prior. The park allows leashed dogs, but not on the trails. Dogs are allowed, however, on the trails at Tahoe XC Ski Area a little further down the road.

Heading to the South Lake Tahoe area via Highway 50, brings you nearest to Sierra-at-Tahoe, Kirkwood Resort and Heavenly.

The closest resort to the area via Highway 50 is Sierra, which is situated just outside of South Lake Tahoe. On 2,000 acres, Sierra has skiing, snowboarding and tubing, Wild Mountain Children's Center for little learners age 4-12 and ski lessons for older learners. They also offer one of Tahoe's longest (2.5 miles) ski runs - Sugar-n-Spice, a mostly beginner run. If the resort's eight restaurants and bars don't appeal, South Lake Tahoe is only minutes away. Lift tickets are $13-54 for a full day, depending upon age. First-timer packages start at $69. Sierra has a number of options for families learning to ski, including a family package, where a family of four (including kids under 12) can learn to ski or board for $350. The package includes rental, two-hour lesson and lift tickets.

Kirkwood is located just off Highway 88. The best route for area drivers is using Jackson Road through Rancho Murieta. Kirkwood offers downhill and cross-country skiing, snowboarding and tubing, though call ahead if you're tubing early in the season. Just because the resort is open, doesn't mean the tubing is (we learned this the hard way).

Kirkwood also has a 2.5-mile run and children's camp, called Mighty Mountain and a day care center for the little ones. Lift tickets are $6-59 and beginning packages start at $80.

For those who like variety, Kirkwood and Sugar Bowl offer a Sugar Wood pass that can be used at Kirkwood and Sugar Bowl throughout the season. They also offer Ski Free Sunday - where children 12 and under ski free with a paid adult.

With 4,800 skiable acres, Heavenly is one of the larger Tahoe resorts. Located in South Lake Tahoe near the Nevada border and all the major casinos, Heavenly is the furthest of the three South Tahoe resorts from the Sacramento area. Concentrating on Alpine skiing and snowboarding, Heavenly offers 86 runs, with the longest being 5.5 miles. Though it offers a day care and children's camp, Heavenly seems to be one of the least family-friendly of the big resorts. Lift tickets cannot be shared and they offer no packages where families can learn together. Still, high altitude dining and the West Coast's longest vertical drop (3,500 feet), plus plenty of things to do away from the ski resort, might be worth separating from the kids for some time on the slopes.

Of course, there are plenty more resorts and ski areas around Lake Tahoe to entertain skiers of all levels and styles. Check out www.tahoebest.com for links to find out which one is right for your next powder break.