Mammoth Archives - Jen is on a Journey

Mono County: Summer Music and Food Festivals

July 21, 2014 by The Mom Jen Leave a Comment

-June Lake Loop Mountain Music Festival, photo credit Mono County Tourism

Located approximately 315 miles north of Los Angeles, and 280 miles east of San Francisco, Mono County accesses the east entrance to Yosemite National Park and beckons visitors in all seasons. The event calendar in the Eastern Sierra this summer is chock-full. Take a drive to the Sierra Nevada mountains in Mono County and visitors will find no shortage of things to do as events are slated every weekend.

Tioga Gas Mart Whoa Nellie Deli Concert Series:
Socialize outdoors and listen to great music every Thursday and Sunday through September, and they have really great food in the deli including huge burritos!

June Lake Loop Mountain Music Festival:
July 25-27 in June Lake. Music every day at different June Lake venues, with the big Main Stage Concert on Saturday right in the center of town and featuring six hours of great music by local and visiting bands. Kids can register in advance for the free 5-day Music Camp.

Mammoth Festival of Beers and Bluesapalooza:
July 31-Aug. 3, 2014 in Mammoth Lakes. Showcasing the best craft breweries in the country and top blues performers, all outside under the pines, this is Mammoth’s largest summer event.

Mammoth Rocks/Taste of the Sierra:
Aug. 22-24 in Mammoth Lakes. Mammoth Rocks features the area’s hottest restaurants, serving up bites of the best food the region has to offer. Favorite local bands and top-rated national tribute bands who cover classics from the 1970s, 1980s and 1990s rock the stage.

Bridgeport Founders Day Celebration and the Fishin’ Mission Foundation Western Concert and BBQ:
Aug. 29 -Sept. 1. The entire town of Bridgeport is in celebration mode and the 13th annual Labor Day weekend event includes hay rides, team branding,5/10K Stampede Trail Run, live bluegrass music, fly fishing demonstrations and much more. The Western Concert and BBQ is on Sat. Aug. 30 with entertainment by the Slade Rivers Band. Loads of cowboy flavor all weekend and a blast for the whole family.

For a complete list of events in Mono County this summer and fall, visit the calendar page at MonoCounty.org.

Visit Mono County: Mammoth Mountain Adventure Center for Kids!

September 11, 2013 by The Mom Jen 7 Comments

After taking an exhilarating ride up to the summit of Mammoth Mountain by Gondola, the kids were not yet ready to leave. Luckily the Mammoth Mountain Adventure Center, located outside the main lodge, is a portal to fun, adventure, and has the best family activities in the region! Whether you purchase an all-day adventure pass and let your kids loose at the ultimate mountain playground or you buy single or combo tickets, the result is smiles and giggles and pride!

Pass includes unlimited all-day ($39 per child) access to:

Climbing Wall
Zip Line
Bungee Trampoline
Mountain Bike Park with Practice Loop, Skill Development Area, Beginner Lift and Terrain

Though my husband would love it, my kids are not mountain bikers….yet. My husband is working on my son for a return trip with bikes, but in the mean time we enjoyed the climbing wall, zip line, and bungee trampoline activities. First up, the zip line! My youngest rode a zip line in Kauai with me back in June, she was first up and totally pumped full of energy to show her older siblings how well she can do! 306-feet long, you can sail nearly 25 feet in the air over a small creek and before you know it, you’re back on the ground. My skeptical son was nervous at first. That first leap of faith is a bit scary. But, they all made it and walked back with a smile on their face, even the teenager had a blast!Bungee Trampoline was next. This was perfect for our girls who were gung-ho about enjoying flying without wings sensation! The bungee trampoline safely flings bouncers nearly 25 feet in the air to flip and perform gravity defying stunts. With a little bit of effort their favorite was the mid-air somersaults! This is one they wanted to do again and again!

Aspiring climbers of all ages can attempt the giant climbing rock, the staff will teach you the ropes and get you started on the rock. With routes from easy to nearly impossible, climbers of all skill levels can challenge themselves on this high-altitude rock. This tested my kids’ abilities to use strength they didn’t know they had! Barefoot, flip-flopped, or with tennis shoes, the three of them made it to the top and rung the bell! The harnesses are safe and secure, and although my youngest made it down in the clumsiest of ways, they all conquered the rock and had a smile while doing it!

Tons of summer fun, the kids ran from activity to activity and we had a great day at Mammoth Mountain. To find out more, visit http://www.mammothmountain.com/.

Our passes were provided as part of our press tour, all opinions 100% our own.

Visit Mono County: Mammoth Mountain Scenic Gondola Ride

September 6, 2013 by The Mom Jen 4 Comments

Over 2 miles high, the summit of Mammoth Mountain is a spectacular spot to take in the beauty of surrounding Sierra Nevada. Most of Mammoth Mountain and Mammoth Lakes are in Mono County with portions in Madera County, to the north and west is the Ansel Adams Wilderness, bordered by John Muir Wilderness to the south. The views on the way up take your breath away, both figuratively and literally. My son claims he isn’t afraid of heights, but of falling, he kept his eyes closed most of the way.

Once you reach the summit there are tons of things to do. During the summer you can ride the gondola up to the top with your mountain bike, hiking stick, or just your tennis shoes and explore! Recently a friend of mine’s son (who is on the high school cross country/track team) ran up the 11,000+ foot mountain. That is a huge feat!With the strong winds at the top, the kids and I opted to walk around the interpretive center while my husband explored on foot. An avid mountain biker, he was so jealous of all the bikers around making their way down jumps and trails back down the mountain. I promised him, next time! You can visit Top of the Sierra Cafe or pack a picnic lunch for a meal with a view!

The information in the observatory fills you in about the natural history of Mammoth and the Eastern Sierra. Displays and topics covered include:

Volcanic history
Geology
Weather patterns
Cultural heritage
Views of the Eastern Sierra landscape – the Minarets, Mono Lake, and 400 miles of peaks averaging 12,000 feet in elevation.

If you’re ready to see the sights from this amazing location, you must ride the gondola. Admission to the interpretive center is free with that day’s Scenic Gondola Ride ticket, Bike Park ticket or a valid season pass. Regular Mammoth Mountain Scenic Gondola Ride Prices: Adult $24, Teen & Senior $19; Discounted Prices with Reds Meadow Shuttle Ticket: Adult $19, Teen & Senior $14.

Our ride was part of our press trip, all opinions and experience our own.