Winter Cabin
 

So my friends and I want to rent a cabin from Dec-26-27. I am looking for an area that already has snow/ is snowing currently. I live in Tarzana in the San Fernando Valley and do not want to drive for longer than 2 hours. I am going with 5 other friends and our max price limit is $700. Please can you people help me find what area/cabin suits our needs because I have been looking for days? Thank you .

It is very VERY late to be looking for anything for the weekend after Christmas. Plus isn't Big Bear about the only place that would have skiing - and it is a little farther than 2 hours from Tarzana.

Surfing on the coast might be a better option ;)

I hate living in California ;(. I want to move to Vermont

>>i hate living in California ;(. I want to move to Vermont<<

Well -- that seems a bit of an overreaction/extreme. There is wonderful skiing all over California -- just not less than 2 hours from Tarzana.

I am not looking for skiing specifically. I am just looking for a Cabin with snow that my friends and I could spend a day and night in.

I used to live up by Sacramento and I was close to Yosemite. Maybe I might have to take a road trip up to Lake Tahoe or something because it is baron over here lol.

It's not currently snowing anywhere within 2 hours' drive of Tarzana, but I could see snow on Mt. Baldy as I was driving through DTLA today. Tarzana to Mt. Baldy would take about 2.5 hours, depending on the day and time. It's a slightly longer drive to Wrightwood, but I don't know about the snow situation there.

If you want SNOW and are willing to drive, head to Mammoth or June Lake on the eastern side of the Sierra.

Mammoth would be my rec. Farther than 2 hrs but about the only snow that will most likely be there by Christmas.

The thing that strikes me . . . You live in Tarzana, so should know there isn't snow/ski cabins less than 2 hours from home . . .

If you want to DRIVE less than 2 hours, go to Burbank or LAX and fly to PDX and rent a car and go east on I-84 or US 26 to Mount Hood. If you just want to play in the snow, Timberline would be a good choice.

Your best bet, with your size group and budget, for snow play would be up at Lake Arrowhead/Big Bear. Two hours from Tarzana will not get you to the snow. And at this point, considering your dates are the weekend between two holidays, availability will be limited.

Renting a car from PDX to get to Timberline makes no sense. Rentals do not allow chains, and there is a very good chance you may need those.

Check Lake Arrowhead, Big Bear, in the San Bernardino National Forest.
or Idyllwild in the San Jacinto Mountains.
Both are within two hours or less of LA.

>>Both are within two hours or less of LA.<<

Big Bear is more than 2 hours from Tarzana -- about 2.5+ hours if traffic cooperates. Lake Arrowhead is a little closer but AFAIK there isn't any/much snow

You can drive to Timberline 365 days a year without chains. US 26 to Government Camp and there is enough traffic to Timberline that it is rarely a problem driving up.
I-84 was closed for a few hours between LeGrande and Pendleton because of a tractor trailer that blew over because of strong winds.

Tom—that is incorrect. We have needed chains on a number of occasions going up.

Big Bear is your best chance - it's a bit further than 2 hours, but you can get some pretty affordable cabins there (Big Bear Vacations is never a bad choice if you're looking for some suggestions). Hopefully that 2 hour distance isn't a hard restriction!

travelingtyler: Being 'generous' I'll assume that is not a advertisement. But if it is a legit post you are too late since the OP was asking about traveling Christmas week.

This is an example of why Fodor's should reconsider closing threads... the trip is over, someone resurrects it for unclear reasons, pulls it to the top and we all keep opening it.

It is an advantage of having volunteer moderators, who could help with closing it.