Shred through
the powder in
Heavenly's
glades or fly
over freshly
groomed trails
at Northstar-at-Tahoe
and you'll
realize you're
experiencing
West Coast
skiing at its
finest. Throw in
enough
high-speed quads
and gondolas to
get you on the
slopes faster
and some
beautiful views
of Lake Tahoe
and the Sierra
Nevada Mountains
on the chairlift
ride up and
you'll never
want to leave.
Home to the 1960
Winter Olympics,
Squaw Valley USA
in Olympic
Valley, Calif.,
may have its
rugged side with
steep cliff
drops and a
trail system
that basically
lets boarders
and skiers go
where they like.
But the resort
provides
services and
recreational
opportunities
aplenty for mom,
pop and the
kids.
Offering a
number of
first-time skier
packages, Squaw
Valley lessons
include the
first time and
all mountain
adventure
packages ($92
and $139
respectively).
Both packages
include lessons,
equipment rental
and either a
beginner lift
ticket for a
portion of the
mountain or a
lift ticket for
the entire peak.
When skiing
isn't enough,
families can
head to the
Papoose
Discovery Center
for snow tubing,
the Olympic Ice
Pavilion for
ice-skating or
Squaw Valley
Meadow for dog
sledding with
the Wilderness
Adventures
group.
For another
skiing/snowboarding
adventure head
to the Northstar-at-Tahoe
ski resort in
Truckee,
California. The
2,500-acre
Northstar resort
boasts 83 trails
and six terrain
parks. Newbie
freestylers
might want to
check out the
Burton
Progression
Park, a place
where the jumps,
spines and
tables are just
the right size
for the less
experienced
air-catchers.
Mom, dad and
junior (ages 3
to 4) might want
to book a "Teach
Your Tots"
lesson
($130-$140),
which includes a
two-hour private
instructional
for the whole
family. While
not skiing,
explore the
village at the
base of the
resort, which
includes a free
ice-skating rink
and the Tahoe
Apex Adventure
site's bungee
trampoline. Or
families can
sidle up next to
one of the many
fire pits in the
village center
and roast
S'mores S'more
kits provided
near the ice
rink, of course.
From the top of
the gondola,
Northstar
visitors can
access 40
kilometers of
backwoods trails
to explore by
cross country
ski or snowshoe.
There they can
also try Nordic
Geocaching an
outdoor treasure
hunt by
searching along
the trails with
GPS devices for
six hidden
"caches" of
goodies.
Families or
groups wanting
slope-side
lodging can
check out the
Tahoe Mountain
Resorts Lodging
and rent a
three- or
four-bedroom
suite in the
Great Bear
Lodge. Room
amenities
include a
fireplace,
outdoor hot tub,
washer and dryer
in the residence
and easy access
to village
activities and
the ski slopes.
After a long day
of skiing, head
to one of the
areas elegant
restaurants on
the shores of
Lake Tahoe, like
the Hyatt
Regency's
Lakeside Lone
Eagle Grille in
Incline Village,
Nevada.
While in Incline
Village,
discover one
man's fetish for
jungle animals
and secrecy at
the Thunderbird
Lodge on the
shore of Lake
Tahoe. Built by
eccentric
millionaire
George Whittell
between 1937 and
1939, the
summer-mansion-getaway-turned-museum
includes a card
house accessible
by a 600-foot
underground
tunnel and a
portrait of
Whittell
receiving a wet
kiss from his
favorite pet,
Bill the Lion.
Gamers and
skiers can find
the best of both
worlds at
Stateline
Village, on the
border of
California and
Nevada. Take an
aerial tram ride
up Heavenly
Mountain Resort
one of the
best views
around of Lake
Tahoe to
ski/snowboard on
the massive
4,800-acre
Heavenly
Mountain. Ski
either on the
California or
Nevada side;
it's the only
two-state
mountain resort
around. From
either the
Nevada or
California
summits, glide
downhill through
the powder and
experience some
great tree
skiing or cruise
to one of four
terrain parks on
the mountain,
including the
Groove, where
the smaller
jumps are
perfect for
beginners.
Heavenly has a
full-service
daycare for
children, ages
six weeks
through six
years, where
kids can learn
basic skiing
skills and
etiquette while
mom and dad are
hitting the
slopes.
Be sure to check
out Adventure
Peak, the home
of the Heavenly
Flyer -- the
longest ZipRider
in the lower 48
states with a
vertical drop of
525 feet. Also
in the park
families can go
snow tubing,
parents can try
out snow bikes
and kids can go
sledding.
At the base of
Heavenly in
Stateline
Village, check
into Harvey's
Tahoe or
Harrah's Lake
Tahoe
casinos/hotels
and then head to
the slots. While
at Harrah's try
dining at Gi Fu
Loh for some
Cantonese
cuisine or head
to the top floor
of the casino to
Friday's Station
to sample steak
and seafood.
After
experiencing the
busy sights and
slopes
surrounding Lake
Tahoe, take a
trip to nearby
Carson City and
a step back in
time. In Carson
City, visitors
can choose from
a variety of
museums and
cultural
centers,
including the
Nevada State
Museum for a
look at historic
slot machines,
the Nevada State
Railroad Museum
to see cars and
locomotives of
the famous
Virginia and
Truckee Railroad
and the
Children's
Museum of
Northern Nevada
with interactive
exhibits for all
ages.
Recreational
opportunities
are aplenty in
Carson City too.
Hikers and
bikers can pull
on their boots
or bike shoes
and take a trip
on the several
different trails
that run through
and around the
city, including
the Carson River
loop along a
scenic portion
of the river of
the same name.
The area is rich
with gaming too.
Visitors might
want to check
Gold Dust West
casino/hotel in
town, where they
can gamble and
then participate
in one of the
areas better
popular
past-times
bowling at the
West's 32-lane
Bowling Center.
So whether its
skiing, gaming
or sightseeing
you seek, or
just a place
where the entire
family can have
a good time, the
Reno-Tahoe area
is a hotbed of
activity and fun
destinations to
check out.
For more
information on
the previous
destinations
visit the
following web
sites:
Squaw Valley
USA:
www.squaw.com
Northstar-at-Tahoe:
www.northstarattahoe.com
Tahoe Mountain
Resorts Lodging:
www.tahoemountainlodging.com
The Thunderbird
Lodge:
www.thunderbirdlodge.org
Heavenly
Mountain Resort:
www.heavenlyresort.com
Harvey's casino
and Harrah's
Lake Tahoe
casino:
www.harveys.com
and
www.harrahslaketahoe.com
Carson City:
www.visitcarsoncity.com
The Gold Dust
West:
www.gdwcasino.com
