Page 151 - 2014 Travel Guide to California

Small kids too can come to enjoy Mam-
moth’s tubing park, festive winter parades
with mascot “Wooly” or a scenic gondola
ride. The 2014 ski season welcomes the re-
opening of June Mountain, a laid-back
location for downhill fun. If it’s too cold
outside, check out Mammoth’s new “Rock
’n’ Bowl” recreation center with its bowling
lanes, golf simulators, restaurants and
other activities.
Spring Activities
Often considered just a “shoulder season”
between skiing and fishing, spring around
Mammoth Lakes offers great deals on
lodging and activities for those looking for
some late-season sunny skiing (Mammoth
Mountain often stays open past Memorial
Day), or some early golfing and fishing.
Some people try for the “spring triathlon”
of skiing, biking and golfing in a single day.
Spring is also a good time for birding, when
visitors can see many of the 300 species of
local and migratory birds that have been
spotted in the area, including the horde of
50,000 California gulls nesting at Mono
Lake each year.
Fall Colors
Fall foliage is a treat for the eyes around
Mammoth Lakes. Enjoy hiking through the
colors in the crisp fall air on the Mammoth
Rock Trail or the Heart Lake Trail, or even stay
for a couple days amidst the trees at the
Sherwin Creek Campground. Go for a drive
around winding mountain roads of the June
Lake Loop to see the spectacular colors in
groves of aspens and cottonwood trees below
towering pine forests. You can soar above the
colors via hot-air balloon rides and helicopter
tours. Or go back in time and join a multi-day
horseback ride down from the hills. For a
spooky Halloween, or any quiet day, visit the
ghost town within Bodie State Park, the aban-
doned remnants of a gold mining settlement
about 60 miles north.
2014 T R AV E L G U I D E T O C A L I F O R N I A 149