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Northstar, California, a small navigable village at the base of a big mountain, is the most compact and family-friendly of the major Tahoe resorts. There's childcare for potty-trained tykes of age two and over, with add-on skiing for threes and up; top-notch children's skiing and snowboarding programs; and a fine rec center for family apres ski. Minor's Camp combines ski instruction and childcare for ages two to six; Ski Cubs kicks in for three- to six-year-olds; and Starkids is the skiing and snowboarding lesson program for six- to-12-year-olds.

This season, there's one-stop shopping in a new 5,000-square-footbuilding, with enrollment and rental equipment all under one roof. The resort also offers a distinctive one-hour Mommy, Daddy, and Me clinic, which offers tips on how to enjoy skiing with small children. Also new is Polaris Park, Northstar's new after-dark funplex open weekends and holidays for light dinner or pizza, indoor entertainment, a tubing hill, snowboarding instruction, or as a departure point for a moonlight cross-country tour. Free skiing and lodging for youngsters on some packages frost the cake.