Welcome! I'm a mom of four, navigating family life in beautiful Folsom, California, and sharing our favorite local spots, events, and family adventures to help other families discover the endless fun our community has to offer.

Snow Day Adventure and Boomtown

Finding Winter Magic

Living in Folsom has countless perks—beautiful lake views, amazing trails, and perfect weather most of the year. But sometimes, especially during winter, our family craves that magical white stuff that rarely makes an appearance in our neck of the woods. This past weekend, with all four kids climbing the walls after days of rain, Robert and I decided it was time for an impromptu snow adventure!

One of the best things about living in Northern California is how quickly our landscape changes. Within a 90-minute drive from our Folsom home, we can find ourselves in a winter wonderland! We decided to skip the crowded (and expensive) ski resorts and find our own slice of snowy fun.

We packed up the suv early Saturday morning, loaded the kids with snacks and hot chocolate in their thermoses, and headed up Highway 80 toward Reno. The great thing about seeking snow this way is that you don't need to drive all the way to the resorts—we found perfect sledding conditions just past Soda Springs!

After driving about an hour and fifteen minutes from Folsom, we started seeing patches of snow alongside the highway. By the time we reached the Soda Springs area, there was plenty of pristine snow just waiting. We pulled off at a safe turnout where several other families had previously been parked.

About a quarter-mile off the road, we found the perfect hill—not too steep for 4-year-old Taylor but exciting enough for thrill-seeking Jordan. The best part? It was FREE! No $50+ lift tickets or $20 parking fees. Just pure, unfiltered family fun in nature.

The kids spent hours creating their own sled runs, perfecting them with each trip down. Alex and Payton worked together to build a small snow jump halfway down their route, while Jordan helped Taylor navigate her first real sledding experience. The pure joy on their faces as they zoomed down our DIY sled hill was absolutely priceless!

Snow Safety:

Since we don't deal with snow regularly in Folsom, it's easy to forget important safety considerations. Here's what worked for our family:


Clothing is Everything

  • Layer, layer, layer! We started with moisture-wicking base layers, added fleece, and topped with waterproof outer shells.
  • Extra everything. We packed multiple pairs of gloves, socks, and hats because they WILL get wet.
  • Hand and foot warmers were game-changers, especially for Taylor who tends to get cold quickly.
  • Waterproof boots are non-negotiable. The kids' feet stayed dry and warm all day.


Winter Driving Precautions

  • Check road conditions before departing (we used the Caltrans website).
  • Carry chains even if you have all-wheel drive. Conditions can change rapidly.
  • Fill your gas tank before heading up the mountain.
  • Pack an emergency kit with blankets, flashlights, water, and snacks.
  • Allow extra travel time and drive slower than normal, especially around curves.


General Snow Safety

  • Stay hydrated – you can still get dehydrated in cold weather!
  • Apply sunscreen – snow reflects sunlight and can cause worse burns than summer sun.
  • Set clear boundaries for where kids can play and establish regular check-ins.
  • Watch for signs of hypothermia – if someone starts shivering uncontrollably or seems confused, it's time to warm up in the car.
  • Avoid snow play near roads – excited kids can forget about traffic dangers.

Extending the Adventure: Boomtown Fun

After a solid four hours of sledding, snowball fights, and snow angel competitions, we packed up our wet gear and headed slightly northeast to Boomtown Casino & Hotel. Now before you question our parenting choices—they have an amazing family-friendly arcade that our kids absolutely love!

The Boomtown Fun Center was the perfect place to warm up while still keeping the adventure going. With over 80 games to choose from, each kid found something to love. Jordan dominated the basketball games, Alex set a new personal record on the racing simulators, and Payton became the undisputed skee-ball champion of the Harrison family.

The best part about the Boomtown arcade is the prize selection. Unlike some places where you need 10,000 tickets for anything decent, our kids were able to cash in their winnings for some genuinely fun souvenirs. Payton selected a squishy toy collection, Alex got a remote-controlled car, Jordan gave his tickets to Taylor, and Taylor proudly selected a stuffed penguin.

The Value of Spontaneous Adventures

What I love most about these kinds of day trips is that they remind us we don't need elaborate vacation plans to create meaningful family memories. For less than $200 total (including gas, food, and arcade games), we had a full day of adventure that the kids haven't stopped talking about.

Living in Folsom gives us the perfect home base for these explorations – comfortable suburban living with wild adventures just a short drive away. Next weekend, who knows? Maybe we'll head toward the coast instead. The joy is in the journey and the time spent together.


Have you found any great DIY snow play areas near Folsom? Share your favorite spots in the comments below!

Check these out.. (coming soon)