“You know, the Pitts were here this season,” whispered Julie Wright, a real estate broker at Snowcreek Resort in Mammoth Lakes, California.  No one was around, but she kept her voice low, as if she were telling me a secret. Julie was discreet and respectful, and just as excited as the hoards of fans that snapped blurry cell-phones pictures of “BAMPSZ” from ski lifts. Mammoth is definitely hot after a visit by Brangelina and their kids this past February. In ski season, the mountain town on the eastern slopes of the Sierra Nevada Mountains is always bustling with So Cal families on winter holiday. I imagine that the Pitts just wanted to do some snowboarding, eat chili out of a bread bowl, and teach their kids how to pizza wedge down Mammoth Mountain, just like everyone else.  

I’m told that the Pitts chose to stay in a full-service hotel near the base of the mountain. Unlike the Pitts, on my recent spring skiing getaway, I chose to stay at a sprawling resort a few miles away from the mountain, at Snowcreek Resort.

It’s no wonder why Snowcreek is so popular with So Cal residents for long weekends away with extended family. With its pristine setting, good looks, and gigantic kitchens designed for major family traffic, Snowcreek is easy living. Part alpine village, part hotel, Snowcreek allows individually owned-condominiums to be placed into a rental pool when not in use by owners.

I like condo-hotels because they are bigger and feel more like home than most traditional hotels. Condo-hotels often feature amenities such as a fully equipped kitchen or a patio with a view, which sure beat the mini bar or windows that don’t open in most postage stamp-size hotels.

Indeed, Snowcreek combines the service at a hotel and the creature comforts of home. There’s a concierge desk that can make restaurant reservations or stock groceries before you arrive, as well as a staff that mows the lawn or fixes a leaky pipe. Add access to a 30,000-square-foot Athletic Club with indoor and outdoor swimming pools, tennis and racquetball, yoga classes, and you might find yourself hanging out with Julie Wright, in consideration of your own unit.  

My rental for the weekend was in the Lodges, one of the five phases of the sprawling development, was among the 106 “home communities.” To my delight, my "two and loft" configuration had two bedrooms, three and 1/2 bathrooms, and a mezzanine, hovering at nearly 2700 sq ft.  

It easily slept 10.  

Brangelina would surely have appreciated the cozy four-poster bed in the master bedroom, and the gigantic Jacuzzi tub. I think Maddox, Pax, Shiloh, and Zahara would have really liked the sleeping loft.  

Snowcreek is getting bigger and better. The Residences at CreekHouse, the newest phases of the alpine village, will feature 118 two- and three-story townhouses, each with two to four bedrooms.

While it can be tempting to hover near the fireplace and nap or read a dog-eared novel, the five-hour drive from LA to Mammoth is only made worthwhile by spending time outdoors. This year, the ski season lasted until June 1, but if you come in the spring or summer, there is plenty to do. Guests can spend their days playing golf, mountain biking on the slopes, or horse-back riding. Crowley Lake is one of the biggest lakes in the area and has a reputation for great waterskiing and wakeboarding.  Canoes are available for rent to enjoy a paddle on one of Mammoth’s many spectacular lakes.

Snowsports are obviously a big draw for Mammoth, but Snowcreek is open year round.  

If BAMPSZ were to consider another visit to Mammoth, I’d urge them to stay at Snowcreek.  With so many young children running around, surely a gigantic kitchen and bathrooms, washer and dryer, and plenty of privacy ensure a hassle-free family vacation.

Snowcreek Resort
P.O. Box 1647
1254 Old Mammoth Road
Mammoth Lakes, CA 93546
Phone: (800) 544-6007 or (760) 934-3333

www.snowcreekresort.com

Hyon Jung Lee is a New York-based freelancer who has also written for Forbes and Fodors.com.