 "Photo: Nick Caldwell")
With winter coming to an end, the craving for snow can be satisfied with a short drive to one of many destinations around Chico.
Whether the trip is to build a snowman or to have an old-fashioned snowball fight, a couple of winter wonderlands are in the area.
With an elevation of about 1,700 feet, Paradise gets a few snow days every winter. Just a 20-minute drive east on Skyway Avenue will put any snow lover in paradise, but make sure to check the forecast beforehand.
Another cold spot near Chico is Butte Meadows. Butte Meadows is a short half-hour drive east on Highway 32. This destination usually has snow for a good period of the season and doesn't require a full day.
If snowboarding or skiing is the goal, there are a few options.
Just two hours north of Chico sits beautiful Mount Shasta right off I-5.
With three lifts and several trails, Mount Shasta Ski Park offers activities for everyone from beginners to advanced skiers and snowboarders, with its best deal being an all-day pass Monday through Thursday for $25.
Students can take advantage of a great deal at Boreal Mountain Resort. It offers college students an all-day pass Fridays for just $15. A two-and-a-half-hour drive southeast to Soda Springs, Boreal usually has at least seven or eight lifts open and presents Northern California's first and only all-mountain terrain park.
Just about a half-hour beyond Boreal is Tahoe, a mountainous haven for skiers and boarders. With seven different ski resorts, the Tahoe area offers a variety of trails and parks for beginners, professionals and everyone in between.
Mike Wagner can be reached at mwagner@theorion.com
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