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November 30, 2020
Up for a little drive? We recently visited Dade City’s newest hot (well, maybe cold) spot: Snowcat Ridge, and wanted to share the details with you.
Definitely purchase tickets online before making the short drive from Tampa. Tickets start at $24.95 per person and go up to $39.95 per person, depending on the day you go.
When you purchase tickets online, you also reserve a specific time slot–two hours was more than enough time with a 5 and 8 year old in tow. You can also pay for parking ahead of time—parking is $15 at the gate and $14.02 online.
Get ready to work once inside Snowcat Ridge, as you’ll pull your tubes around. There is a “magic carpet” to get riders up the slope, and that was great because the snowy slopes are outdoors.
It was a warm afternoon when we visited, so we worked up a sweat. There’s no need to dress warmly for the slopes, and I was thankful to be wearing workout gear.
There are single, tandem, and family tubes. The tandem are great for one parent and one child and the family choice is fun; however, there’s a good chance you’ll share the large raft with another family if yours is less than five people. Guests and employees were masked.
The Arctic Igloo in Snowcat Ridge offered a welcome respite from the sun. Masks are required indoors. I brought a small bag with gloves and puffers to wear in the igloo. The kids were able to make a snowman, do snow angels, and go down the small bunny slopes on tubes.
There are bleachers for sitting. The snow is slippery, so boots with good grip are a good idea to keep on the entire time you visit.
Alpine Village spreads across the property and offers food, drinks, and pop up shops from local vendors. There are a few cute photo opps too.
When driving an hour or so away from home base, I like to scope out other events in the areas we visit. It’s a good way to fill an entire day and offers everyone a chance to get out of the car and move around. Facebook is a great way to search for events, as are chamber of commerce websites.
Snowcat Ridge is a fun way, really the only, to have a white Christmas in the Bay Area.
