Chara

As a kid, Chara Campanella skied Jupiter. As a teen, she skied Jupiter. Then she moved from Boston to Los Angeles and stopped skiing altogether until the husband and babes showed up. The trips to Park City resumed, becoming multigenerational celebrations.

She, along with her snowboarding eight-year-old son, her skiing five-year-old daughter and her snowshoeing husband, happily break out the winter gear every year for their annual trip. When not checking snow reports, Chara writes cartoons and kids' books, barbecues ribs, and ponders whether or not it was a good idea to get a cockatiel.

And every now and then she hands out her URL… http://characampanella.com.

 

Posts by Chara

Three Things for Little Hikers

Three Things for Little Hikers

Posted in Discover Park City on July 5, 2011

While staring at a pile of maps, following the squiggly trail lines through the even squigglier grades, there are just three elements to remember when picking out the perfect hike for a family with young children.

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Main Street Shuffle

Main Street Shuffle

Posted in Discover Park City on April 6, 2011

Killing time before dinner? Taking a day off from skiing? Waiting for your reservation? Souvenir shopping? Just exploring? Here are a few shops I never miss when wandering around Main Street.

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A Tale of Two Skiers

A Tale of Two Skiers

Posted in Trip Diaries on April 3, 2011

My kids are five and eight. Sometimes when I see them running with friends it seems so transitory. Like these are the friends they have when they are five and eight. And someday it will change because everything changes.

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Leveling the Playing Field

Leveling the Playing Field

Posted in Ski School on March 22, 2011

This year we're both going back to square one. We're going to face the mountain as beginners. We're going to make sure our helmets are securely fastened and our wills are up to date.

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Becoming Skiers: Chara's Trip Diary Day Five

Becoming Skiers: Chara's Trip Diary Day Five

Posted in Trip Diaries on March 5, 2011

My daughter had been on skis before, but the experience, for me, was akin to dragging a 35 pound bag of flour down the mountain.

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Beg, Borrow, Steal, Buy or Rent

Beg, Borrow, Steal, Buy or Rent

Posted in Ski School on March 5, 2011

For starters, let's not actually steal anything. Unless you're "stealing" it from a family member with every intention of giving it back. In that scenario, stealing might be warranted. But that's about it.

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Childhood Ski Buddies: Chara's Trip Diary Day Four

Childhood Ski Buddies: Chara's Trip Diary Day Four

Posted in Trip Diaries on March 4, 2011

First there was a text. Then a game of phone tag. Then a few more texts, a call and a meeting place.

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Skiing Alone: Chara's Trip Diary Day 3

Skiing Alone: Chara's Trip Diary Day 3

Posted in Trip Diaries on March 3, 2011

This morning I dropped my eight-year-old son off for his snowboard lesson at 9 am and my daughter off for her Signature 3 ski lesson at 9:45 am. By 9:47 am I was skiing alone for the first time in almost ten years.

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Family Snowboard Lesson: Chara's Trip Diary Day 2

Family Snowboard Lesson: Chara's Trip Diary Day 2

Posted in Trip Diaries on March 2, 2011

Today was the day. The family snowboard lesson.

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Condo Crafts for the Craftless

Condo Crafts for the Craftless

Posted in Trip Diaries on March 2, 2011

Non-crafty Snowmama, this one's for you.

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Chicken Wings: Chara's Trip Diary Day 1

Chicken Wings: Chara's Trip Diary Day 1

Posted in Trip Diaries on March 1, 2011

I'm kind of like Sam from iCarly when it comes to chicken wings. I'm not proud of this.

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I Married a Non-Skier

I Married a Non-Skier

Posted in Discover Park City on February 18, 2011

My Husband Likes Football, Not Skiing. Yes, I married a non-skier.

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Condo Cuisine

Condo Cuisine

Posted in Good Eats on February 2, 2011

It's been a long day on the mountain and the gang is happy, tired and hungry.

I know this time of day. I look at my oldest and think, We can eat anywhere! I look at my youngest and think, I hope House of Mac & Cheese is open.

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The Cosmic Snowball Theory: How to Maintaining Your Self-Respect Your First Time on a Snowboard

The Cosmic Snowball Theory: How to Maintaining Your Self-Respect Your First Time on a Snowboard

Posted in Trip Diaries on January 26, 2011

A few million years from now it won't matter if you feel silly, fall getting off the lift or are twice the age of your utterly adorable instructor.

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Brain Bucket

Brain Bucket

Posted in Ski School on December 28, 2010

Nestled in hand-knit comfort, I had plenty of fabulous reasons why helmets didn't apply to me. But a few days ago, I realized something important. My conviction that a helmet-less state was not only fine, but better, made me sound like one of those middle-aged guys who refuses to wear a seat belt just because he didn't wear one in 1978.

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The views expressed on Snowmamas are those of the individual authors, who are independent contractors of Park City Mountain Resort, and may not be factually accurate. These views are not intended to reflect the opinions of Park City Mountain Resort, its owners, its management or its employees. Snowmamas' authors have or will receive a paid trip to Park City Mountain Resort or will receive other compensation for their participation as an author.