Winter in Burbank usually means cooler temps and rain. For a snowy and cold winter experience, get away from the city and check out Mammoth Mountain Ski Area, just outside of Mammoth Lakes. While rain can be hit or miss for Burbank, usually the Eastern Sierras receive fairly significant snowfall during the winter months.
In fact, 12″ of new snow fell overnight Thursday, on top of recent storms that have dumped approximately 8″ of snow earlier in the week. Although the snow levels aren’t even close to the 2017 season’s record setting amount, the snow at Mammoth Mountain Ski Area is arguably the best in California, year after year.
Approximately a five hour drive from Burbank, up the 5 Freeway, to the 14 and then the 395 through the gateway town of Bishop, CA, Mammoth Lakes is a charming mountain town with plenty of places to stay and a strong collection of restaurants. A small airport is located nearby for those who choose to fly into the resort town.
The mountain chill attitude of the staff at Mammoth Mountain Ski Area – at the hotels and lodges, rental and gear shops, bars and restaurants – including, in particular, the ski and snowboard instructors really help visitors relax and enjoy the mountain.
We’ve found the restaurant options at the lodges and at the Mammoth Mountain Inn to be very solid and tasty. In town, we always try to stop by the popular Giovanni’s or John’s Pizza Works for pizza.
Lopez’ Loco Frijole has served up some of the best Mexican food we’ve ever had, since their opening four years ago. While their sopes, tacos and burritos are delicious, try the carnitas or carne asada plates, with pinto bean soup, fluffy rice, fresh tortillas and grilled cactus sides.
The recently opened Black Velvet Coffee serves pour overs, immersion and basic cups of joe, along with delicious pastries and amazing Belgian waffles. The spot also doubles as a wine bar.
There’s a lot more going on in the Mammoth Lakes food and drinks scene, including recently opened gastropubs and distilleries, that we look forward to checking out on our return.
Winter at Mammoth Mountain is truly terrific. With 150 runs, 28 lifts and over 3500 acres of skiable area, Mammoth Mountain provides a lot of options for everyone interested in skiing and snowboarding from beginners to experts.
Olympic snowboard medalists Shaun White, Kelly Clark and Chloe Kim, among others, train extensively at Mammoth’s Unbound Terrain Parks, which features halfpipes, jumps and a collection of jibs, rails and more features.
A planned major 10-year upgrade to the lodges and hotels at Mammoth Mountain, beginning with Canyon Lodge, will get underway this summer. The new owners of Mammoth Mountain Ski Area (Aspen Skiing Co. and KSL Capital Partners) also own June Mountain, Big Bear and Snow Summit Ski Areas, which are all slated for upgrades, with some work already gotten underway.
Mammoth Mountain is the quintessential California winter playground and a great way to Get Out Of Town!
Editor’s Note: While there’s always a lot going on in Burbank, myBurbank’s “Get Out Of Town!” highlights some of our favorite activities and events outside the town borders.
