October 2014-March 2015 Media Placements The Abbi Agency
North Lake Tahoe Table Of Contents
Date
Publication
3/29/2015
Reno Gazette Journal
3/25/2015
Sunset
3/25/2015
Jaunted
3/24/2015
The Sacramento Bee
3/21/2015
The Union
3/19/2015
The Sacramento Bee
3/17/2015
NBC Bay Area
3/17/2015
The Active Times
3/16/2015
RGJ-Online
3/15/2015
Reno Gazette Journal
3/13/2015
Thrillist
The 13 Destinations You Absolutely Need To Visit This Spring
3/12/2015
7X7
Bluegrass, Boarding, And Buggly At Squaw Valley In Tahoe
3/12/2015
Visit Reno Tahoe Newsletter
WinterWonderGrass Music Festival
3/12/2015
Trekaroo
3/7/2015
Examiner.com
3/6/2015
Visit California
3/6/2015
Reno Gazette Journal
3/5/2015
Tahoe Ski World
Guide To North Tahoe In Winter New Snow Totals For Lake Tahoe Ski Resorts It's All In The Mix: 10 California Events Offering Colorful, Cultural Mash-Ups Tahoe Bluegrass Festival Lake Tahoe ski Resorts Reporting Plenty Of Snow
3/4/2015
LA Times
3/3/2015
ThisIsReno.com
Title Diamond Peak Resort's Tough Snow Season Ends On Sunday Best Places To Live At Any Age Lake Tahoe Just got More Accessible This Summer Thanks To JetBlue Drought Alters The Face Of Tahoe Tourism WinterWonderGrass Tahoe Festival Continues Through Sunday Lake Tahoe: Stars' Guitarist To Play His Own Tunes Skiing And Strings: WinterWonderGrass Energy-Boosting Yoga Poses Going Up? Uphillers Skip The Lift And Earn Their Turns Going Up?
It's A Powder Party At Ski Resorts From Mammoth To North Lake Tahoe Skiing Conditions Improve At Area Resorts After New Snow Fall
North Lake Tahoe Table Of Contents
Date
Publication
3/3/2015
Tahoe Daily Tribune
3/3/2015
SF Gate
3/3/2015
Curbed Ski
3/2/2015
Visit Reno Tahoe
3/2/2015
The Active Times
3/2/2015
Reno Gazette Journal
3/1/2015
Tahoe Daily Tribune
3/1/2015
Smart Meetings
3/1/2015
Mountain Living
2/27/2015
The Wall Street Journal
2/27/2015
KTVN
2/25/2015 2/25/2015
Tahoe Weekly Getaway Reno Tahoe Newsletter
2/24/2015
Splash Magazines
2/23/2015
Tahoe Daily Tribune
2/22/2015
The Sacramento Bee
2/21/2015
NewToReno Blog
2/21/2015
KCBS
2/20/2015
USA Today 10 Best
2/19/2015 2/19/2015
SF Gate Reno Tahoe Newsletter
Title North Tahoe's SnowFest! Continues With Fun Events This Week Snowy Sierra Comes Into Focus: Readers, Resorts Share March Miracle Photos 12 Photos of California Ski Areas Covered With Snow, Finally!! Storm Totals 2/27-3/1 10 Adventurous Spring Break Destinations Things To Do: SnowFest! Lake Tahoe Storm Brings 2 Feet Of Snow, Cross Country Resorts Reopen Tahoe And Reno Are Buzzing With Plenty Of Progressive New Options Glamorous Getaways Lack Of Snow Chills Lake Tahoe Ski Resorts Things 2 Do This Weekend: Polar Bear Plunge As Part Of SnowFest At North Lake Tahoe SnowFest Celebrates Winter North Lake Tahoe SnowFest Lake Tahoe Review - Two Shores Twice The Fun (North Shore) SnowFest! 2015 To Feature 40 Events In 34th Year; The Fun Starts Thursday Escapes: Hear Music Rooted In Tradition In The Bay Area North Lake Tahoe SnowFest Best Spring Break 2015 Destinations Near Los Angeles For Families 10 Best Things To Do At Kings Beach On Tahoe's North Shore Skiing Tahoe With Kids Lake Tahoe SnowFest
North Lake Tahoe Table Of Contents
Date 2/14/2015
Publication Calgary Herald
2/13/2015
Lake Tahoe News
2/10/2015
Worth The Drive
2/10/2015
Tahoe Daily Tribune
2/10/2015
SF Gate
2/10/2015
OnTheSnow.com
2/9/2015
Worth The Trip
2/9/2015
Tahoe Ski World
2/8/2015
Lake Tahoe News
2/6/2015
Tahoe Ski World
2/5/2015
Reno Tahoe Newsletter
2/4/2015
Yahoo! Travel
2/3/2015
Tahoe Daily Tribune
2/1/2015
Getaway Reno Tahoe
2/1/2015
Smart Meetings
1/31/2015
Edmonton Journal
1/30/2015
Lexington Herald-Leader
1/28/2015
OnTheSnow.com
1/26/2015
USA Today 10 Best
1/26/2015
Tahoe Daily Tribune
1/26/2015
Curbed Ski
Title Your Own Slice Of Heavenly Still Time To Participate In Polar Bear Swim Oh, Hello Mountain Snow: There You Are Year-Round North Tahoe Shop Local Program Launches Sierra Snow: Photos! Photos! Photos! Storm Resurrects West Coast Skiing, But Not For All SnowFest: North Lake Tahoe's Quirky Winter Fun Three-Day Storm Dumps On Lake Tahoe Ski Resorts North Tahoe - Truckee Promoting Shopping Locally Plenty Of Backcountry Skiing In North Lake Tahoe Lake Tahoe SnowFest Ski Smackdown: Does Lake Tahoe or Utah Rule The Slopes? More Than 50 Vendors Scheduled For Wedding Trade Show At Squaw Valley Mark Your Calendar - Must Do Events In Reno/Tahoe In The Midst Of A Makeover Tahoe Offers Slice Of Skiing Heaven Lake Tahoe Offers Serenity On One Side, Casinos On The Other 8 Valentine's Destinations: Tahoe Ski Resorts Up The Romance 10 Best Museums In Lake Tahoe and Reno Tahoe-Truckee Shop Local Contest Generates More Than $400,000 Mapping The 17 Oldest Bars & Restaurants In Ski Country
North Lake Tahoe Table Of Contents
Date
Publication
1/25/2015
Las Vegas Review-Journal
1/23/2015
Thrillist
1/22/2015
Lake Tahoe News
1/19/2015
Lake Tahoe News
1/16/2015
Tahoe Weekly
1/16/2015
Visit Reno Tahoe
1/15/2015
Canada.com
1/14/2015
Examiner.com
1/14/2015
Tahoe Weekly
1/9/2015
The Union
1/7/2015
Tahoe Daily Tribune
1/7/2015
San Jose Mercury News
1/7/2015
Tahoe Arts And Mountain Culture
Alpenglow Mountain Festival Feb 21 Mar 1
1/6/2015
LA Times
Ski Season Launches With Changes At Resorts In The West and Canada
1/6/2015
Conde Nast Traveler
1/3/2015
ShermansTravel
1/3/2015
Examiner.com
1/2/2015
Survive Wedding Season Twitter
1/2/2015
Tahoe Ski World
1/1/2015
Getaway Reno Tahoe
1/1/2015
Williamette Living
Title Getaways Calendar: February 2015 The Poor Man's Guide To Food, Booze, Skiing, And More In North Lake Tahoe Snippets About Lake Tahoe 9-Day Outdoor Festival On North Shore February Events January Is Learn To Ski & Snowboard Month Winter-Lovers should Get A Taste Of Tahoe Top Five Family Activities On Lake Tahoe's North Shore Powder Report North Lake Tahoe Resorts Offer A Variety Of Deals This Month Deals Offered For Beginner Skiers And Snowboarders In January Travel Deals: Ski Deals For Newbies
A Pro Skier's Guide To Undiscovered Lake Tahoe Skiing Tahoe Lake Tahoe Learn To Ski, Snowboard Month North Lake Tahoe Bridal Fair Learn To Ski, Snowboard Month In Lake Tahoe Must-Do Events In Reno/Tahoe Beyond The Slopes In North Lake Tahoe
North Lake Tahoe Date
Table Of Contents
Publication
1/1/2015
Via Magazine
1/1/2015
Via Magazine
12/31/2014
Tahoe Ski World
12/31/2014
Tahoe Daily Tribune
12/31/2014
Reno Gazette Journal
12/31/2014
First Tracks!!
12/31/2014
Meetings Focus
12/30/2014
Visit California
12/30/2014
RGJ-Online
12/30/2014
Northern Nevada Business Weekly
12/30/2014
Examiner.com
12/30/2014
Association News
12/29/2014
Curbed Ski
12/29/2014
Curbed Ski
12/22/2014
Thrillist
12/22/2014
Tahoe Ski World
12/21/2014
The Bulletin
12/21/2014
Reno Gazette Journal
12/20/2014
The Vancouver Sun
12/20/2014
RGJ-Online
12/20/2014
Examiner.com
Title Tahoe City Culture Thrives With Festivals, Live Performances, Cinema, And Down-To-Earth Dining. Things We Love: Tahoe City, Calif. Learn To Ski, Snowboard Month In Lake Tahoe North Tahoe Resort Association Hires New Tourism Director Thompson To Helm N. Lake Tourism Deals Abound In January To Learn To Ski And Snowboard John Thompson What's New In California: Winter 2014-15 Edition New Tourism Marketing Chief Named At N. Tahoe John "J.T." Thompson Tahoe Ski Resorts Offering January Deals John "J.T." Thompson Named Tourism Director Of North Lake Tahoe Chamber/CVB/Resort Association Mapping The 18 Top On-Mountain Dining Spots At Ski Areas Where To Have An Awesome New Year's Eve In Ski Country 13 Northern California Events Worth Traveling To This Winter Three More Lake Tahoe Ski Resorts Open For Season Northwest Travel: More Than Skiing At Tahoe People On The Move Winter-Lovers Should Get A Taste Of Tahoe People On The Move Tahoe Ski Resorts Ready For The Holidays
North Lake Tahoe Table Of Contents
Date
Publication
12/19/2014
The Vancouver Sun Online
12/19/2014
Tahoe Ski World
12/18/2014
Lake Tahoe News
12/17/2014
Sierra Sun
12/17/2014
Sierra Sun
12/17/2014
Tahoe Daily Tribune
12/17/2014
Curbed Ski
12/17/2014
CheapFlights.com
12/15/2014
Tahoe Daily Tribune
12/15/2014
Sports Grid
12/12/2014
NBC News
12/12/2014
NBC News Facebook
12/12/2014
MSN TV
12/12/2014
KVAL
12/11/2014
Surfers Village
12/11/2014
USA Today Online
12/11/2014
The Sacramento Bee
12/11/2014
Sports Grid
12/11/2014
SF Gate
12/11/2014
Santa Cruz Sentinel
12/11/2014
Pete Thomas Outdoors
12/11/2014
Mashable
Title Winter-Lovers Should Get A Taste Of Tahoe Lake Tahoe Ski Resorts Enjoying Strong Holiday Season Snippets About Lake Tahoe North Tahoe PUD To Advertise GM Position Soon North Tahoe PUD Approves Firestone Trade Storms Allow More Lake Tahoe Ski Resorts To Open Rounding-Up The 11 Best Ski Towns For The Holidays 12 US and Canadian Winter Festivals Worth Traveling For Lake Tahoe Weather: Foot Of Snow Likely By Wednesday Above 7,000 Feet Surfing At North Shore…Of Lake Tahoe? Here's The Video Hanging 10 At Tahoe? Storm Churns Up Big Waves Surf's Up At Lake Tahoe Raw: Strong Wind Has Surfers Hitting Lake Tahoe Surfing On Lake Tahoe Novelty Sessions: Lake Tahoe Turns On During Storm Surf's Up On Lake Tahoe As Storm Moves Inland Gallery: Surfing On Lake Tahoe Calif. Killer Storm Is Just A Surfing Opportunity At Lake Tahoe Storm Means Surf's Up…At Lake Tahoe? Ski Resorts Dig Out New Offerings Surf's Up On Lake Tahoe, Thanks To Ferocious Winds Massive Storm In California Means Surf's Up On Lake Tahoe
North Lake Tahoe Table Of Contents
Date
Publication
12/11/2014
KTXL
12/11/2014
KPIX
12/11/2014
GrindTV
12/11/2014
KTXL
12/11/2014
ABC News
12/11/2014 12/10/2014
ABC News Facebook The New York Times
12/10/2014
KXTV
12/5/2014
The Fresno Bee
12/4/2014 12/3/2014 12/1/2014
Santa Cruz Sentinel SF Gate Tahoe Powder
12/1/2014
Tahoe Daily Tribune
12/1/2014
Destination Weddings
11/27/2014
Trekaroo
11/22/2014
Trekaroo
11/21/2014
Travel Pulse
11/19/2014
Design Sponge
11/17/2014
Tahoe Daily Tribune
North Tahoe Resort Association Seeks Marketing Committee Members
11/16/2014
Reno Gazette Journal
New CEO at Tahoe Tourism Agency
11/15/2014
SF Gate
11/15/2014
Lake Tahoe News
11/12/2014
Tahoe Daily Tribune
High Snow Line Petrifies Ski Biz NLTRA Seeks Marketing Committee Members North Lake Tahoe Bureau Names New CEO
11/10/2014
RGJ-Online
Title Storm Brings Surfers to Shores of Lake Tahoe Storm Surfers In Lake Tahoe Are Making The Most Of Crazy Winds Surfing Lake Tahoe? You Bet Storm Brings Surfers to Shores of Lake Tahoe California Pounded By Fiercest Storm In 5 Years Surfing In Lake Tahoe What's New In Ski Resorts Multiple North Tahoe Resorts Opening Nearly 2 Feet Of Snow Boosts Sierra Ski Resorts Tahoe Resorts Now Open North Tahoe Snow Outlook Hot Music For Cold Nights North Tahoe Shop Local Event To Feature More Than 50 Vendors Lake Tahoe Mountain Weddings Top Holiday & Christmas Events In Northern California With Kids Kid Friendly Tahoe Without The Crowds Welcome Aboard: New Hires And Promotions For November 21, 2014 Greetings From Nevada
New CEO at Tahoe Tourism Agency
North Lake Tahoe Table Of Contents
Date
Publication
11/10/2014
Northern Nevada Business Weekly
11/10/2014
SF Gate
11/9/2014 11/7/2014
Mercury News Lake Tahoe News
11/7/2014
Dallas News
11/5/2014
Awareness Magazine
11/5/2014
SF Gate
11/4/2014
Guidebook America
11/4/2014
Santa Cruz Sentinel
11/4/2014
Contra Costa Times
11/4/2014
Silicon Valley News
11/4/2014
Marin Independent Journal
11/4/2014
Inside Bay Area News
11/4/2014
San Jose Mercury News
11/3/2014 11/1/2014
San Jose Mercury News Southwest Magazine
11/1/2014
Reno.com
10/30/2014
Examiner.com
10/29/2014
SF Gate
10/29/2014
SF Gate
10/27/2014
Ottawa Life
10/23/2014
Curbed Ski
10/21/2014
Curbed Ski
Title People: Andy Chapman Bill Hoffman What's New At Lake Tahoe Ski Resorts Eat, Drink, Play : Tahoe Frolics Snippets About Lake Tahoe Mergers, Mountains and Kid Stuff at Western Ski Resorts Restore Your Soul In Lake Tahoe Hopes High In The Sierra After A Respectable Weekend Snowfall North Lake Tahoe Offers New Winter Experiences 2014 - 2015 15 Ways To Play At Tahoe This Winter 15 Ways To Play At Tahoe This Winter 15 Ways To Play At Tahoe This Winter 15 Ways To Play At Tahoe This Winter 15 Ways To Play At Tahoe This Winter 15 Ways To Play At Tahoe This Winter Tahoe's Winter Playground Tahoe Where To Snowshoe And Sled Around Lake Tahoe WinterWonderGrass at Squaw Valley/Alpine Meadows Popular Picks Among Lake Tahoe Ski Resorts Lake Tahoe's Low Season High Time for Recreation Lake Tahoe: America's Backyard Wants You to Come Play Hey Ski Bums, Here Are the 29 Best Dive Bars in Ski Country Mapping 27 Ski Country Cocktail Spots to Get Your Drink On
North Lake Tahoe Table Of Contents
Date
Publication
10/15/2014
Yahoo! Travel
10/14/2014
Canada.com
10/12/2014 10/2/2014 10/1/2014 10/1/2014
Santa Barbara Independent Fly to Reno-Tahoe Modern Luxury Manhattan- Online Association News
10/1/2014
Ottawa Life
10/1/2014
Smart Meetings
Title The Ultimate Mountain Biking in Tahoe: A Casino, Crazy Inclines, and Big Brown Bears Seeking Science at the LAKE Tahoe Environmental Research Center The Ritz-Carlton, Lake Tahoe Ready for Winter in Reno-Tahoe Turns Ahead Mountains and Deserts of California Lake Tahoe: America's Backyard Wants You to Come Play Best Historic Selfies
Best places to live at any age March 25, 2015
Kings Beach, CA Runner-up: Best place to postpone a career Lake Tahoe’s North Shore ski resorts are just minutes away; for summer fun, Kings Beach has a wide stretch of sand and (for Tahoe) warm water. Downtown is tiny, but you can get good burgers at the Char-Pit. And rents will leave you cash for a season lift ticket. Population: 3,796 Average monthly rent for a 1-bedroom apartment: $793
‌ http://www.sunset.com/m/travel/best-places-to-live-and-work/best-places-to-live-and-work_28
Lake Tahoe Just Got More Accessible This Summer Thanks to JetBlue March 25, 2015
This summer, Lake Tahoe will be more accessible for New Yorkers thanks to JetBlue On the heels of our series of articles on Lake Tahoe, JetBlue has made a major announcement that should inspire those on the east coast to make a jaunt out west this summer. Last week, we were explaining that Tahoe's position on the border of California and Nevada gives travelers the choice between three different airports. Our conclusion was that Reno is the best option for those that simply want to get there, as it is the closest and provides options for easy transfers to the lake itself. That recommendation just got a little sweeter with JetBlue's announcement that it will begin a direct flight from JFK to Reno on May 28th. Fares look to be under $100 one-way for the first couple weeks,
then settling in between $150 and $250 the rest of the summer. This will hopefully create more competition and drop the fares on other airlines as well. The new route could also position Lake Tahoe as a reasonable competitor for the Finger Lakes, a popular "lake escape" in Upstate New York for city dwellers during the summer. As you might imagine, the city of Reno itself is very excited for the potential tourism influx, as it is the first ever direct flight from the Big Apple.
WinterWonderGrass Tahoe Festival continues through Sunday March 21, 2015
OLYMPIC VALLEY — “Music, Brews and Mountains” is the theme for the WinterWonderGrass Tahoe Festival, establishing its first year at Squaw Valley | Alpine Meadows in Lake Tahoe Thursday and runs through Sunday. WinterWonderGrass is a boutique winter music and craft beer festival featuring more than 18 bands and 14 California breweries during three days on three stages. The finest ingredients of the North Lake Tahoe lifestyle are brought together by WinterWonderGrass Tahoe to craft an experience of natural elation, delivering a batch of fulfillment and a dose of memories to local music enthusiasts and a global winter audience. Drawing from the environmental beauty and mountain lifestyle as the foundation for the event, WinterWonderGrass adds in music and community to create the ultimate Squaw Valley | Alpine Meadows gathering. Headliners this year include acclaimed bluegrass bands, Trampled by Turtles, Greensky Bluegrass, The Infamous Stringdusters and Elephant Revival, as well as bluegrass legend Sam Bush as a special guest. California favorites Nicki Bluhm and the Gramblers, Dead Winter Carpenters, The California Honey Drops and Brothers Comatose will also be performing, adding to the stellar line up. Additional artists include Fruition, Scott Law, Head for the Hills, Front Country, T-Sisters and The Dustbowl Revival. California and Nevada craft breweries will be pouring their signature brews from 2:30-5:30 p.m. each day in the two-heated beer tents. Both brew tents include side stages surrounded by hay bails and whiskey barrels, hosting raucous bluegrass jams.
WinterWonderGrass Tahoe has partnered with Sierra Nevada Brewing Co. and Golden Road Brewing as the festival’s presenting beer sponsors. The additional breweries joining the WinterWonderGrass Tahoe tastings are Lagunitas Brewing Co., Berryessa Brewing Co., 21st Amendment Brewery, Magnolia Brewing, Fifty Fifty Brewing Co., Stone Brewing Co., Rubicon Brewing Co., Stoneyhead Brewing, Two Rivers Cider Company, Green Flash and Great Basin Brewing Co. WinterWonderGrass supports local North Lake Tahoe nonprofits with a focus on sustainable living. The festival will have composting and recycling stations led by the WinterWonderGrass and Squaw Valley Green Team to help offset the environmental impact of the event. WinterWonderGrass is a community and family friendly event with a colorful kids zone including face painting, hula hooping and crafts. “There are few communities in the country that match our passion for sustainability, environmental stewardship, authentic craft brews, and world-class roots music. We couldn’t be more thrilled to deliver WinterWonderGrass to North Lake Tahoe.” said Scotty Stoughton the Founder of WinterWonderGrass. WinterWonderGrass Festival has also officially announced the WinterWonderGrass Tahoe After Dark schedule for the festival weekend. Each night after the crowds dance their way out of Squaw Valley, they will spill over into the Olympic Valley Lodge for late night shows, special jams and continued dancing. Additional late night shows will take place at Moe’s BBQ in Tahoe City. A limited number of tickets are still on-sale for the festival and the late nights atwww.winterwondergrass.com for a limited time. For the full line-up and more information go towww.winterwondergrass.com.
Lake Tahoe: Stars’ guitarist to play his own tunes March 19, 2015
Rusty Anderson, left, and Todd O’Keefe will perform Saturday at Lake Tahoe Hard Rock. ALEXIS RENSON
Rusty Anderson is best known by his associations. He has been, after all, the lead guitarist for the Paul McCartney Band since he was invited to play on Sir Paul’s “Driving Rain” in 2001. Inside the music business, Anderson is respected by a wide array of fellow musicians. The chance to hear him play a gig with his own material is rare. Audiences will have that opportunity Saturday when he plays the Lake Tahoe Hard Rock (in a musical collaboration with Los Angeles native Todd O’Keefe), emphasizing music from last year’s EP, “Rusty Anderson Afternoon II.” It’s a set of companion songs to “Rusty Anderson Afternoon,” which has yet to make it to his fans.
“The first songs have not been released, but the second were, so that’s why the II,” he explains. “The first songs will probably be the next release. I know the natural reactions is to ask, ‘Where did the first one go?’ It’s confusing.” McCartney is not the only artist Anderson has played with – not by a long shot. He’s recorded with Neil Diamond, Joe Cocker, Stevie Nicks, Santana, Fishbone and Sinead O’Connor, among others. He laid down the famous surf riff on Ricky Martin’s “Livin’ La Vida Loca,” and when he was with a band named Eulogy, he played with the likes of the Police and Van Halen. “It’s been pretty amazing,” he said. “I played on a lot of records before I met Paul, and then I met a lot of people afterward, of course. At some events I see so many celebrities out front I can’t digest it all. Anderson recalls a couple of scenes quickly, like sitting and writing with Elton John – “He’d start on lyrics and I’d slam chords” – or playing with Willie Nelson and harmonica player Mickey Raphael for the tribute album “The Art of McCartney.” Anderson, who plays his own signature Gibson 335, will play the Hard Rock and soon after head to an Asian tour with McCartney, who he says is “very nice, very warm, and that trickles down from the top to the entire band. I’ve been in a lot of bands and there is always a problem child. Not so here.” (Tickets start at $25; 9 p.m.; hardrockcasinolaketahoe.com) Elsewhere North Lake Tahoe has always had a more laid-back attitude than the opposite South Shore. Lately, it’s also been the location for some large festivals, the newest of which has its debut March 20 and runs through March 22 “WinterWonderGrass” is a music and craft beer fest at Squaw Valley and Alpine Meadows. It’s themed “Music, Brews, and Mountains” and features the music of, among others, Trampled by Turtles, Greensky Bluegrass and Sam Bush. (Visitwinterwondergrass.com)
Skiing and Strings: WinterWonderGrass March 17, 2015
FIDDLES AND FINE WEATHER: How exactly would you define the notion of "fine weather"? Are there dandelions popping up on the hillsides, and bluebirds in the trees, and are flowers flowering and creeks burbling and are your shoulders and knees showing, the better to take in some sunshine? And would you be listening to bluegrass, outside, which people frequently do during the warmer months? Yep, you're not alone: Many people would go to that definition, choosing a high of about 78 degrees and some al fresco tuneage and more sunshine than cloud cover. But a fine day, for a fan of frosty living, isn't necessarily about heat and sun. It often involves snow, and skiing, and bundling up, and a spot by a fireplace. As for the summer-style tunes, like bluegrass, a form that rules July and August at outdoor amphitheaters around the country? Well, those can happen on occasion, too, most notably at Squaw Valley over the first weekend in spring. True, WinterWonderGrass isn't in the chilliest heart of winter, but there is skiing to be done, and the donning of snowshoes if that's your thing, in addition to catching some really excellent, old-timey masters of the twang. Those twang purveyors will converge, bows and fiddles in hand, at the Lake Tahoe-close destination from March 20 through 22 for another big, joyful round of WinterWonderGrass.
HEATED BEER TENTS: The beer tent is a symbol of a summertime show, and that's still around, despite the chillier clime and time. But this one is heated, and there's actually two of 'em. So sip your craft beer and take in the likes of The Infamous Stringdusters and Elephant Revival, The California Honey Drops, and other bands. As for the bluegrassy tickets? You can buy standalones for the show or you can combine them with a ski package. Really, how often is skiing combined with that summer stalwart of bluegrass good-time-having? Not nearly enough. Be happy that WinterWonderGrass is making a stand in the snowy mountains for the not-too-controversial notion that bluegrass is to be enjoyed year-round, not just when knees are showing and bluebirds are singing in the trees.
March 13, 2015 Winter's well and dandy, but by the time March rolls around, pretty much everyone's fed up with the whole "bitter cold and bubble jackets" thing. Now that spring's near, rather than just watching leaves come back, which is nature's equivalent of watching paint dry, why not go somewhere extra awesome to punctuate the season change? With that in mind, we've put together a list of 13 unbeatable springstinations (that should totally be a word) ranging from North Africa to South America. ‌
Lake Tahoe, CA Why you're going: To shred corn snow and get your aprés on. If you thought skiing was exclusively a winter activity, well, stop thinking that, because most of the slopes at Lake Tahoe's 12 mountain resorts are still decked out in powder well into April, and thus are still open. The snow around this time of year is referred to as "corn," either because of its granular shape or because skiers thought "cauliflower snow" just sounded unappealing. Whatever the reason, this springtime snow has a unique consistency that makes it not only fun to ski on, but a lot safer and less avalanche-prone as well. Unless, of course, you're skiing later in the afternoon, at which point the prolonged exposure to sunlight makes it a lot soggier and not at all fun. But at that point, you should already be in full aprés mode at one of the world's best party mountains, so who cares! … http://www.thrillist.com/travel/nation/best-spring-destinations-around-the-world-for-2015
Bluegrass, Boarding, and Bubbly at Squaw Valley in Tahoe March 12, 2015
Energize all parts of your body with these March events at Squaw Valley—all taking place on the same weekend. March 20-22 is a great time to come up to the lake and enjoy several new inches of snow in Squaw Valley. What's more, the resort, village, and slopes will feature a riding and yoga workshop, rivers of French bubbly, and the sounds of the Infamous Stringdusters and Sam Bush.
Start out your weekend with the sounds of bluegrass. For the first time ever in Tahoe, Squaw Valley will be hosting the WinterWonderGrass concert series featuring national, regional, and local bluegrass and acoustic roots music along with California craft beers, wines, spirits and local food. Bands like Trampled by Turtles, The California Honeydrops, the Brothers Comatose and Elephant Revival will play on three stages. A beer hall will be serving brews from Fifty Fifty Brewing Co. from Truckee, Lagunitas Brewing from Petaluma, North Coast Brewing Co. from Fort Bragg, and Stoneyhead Brewing from Reno. Accommodations for the concerts can be found in Squaw Valley at Squaw Valley Lodge, Granlibakken, PlumpJack Squaw Valley Inn, The Ritz-Carlton, Lake Tahoe and the Northstar California Resort. Cost: Tickets for kickoff parties at Moe’s Original BBQ in Tahoe City and the Olympic Valley Lodge in Squaw Valley start at $15 and single day concert tickets start at $59. A three-day pass that includes 19 bands, craft beer samples and a stainless steel mug is $139.
Relax & Ride Ski and Yoga Workshop, March 21, 8:00 a.m. to 6 p.m. After a night of bluegrass and brews, hit the snow with the Relax & Ride ski and yoga workshop sponsored by Burton. The workshop includes a half day of riding with an instructor, an athlete focused restorative yoga class at theWanderlust Yoga Studio, a local sourced breakfast and lunch at the ARC at Gold Coast and a mini spa treatment and wine at Squaw’s Trilogy Spa. Cost: $229 with lift ticket or $169 for passholders. Reserve your workshop online.
Clicquot in the Snow, March 21, 2:00-5:00 p.m. If you took the day to do your own ski trip, visit the PlumpJack Squaw Valley Inn in the Village. The Inn will host an après-ski event with some of the best champagne in the world. The “Clicquot in the Snow” event will feature Veuve Clicquot Yellow Label and Veuve Clicquot Rose, a live DJ, games in the snow, prizes, giveaways, and a photo booth. You can also enter to win a one-night stay at the Plumpjack Squaw Valley Inn when you follow the inn on Instagram and tag #ToastTheSnow. Cost: Event is free; one flute of Yellow Label Veuve Clicquot and a small appetizer is $16. Photos by Squaw Valley, Amy Decko, WinterWonderGrass/Erin Carpenter
Visit Reno Tahoe USA March 12, 2015
Guide to North Tahoe in Winter March 12, 2015
I may be biased, having grown up in the Sierras of Northern California, but I believe North Tahoeto be one of the best outdoor winter playgrounds for families. With its famed sunny days and deep powder, this region of Lake Tahoe is not only pocketed with first-class ski resorts, but situated in the heart of breathtaking national forest land with multiple state parks ready for family exploration. North Tahoe boasts a wealth of family-friendly lodging and dining, and in every town, parents will find a friendly, laidback atmosphere that combines old-school resort living with modern luxury. Explore North Tahoe in winter with your family using this handy guide:
Get Your Bearings
North Tahoe is generally defined as the northern arc of the Lake Tahoe shoreline from Tahoe City in the west to Incline Village to the northeast. North of the lake, Truckee makes the point of a North Tahoe triangle. In-between, families will find several distinct communities, all with a different vibe. Tahoe City: We find Tahoe City to be the perfect mix of affordable and upscale. The ‘downtown’ strip is lined with quaint shops and restaurants and a nice walkway along the lake shore, but right outside of town, families can find a decent-sized supermarket and relatively quiet shoreline punctuated by state parks and snow parks. Tahoe City is a ‘gateway’ to Highway 89, which leads away from the lake toward Squaw Valley and Truckee. This is a nice area to rent a vacation home and be close to several main North Tahoe attractions. Camelian Bay: This bay, north of Tahoe City, is lined with luxury homes and mostly private beach access. Unless you’re lucky enough to live here or rent a vacation home in Camelian Bay, you’re liking to be passing through en route to Northstar or Kings Beach. Families visiting North Tahoe in summer may likely set off on fishing expeditions from Camelian Bay. Kings Beach: A busy, touristy town right at the northern tip of the lake, Kings Beach is the gateway to Highway 267, which leads to Northstar California and Truckee. Families will find kid-friendly dining in Kings Beach, including our favorite, Jason’s Beachside Grill. There’s a nice public beach adjacent, with plenty of parking in the off-season. Even in winter, this beach is our favorite spot to stop and take a family photo (Lake Tahoe is stunning year round). Parents will find additional grocery stores and rental stores in Kings Beach, as well as budget motels and hotels. Incline Village: Incline is just east of Kings Beach, right over the California/Nevada border. Living is certainly upscales in Incline Village, with resorts and vacation homes at a premium. Incline is the gateway to Highway 431, which leads to Diamond Peak ski resort. Truckee: The most ‘liveable’ North Tahoe town, with the biggest local population, Truckee is situated north of the lake, near I-80. It’s only 30 minutes from Reno, Nevada, and the route most families will take if arriving via the airport in Reno. Truckee has a new and old section; the old downtown is historic and quaint, with great shops and dining opportunities. The pioneering spirit is pervasive here. The new
part of town offers strip malls, fast food chains, and plenty of standard motel lodging and ski rental shops. A great place for breakfast in Truckee is Squeeze Inn. Where to Ski in North Tahoe
Squaw Valley: Squaw Valley on a powder day can’t be beat! Expert families will love the KT-22 face and, our favorite, the glades and bowls found off the Granite Chief chair, but Squaw is great for beginners, too. Why? The learning area is at mid-mountain, instead of at the bottom. This means even newbies get to ride up the central gondola or tram to the heart of the resort, and learn to ski or ride in the beauty of the mountains (within easy access of two lodges), instead of down by a parking lot. Families will want to take the time to stop into High Camp to see the small, free museum commemorating the 1960 Olympic Games and see the Olympic rings. In winter, ice skate here, and by Spring Break, swim in the heated outdoor pools! Oh, and Squaw boosts a ‘ski through’ Starbucks at mid-mountain, too. Read Trekaroo kid-friendly reviews of Squaw Valley. Alpine Meadows: One of the best kept secrets in North Tahoe, Alpine Meadows is the small ski resort with big features. Alpine is easy to access, and has only one main lodge, which means parking and navigating the morning shuffle to the slopes is easy-breezy. It has a great learning area and green runs for beginners, but some of the best bowl and cornice skiing for experts. We take laps up and down the front face and bowl all day long and never get tired of it. Alpine Meadows is now part of Squaw Valley, which means one lift tickets gives families access to both. The downside: this raises the lift ticket price, but there’s a shuttle that takes skiers and riders between the two mountains. Plan to ski for two days at least to get to both ‘sides.’
Northstar: My personal favorite ski resort for family-friendly atmosphere, Northstar Californiahas a great village that keeps small children and non-skiers happy on the ice skating rink and bungee trampoline, and the best snowboard school in Tahoe (in my opinion): Burton Snowboard Academy. Families skiing or riding at Northstar have many lodging options on site, which I recommend utilizing to take advantage of the fun, after-hours activities in the village for families. Diamond Peak: Families can find great deals at Diamond Peak to give their wallets a break. Plus, this resort is a bit more off the beaten-path (I don’t think very many families stay in Incline Village, the closest town), so crowds are usually smaller. Experts will still find good terrain at Diamond Peak, and their ski school is among the best. Sugar Bowl: My favorite ‘local’ resort growing up, Sugar Bowl is located off I-80 near Truckee in Norden, and has come a long way since the ’80s and ’90s. Parking is still on the street, where families then take a gondola, but there are now two additional parking areas, one exclusively for ski school customers. The beautiful historic lodge is still in place, but Judah Lodge adds convenience and another place for families to situate themselves. The skiing and riding is amazing at Sugar Bowl and crowds are still very thin. Come here to get away from any ‘corporate’ feel and ski with locals.
Lodging in North Tahoe
Depending on the weather, it takes anywhere from 30 minutes to an hour to get from point to point within the North Tahoe region. I suggest families decide where they want to stay first, thenpick the type of lodging that’s best for them. Basically, anything from vacation homes to condos to hotel rooms will be available in most locations. For families primarily skiing in the Squaw/Alpine area: A stay in the Squaw Village is ideal, as families are steps from the slopes and evening entertainment and dining. Check out our review of village lodging in this post on spring skiing at Squaw. For parents who prefer hotel rooms, check out the Resort at Squaw Creek. Alternatively, families may want to rent a vacation home further afield for cost savings; head to Tahoe City or the west shore.
For families primarily skiing in Northstar, Sugar Bowl, or Diamond Peak: Staying inside the Northstar community is more expensive than a vacation rental in Truckee or Kings Beach, but much more fun for families with kids who want to take advantage of village life, ice skating, and swimming pools (indoor and out). We’ve stayed in Northstar budget condos as well as theNorthstar village luxury condos. A
Northstar vacation home can be arranged through the resort lodging, or through a rental service such as HomeAway (we’ve done both). For a most glamorous stay, head to the Ritz Carlton Lake Tahoe (summer or winter). For families primarily looking for snow play (non-skiing): I suggest renting a vacation home near Tahoe City. The area of Homewood is quiet (at the start of the west shore), and families will find Sugar Pine Point State Park and snow parks to snowshoe in or cross-country ski and sled. There are also rental homes in Truckee that may fit the bill. For families looking for shopping and dining: It’s fun to stay in a ski village (Squaw or Northstar), even if you don’t ski. For families looking for more shopping opportunities, I recommend a hotel stay in Incline Village or downtown Truckee. Larkspur is a good choice in Truckee, or the Hyatt Regency in Incline (keep in mind that this is the Nevada side, so there will be gambling). Favorite Places For Snow Play
Not skiing? No problem! Head to one of these free or low-cost places to sled or simply play in the snow in North Tahoe. In addition, most major ski resorts in the area offer their own tubing or sledding venues, for a higher cost. Ice skating is found at Northstar or in Truckee, at the Truckee Ice Skating Rink. Granlibakken: This historic ski, sled, and spa location is found just outside Tahoe City. Families can use the sledding hill for about $10 per child, or learn to ski for much less than at large resorts (they have a rope tow and one main hill). Granlibakken is dog-friendly and there’s a small, but cute lodge for hot chocolate breaks. Sugar Pine Point State Park: As mentioned above, this is a great place to go for snowshoeing or general snow play. Sugar Pine Point offers snowshoe moonlight tours as well! Find it on the west shore, below Tahoe City.
North Tahoe Regional Park: Located in Tahoe Vista (near Kings Beach), this regional park transforms from sports venue to sledding hill in the winter months. Come here to find groomed hills and a fun community atmosphere. Soda Springs Tube Town: For $25, kids can tube all day at Soda Springs, which also offers low-cost (though limited), skiing for beginners and intermediates. Their ‘Planet Kids’ area includes learning areas for skiers, plus tubing lanes and a ‘snow volcano.’ Soda Springs is located near Truckee off I-80 (near Sugar Bowl).
New snow totals for Lake Tahoe ski resorts March 7, 2015
A three-day storm last week dropped more than two feet of snow at many Lake Tahoe ski resorts, setting up a strong weekend of skiing and snowboarding. New snow has led to terrain expansions at many resorts, including Squaw Valley, Alpine Meadows, Mt. Rose, Northstar California and Sugar Bowl. Skiers and riders can enjoy a variety of terrain at all resorts, including beginner terrain, top-to-bottom runs and terrain parks. The storm has also led to the reopening of Royal Gorge Cross Country resort, the largest Nordic skiing area in the Lake Tahoe region. Donner Ski Ranch: After being temporary closed for more than a month, the family-friendly ski resort announced it will open Saturday (March 7). Owner Janet Tuttle said the resort received 17 inches over the weekend, but could not take advantage quickly enough last week due to the surprising snow totals. Donner Ski Ranch is expected to open one or two of its six lifts. A lift ticket will cost $30. For more information, visit www.donnerskiranch.com/home Ski Specials Tahoe South has a variety of ski packages that include lift tickets, rentals, free night stays,
dining, area attractions, etc. For details visit,www.tahoesouth.com/deals/accommodations. Below is information on many North Lake Tahoe ski resorts. Alpine Meadows Storm Total: 28” Lifts: 6 Runs: 43 Boreal Mountain Resort Storm Total: 22” Lifts: 7 Runs: 30 Diamond Peak Ski Area Storm Total: 24” Lifts: 5 Runs: 22 Mt. Rose Ski Resort Storm Total: 10” Lifts: 7 Runs: 41 Northstar California Resort Storm Total: 16” Lifts: 13 Runs: 64 Squaw Valley Storm Total: 32” Lifts: 22 Runs: 61 Sugar Bowl Resort Storm Total: 24” Lifts: 7 Runs: 67 For more information about snow conditions in North Lake Tahoe visit,www.gotahoenorth.com. For lodging, activity and ski deals visitwww.gotahoenorth.com/cooldeals.
It’s All in the Mix: 10 California Events Offering Colorful, Cultural Mash-Ups March 6, 2015 California loves its hybrids, whether it’s vehicles, fusion cuisine or special events that celebrate the Golden State’s astounding diversity and wealth of resources. We scanned the state to bring you a list of ten “cultural mash-up” events. These events enable you to take part in a variety of activities in one place at one time – like sipping great California wine, tasting locally sourced food and catching the work of area artists, for one example. Check out our list and find your favorite(s): … Tahoe Snow Festival – North Lake Tahoe (Annual: February/March) Winter is a time to celebrate in Lake Tahoe, especially in late February and early March during the region’s annual SnowFest. Think of a European winter carnival with a distinct Californian spin and you have the idea. Activities and events include ski races, parades, fireworks displays, a Mardi Gras party, ice carving, a festival queen competition and even a bar games Olympics. … http://media.visitcalifornia.com/Story-Development/Story-Ideas/Story-Idea/?id=99078
LAKE TAHOE SKI RESORTS REPORTING PLENTY OF SNOW March 5, 2015 A three-day storm last week dropped more than two feet of snow at many Lake Tahoe ski resorts, setting up a strong weekend of skiing and snowboarding.
Mt. Rose has been offering some of the best snow in the Lake Tahoe region this season.
New snow has led to terrain expansions at many resorts, including Squaw Valley, Alpine Meadows, Mt. Rose, Northstar California and Sugar Bowl. Skiers and riders can enjoy a variety of terrain at all resorts, including beginner terrain, top-to-bottom runs and terrain parks. The storm has also led to the reopening of Royal Gorge Cross Country resort, the largest Nordic skiing area in the Lake Tahoe region. Donner Ski Ranch: After being temporary closed for more than a month, the family-friendly ski resort was hoping to open this weekend, but decided against it. Owner Janet Tuttle said the resort received 17 inches last weekend, but could not take For more information, visit www.donnerskiranch.com/home or call 530 426-3635. Ski Specials Tahoe South has a variety of ski packages that include lift tickets, rentals, free night stays, dining, area attractions, etc. For details visit, www.tahoesouth.com/deals/accommodations.
Donner Ski Ranch reports that it will be reopening this Saturday (March 7) for skiing and riding.
Below is information on many North Lake Tahoe ski resorts. Alpine Meadows Storm Total: 28” Lifts: 6 Runs: 43 Boreal Mountain Resort Storm Total: 22” Lifts: 7 Runs: 30 Diamond Peak Ski Area Storm Total: 24” Lifts: 5 Runs: 22 Mt. Rose Ski Resort Storm Total: 10” Lifts: 7 Runs: 41 Northstar California Resort Storm Total: 16” Lifts: 13 Runs: 64 Squaw Valley Storm Total: 32” Lifts: 22
Runs: 61 Sugar Bowl Resort Storm Total: 24� Lifts: 7 Runs: 67 For more information about snow conditions in North Lake Tahoe visit, www.gotahoenorth.com. For lodging, activity and ski deals visit www.gotahoenorth.com/cooldeals. Jeffrey Weidel can be reached at skiweidel@gmail.com. Thanks for visiting his winter website atwww.tahoeskiworld.com
It's a powder party at ski resorts from Mammoth to North Lake Tahoe March 4, 2015
Ski resorts in California's Sierra received more than 2 feet of snow in places, making it a powder paradise. The bad news: The snowpack survey in the Sierra Nevada on Tuesday measured far below normal, leaving California facing a fourth year of severe drought, the Associated Press reports. The better news: in the short term, storms brought serious powder to California ski resorts from Mammoth Mountain in Mammoth Lakes, Calif., and north to North Lake Tahoe. The three-day storm that started Friday dumped more than 2 feet of snow at many resorts.
Squaw Valley, Mt. Rose Ski Resort, Northstar California and others welcomed boarders and skiers who at places were knee-deep in newly fallen snow. There was enough of the white stuff to open the Royal Gorge cross-country skiing resort in Soda Springs, Calif. Here's what the North Lake Tahoe Visitors' Bureau reported Tuesday on local ski resorts: --Alpine Meadows in Tahoe City, Calif., gained 28 inches; six lifts and 43 runs are open --Boreal Mountain Resort in Soda Springs, Calif., gained 22 inches; seven lifts and 30 runs are open --Diamond Peak Ski Area in Incline Village, Nev., gained 24 inches, five lifts and 22 runs are open --Mt. Rose Ski Resort in Reno, Nev., gained 10 inches; seven lifts and 41 runs are open --Northstar California Resort in Truckee, Calif., gained 16 inches; 13 lifts and 64 runs are open --Squaw Valley in Olympic Valley, Calif., gained 32 inches; 22 lifts and 61 runs are open --Sugar Bowl Resort in Truckee, Calif., gained 24 inches; seven lifts and 67 runs are open Farther south, Mammoth Mountain in a statement said it received more than a foot of snow as of Sunday. "Yesterday the top of the mountain was going off with some of the best powder we've seen all season," Mammoth wrote on its website Tuesday of the 11,053-foot peak.
Skiing Conditions Improve at Area Resorts After New Snow Fall March 3, 2015
A three-day storm that started Friday has layered North Lake Tahoe resorts with nearly three feet of snow. There are over 112 lifts running in the area, providing access to over 8,200 acres of terrain. New snow has lead to terrain expansions at many resorts including Squaw Valley | Alpine Meadows, Mt. Rose Ski Resort, Northstar California and Sugar Bowl Resort. The storm has also led to the reopening of Royal Gorge Cross Country resort. Skiers and riders can enjoy a variety of terrain at all resorts including beginner terrain, top-to-bottom runs and terrain parks. A list of North Lake Tahoe downhill resort totals is below: Alpine Meadows Storm Total: 28� Lifts: 6 Runs: 43
Boreal Mountain Resort Storm Total: 22” Lifts: 7 Runs: 30 Diamond Peak Ski Area Storm Total: 24” Lifts: 5 Runs: 22 Mt. Rose Ski Resort Storm Total: 10” Lifts: 7 Runs: 41 Northstar California Resort Storm Total: 16” Lifts: 13 Runs: 64 Squaw Valley Storm Total: 32” Lifts: 22 Runs: 61 Sugar Bowl Resort Storm Total: 24” Lifts: 7 Runs: 67
North Tahoe's SnowFest! continues with fun events this week March 3, 2015 TAHOE CITY, Calif. — The 34th annual SnowFest! winter carnival started with a bang Friday at Squaw Valley, where Katie Butterfield, from North Tahoe High School, was crowned as the 2015 Queen. The fun continued all day Saturday, highlighted by the annual Tahoe City parade and the Polar Bear Swim at Gar Woods in Carnelian Bay. Adding to the excitement, of course, was the fact it snowed much of Friday night and Saturday. Below is a list of upcoming SnowFest! events through Friday. Visit tahoesnowfestival.com for updated information, and click here to read more about the 34th annual event and a full calendar of events. WEDNESDAY, MARCH 4 1-7 p.m.: Truckee River Winery Wine & Ice Competition Where: Truckee River Winery Tasting Room, 11467 Brockway Road, Truckee Description: Watch talented local professionals transform large blocks of ice into works of art at Truckee River Winery’s 4th Annual Ice Carving Competition. Listen to the amazing stylings of DJ Chango and enjoy some winter fun. Proceeds will benefit the High Fives Foundation. All ages welcome; $10 cover includes your donation, souvenir wine glass, and Mardi Gras beads. Visittruckeeriverwinery.com. 6-9 p.m.: Girls’ Night Out! “Bunco Bash” Where: North Tahoe Event Center, 8318 North Lake Blvd., Kings Beach Description: No experience required. There will be appetizers, wine and beer on hand, along with a raffle and silent auction with lots of Prizes! Tickets available for $25 at ActivityTickets.com, or in advance (cash only), at the following locations: Truckee Visitor Center (10065 Donner Pass Road), The Store (351 North Lake Blvd., Tahoe City), Bar Bar Bar (760 Mays Blvd., Incline Village), Rockwood Tree Services (8636 North Lake Blvd., Kings Beach). Proceeds will benefit Tahoe Forest Cancer Center patient programs. 9 p.m. - midnight: Rosie’s BINGO Night Where: Rosie’s Cafe, 571 North Lake Blvd., Tahoe City
Description: Come join in the B-I-N-G-O Fun as Rosie’s takes on a whole different feel. There are incredible prizes for each round. Get there early for a good seat. Cocktails will be served. Cost: $5 per card to play, and you can play more than one card at a time. Visit rosiescafe.com. THURSDAY, MARCH 5 5:30-7:30 p.m.: Meet the Squaw Rescue Dogs! Where: North Lake Tahoe Visitor Center, 100 North Lake Blvd., Tahoe City Description: The Squaw Valley Rescue Dogs are ready for a tail-wagging good time. Learn how they save lives and become rescue dogs. Get your picture taken with a furry friend. All photo proceeds go to the Squaw Valley Avalanche Rescue Dog and Education Fund. Complimentary adult and child beverages provided. 5:30-7:30 p.m.: SnowFest! Skills & Prowess Test Where: The Blue Agave Restaurant, 425 North Lake Blvd., Tahoe City Description: Contestants will show their prowess and compete in a basketball, football and hockey skills test. Skills include free throws and 3-point shots, hockey goal scoring and football passing accuracy. Prizes awarded. Sign up at Blue Agave or the Tahoe City Downtown Association office. Proceeds will benefit the TCDA Fourth of July fireworks. FRIDAY, MARCH 6 5-8 p.m.: 7th Annual Bridgetender Rib Fest Where: Bridgetender, 65 West Lake Blvd., Tahoe City Description: Enjoy the great ribs at the BT for the 7th Annual Rib Fest. An outdoor extravaganza of barbecued ribs will take place on the outside patio and bar, with lots of great ribs & drink to be had by all, starting at 5 p.m. and going until the ribs are all gone.
Snowy Sierra comes into focus: Readers, resorts share March Miracle photos March 3, 2015 For those of us who may have missed last weekend’s long-awaited snow in the Sierra, Slope Dope solicited its readers to send in a few pictures of the action. Click here to see what we asked for. Here’s what we received:
UPDATE: Here are some snow accumulation totals provided by the North Tahoe tourism folks. Their press release reads as follows: North Lake Tahoe, Calif./Nev. (March 3, 2015) – A three-day storm that started Friday has layered North Lake Tahoe resorts with nearly three feet of snow. Currently there are over 112 lifts spinning in the region, providing access to over 8,200 acres of terrain.
New snow has lead to terrain expansions at many resorts including Squaw Valley | Alpine Meadows, Mt. Rose Ski Resort, Northstar California and Sugar Bowl Resort. The storm has also led to the reopening of Royal Gorge Cross Country resort. Skiers and riders can enjoy a variety of terrain at all resorts including beginner terrain, top-to-bottom runs and terrain parks.
A complete list of North Lake Tahoe downhill resort totals below: Alpine Meadows Storm Total: 28” Lifts: 6 Runs: 43
Boreal Mountain Resort Storm Total: 22” Lifts: 7 Runs: 30
Diamond Peak Ski Area Storm Total: 24” Lifts: 5 Runs: 22
Mt. Rose Ski Resort Storm Total: 10” Lifts: 7 Runs: 41
Northstar California Resort Storm Total: 16” Lifts: 13 Runs: 64
Squaw Valley Storm Total: 32” Lifts: 22 Runs: 61
Sugar Bowl Resort Storm Total: 24” Lifts: 7 Runs: 67
For more information about snow conditions in North Lake Tahoe visit,www.gotahoenorth.com. For lodging, activity and ski deals visitwww.gotahoenorth.com/cooldeals.
12 Photos of California Ski Areas Covered With Snow, Finally! March 3, 2015
Let's face it, the winter of 2014-2015 hasn't been kind to California. Sure, there was that big storm in December, but since then the ski areas have looked like more of a drought-stricken desert than a winter wonderland. Fortunately, the latest round of storms have dropped multiple feet of snow across the region. It's been a while since we've ogled the Golden State blanketed in white, so here now, Curbed Ski presents 12 photos of California skis resorts covered in snow.
STORM TOTALS 2/27-3/1 MARCH 2, 2015 Mother Nature smiled upon us in Reno Tahoe with a little winter revival. Over the weekend, we experienced some much needed snow up in the mountains. The majority of February was full of sunshine and spring time weather, but it was great to see the month go out with a bang. Over two feet of snow fell over the weekend, and skiers and snowboarders alike rejoiced. Royal Gorge, the largest cross-country ski resort in North America, has reopened some of its trails March 1, and is expected to open more trails this week. The forecast for the rest of the week is clear with some sun, so it’s a great time to get up to the mountains to experience the fresh powder!
Squaw: storm total: 32″ Alpine: storm total: 32″
Sugar Bowl: storm total: 24″ Royal Gorge: storm total: 24″ Mt. Rose: storm total: 16″ Northstar: storm total: 16″ Diamond Peak: storm total: 16″ Kirkwood: storm total: 15″ Heavenly: storm total: 14″ Boreal: storm total: 12″
10 Adventurous Spring Break Destinations March 2, 2015
Lake Tahoe storm brings 2 feet of snow, crosscountry resorts reopen March 1, 2015 TAHOE-TRUCKEE, Calif. — More than two feet of snow blanketed the region after a storm swept through the Sierra this weekend, bringing winter back to Lake Tahoe and likely ensuring the 2014-15 ski season will last into spring. Squaw Valley appeared to come out the big winner, as the resort northwest of Lake Tahoe on Sunday reported 32 inches of snow at upper mountain, while neighboring Alpine Meadows got 28 inches. Meanwhile, Diamond Peak in Incline Village reported 24 inches had fallen by early Sunday morning at upper mountain. Sugar Bowl Resort in Norden near Donner Summit also reported 2 feet. Sierra-at-Tahoe, located in Twin Bridges, Calif., south of South Lake Tahoe, reported 17 inches from the storm at its high-elevation areas. Northstar California, located between Truckee and North Lake Tahoe, reported 16 inches, as did Mt. Rose Ski Tahoe, located between Reno and Incline Village. Kirkwood Mountain Resort reported 14 inches from the storm, and Boreal Mountain Resort, in Soda Springs, reported 12 inches of snow. On the South Shore, Heavenly Mountain Resort also reported 1 foot of snow. Elsewhere, it’s unclear how much snow fell at Homewood Mountain Resort on the West Shore or at Tahoe Donner Downhill in Truckee, although a Facebook post Saturday from Homewood indicated 15 inches had fallen. According to their websites Monday, both resorts remain closed due to low snow levels this winter. In terms of the region’s ongoing drought conditions, the storm didn’t do much to help. The Truckee River Basin’s snowpack measured 35 percent of normal on Sunday, according to the U.S. Natural Resources Conservation Service, with the Tahoe Basin’s snowpack at 20 percent of normal. Those numbers showed a 2 percent and 1 percent increase, respectively, from snowpack levels before the storm.
CROSS-COUNTRY RESORTS REOPEN Royal Gorge Cross Country, located next to Sugar Bowl, reopened on Sunday with 14 machine-groomed trails on 17 kilometers of terrain, running out of the Summit Station Lodge in Soda Springs, according to a press release. “As the operations crew busily grooms the new snow, Royal Gorge will open more trails throughout the week,� officials said. In Tahoe City, Tahoe Cross Country Ski Area also reopened Sunday with 5 snowmobile-groomed trails on 20 km of terrain. Tahoe Donner Cross Country remains closed, according to its website. According to the National Weather Service in Reno, a much-smaller system is expected to quickly move through Truckee-Tahoe on Monday, and some snow, although nothing likely more than couple inches, may fall at higher elevations. From there, temperatures are expected to reach the mid- to upper-50s by Thursday in Truckee, and by the weekend across the North Shore of Lake Tahoe. While ski resorts are heralding the storm as a much-needed boost to an otherwise abysmal snowpack for the fourth-straight winter, it also caused major headaches for mountain travelers on Saturday, as well as power outages. Large portions of Incline Village, mainly in businesses and neighborhoods north of Highway 28, were without power for several hours Saturday. Further, the Truckee Police Department responded to more than 15 reports of traffic collisions and vehicle spin-outs related to snowy and icy conditions, according to a statement at about 4:30 p.m. Saturday. Elsewhere, snow tire or chain restrictions were in effect along most highways and passes all day Saturday, including Interstate 80, U.S. Highway 50, California highways 28, 89 and 267, and Nevada highways 28, 207 and 431. While many accidents and spin-outs occurred across the region, no major injuries were reported.
Glamorous Getaways Luxury vacation rentals make a trip to the mountains seem like a visit to the home of a very stylish friend March 1, 2015 If you’re the kind of traveler who likes to unpack your bags, take a deep breath and settle right in, then renting a luxury vacation home might provide just the sort of laid-back break you need. With residential options ranging from rustic to regal, relaxed to refined, petite to palatial, there’s bound to be an ideal home tucked into the mountains just waiting for you. And, fortunately, there is a growing number of stellar property rental agencies specializing in high-country holiday destinations. From a weekend away to a month-long retreat or more, renting a beautifully furnished house in an idyllic location provides an appealing “home-away-from-home” fantasy experience that is different from the resort scene. In your own luxurious residence, you can enjoy a little independence and let your hair down with privacy. Many extended families prefer vacation home rentals because they provide ample, versatile space. That means kids and adults, parents and grandparents, and sometimes even pets, have plenty of room to roam and rest—or cook or swim or putt on a private green. And with some deliciously decadent concierge services available to renters, you can choose whether you’d like to raise a glass, cast a line, bike a trail or snowshoe through the frosty woods with the best local guides and services at your command.
TIME & PLACE LOCATIONS Properties worldwide, including European mountain destinations like Courchevel, France, and Zermatt, Switzerland. Closer to home are options in Park City, Deer Valley, Vail, Aspen, Snowmass, Beaver Creek and Telluride. LUXURIES “Tailored travel,” with one-on-one personalized local concierge services. Skilled concierges range “from master sommeliers and chefs to sport and adventure enthusiasts.” Timeandplace.com
LUXURY RETREATS LOCATIONS Worldwide, including the Swiss, Austrian and French Alps, Whistler, British Columbia, Lake Tahoe, Breckenridge, Aspen, Telluride, Vail, Utah and Wyoming. LUXURIES A personal concierge is assigned to each guest for 24/7 complimentary service. luxuryretreats.com
VILLAS OF DISTINCTION LOCATIONS Properties worldwide, from one-bedroom apartments to 42-bedroom estates. Mountain destinations include Aspen, Vail, Beaver Creek, Deer Valley and Park City. LUXURIES Villa specialist and concierge available for personalized service. Villasofdistinction.com
TAHOE LUXURY PROPERTIES LOCATIONS Specializing in lakefront properties, North Lake Tahoe, Truckee, Squaw Valley, Northstar, and Incline. LUXURIES Personal chef, grocery delivery, personalized spa, helicopter tours, boat rentals, child care and baby equipment, sports and recreation equipment delivery and pet care are offered. Tluxp.com
TELLURIDE LUXURY RENTALS & REAL ESTATE LOCATIONS Telluride and Mountain Village penthouses, condos and ski-in/ski-out residences. LUXURIES Includes personal 24/7 complimentary concierge services. Telluriderentals.net
THE CLEAR CREEK GROUP LOCATIONS Specializing in Jackson Hole, Wyoming, with properties ranging from one-bedroom cabins to tenbedroom lodges. LUXURIES The concierge service can organize an array of custom adventures, from chuckwagon dinners to whitewater rafting and heli-skiing to Yellowstone tours. Theclearcreek group.com
Lack of Snow Chills Lake Tahoe Ski Resorts Mild weather pattern is adding to California’s water woes and disrupting tourist sites February 27, 2015
KINGS BEACH, Calif.—Normally in February, this Lake Tahoe community is blanketed in snow. But this year, there has been so little that the 89-year-old Old Brockway Golf Course here opened Jan. 31, two months earlier than normal. “It’s remarkable,” 69-year-old Scott Bent, a retired teacher and local resident, said as he prepared to tee off on one of the nine holes one sunny afternoon. “But the fact you can be out here at all now doesn’t seem right.”
As much of the eastern half of the nation has been locked in an Arctic deep freeze this winter, the West Coast has basked in springlike conditions. Record highs have been reported from California to Alaska, where the temperature in Anchorage, on Feb. 22, hit a record 47 degrees for that date. So little snow has fallen in the Last Frontier state that organizers of the famed Iditarod sled-dog race have moved the start of the March competition hundreds of miles north to Fairbanks. In Mammoth Lakes, Calif., many would-be skiers have opted for fishing. “I’d say 50% of the people coming in the shop came up to ski but said they’ll go fishing instead,” said Dave Gallenberger, a salesman at the Troutfitter store in the Sierra Nevada resort city. The unseasonably mild weather has added to the chronic water woes in California, which has suffered four years of drought. The state’s wet season started out well, with snow blanketing the mountains in December. But then—as it has for many of the recent winters—the snow pretty much stopped as a stubborn ridge of high pressure parked itself off the West Coast, blocking the advance of Pacific storms.
The lack of precipitation, combined with unseasonably warm temperatures—the mercury hit a record 65 on Feb. 13 at the Lake Tahoe Airport—have shriveled the Sierra snowpack, a key source of California’s water. The snowpack’s water equivalent statewide stood at just 19% of the historical average as of Thursday, according to electronic readings by the state Department of Water Resources. All of this is disrupting the tourism economies of mountain communities such as Lake Tahoe, which hosts one of the largest concentrations of ski resorts in North America. On Feb. 11, Squaw Valley Alpine Meadows resort announced a World Cup ski and snowboarding competition scheduled there for March 4-8 had been canceled. Through Wednesday, Squaw Valley had received just 38 inches of snow at its 6,200-foot base, compared with 275 inches by that date during the last big snow season four years ago. Some smaller ski resorts have been forced to close altogether. Donner Ski Ranch closed in midFebruary due to lack of snow, then reopened for the Presidents Day weekend—but had to close again before the actual holiday. “The snow was just way too thin,” said co-owner Janet Tuttle, who added the closures have forced the resort to reduce its staff to 10 from a normal level of about 100. Most of the larger resorts have snow-making equipment that has allowed them to keep many runs open. Betty “B” Gorman, president and CEO of the Lake Tahoe South Shore Chamber of Commerce, said overall tourism revenue has held up surprisingly well, in part because December was such a snowy month. But traffic at the big resorts has slowed, too. Vail Resorts Inc. on Jan. 14 reported that “challenging” early-season conditions at its
Heavenly, Northstar and Kirkwood resorts at Lake Tahoe had led to lower-than-anticipated growth from those properties during the ski season, although companywide results were in line with original expectations. Officials at the Sugar Bowl Resort cut seasonal-employee hiring to nearly half normal levels, said John Monson, director of sales and marketing. With 29 snow guns and fans, Sugar Bowl has been able to maintain coverage on most runs with man-made snow, but at a cost of $100,000 a month. “The powder hounds might not be getting everything they want, but it’s been pretty ideal for families,” Mr. Monson said. Indeed, intermediate runs at both Sugar Bowl and the Diamond Peak Ski Resort in neighboring Nevada were neatly groomed for the few skiers who swooshed through on a recent day. “It’s the best of both worlds: the roads are dry and we get to ski as much as we want,” said 70-year-old Paul Sandler, a retired computer executive from Cypress, Calif., at Diamond Peak recently. However, Diamond Peak marketing manager Kayla Anderson said getting the word out to would-be skiers to visit is hard; among costcutting moves has been a reduction in advertising. “A major problem we are dealing with is perception,” Ms. Anderson said. At the Soda Springs General Store & Deli on Donner Pass, co-owner Tony Paduano is trying to help in another way: every time a customer laments the lack of snowfall, he rings a bell above the cash register and says, “Pray for snow.” Like many local businesses dependent on skiing, the store’s sales are down by roughly one-third from a normal year, he said. “When white powder falls out of the sky,” Mr. Paduano said, “I make money.”
Things 2 Do This Weekend February 27, 2015 Looks like wintry weather has returned for the weekend. But don't let that put a damper on your plans. There are still plenty of Things 2 Do! From helping Special Olympics and the Boys & Girls Club of the Truckee Meadows to art you can enjoy and that you can create, a Polar Bear Plunge on Tahoe's north shore and the Reno Chamber Orchestra! Enjoy! ‌ Polar Bear Plunge as part of SnowFest at North Lake Tahoe Much of the SnowFest events this year including the Polar Plunge are based out of Gar Woods Grill and Bar on the North Shore. www.garwoods.com ‌ http://www.ktvn.com/story/28224880/things-2-do
SnowFest celebrates winter February 25, 2015 Every spring since 1982, North Lake Tahoe comes alive with 10 fun-filled days and nights, jam packed with events and activities for all ages during the annual SnowFest winter carnival. This year, the annual favorites will be back, along with a host of great new ones. Participate in special events, parades, races, dining, parties, concerts and more. This year’s theme is “It’s SnowMuch Fun.” This year’s Grand Marshals are the St. Paul Winter Carnival Vulcans, who have been participating in SnowFest for 30 years. For more information, visit tahoesnowfestival.com.
Feb. 26 | Thursday Remembrance for Old Man Winter 4:30 p.m. | Gar Woods, Carnelian Bay JC Krise, the beloved Old Man Winter for the past 33 years, will be honored during a remembrance for him. Please join us in paying tribute to him, and be prepared to share favorite stories about JC.
SnowFest Kickoff Party 5 p.m. | Gar Woods, Carnelian Bay Join in the official kick off and fundraiser for SnowFest featuring Queen contestants, raffle, auction and music with Groove Foundry. $30 donation at the door includes beer, wine and Wet Woody’s, as well as heavy appetizers.
Feb. 27 | Friday 39th Annual Dick Linkey Rotary Ski Challenge 9 a.m. | Northstar The largest gathering of skiing Rotarians. This event has been benefiting the communities of North Lake Tahoe and Truckee since its inception and has donated more than $200,000 to the community.
SnowFest Queen Coronation 6 p.m. | Village at Squaw Valley See the SnowFest Queen candidates vie for the title. Each candidate is running as a representative for one of five local nonprofits. The Queen is chosen based upon raffle ticket sales, GPA, a resume, community involvement and an interview. Torchlight Parade & Fireworks Show 7 p.m. | Squaw Valley, KT Base area Watch as Squaw Valley lights up under the mountain stars with a torchlight parade and a fireworks show.
Feb. 28 | Saturday Pancake Breakfast 7 a.m. | North Tahoe Fire Station, Tahoe City
Bring the whole family and help support the North Tahoe Firefighters Association Annual Pancake Breakfast at 222 Fairway Drive, with hot pancakes, sausages fruit, milk, coffee and OJ. All ages. Adults $8, children 4-12 $5, 3 & younger free. T-shirts and sweatshirts available for purchase. Benefits NTFA equipment, relief and scholarship funds. Paint the Bear 11 a.m. | North Tahoe Arts, Tahoe City North Tahoe Arts and the BEAR League invite children of all ages to paint a wooden bear after the SnowFest Parade City. Refreshments will be provided. There will be a bear art exhibit where children can see what a bear den looks like and learn about bears around Lake Tahoe. Ages 5-12. Free. Blue Agave’s Parade Central 11 a.m. | Blue Agave, Tahoe City Join the fun and watch the Tahoe City SnowFest parade. This is the spot that parade participants execute demonstrations for the judges.
Rosie’s Parade Watching Party 11 a.m. | Rosie’s Café, Tahoe City Be there early so you can get a seat or a spot on the outside deck and watch the parade. Tahoe City SnowFest Parade 11:30 a.m. | Downtown Tahoe City Come to town early today to grab your parking spot to see the Tahoe City SnowFest. Parade. This fun, eclectic, funky, mountain town parade has something for everyone. Pete ‘n’ Peters Post Parade Party & Concert 12:30 p.m. | Pete ‘n’ Peter’s, Tahoe City Join the fun at Pete’s for drink specials and all the rest of the festivities. Fun to be had by all with your neighbors, the Vulcans from the St. Paul Minnesota Winter Carnival and this year’s Grand Marshals. Enjoy the Mobility Rock Band Concert in the parking lot for an all-ages show.
Stohlgren Bros Ice Cream Eating Contest 1 p.m. | Tahoe City Fire Station, Tahoe City Gather up all the eaters and put em in one place? Well, then they’ll all be at the Fire Station after the SnowFest Parade. All ages.
Gar Woods Polar Bear Swim 2:30 p.m. | Gar Woods, Carnelian Bay The 26th Annual Polar Bear Swim will be North Lake Tahoe’s coolest event. Hundreds of spectators will line the pier to watch hardy souls brave the frigid waters of Lake Tahoe. Complimentary appetizers are provided for all, and following the event is the hugely popular raffle in the bar at Gar Woods. Swim participants may also enjoy the hot tubs provided by Pomin’s Hot Tubs. Swimmers may register at garwoods.com. Festivities begin at 11:30 a.m., with swimmer check in at 1:30 and the race at 2:30. $30 advance entry or $35 on the day of the event. 18+ only.
March 1 | Sunday Arctic Paddle 10 a.m. | Waterman’s Landing, Carnelian Bay The Arctic Paddle is not just a race; it is a celebration of winter paddling and the winter in Lake Tahoe with family fun on and off the water. The race course will depend on weather conditions. Waterman’s Landing will be open serving hot beverages, food and s’mores. SnowFest Dawg Pull 11 a.m. | Tahoe City Golf Course Enjoy friendly racing for dogs of all ages and sizes. There will be treats for all competitors and prizes for winners. The Dawg Pull will take place sunshine, rain or snow. Dogs of all sizes will pull a
weighted sled across the snow (or grass) to take home the championship in their category. Sign ups start at 11 a.m.$10 entry fee. Food and beverages available during the event. Gone Bonkers Kids Ski & Snowboard Race 1 p.m. | Granlibakken, Tahoe City Granlibakken hosts its 2nd annual kids ski and snowboard obstacle course competition. It’s an all-out, top-to-bottom race over natural terrain complete with gates, obstacles, bumps and fun. If you don’t ski or board come anyway. The afternoon includes family fun for all ages. In case of no snow, there will be family fun events for all ages including face painting, s’mores and other activities. Ages 5-12. Entry $20 or $5 if staying at Granlibakken. Sunnyside’s Annual Luau 4 p.m. | Sunnyside, Tahoe City Enjoy Hawaiian-inspired cuisine and cocktails at Sunnyside’s Mountain Grill. Wear your Hawaiian attire, and bring your Aloha spirit. Sign up for the Hula Pie Eating and Hula Hoop contests to win great prizes.
March 2 | Monday Za’s Clam Bake 5 p.m. | Za’s, Tahoe City Za’s restaurant will be hosting a traditional East Coast clam bake. The menu will include expertly prepared clams, chicken, potatoes and corn. $25.
March 3 | Tuesday Pete ‘n’ Peters Bar Game Olympics 6 p.m. | Pete ‘n’ Peter’s, Tahoe City Enjoy a fun evening of competition with pool, shuffleboard, foosball and dice. Great prizes for the top three teams. Sign up early. Limited space. 21+. $10 entry. RSVP (530) 583.2400.
March 4 | Wednesday Wine & Ice Competition 1 p.m. | Truckee River Winery, Truckee Truckee River Winery’s 4th Annual Ice Carving Competition. Watch talented local professionals
transform large blocks of ice into works of art. Listen to the stylings of DJ Chango. Proceeds will benefit the High Fives Foundation. All ages. $10 cover includes donation, souvenir wine glass and Mardi Gras beads. Girls’ Night Out Bunco Bash 6 p.m. | North Tahoe Event Center, Kings Beach No experience required. There will be appetizers, wine and beer, raffle and silent auction with lots of prizes. Tickets $25 at activitytickets.com or at these locations for cash only: Truckee Visitor Center, The Store, Bar Bar Bar, and Rockwood Tree Services. Limited space. Benefits the Tahoe Forest Cancer Center patient programs. Rosie’s BINGO Night 9 p.m. | Rosie’s Café, Tahoe City Come join in the B-I-N-G-O Fun as Rosie’s. There are incredible prizes for each round, and it goes on for hours. Get there early for a good seat. And cocktails will be served. $5 per card to play, and you can play more than one card at a time.
March 5 | Thursday Meet the Squaw Rescue Dogs 5:30 p.m. | North Lake Tahoe Visitor Center, Tahoe City The Squaw Valley Rescue Dogs are ready for a tail-wagging good time. Learn how they save lives and become rescue dogs. Get your picture taken with a furry friend. All photo proceeds go to the Squaw Valley Avalanche Rescue Dog and Education Fund. Complimentary adult and child beverages. SnowFest Skills & Prowess Test 5:30 p.m. | Blue Agave, Tahoe City Contestants show their prowess and compete in a basketball, football and hockey skills test. Skills include free throws & 3-point shots, hockey goal scoring and football passing accuracy. Prizes awarded for the athletes with the most prowess and skills. Sign up at Blue Agave or the Tahoe City Downtown Association office. Proceeds benefit the 4th of July fireworks.
March 6 | Friday Bridgetender Rib Fest 5 p.m. | Bridgetender, Tahoe City
Enjoy the great ribs at the BT for this 7th Annual Rib Fest. An outdoor extravaganza of BBQ’d ribs takes place on the outside patio and bar with great ribs.
March 7 | Saturday Diamond Peak Uphill Downhill Dash 7 a.m. | Diamond Peak, Incline Village Earn your turns at the Diamond Peak Uphill/Downhill Dash sponsored by Tahoe Mountain Sports. Race to the top of the mountain using whatever human-powered method you prefer. Skin, snowshoe or run to the top; ski, snowboard or snowshoe down; then head back up to the mid-mountain Snowflake Lodge for awards and prizes. $10 entry fee. No sleds or sled-type objects. Long Course goes to the summit of Crystal Ridge via Flume, down Crystal Ridge and Sunnyside, then back up to Snowflake Lodge via Freeway. Short Course goes to Snowflake Lodge via Freeway (participants will have to ski/snowshoe/hike down after the event). RSVP diamondpeak.com. NTPUD Pancake Breakfast 8:30 a.m. | North Tahoe Event Center, Kings Beach Enjoy hot pancakes topped with strawberries, blueberries and whipped cream, with sausage, orange juice, hot chocolate, milk and coffee. Adults $8, children $3, 3 and younger free. All proceeds benefit Dog Day in the Park and Friends of the Park.
Dress Up Your Dog Contest 10 a.m. | North Tahoe Event Center, Kings Beach Dress up your dogs. Prizes for different categories and free entrance into the Kings Beach Parade to follow. Stroll with your prized pooches down the parade route in Kings Beach. Sponsored by TNT-TMA.
Kings Beach SnowFest Parade 11:30 a.m. | Downtown Kings Beach North Tahoe Business Association hosts this annual, fun-filled event featuring entertaining entries from 30 to 40 local community and nonprofit organizations and businesses. Spectators are invited to watch the parade, which travels east along Highway 28. Free to watch, all ages welcome. To participate in the parade, call (530) 546-9000. The Grid’s After Parade Party 12:30 p.m. | The Grid, Kings Beach Following the parade, DJs will entertain on The Grid’s Love Boat-themed parade float in the parking lot. Drink and food specials, and an after party going all day and night. Snow What? Snow Building Contest 1 p.m. | Kings Beach Library Come to the library after the Kings Beach SnowFest Parade for a snow-sculpting contest. Great event for the entire family with prizes. Free. All ages and abilities welcome. Winter Expo 4 p.m. | Diamond Peak, Incline Village Tahoe Expeditionary Academy hosts a hands-on, interactive showcase of winter activities for all ages with snow sculpting, cross-country skiing, snow shelter building, avalanche preparedness and more. Bring the family for a free afternoon and evening filled with educational, adventure-based exhibitions. LUNAFEST Film, Food and Wine 6 p.m. | Olympic Village Lodge, Olympic Valley Tickets include wine tasting, sampling of local cuisine, silent auction and award-winning films. The short films will compel discussion, make you laugh, tug at your heartstrings and motivate you to make a difference in your community. Benefits Girls on the Run-Sierras and the Breast Cancer Fund. $35 advance, $45 at the event. Ages 21+. SnowFest Mardi Gras Masquerade 7 p.m. | North Tahoe Event Center, Kings Beach Kings Beach After 8 Music Series presents the Mardi Gras Masquerade Ball. Grammy-nominated Andre Thierry and Zydeco Magic deliver soulful and traditional World, Zydeco and Blues. Begin the evening with free Zydeco dance instruction. Costumes and masks encouraged. Prizes will be awarded. Full bar and food available for purchase. Smoke-free venue. $20 per person, $5 for younger than 18. Proceeds benefit Friends of the Park. Like the Facebook page Kings Beach After 8 Music Series and receive a discount at the door.
Queen Raffle Drawing 7 p.m. | North Tahoe Event Center, Kings Beach Bring your friends for an evening of great music and dance on the last night of SnowFest, and draw the prizes for the Queen Raffle. This is a Mardi Gras-themed party so dress your best and have a chance at winning the best mask and costume contest as part of the Mardi Gras Masquerade Ball (see above).
SnowFest Cocktail Bingo 7 p.m. | Community Art Center, Truckee Celebrate Winter Truckee style with the SnowFest Cocktail Bingo. This is a Truckee Downtown Merchants Association event. All ages. $10 per bingo card for first two cards. $5 for each additional card.
March 8 | Sunday Tahoe Donner Ididarun 1 p.m. | Tahoe Donner Downhill Ski Area Dogs pulling covered wagon sleds across a snow-covered course against the clock with four categories for dogs. This is a great event for spectators. Best views from the track side or on the Ski Lodge deck. Event sign ups start at noon, and the race begins at 1. Food and drinks are available for purchase. Raffle proceeds to benefit the Humane Society of Tahoe-Truckee. All ages. $20 entry. River Ranch’s Snow or Sand Sculpting Contest 2 p.m.| River Ranch Lodge, Alpine Meadows Tahoe Redneck Beach Party, Barbecue and DJ on the patio and a Bay Watch Reunion all in one. We’re prepared for rain, snow or shine. The patio will be in full swing with a bar serving beer, drink specials and more. The barbecue will be lit with burgers and chicken sandwiches. Snow/Sand
judging takes place at 3, with awards at 3:30, and a raffle at 4 to benefit Disabled Sports USA Far West. All ages. Fine ‘n Funky Fashion Show 7:30 p.m. | Jake’s On the Lake, Tahoe City Check out the latest and hottest fashion, showcased by the most beautiful ladies in Tahoe.
Road closures for parades March 1 | Saturday Highway 28, also known as North Lake Blvd., will be closed on March 1 from 11:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. for the Tahoe City SnowFest! Parade from the Lighthouse Center parking lot to the junction with Highway 89 at the wye in Tahoe City. March 7 | Saturday Highway 28 in Kings Beach will be closed during the parade on March 7 from 11:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. Detour routes will be available from Highway 267 at Dolly Varden Street (eastbound Highway 28 also use this route) and from Highway 28 westbound at Chipmunk. Follow posted detour signs and traffic management. No parking on Chipmunk Street, Salmon Avenue and Brockway Vista Avenue during the parade.
Getaway Reno Tahoe Newsletter February 25, 2015
Lake Tahoe Review - Two Shores Twice The Fun (North Shore) February 24, 2015 Splash Magazine Worldwide’s Publisher and Editor-in-chief Lawrence Davis and I recently enjoyed an adventurous five-day ski trip to Lake Tahoe to see first-hand more than $100 million dollar in ongoing improvements at both North and South Lake Tahoe ski resorts. The seven Ski Lake Tahoe resorts are in the midst of a multi-year plan to upgrade and expand the local mountains and resorts, making Lake Tahoe even more accessible and exciting then ever before. We were invited to experience the new Tahoe for ourselves and share the experience with our readers worldwide.
We started our trip with a quick ride to the airport courtesy of Execuar Express Shuttle Service. Super Shuttle offers a range of choices to get you to and from the airport. The basic Super Shuttle is the least expensive, but it makes more stops, making it a longer ride. The XPRESS (which is what we use) is acomfortable mini-van, which makes a maximum of two stops, which works great for us, since Lawrence and I travel together. If you prefer private transportation, Limousine and Town Car services are also available.
We were picked up in the Hollywood Hills and arrived at the airport in plenty of time for our one-hour flight from Los Angeles to Reno on Southwest Airlines. We got our boarding passes through the self-service computer check-in, boarded the plane and were up, up, and away to the fresh snow waiting for us in Tahoe. Here’s the best part, for about the same time it takes to fly to Mammoth Mountain, you can be in Lake Tahoe with a choice of over 14 downhill ski resorts and 10 cross-country areas. Continue reading below for a review of our suggested North Shore itinerary or click here to view ourwrite-up on a fun-filled South Shore itinerary.
We only had a short time to experience as much as we could, but were still able to ski an amazing six mountains in five days. I divided our trip into two articles, covering both Lake Tahoe’s North and South Shores. We began our Tahoe adventure on the North Shore, so I’ll start there. We caught the non-stop from LA to Reno, where we picked up our rental car (four wheel drive actually) and made the quick25 minute drive to Mt. Rose. The great thing about Mt. Rose is the close proximity to Reno, “The Biggest Little City in the World” and the local airport. We flew in around noon and still had the whole afternoon for plenty of runs on our first travel day. Unlike other ski destinations where you lose a day flying in and out, Mt. Rose allows you to ski or board both travel days allowing you more time on the slopes. There are even incredible hotel and lift ticket packages in Reno where you practically get a free lift ticket. The skiing and boarding at Mt. Rose is amazing with over 1,200 acres of terrain and 60+ trails, including the challenging Chutes.
I highly recommend Mt. Rose for either your first or last day, or both. To learn more, visit www.skirose.com. After a great afternoon of skiing, we left Mt. Rose and headed to the legendary North Shore of Lake Tahoe and our next destination, the Hyatt Regency Lake Tahoe Resort Casino and Spa. Nestled within the Sierra Mountain Range, this alpine paradise is a AAA Four Diamond Lake Tahoe hotel in a luxury lakeside setting. We stayed in one of the Hyatt’s private twobedroom cottages righton the lake. These individual units are great for families or couples that want more of an intimate experience, complete with a full kitchen, living room with a fireplace, large flat screen TV and separate dining area. There is also a large outdoor patio with a table and chairs to relax as the sun sets over the mountains on the lakeshore.
For those who opt to stay at the hotel, the Hyatt Resort’s rooms are large and comfortable withluxurious amenities and services. Experience
an incomparable mountain escape at the newly renovated Hyatt in North Lake Tahoe. To make your reservation visit the website atwww.laketahoe.hyatt.com After checking in, and getting settled, we met up with Daniel Pistoresi for dinner, a great guy who gave us the low-down on the area and local activities. Here's the Splash Magazine Worldwide tip-ofthe-day, the easiest way to plan your trip to Tahoe is to go towww.skilaketahoe.com the best online portal for getting information and booking your ski vacation,including real-time weather reports, resort profiles and deals on lift tickets and lodging.
We dined at the elegant and upscale restaurant the Lone Eagle Grille, located right on the shore of beautiful Lake Tahoe and right across the street from The Hyatt. Although the restaurant boasts anamazing affordable menu and wine list, the atmosphere is surprisingly cozy and relaxed, with fireplacesin almost every room. The Lone Eagle Grille just finished a $1.3 million transformation providing the guests with exclusive lakeside dining and world class cuisine prepared to perfection by chef de Cuisine, Rick Koplay. Renovations include a refreshed lounge, open-concept show kitchen, wine wallfeaturing more than 600 bottles of wine with an all-new menu concept. We had a marvelous dining experience which was the perfect ending to our first day in Lake Tahoe.
We enjoyed our first full day of skiing at Squaw Valley Ski Resort, which averages 450 inches ofpristine snowfall every winter. With 3600 skiable acres spread across six peaks, they’ve got terrain for everyone from beginners to Olympians, which isn’t surprising considering Squaw Valley, was the site of the 1960 Winter Olympics. The Resort has miles of groomed trails, wide-open bowls, expansivebeginner areas, world-renowned steeps, and manicured terrain parks and pipes. Squaw Valley also offers one of the most technologically advanced lift systems in North America, with 30 lifts and 170 + trails, which means you’ll spend less time waiting in lift lines and more time exploring.
Lawrence had a private lesson, while I paired up with Squaw Valley's PR Manager Amelia Richmondwho gave me a great tour of the mountain. We skied Squaw Valley in the morning and moved over toAlpine Meadows for the rest of the day. Alpine Meadows
was founded in 1961 by a group of avid skiersfrom San Francisco who discovered its potential while skiing at neighboring Squaw Valley. A number offamilies pooled resources to develop the resort and John Reily originally founded Alpine Meadows asWard Peak. Alpine Meadows opened for the 1961-1962 season with just three lifts. JMA Venturespurchased Alpine Meadows from Powder Corporation in July 2007 and operated the resort until theSquaw Valley and Alpine Meadows joined forces in November 2011. What’s great about the new partnership with Squaw Valley and Alpine Meadows is the inter-changeable lift ticket option. If you decide that you want to try another mountain, simply jump on thefree shuttle bus, the Squaw/Alpine Express that runs every 20 minutes from 8:30 in the morning to4:30 in the afternoon. Since Lawrence and I weren’t in town long enough to ski full days at every mountain, we enjoyed the variety of Squaw Valley in the morning and Alpine Meadows in theafternoon with both mountains offering their own separate terrain and challenges.
As I mentioned, Squaw Valley is a previous Olympic site, while Alpine Meadows has more of a country feel with beautiful trees, woods and backcountry type runs. Alpine’s Base elevation is at 6,385 feetrising up to the Summit at 8,637 feet with an 1,802 foot Vertical rise. Alpine has partnered with Snow Park technologies to give skiers and riders an enhanced park experience. This season, they boastTahoe's only mile-long terrain park. When you’re done shredding, you can take a break and soak up the sun and views on Alpine’s expansive sundeck facing the mountain, and watch as skiers and ridersdescend down the slopes.
If you bring the kids along, they can enjoy Alpine’s Kid Zone located adjacent to the main dining area of the lodge. The Kid Zone hosts an Indoor Play Area, complete with games and indoor jungle gyms forsmall children, and a dining area for a relaxing lunch or après-ski spot. I highly recommend skiing both North and South Lake Tahoe, but if you have limited time, Squaw Valley and Alpine Meadows are a great value, giving you two mountains for the price of one.
The next day, we were up bright and early, checked out of the Hyatt and made the drive to Northstar-at-Tahoe for our first full day on the slopes. A winter sport enthusiast’s paradise, Northstar offers 93 ski trails spread across 3,000 acres, award-
winning terrain parks, and snow sports including alpine, telemark and cross-country skiing, snowboarding, snowshoeing and tubing at one of the finest year-round mountain resorts in North America. From a self-titled "Timber Farm" to one of the finest mountain resorts in North America, the story ofNorthstar California began nearly 40 years ago in the historic lumber town of Truckee, California whose winter sport traditions date back to the 1890's. Northstar-atTahoe is now a destination resortattracting hundreds of thousands of ski/snowboarders each year. Northstar is proud to be called home to the largest snowmaking system on the north shore of Lake Tahoe, with one of the nation's top ski/snowboard terrain parks. After a great morning of skiing, we had lunch with Northstar Communications Coordinater and mountain guide Brooke Rose at the Zephyr Lodge. Tip of the day, order the grilled gruyere cheese andbrisket sandwich on sourdough along with the fresh-cut apple fries and homemade vanilla whipped cream. Yummy.
The Northstar-at-Tahoe Resort is now host to a new base area village featuring 35 unique shops andrestaurants, a conference center, 9,000 square foot skating rink, on-site lodging, special events and more.
Every Spring, North Lake Tahoe comes alive with Snowfest, 10 fun-filled days and nights, jam-packed with events and activities for all ages. On and off the mountain, at North Tahoe’s numerous resorts andvibrant lakeside neighborhoods, there’s something for everyone. This year’s event will take placeMarch 1st -10th.
Enjoy on-snow events at Squaw Valley, Alpine Meadows, and Northstar. Participate in special events, parades, races, parties, concerts, theater; and of course, there’s plenty of wining and dining to be had at North Lake Tahoe’s fine restaurants and lively establishments. There’s no better time to be in North Lake Tahoe than in the Spring where
the snow conditions are some of the best of the season with plenty of snow and beautiful blue skies. Following another great day of skiing with perfect spring conditions, we made the drive fromNorthstar to our next location, The Village at Squaw Valley condominiums. The luxurious condominium suites range from 523 to 1,786 square feet with a full bathroom for every bedroom in the condominium suite, gas fireplace with slate hearth, fully equipped gourmet kitchens, private balconies, casually sophisticated decor and even heated slate tile in the kitchen and bathrooms. The condominiums come equipped with complete fitness facilities including two Whirlpool spas anddry saunas and the full service Trilogy Day Spa. There is an on-site entertainment media room with big screen television and game consoles, a billiards lounge and even a game room for the kids. SinceThe Village at Squaw Valley is at the base of the mountain, you can literally walk from your room, rightto the slopes. Convenient ski and sports lockers are also available with complimentary, heated underground parking The Village is designed with stone walkways which flow through the center of a Europeanstyle villagewith an array of shops, boutiques, restaurants, cafes and entertainment venues. Sumptuous dining for any atmosphere, from sushi and short ribs to bagels and smoothies. Quaint specialty shops offer something for everyone, sports clothing and equipment, bath and beauty products, a variety of original gifts and even something for your pet. There are even sundry shops to find those little necessities you may have left behind. We checked-in, got settled and then met Jenny Kendrick (Alpine Meadows PR Manager) for dinner atPlumpjack in Tahoe's premier fine
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dine
there
almost weekly. Twenty-Two Bistro & Bar has a broad wine list, custom cocktails, and beer on-tap with smaller social plates and substantial entrees. The New American menufeatures items like a signature Kobe beef burger and ahi tuna. Lawrence started with the Dragonfly Soup Thai Noodle Soup with grilled prawns, udon noodles, green thai curry broth and cilantro pesto. I started with the 22 house salad with seasonal
mixed
greens,gorgonzola
cheese,
candied
walnuts, marinated
red
onions and basil-balsamic vinaigrette. For our main course, I had the Durham Ranch Bison meatloaf served with roasted garlic mashed potatoes, snow peas, bacon gremolata and crispy potatao skins and Lawrence had the Tower 16 Tuna.
have to tell you, I'm a meatloaf lover and Twenty-Two's Bison meatloaf was by far the best I've ever tasted. The service was superb, and the food was exceptional thanks to chef Billie McCullough who's also the co-president of the local chapter of the slow-food movement and owner of his own restaurantDragonfly in Truckee. 22 Bistro utilizes organic seasonal fruits and vegetables so that it's as fresh as possible and at the same time, supporting the local california growers. Thanks Alex, for a wonderful dining experience and making us feel right at home. Now we want to come back to the Village at Squaw Valley and Lake Tahoe all the more. The next time you're at Squaw Valley, stop in at Twenty-Two Bistro for lunch, or dinner or just
an apres ski drink and tell Alex hello from Lawrence, Jeff and Splash Magazine Worldwide. Make your reservations today. Go towww.22bistro.com
North Lake Tahoe offers something for everyone. Browse through their outstanding selection of activities, lodging (including hotels), vacation rentals and ski resorts. The Lake Tahoe vacation you've always dreamed about is waiting for you on the north shore. Skiing and riding in North Lake Tahoeoffers a diverse selection of downhill and cross country skiing, snowmobiling, ice skating, snowshoeing and more.
ou can choose from a wide range of ski vacations to meet your exact needs. Lake Tahoe ski facilitiesare world drops and
renowned with
long, winding
many new and renovated
trails. Miles of terrain and endless
amenities,
steep vertical
views of
snow-flocked
pines, Sierra peaks and one very blue lakemake the area a destination of choice for any winter activities. So what are you waiting for? The mountains, snow, casino’s and nightlife are waiting for you right now! To make reservations or for more information, visit the website at www.skilaketahoe.com andcheck out my article on South Lake Tahoe.
SnowFest! 2015 to feature 40 events in 34th year; the fun starts Thursday February 23, 2015
TAHOE CITY, Calif. — For 34 years, the first week of March has meant SnowFest! for North Lake Tahoe and Truckee. SnowFest! means fireworks and skiers parading to the bottom of Squaw Valley while holding torchlights. It means swimmers attempting to swim faster then any of the other fools in the icy cold water at Gar Woods. And, of course, it means hundreds of viewers cheering their friends and family marching in our charming Tahoe City and Kings Beach parades. It’s 10 days packed with dozens of events designed to give folks a chance to have some fun and connect with friends. BOB EVERSON’S VISION SnowFest! began in the mind of Bob Everson, who in 1981 was marketing director at Alpine Meadows. He made a proposal to the North Tahoe Chamber of Commerce and Visitors and Convention Bureau for a March event to attract people to North Lake Tahoe. In those days, the ski areas were busy from Christmas through the end of February, but then traffic began to drop off, even though in most cases the snow depth hadn’t yet reached its peak. Everson knew that if you could just entice people up here, they would discover the skiing is usually awesome in March. A group of locals including Everson met for the first time to discuss the idea in June 1981, and 10 days later, Everson tragically died.
As he slept on his boat attached to a buoy on that Fourth of July night, a boat plowed right through his vessel. At its next meeting, just a few days after Everson’s death, the group was spurred to make the event happen in his honor, and the first SnowFest! was held in 1982. Since, SnowFest! has become an important part of the Lake Tahoe lifestyle. CREATING MEMORIES SnowFest! has always been about a variety of events to satisfy a wide range of folks, whether they want to party like it’s 1999, join in a competition, or just enjoy being part of something exotic such as the Gar Woods Polar Bear Swim. You can also find lots of good food, and you can dress up Hawaiian and head for the Sunnyside Luau, where you will find delicious aloha concoctions, a hula pie eating contest and Hula Hoop contest. You can find stick-to-your-ribs fare at the Bridgetender’s Rib Fest. Or for seafood, you can head to the Za’s Clam Bake. SnowFest! also specializes in the quirky. Like any winter festival should have, there is a Snow Sculpting Contest, but SnowFest! also has a Snow-making contest, a Dress Up your Dog Contest, Paint the Bear Contest, Dog Pull, and that ever-popular Ice Cream Eating Contest. Oh yeah, and don’t forget the Polar Bear swim. There really is something for everyone. But for those of us who have been around for years, what SnowFest! is really all about is a gathering of community and the creation of new SnowFest! memories. It’s a time to hang with your Tahoe buds and be reminded of the wonderful place we live. It’s a chance for generations to join together to have fun. And, since it’s been around for 34 years, it’s a chance for the children of young parents to experience what their parents experienced as children. ‘CRAZY, COMPETITIVE FUN ENVIRONMENT’ If you grew up in North Tahoe, SnowFest! is in your blood, long after you left town for college and life in the big city. My 22-year-old daughter, Hannah Hauserman, who now lives in Los Angeles, remembers as a small child, “catching the candy and watching the Queen” at the Tahoe City parade.
She remembers “the guys with the shovels” (The Kiwanis’ synchronized snow-shoveling team that will appear again this year) and “hiding every time the scary guys with black paint came close.” Those scary guys were the Vulcans from the St. Paul Winter Carnival, who would come to the event sharing good cheer and a healthy dose of black paint, which they reserved for the faces of females of all ages. “I also walked in the parade a few times as a Girl Scout,” Hannah says. “We felt a little famous in our small town.” While Casey Canino, who now lives in New York, also remembers how important it was to avoid those guys with the black paint, what she remembers most was the Ice Cream Eating contest. “I don’t think I’ve ever been in a more crazy, competitive, fun environment then when those hilarious parents were egging their kids on to eat so much ice cream,” Casey says. One of the biggest ice cream eaters was one of Casey’s classmates at Tahoe Community Nursery School, now-25-year-old Eric Holman, who says, “I will never forget the elated feeling of hoisting the hard-earned first place plaque held between still sticky fingers, even though I had a wicked brain freeze.” THE VULCAN CREWE So who are those guys with the black paint who those Tahoe girls remember so well from their childhood? They are members of the St. Paul Winter Carnival Krewe, and this year the seven of them will be the grand marshalls of SnowFest!. The Krewe — or Vulcans to many of us — are a group of guys from Minnesota who have traveled for 30 years to be a lively and fun … and a memorable part of the parades and events during SnowFest!. For the Vulcan named Sparky, also known as Steve Frattalone, this will be his 23rd year coming out to Tahoe to be a part of SnowFest!. “The community of North Lake Tahoe are very, very dear friends,” he says. “We love to help them celebrate SnowFest!, and we are so glad when we see the people there.” Every year the Vulcans travel at their own expense, paying hefty sums for airfare, lodging and the cost of attending every event they can stuff into their busy schedule.
But for them, it is money well spent, because they are invested in North Lake Tahoe. How did they start coming here in the first place? Frattalone blames it on current SnowFest! Executive Director Ruth Schnabel. When she was a child, Schnabel loved attending the St. Paul Winter Carnival, the home base of the Vulcans. As SnowFest! director in 1985, she was attending an International Event Festival in Milwaukee and met a Vulcan, who she convinced needed to come out to SnowFest! with some of his Vulcan buddies. Thirty years later, they are still at it, including one of the originals, Bob Matson, who has been coming to North Tahoe each of the last 30 years. Every few years, the Vulcans bring along a rookie, whose indoctrination ceremony is swimming in the famous Gar Woods Polar Bear Swim. Of course, to a true Minnesotan, that’s like taking a dip in the warm waters of the tropics. ‘IT’S GOING TO BE FUN’ Schnabel has been the Director of SnowFest! off and on for 19 of its 34 years. Every year the SnowFest! Queen candidates are interviewed by SnowFest!, and she says that one question always asked of the girls is: What is their favorite SnowFest! memory? Schnabel says that invariably they answer the parade and the Ice Cream Eating contest. But the girls running for SnowFest! Queen also vividly remember the moment they decided they wanted to be SnowFest! Queen. For most, it was when as little girls they looked up at the Queen wearing a tiara smiling and waving at them as she rode by in the parade. And, while SnowFest! certainly brings fun times and great memories, Schnabel says it also brings money to our community. SnowFest! commissioned an economic impact study of the event in 2010, organized by Washington-based survey firm Birchhill Enterprises, and carried out by students at Sierra Nevada College. More than 500 people and businesses were interviewed, and it was determined the impact of SnowFest! on the economy that year was nearly $3.5 million.
“I’m excited about SnowFest! this year because I feel like the community is in the doldrums after the winter we’ve had,” Schnabel says. “Not only will SnowFest! bring out-of-town visitors to the area, but it will give locals a chance to celebrate life at Tahoe. It’s going to be fun.” Tim Hauserman, a nearly lifelong resident of Tahoe City, is a freelance author and crosscountry ski instructor. He may be reached atwriteonrex@yahoo.com.
Escapes: Hear music rooted in tradition in the Bay Area February 22, 2015
North Lake Tahoe SnowFest February 21, 2015 There is a great winter event going on just up the mountain from Reno – the North Lake Tahoe Snowfest. The 2015 Snowfest takes place February 27 through March 8 at various venues. Some of these are Squaw Valley, Alpine Meadows, Homewood, Diamond Peak, Northstar California, Incline Village, and Truckee. The North Lake Tahoe Snowfest is a a family-friendly event with something for all ages. Come up and enjoy parades, races, parties, concerts, theater, dog and pet events, wining and dining, and more. Check out the SnowFest! Events calendar for all the details.
Best Spring Break 2015 Destinations Near Los Angeles For Families February 21, 2015
As the third largest state by area and nearly 160,000+ square miles of land, California has the widest array of spring break destinations you can imagine. For fun in the sun, head south of Los Angeles, but, if you’re looking for some fun in the snow as the winter season draws to a close, head north of Los Angeles. Whichever direction you decide, these spring break destinations will be sure to deliver family fun and memories you’ll treasure for years to come. … Lake Tahoe 3066 Lake Tahoe Blvd. South Lake Tahoe, CA 96150 (530) 541-5255 www.visitinglaketahoe.com Within a seven-hour drive of Los Angeles where California meets Nevada, you also have the picturesque setting of Lake Tahoe as an ideal spring break destination for your family. The lake itself is surrounded by dense forest and offers up a little something for everyone from water sports and hiking to mountain biking, horseback riding and more.
In early spring, you can even catch the tail end of the snow season with skiing and snowboarding at one of largest ski slopes in the country. With tons of attractions to keep you busy all day and night, no one in your family should have a reason to be bored. Hit up North Lake Tahoe for a relaxing spring break or South Lake Tahoe for a more lively spring break. Visit the website for great deals on your choice of recreational activities and your choice of accommodations.
‌ http://losangeles.cbslocal.com/top-lists/best-spring-break-2015-destinations-near-los-angeles-for-families/
10Best Things to Do at Kings Beach on Tahoe's North Shore February 20, 2015
Kings Beach is a good central location to access the area's restaurants, coffee shops, hotels and beaches. The community of Kings Beach is named after the beach and park at the tip of the North Shore. This popular beach is great for children and has its own parking lot and playground. The main road has just received a traffic calming and art makeover and the sidewalks are very walkable. Right from the beach you can book your parasailing or kayaking tours here with North Shore Parasail, Lake Tahoe Watersports/Parasail Tahoe and Tahoe Paddle and Oar. If you want something more relaxed, head to the Old Brockway Golf Course for a few rounds of golf in paradise or go for a sail on the Wild Goose II classic wooden boat. If you want another boat tour, the Tahoe Gal leaves from nearby Tahoe City which is just a quick drive from Kings Beach. The northern communities of Incline Village and Truckee are also a short drive from the town. If you are in town for a few days and want a family-friendly tour, check out the Lake Tahoe Adventure Company. You can take a SUP, kayak, hiking, cross country ski or snowshoe tour any time of the year. For a wintertime adrenaline rush, head to Tahoe Snowmobile Tours for some birds-eye views of the lake from on top of a mountain.
10 Adrift Tahoe This friendly and laid back rental store in Kings Beach rents and offers lessons on tandup paddleboarding, kayaking, and surfing on Lake Tahoe's beautiful North Shore. They have Standup Paddleboards for rent and sale, along with all the accessories and clothing you need to for a fun day at the beach. In wintertime, rent your skis or snowboard equipment from this shop that is dedicated to making your winter vacation easy and fun. Call ahead the evening before and your gear will be ready for you the next morning. Hourly rates for paddleboards are about $20 per hour and the first hour of lessons is free with a rental. Snowboard and ski rentals are also $20 a day and your fourth day is free. ((888) 676-7702)
9 Lake Tahoe Snowmobiling Tours Lake Tahoe Snowmobile Tours provides winter tours in the North Lake Tahoe area and can accommodate all abilities and ages. They tour over 100 miles of trails in the local National Forest and feature the largest fleet of newer snowmobiles on the North Shore. They also rent warm clothing in case you forgot your hat and gloves. They offer several tours including the Group Summit Adventure which is 2 hours and costs $140 for one rider and $170 for two riders. This tour leaves 2 times daily. Their Private Summit and Ultimate Adventures are between $200 and $320 and the Ultimate Half-Day includes lunch at the Northstar resort. ((530) 546-4280)
8 Full Throttle Tahoe Full Throttle Tahoe in Kings Beach on the North Shore of Lake Tahoe offers both winter and summer gear rentals and lessons for snowmobiling, wakesurfing, parasailing, wakeboarding and waterskiing. They also offer private boat charters and self-guided snowmobile tours of the Tahoe back country. The shop also offers an off-road Polaris RZR OHV rental to go explore the Lake Tahoe mountains. Each of Full Throttle Tahoe's guides and instructors are fully trained and very intimate with the Tahoe back country, the deep snow and the waters of the lake and will show you the best techniques and places to go. (530.546.3111, 530.546.8774)
7 Old Brockway Golf Course The Old Brockway Golf Course in Kings Beach is one of the most beautiful and affordable places to play golf in Lake Tahoe. The course meanders through Jeffery pines on the way down to the shoreline and has some great mountain views. The course has over 3400 yards of golfing area including two par 5 holes. The course was built by Harry Comstock and designed by
renowned Scottish architect, John Duncan Dunn and is the first 9-hole golf course in the country to become an Audubon cooperative sanctuary. The course is family-run and applies organic management practices. Nine holes of golf will run you about $40 and 18 holes costs about $70. (530-546-9909)
6 North Shore Parasail One of the most fantastic views of Lake Tahoe is from the seat of a parasail. North Shore Parasail is the original parasailing company on the lake, so you'll certainly be working with experts. Their tours will take you hundreds of feet above the lake and you can get views of the blue water below as well as the shoreline and the beautiful homes along the mountain ridges. You can choose from several different parasail heights as well as pickup and drop-off service from your hotel. There is also free parking at Tahoe Paddle & Oar. The cost is $50 per person for a 600'flight, $60 per person 900', flight $70 per person 1400'flight. (1-530-546-7698)
5 North Tahoe Watersports/Parasail Tahoe North Tahoe Watersports/Parasail Tahoe has two locations on the North Shore, but most of their water sport rentals take place at the Kings Beach location. North Shore Watersports Offers parasailing, private lake tours, personal watercraft rentals and a complete line of non-motorized rentals like kayaks and paddle boats. Personal watercraft can be rented for $70 for half and hour and $100 for one hour. The prices include fuel. Paddleboards rent for $25 an hour and Aqua Cycle Trikes and Peddle Boats are also $25 an hour. You can also rent single kayaks for $20 an hour and even a Hobie Cat sailboat for $50 an hour. (530-583-7245)
4 Wild Goose II Boat Charters The Wild Goose II is a 36-foot Grand Craft commuter built in the style and quality of the original wooden boat era. The company offers several cruises and private charter options around Lake Tahoe. The Wild Goose II is U.S. Coast Guard certified, and can comfortably accommodate up to 12 passengers. The Goose offers seating both inside and out, she even has a heated cabin for those chilly Tahoe evenings. Several tours are offered including an hourly charter during the week, lunch cruises, cocktail and sunset cruises and picnic cruises. They even offer a West Shore Cafe Dinner Cruise for $145 and a Mimosa and Pastry Cruise in the mornings for $80. The hourly charters include snacks and beverages, the cocktail cruises and sunset cruises are $65 for adults and $55 for children and the Sunnyside Lunch Cruise is $95 for adults and $85 for children. (530.412.4064)
3 Lake Tahoe Adventure Company The Lake Tahoe Adventure Company is one of the popular and well-run tour companies in Lake Tahoe. The company leads high quality adventure travel trips and tours with a focus on the natural beauty of the mountains, lakes, trails and rivers of the Tahoe area. With the TAC you can take several kayak tours including a lakeside lunch tour, a North Shore tour or Sand Harbor tour. Their Sunset Friday kayak tours and Thunderbird Lodge kayak tours are truly unique. Each tour includes a kayak, paddle, professional guide, instruction, natural and historical discussions, permits, fees, snacks and beverages. Additional tours include mountain bike tours on the Flume Trail and other single tracks around the area, hiking and peak tours, rock climbing, backpacking and historical tours. You can even create your own custom adventure that includes full moon or star tours, family adventures or corporate trips. TAC also specialized in SUP (stand-up paddle boarding) and rents the boards for $80 a day. They also offer SUP yoga on the lake for $40 per person. ((866) 830-6125, (530) 913-9212)
2 Kings Beach State Recreation Area Although it's open year-round, this park really comes into its own when the weather turns warm. At that point, its 700 feet of lakeshore are inundated by sun worshippers, who lounge on the beach, splash in the water, tool around the lake, and engage in sports on the shore. Kids can take advantage of playground equipment, and families and groups relish the opportunity to spend time together laughing, eating, and basking in the beauty of the lake. Kings Beach is a great spot to go on a parasail ride or rent a kayak or paddleboard. Several companies have huts on the beach where you can book a day trip. There are a ton of restaurants and bars near the beach as well as a small theater and many hotels and lodges to choose from. (530-546-4212, 530-546-3265)
1 Tahoe Paddle & Oar Tahoe Paddle & Oar is located in Kings Beach on the North Shore of Lake Tahoe. They offer top-end canoe, kayak and paddleboard rentals, instruction, guided kayak tours and a full service paddlesport retail store. They also specialize in team building activities for small groups and large corporate events. Tahoe Paddle & Oar offers guided kayak tours May through October, weather permitting. No experience is necessary and beginner and advanced participants are welcome. The most popular trip is into Crystal Bay, which features natural hot springs and gigantic boulder mazes along the California and Nevada borders. This four mile round trip usually takes two and a half hours. TAHOE PADDLE & OAR offers a fun and practical on-water approach to learning and improving your paddling technique. Kayak lessons are available to individuals or group instruction is available. PRE-REGISTRATION is required for all classes. A maximum of six participants per session. All equipment is provided. Personal boats may be used. All boats need to be clean before entering the swimming pool. Swimming ability is necessary for all river paddling instruction. (530) 581-3029)
Skiing Tahoe with kids February 19, 2015
Above: Sometimes Penguin Pete joins kids at lessons at Diamond Peak.
“French fry! Pizza! French fry! Pizzapizzapizza stop!” Peppy ski instructors cheerfully shout at a disjointed mass of what appear to be slowmoving, warmly bundled helmets on skis. Kids as young as 3 years are barely visible inside their oversize parkas and boots, but gamely try to steer their skis in the prescribed parallel “French fry” shape for speed, or the triangular “pizza-slice” shape for stopping. All across the mountain resorts of Lake Tahoe, families are bringing their kids to the slopes, hoping to encourage a new generation to take up the sport, or at minimum to
enjoy a winter weekend in the mountains. To make either of the goals work, there are some essential strategies to enjoy a skiing weekend with the family at Lake Tahoe. (Note: Tahoe Donner Resort is currently closed, but that could change with a couple of good snows.) Ease into it Skiing is a sport where it’s great to learn when you’re still small — not as much fear, and a shorter distance to fall. But it’s also a good idea to start the small ones in a small way: with shorter lessons, on rented gear, on smaller slopes. While some parents have visions of their kids training for the 2030 Winter Olympics, it’s better to ease into the sport. “For first-timers, we recommend a half day, or even just a one- to two-hour lesson,” says the director of Diamond Peak’s ski school. “And be sure not to forget the hot chocolate breaks.” A smaller mountain may be the place to go for the whole family as well. If you’re going to be spending even part of your day skiing with beginners, it makes sense (and dollars) to choose one of Tahoe’s smaller resorts. Diamond Peak and Tahoe Donner Downhill both offer a full range of kids’ lessons — and the lift tickets can be half the price or less than those at the larger resorts (and the lessons are cheaper as well). Most Tahoe resorts now have segregated learning terrain for beginners, with “magic carpet” conveyor belts that gently transport kids up the slope—removing the stress of handling a ski lift or a tow rope. Squaw Valley even has a group of cool “bubble tunnels” protecting carpet riders from wind and cold. For even more fun, Sierra-at-Tahoe has partnered with Burton Snowboards to create a “Star Wars”-themed training park for kids ages 3 to 12, using specialized snowboards and props, with instruction focused on helping them to better manage gravity and balance. Keeping at it
While it’s tempting to save money and skip the lessons beyond an introductory class, to keep the kids progressing, there’s real value in sticking with the instruction. Even Olympic gold medalist (and Squaw Valley ski ambassador) Jonny Moseley agrees. “I’m pretty good at skiing, but I’m not the guy to teach my own kid,” he said. “I hand him off to the real pro teachers.” And there’s the added bonus of keeping your kids in lessons: You can spend the day enjoying the mountain on your own. But how can you keep kids excited about all-day ski lessons when they have the attention span of hummingbirds? The first step is gearing up right. Jack Pippin, the senior manager of the ski school at Heavenly Mountain Resort, said you need to ensure that the kids are dressed warmly and have boots that fit right, but aren’t so over-bundled that they can’t move. Heavenly’s ski school can even supplement with extra gear. Then he said the secret is to “have fun with the kids — don’t even let them know they’re getting taught a lesson. If they start to drag, we stop everything to build a snow castle or have a snowball fight.” It’s even a good idea to completely take a break from skiing while up in Tahoe and try an alternate family activity. Squaw, Heavenly and Northstar all have skating rinks and snow inner-tube rides, while Tahoe Donner offers a “Snowplay” sledding area near its mountain. Back on the slopes, once the kids get hooked on the sport, returning for more weekends can be made easier with season-long equipment rentals — no need to stand in daily lines or to buy new gear as the kids grow. Tahoe Dave’s four locations around North Lake Tahoe are among those providing seasonal rental plans. Once the kids are equipped, trained and excited, they can join one of the weekend ski teams at the resorts or even enter a friendly kids’ competition like the Groovers Challenge at Heavenly this March.
Maybe those 2030 Olympics are looking possible after all. Bill Fink is a freelance writer in San Mateo. E-mail: travel@sfchronicle.com Twitter: @finktravels If you go WHERE TO STAY Resort at Squaw Creek: 400 Squaw Creek Road, Olympic Valley; (800) 3273553;www.squawcreek.com. Direct lift access to Squaw Valley right outside the hotel makes this a fine choice for skiing families. The hotel also has family-friendly features like heated swimming pools, a private ice rink and a sledding hill. Their “Mountain Buddies” program runs daylong activities for kids 4-12. Rates start at about $250 per night. Ridge Tahoe Resort: 400 Ridge Club Drive, Stateline, Nev.; (775) 5583553;www.ridgetahoeresort.com. A large resort complex hidden in the hills above South Lake Tahoe, Ridge Resorts has a private monorail that brings skiers direct to Heavenly’s lifts and offers free shuttles into town and a Kids Club/day care center at the resort, along with movie theater, video arcade and indoor basketball court. Rates start at $89 a night, $300 for a two-bedroom suite with kitchen. WHERE TO EAT Burger Me: 10418 Donner Pass Road, Truckee 96161; (530) 5878852; www.realfreshburger.com. In a family-friendly diner setting, Burger Me has huge, tasty sandwiches and burgers, including the Train Wreck, which comes topped with onion ring, chili, cheese and a fried egg. Burgers $6.50-$10.95. Base Camp Pizza: 1001 Heavenly Village Way, South Lake Tahoe; (530) 5442273;www.basecamppizzaco.com. Gourmet pizza in a festive setting, with live music nightly, and sometimes even a balloon animal guy. Medium pizzas for $19. WHAT TO DO
Squaw Valley: 1960 Squaw Valley Road, Olympic Valley; (800) 4030206; www.squawalpine.com.Daily lift ticket $119; $68 for kids ages 5-12. Full-day kids’ group lesson (including lift ticket and lunch) for $164; $199 with rental gear. Heavenly Mountain Resort: 4080 Lake Tahoe Blvd, South Lake Tahoe; (800) 4328365;www.skiheavenly.com. Daily lift ticket $119; $62 for kids ages 5-12. Full day kids’ group lessons begin at $185 (including lift ticket); $209 with rental gear. Also has onmountain child care facility for as young as 6 weeks old ($140/day), as well as onmountain inner tubing and ice skating in the base village. Diamond Peak: 1210 Ski Way, Incline Village, Nev.; (775) 8328365; www.diamondpeak.com. Daily lift ticket $64, kids 7-12 for $24, 6 and under ski for free. Full-day lessons begin at $150, including lift ticket, lunch and gear. Tahoe Donner Downhill: 11603 Snowpeak Way, Truckee; (530) 5879444; www.tahoedonner.com.Daily lift ticket $47; kids 7-12 $22, 6 and under ski for free. Full-day lessons are $124, including rentals, lift ticket and lunch. A nearby “Snowplay” area has sledding and a field for snow forts & snowballs ($18 adults, $10 for kids) Tahoe Dave’s Ski Rental: Four locations in North Lake Tahoe; (800) 3988915;www.tahoedaves.com. Season-long children’s rental package of skis, boots and poles begins at $124.
Reno Tahoe USA Newsletter February 19, 2015
2/26/2015
National Post ePaper Calgary Herald 14 Feb 2015 Page #64
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National Post ePaper Calgary Herald 14 Feb 2015 Page #64
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Still time to participate in Polar Bear Swim February 13, 2015 Hundreds of people are expected to line the pier and deck at Gar Woods Grill & Pier on Feb. 28 to watch the annual Polar Bear Swim. The event is part of the annual North Lake Tahoe SnowFest. Participants swim approximately 250 yards in 39-degree water. Hot Tubs, complimentary appetizers and raffle prizes have been donated. The swim is after the parade.
Oh, Hello Mountain Snow: There You Are Stow those shorts, flakes fans; February is acting February-ish, finally. February 10, 2015
FEBRUARY BRINGS THE FLAKES: Well, phew. We were starting to think that we'd have to resort to the cutting of paper snowflakes, the kind that attach to each other, if the clouds above didn't start delivering. At least delivering in the mountains, which are still open for mitten-up, scarf-on, knitted-hat-onyour-noggin business. (It is the middle of winter, after all.) And we're not knocking paper snowflakes -- they've brightened classrooms since the invention of classrooms and paper snowflakes -- but we are saying that the real stuff is most welcome around Valentine's Day Week, when we'd rather be cutting out paper hearts (also a decor brightener). Finally, the weather delivered at Mammoth Mountain, which saw a "Storm total of 12 to 24 inches of snow" over the weekend. Thank you, atmospheric river, for rivering over the Sierra ahead of a three-day weekend.
THERE ARE A HOST OF HAPPENINGS... still to go, including a Feb. 21 birthday party for Woolly, the mountain's mammoth mascot. (Since mammoths lived around the late Pleistocene, we imagine that Woolly's cake may hold a few candles.) Electric tubing, Full Moon Tours at Tamarack, and some Valentine's dinnersaround the resort are on the calendar. Also still feeling the chill... SKI SUMMIT: The mountain play place is already readying for a "four-day weekend" -- yep, beyond the three -- and there's some night skiing to do (on Friday, Saturday, and Sunday). NORTH LAKE TAHOE: For a full-scale winter party, with music, rib eats, pups, people-watching, and zany antics -- the best kind of antics -- make for the Big Lake at the end of February for the multi-day SnowFest!
Year-round North Tahoe shop local program launches February 10, 2015
TAHOE CITY, Calif. — The Business Association Chamber Collaborative and the North Lake Tahoe Chamber/CVB/Resort Association recently launched the “Show Your LoveShop Local” campaign this January. The year-round endeavor supports local businesses and the economy in North Lake Tahoe and Truckee, according to a press release, and was created on the heels of a successful Shop Local Holiday Contest that gathered $407,476 in local revenue. “The goal of the North Tahoe Truckee Shop Local branding and awareness campaign is to stimulate the local economy and promote shopping locally to help grow business volumes year round,” business officials said in a statement. “The program is designed to keep dollars in the local economy, reduce the carbon footprint of traveling to shop, protect local character, and support friends and neighbors.” Businesses that have participated in previous Shop Local programs may support the new campaign by purchasing a Shop Local business kit for $15, according to the press release. Currently, there are dozens of participating businesses across the region including those in in Tahoe City, West Shore, Kings Beach, Northstar, Squaw Valley, and Truckee. The idea was born from partnership between longtime local business owner Dave Wilderotter, of Tahoe Dave’s Skis & Boards, and his marketing manager, Lindsay Thayer, in fall 2013, modeled after a similar year-round program in Michigan. Thayer then partnered with Ginger Karl, of the North Lake Tahoe Chamber/CVB/Resort Association; Joy Doyle, of the North Tahoe Business Association; and Marianne Schneider, of Reiki Tahoe in the North Lake Tahoe-Truckee Leadership Program in the spring of 2014. There, the trio created an action plan. In the summer of 2014, the program grew legs and received funding from Placer County, Incline Community Business Association, Truckee Donner Chamber of Commerce and the Truckee Downtown Merchants Association.
The full program was developed and is now managed through the Business Association Chamber Collaborative, a collective group of area business associations and chambers. Visit ShopNorthTahoeTruckee.com for more information or a list of participating businesses.
Sierra Snow: Photos! Photos! Photos! February 10, 2015
A picture’s worth a thousand words. So this post should be worth millions. Snow dumped all over the Sierra over the weekend, and into Monday, and here’s what it looks like up there. Might not be the driest snow. Might not be the deepest snow. But it’s snow. And snow-starved California and Nevada will take that right now. For the record, resorts are reporting anywhere between one to three feet of snow, mostly on the wet side.
Storm Resurrects West Coast Skiing, But Not For All February 10, 2015 Mai Tais, anyone? Last weekend’s Pineapple Express could have spelled disaster for West Coast ski resorts already struggling with a lean snowpack. But with the surprise of high elevation temperatures dropping below freezing, some resorts racked up needed snowpack while others found rain dousing the slopes raw. Assisted by high elevation, Lake Tahoe resorts in California picked up enough snow to refresh the slopes before the holiday weekend. Boreal, Sugar Bowl, Alpine Meadows, Northstar, Sierra-at-Tahoe, Kirkwood and Heavenly accumulated between 15-20 inches of snow in the weekend storm, enough to allow for open terrain to expand. Even bigger winners were Squaw Valley and Diamond Peak with 23 inches. But Mt. Rose topped everyone on the West Coast with 30 inches of snow. Further south, Mammoth Mountain received more than a foot of new snow in the upper elevations of the resort. The new snow prompted powder-antics, with hucking cliffs and sinking into chutes. Oregon’s Mt. Bachelor benefitted from the Pineapple Express, picking up 19 inches to help fill slopes back in. “It’s nice to see the mountain covered in fresh snow again after such a dry and warm January,” said spokesperson Drew Jackson. “Mt. Bachelor is in great shape leading into President’s holiday weekend with more than 90” on the ground at mid-mountain and all chairlifts scheduled to operate.” By Monday, Feb. 9, snow changed the face of Mt. Hood. Even with a late start to the season and warmer than normal temperatures, Mt. Hood Meadows saw their January learn to ski and snowboard programs boom to be one of the best months in the resort’s history. “Certainly this winter has presented challenges, but snow coverage and conditions on the upper part of the mountain have been quite good, and the milder conditions actually helped in constructing the Vista Park, one of the longest flow parks on the West Coast,” said Dave Tragethon, executive director of public relations. In Washington and British Columbia, copious rain washed over the lower elevation slopes of ski resorts. But higher alpine bowls cooled just enough to turn the rain to snow. Whistler Blackcomb tallied up 21 inches in the alpine of both mountains. Some resorts did not fare so well in the warm, wet storm. But kudos to them for humor amid the liquid. Washington’s White Pass Ski Area snow reporter recommended, “Please think cold, leave your freezer
door open, turn on the AC, put Walkin' in a Winter Wonderland on repeat and of course, put your ski or snowboard boots on and do the snowdance to end all snowdances.” But to preserve the snowpack the slopes have, the resort closed Feb. 9-11 with plans to open back up Feb. 12 for the holiday weekend. British Columbia’s Mt. Washington decided to go full tropical for the wet weekend, declaring the appropriate attire as hula skirts, leis and Hawaiian shirts. But by Sunday, the resort opted to suspend all operations at the end of the Canadian Family Day Weekend until new snow arrives to rebuild the base. “We're now at the point where there's simply no snow left to farm or move around,” said Don Sharpe, Director of Business Operations and Marketing. Other ski resorts closed earlier in January due to thinning snowpack. In California, Mt. Shasta Ski Park, Dodge Ridge and Badger Pass have closed until storms deliver needed snow. In Oregon, lower elevation ski areas such as Hoodoo and Willamette Pass only opened for a short time in January before the meager snow pack forced closure. In Alaska, Eaglecrest also awaits snow to re-open.
SnowFest: North Lake Tahoe's Quirky Winter Fun Luaus, snow sculpting, and other high-altitude high jinks are set to go down near the big water. February 9, 2015
C'MON WINTER... you can do this. You got this. We just know, having seen it in past years, that you can deliver a whole skyful of flakes to North Tahoe ahead of Friday, Feb. 27, which is the official kick-off day for that wackily weirdly whimsicadoodle of a multi-day party, SnowFest. You know SnowFest, of course, dear winter -- you've made it quite chilly and cold and full of flakes in the years it has been around (it kicked off in '82, you'll remember). So while this season has seen its days of dearth in the whole frozen precipitation department, we're just betting you'll bring it. Because while many an outdoorfocused festival hopes for fine weather, well... SnowFest is not that festival. There are several doings that revolve around snow -- and several that don't -and some really divine drifts for the week-plus bash would be amazing. Okay,
winter, that's out of the way. Now, what will your faithful fans do once they're stationed in North Lake Tahoe, fromFeb. 27 through March 8? They'll... EAT CLAMS, BUILD SNOW SCULPTURES... join an Arctic Paddle, meet the Squaw Valley Avalanche Rescue Dogs, cheer on the Tahoe Donner Ididarun, and throw their woolly hat into the ring on a lot of different things. There are a few dozen to-dos during the week-plus SnowFest run, but many of them deal with a) food b) animals c) snow d) more cute animals e) cocktails f) entertainment and g) the enjoyment of brisk temperatures and active pursuits. If you're down with any or all of those categories, and you hold a deep Tahoe devotion (who doesn't, though?), and you have a phone line to winter and you can talk up the whole "make it snow a whole bunch" request on a lot of people's minds, SnowFest could be your bag. Think of it as the kind of small-town festival that usually takes place at the height of summer. Except it isn't summer, and the small town has a strong ski-and-water element, and it is North Lake Tahoe, one of the most delightful -- and daffiest, at least during SnowFest -- places around.
THREE-DAY STORM DUMPS ON LAKE TAHOE SKI RESORTS FEBRUARY 9, 2015
Three days of snow was happily received by Lake Tahoe ski resorts, who naturally benefited from the first snow storm in the region since late December. Most Lake Tahoe ski resorts received over a foot of new snow for skiing and snowboarding. Currently there are over 50 lifts spinning in the North Lake Tahoe region, providing access to over 230 runs.
A Mt. Rose skier enjoys a powder day. The Lake Tahoe-area ski resort received 30 inches of snow over a three-day period.
The National Weather Service predicted that additional snow accumulation was likely today (Feb. 9) until 4 p.m. For the rest of the week, highs will continue to rise and clouds will move out providing plenty of opportunities for bluebird skiing and riding days leading up to President’s Day weekend. The snow was certainly great news for Homewood ski resort, which has been closed for a while due to lack of coverage on its hill. Homewood received more than 15 inches of new snow on our upper mountain and says it will reopen Friday. Homewood terrain will include intermediate to advance runs serviced by the Old Homewood Express and the Madden Triple Chair. The Madden Triple Chair will transport skiers and riders to and from the upper mountain.
Donner Ski Ranch is another resort that is expected to reopen this week. Visit www.donnerskiranch.com/home to check on the reopening. Also reopening is Tahoe Donner ski resort. Visit www.tahoedonner.com/downhill-ski to see when the resort will be offering skiing and snowboarding again. New snow has led to terrain expansions at many resorts, including Squaw Valley, Alpine Meadows, Mt. Rose and Northstar California. Skiers and riders can enjoy a variety of terrain at all resorts.
A lone Alpine Meadows skier enjoys a powder run this weekend. Alpine is reporting 16 inches of new snow.
The winter storm brought top-to-bottom snow at Mt. Rose, with 30-44 inches falling since Friday and forecasts calling for snow to continue throughout today. The resort currently has 80 percent of its terrain open including both base area lodges, and 1,440 vertical feet of top-to-bottom skiing and snowboarding, and plans to open The Chutes – Mt. Rose’s most coveted advanced terrain – later this week. “Mt. Rose’s base elevation of 8,260 feet benefited us during this storm system and brought top-to-bottom snow all weekend long,” said Mike Pierce, director of marketing at Mt. Rose Ski Tahoe. “Guests can expect mid-winter conditions when they visit Mt. Rose, with solid base depths, and open terrain for every ability level.” Snow Report for North Lake Tahoe ski resorts. Alpine Meadows
Storm Total: 16 inches Lifts: 7 Runs: 36
Boreal Mountain Resort
Storm Total: 15 inches Lifts: 4 Runs: 23
Diamond Peak
Storm Total: 22 inches Lifts: 5 Runs: 15
Mt. Rose
Storm Total: 30 inches Lifts: 5 Runs: 40
Northstar California
Storm Total: 19 inches Lifts: 13 Runs: 70
Squaw Valley
Storm Total: 23 inches Lifts: 14 Runs: 23
Sugar Bowl
Storm Total: 18 inches Lifts: 3 Runs: 31
For more information about snow conditions in North Lake Tahoe visit, www.gotahoenorth.com. For lodging, activity and ski deals visit www.gotahoenorth.com/cooldeals.
North Tahoe-Truckee promoting shopping locally February 8, 2015 The Business Association Chamber Collaborative in conjunction with the North Lake Tahoe Chamber/CVB/Resort Association launched the Show Your Love-Shop Local this January. The year-round campaign supports local businesses and the economy in North Lake Tahoe and Truckee. It comes on the heels of a successful Shop Local Holiday Contest that gathered $407,476 in local revenue. The goal of the North Tahoe Truckee Shop Local branding and awareness campaign is to stimulate the local economy and promote shopping locally to help grow business volume yearround. The program is designed to keep dollars in the local economy, reduce the carbon footprint of traveling to shop, protect local character, and support friends and neighbors. Money spent at local businesses recirculates through wages and taxes, benefiting the economic health of the entire community. A shop local starter kit is $15, which includes a Shop Local window decal, 10 Shop Local love stickers, explanatory postcards, a plastic display holder, and a listing on the Shop North Tahoe Truckee website.
PLENTY OF BACKCOUNTRY SKIING IN NORTH LAKE TAHOE FEBRUARY 6, 2015
North Lake Tahoe is known world-wide for its ski resorts. A lesser known fact about the region outside of the ski resort boundaries is some of the most incredible backcountry skiing terrain in the nation beckons with jaw-dropping views, wilderness solitude and perfect powder. Backcountry skiing and snowboarding is booming in North Lake Tahoe as improved gear and a sense of adventure lures skiers into the many majestic North Tahoe peaks where chairlifts do not reach.
Backcountry skiing and snowboarding is booming in North Lake Tahoe as improved gear and a sense of adventure lures skiers into the many majestic North Tahoe peaks where chairlifts do not reach.
Backcountry skiers and snowboarders ascend mountains on specialized touring set-ups – alpine touring gear for skiers and splitboards for snowboarders. Skins attached to the bottom of skis or splitboards grip the snow on the uphill climb, and are removed at the summit before descending.
Backcountry skiers and snowboarders are advised to carry avalanche equipment – a beacon, shovel and probe – and know how to use them. Backcountry travelers are also advised to understand avalanche conditions and how to travel safely in avalanche terrain. For those equipped and knowledgeable enough, backcountry skiing and snowboarding offers an athletic challenge and a chance to explore a lifetime of peaks around North Tahoe. Prime backcountry spots include West Shore destinations like Jakes Peak, Hidden Peak and Rubicon Peak; Donner Summit destinations like Mt. Judah, Donner Peak and Castle Peak; and high-elevation terrain around Mt. Rose. Many North Tahoe ski resorts also offer open boundary policies were skiers and snowboarders can venture into the backcountry from the top of a chairlift at a ski resort. Sugar Bowl Resort’s open boundary policy gives access to massive backcountry terrain on Donner Summit. Alpine Meadows ski resort has challenging backcountry terrain on multiple sides of its boundaries, and Mt. Rose ski resortoffers open boundaries.
Sugar Bowl ski resort offers some good terrain for backcountry skiing and riding,
North Tahoe is also a hub of backcountry skiing shops, guiding services and education resources. Shops like Alpenglow Sports, Tahoe Sports Hub, Tahoe Mountain Sports, The Backcountry and Start Haus offer the full range of backcountry equipment. Guiding services like Alpine Skills International offer guided backcountry tours and avalanche educations classes. And resources like the Sierra Avalanche Center offer daily avalanche advisories, check their website for updates:http://www.sierraavalanchecenter.org. The Alpenglow Mountain Festival takes place from February 21 – March 1. This nine-day festival is geared toward beginner and intermediate enthusiasts, looking for an opportunity to learn about Nordic skiing, backcountry skiing and split boarding. Clinics, equipment demonstrations, presentations, film and more help open the door for people of all interests and ability levels. “We understand these sports can be intimidating to launch into, but everyone here is enthusiastic about helping aspiring adventurers bridge the gap between fear and passion,” said Brendan Madigan, owner of Alpenglow Sports and founder of the festival.
Newsletter February 5, 2015
Ski Smackdown: Does Lake Tahoe or Utah Rule the Slopes? February 4, 2015
Each week, Yahoo Travel pits rival destinations against each other to determine once and for all which is the best. This week’s opponents are two premier U.S. ski destinations: Lake Tahoe and Utah. It’s winter, and the snow is falling, lifts are running, and skiers are rushing to the slopes. But where to go for that midwinter break? Two of the biggest and best collections of major ski resorts in North America are in the Lake Tahoe area (14 around the California-Nevada border), and in Utah in the mountains surrounding Salt Lake City (11 resorts and counting). Each destination has enough skiing, snowboarding, and winter fun to last a lifetime of trips. But if you can only visit one destination this winter, here’s a
biased bunch of boastful blasts for each area, combined with a healthy dose of personal experience, providing a Utah vs. Lake Tahoe ski mountain smackdown. The Case for Ski Lake Tahoe
Winter in Lake Tahoe is truly a vision: blue water surrounded by snowtopped mountains and topped with blue skies. (Photo: Getty Images) “I thought it must surely be the fairest picture the whole earth affords,” said Mark Twain upon his first visit to Lake Tahoe, “a noble sheet of blue water lifted six thousand three hundred feet above the level of the sea and walled in by a rim of snow-clad mountain peaks that towered aloft full three thousand feet higher still!” Or, instead of Tahoe, you can visit the smogchoked urban center of Salt Lake City and its namesake toxic lake and go skiing there. Tahoe has not only the majesty of its stunningly bright blue lake but also an array of ski experiences unmatched in the world. From the deep powder and steep chutes of isolated Kirkwood Mountain to the packed evening
snowboarding jams right next to the interstate highway at Boreal; from the wholesome family fun on the gentle slopes of Tahoe Donner to casinos and go-go dancers at the South Lake Tahoe playground of Heavenly Valley Resort. Ski silently through peaceful glades at Northstar and Alpine Meadows, or call out your tricks at the “Squaw-lywood” showoff party scene at Squaw Valley. Tahoe really has something for everyone — unlike the bland sameness of Utah and its weird and oppressive alcohol laws. Genuine local ski towns of South Lake Tahoe and Truckee provide nearby food and entertainment for après ski activities, and Reno airport gives a convenient gateway to the area, with only 30-minute drives to the nearest slopes.
The Village at Squaw Valley is just one of the 14 resort options in the area. (Photo: Chris Beck/Squaw Valley) Number of resorts: Lake Tahoe has 14 resorts in the mountains surrounding its shores: Alpine Meadows, Boreal, Diamond Peak, Donner Ski Ranch, Heavenly Valley, Homewood, Kirkwood, Mt. Rose, Northstar, Sierraat-Tahoe, Squaw Valley,Soda Springs, Sugar Bowl, and Tahoe Donner Downhill.
The snow: Tahoe has plenty of powder-skiing days. Maybe not as many as Utah, but what it lacks in powder it more than makes up for with more pleasant weather — the California ski ideal of sunshine with temperature in the 30s — and less of that dry, bitter cold that Utah needs to create its trademarked license plate snow. And there’s plenty of snow to be had in Tahoe — in an average year, Kirkwood claims 600 inches (that’s 50 feet of snow).
The steep slopes of Squaw Valley are just one of many skiing options in Lake Tahoe. (Photo: Squaw Valley) The skiing: From the extreme cliff faces at Squaw Valley and Kirkwood to the wide-open, family-friendly groomed runs at Northstar and Heavenly Valley, mellow beginner runs at Donner and Soda Springs, expansive snowboard parks, tree skiing, side-country hiking terrain, wide-open bowls, and narrow chutes, Tahoe really does have every type of downhill ski terrain a person could ever hope for (and it even has an indoor ski and snowboard training center at Woodward). Visitors have the choice of less-expensive
smaller hills, like Diamond Peak and Boreal, or the 4,800-acre expanse of Heavenly Valley, where you can actually ski from California to Nevada.
Looking for something to do off the slopes? Truckee offers plenty of dining, shopping, and nightlife options. (Photo: Visit Truckee/Facebook) The towns: Unlike Utah, which has only the faux-Hollywood film-fest main street at Park City, Lake Tahoe has legitimate local ski towns closely linked to its slopes. The historic rail and mining town ofTruckee in North Lake Tahoe hosts a homey mountain array of dining, shopping, and après ski entertainment options, while the South Lake Tahoe–Stateline combo straddling the California-Nevada border may be the world’s most unique ski town, with its high-rise casino hotels on the Nevada side of the border and an array of both budget and high-end boutique hotels on the California side. Tahoe City, Incline Village, and even nearby Reno provide other local options. Tahoe also has slope-side resorts like Squaw Creek and Ritz Carlton and plenty of rental residential properties. In Utah, you’re pretty much stuck with resort lodging or a commute to the mountain from Salt Lake City.
Squaw Valley hosted the 1960 Winter Olympics. (Photo: Robert Riger/Getty Images) Olympics host: Tahoe hosted the 1960 Winter Olympics in Squaw Valley, back in the days when it only cost $2 million to run the whole event, and they had just one chairlift and actually refused to build a bobsled course because that would be a huge waste of space and money. Take that, IOC! Now Squaw hosts a small Olympic Museum, all that’s left from the games aside from the skiing, as opposed to the white elephant boondoggle structures that provide the Salt Lake Olympic legacy.
Olympic Gold medalist Jonny Mosely at the 1998 Winter Olympics in Nagano, Japan. (Photo: Nathan Bilow/Getty Images) Famous Tahoe locals: Plenty of Olympic and World Cup ski and snowboard medalists, past and present, have made Tahoe their home and training ground: Julia Mancuso, Jonny Moseley, Daron Rahlves, Hannah Teter, Maddie Bowman, Jamie Anderson, and David Wise, as well as the dearly departed epic extreme skier Shane McConkey. The Case for Ski Utah
Utah combines great resorts, great ski towns like Park City, and great mountains. (Photo: Joseph De Palma/Flickr)
Utah is more than just a weekend ski stop for Silicon Valley posers. It’s a complete ski destination spread across the phenomenally beautiful Wasatch Mountain Range, with options including full-service resorts like Deer Valley and Canyons, a classic western ski town like Park City, and uncrowded hilland-a-warming-hut ski mountains for purists, like Powder Mountain. Speaking of powder, Utah has more than anyplace else, the light, fluffy stuff making the mountains a joyful place to ski. And best of all, airline hub Salt Lake City’s International Airport gives access to many resorts within an hour’s drive from downtown — unlike Tahoe, which is over a three-hour drive from San Francisco to the mountains on the best of days.
Alta’s Rustler Lodge offers convenient ski in/ski out access, so you can be on the slopes in no time! (Photo: Alta’s Rustler Lodge/Facebook) Number of resorts: Utah has 11 ski resorts within an hour’s drive from Salt Lake City International Airport: Alta, Brighton, Canyons, Deer
Valley,Nordic Valley, Park City, Powder Mountain,Snowbasin, Solitude, Sundance, and the newCherry Peak Resort, scheduled to open this season.
Utah offers some of the freshest, softest snow imaginable. (Photo: Getty Images) The snow: Utah license plates say it all: the “Greatest Snow on Earth.” Dry air and high elevation provide light, powdery snow, a delight to ski through — and a cool pillow for your on-slope crash landings. Unlike Lake Tahoe,
where you’ll likely be confronted with the notorious “Sierra cement” — wet, heavy, clumpy snowfall that’s really just one step away from slush. After a big storm, Tahoe snowboarders can be seen stuck, trapped in flat areas like groups of sad neon seals, while their counterparts in Utah will be riding high, ripping glorious rooster-tails through the powder.
Powder Mountain boasts over 7,000 acres of skiable terrain. Where to begin? (Photo: Ian Matteson/Powder Mountain) The skiing: A person could happily spend a lifetime skiing Utah’s resorts, with 31,000 feet of vertical terrain and 1,200 ski runs spread between the resorts. Begin with the well-groomed, family-friendly resorts of Canyons, Brighton, Park City, and Deer Valley, then graduate to the more advanced terrain of Alta and Snowbird, allowing plenty of side trips for the open expanses of Powder Mountain (which boasts over 7,000 skiable acres, the most of any resort in the U.S.) and some peaceful solitude at, well, Solitude. Snowboard terrain parks, gladed skiing, and white-knuckle black-diamond runs are available at nearly every resort. And there’s powder, powder, powder — no matter how fancy the resort, how epic the terrain, it all comes
down to the stuff you’re skiing on, and Utah beats Tahoe (and everywhere else) hands down.
There is plenty to do in Park City and, despite what you may have heard, drinking is one of them. Be sure to stop by the High West Distillery Restaurant & Saloon for the best whiskeys Utah has to offer. (Photo: High West Distillery/Facebook) The towns: Salt Lake City has a quality international airport, from which some slopes are only 30 miles away. It’s a perfectly reasonable goal to fly in and ski the same day. (Contrast that to the tedious San Francisco-to-Tahoe commute, which on snowy holiday weekends can run over 10 hours — if you’re able to make it at all.) Access between the mountains, gathered in bunches in Big and Little Cottonwood canyons, is easy as well. Resorts’ proximity to each other means you can access a couple in a day, either directly on the hill, as in Alta-Snowbird, or through a backcountry interconnect tour across up to six resorts. In Tahoe, an “interconnect tour” will just have you sitting in traffic on Route 89. And Park City is one of the most fun ski towns in America, with great restaurants, shops, and, yes, bars — don’t believe the hype: you CAN drink in Utah. Yes,
supermarkets can only sell 3.2 percent beer (4 percent by volume), but bars and restaurants can serve any strength of beer they want. Utah’s Wasatch Brewery has a half-dozen beers exceeding that limit, including its 8 percent “Devastator” Double Bock, and also its Polygamy Porter (Slogan: “Why have just one?”), while Park City’s own High West Distillery makes some whiskeys to keep you warm on a winter’s day.
Utah hosted the 2002 Winter Olympics. You can still visit the bobsled track at the Olympic Park near Park City. (Photo: Robert Laberge/Getty Images) Olympics host: Utah hosted the phenomenally successful 2002 Olympic Games, with alpine ski events held at Snow Basin, Park City, and Deer Valley. You can still come and try out ski jumping and the bobsled track at the Olympic Park near Park City, which both recognizes the past in its two museums and trains new generations of U.S. Olympians for the future. Tahoe’s legacy from its 1960 games? A rickety skating rink at Squaw whoseroof collapsed amid heavy snow and conspiracy theories.
Ted Ligety – seen here at the 2014 Olympic Games in Sochi – is but one world class skiier to come out of Utah. (Photo: Ezra Shaw/Getty Images) Famous locals: Utah’s mountains have been home to a host of world-class skiers and snowboarders, including Ted Ligety, Jared Goldberg, Tanner Hall, Faye Gulini, and Kaitlyn Farrington, while local Westminster College alone provided 10 percent of the members of the 2014 U.S. winter Olympic team. Let Yahoo Travel inspire you every day. Hang out with us on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and Pinterest. And Check out Yahoo Travel’s original video series A Broad Abroad, starring editor-in-chief Paula Froelich. This week Paula learned how to make Mexican pizza from an expert.
More than 50 vendors scheduled for wedding trade show at Squaw Valley February 3, 2015
OLYMPIC VALLEY, Calif. — North Lake Tahoe is a dream wedding destination for thousands of couples due to stunning venues and outdoor spaces that boast mountain and lakeside backdrops. Top wedding vendors — from planners and photographers to pastry chefs and designers — call Tahoe home and are experienced with capturing the true essence of a destination wedding. More than 50 of these vendors and experts will be on hand at the annual Bridal Faire, located at Olympic Village Lodge in Squaw Valley, on Saturday, Feb. 7, from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. Attendance is free. This event is a perfect opportunity for brides to connect with the best wedding vendors that North Tahoe has to offer. Squaw Valley | Alpine Meadows and the North Lake Tahoe Chamber/CVB/Resort Association have joined efforts to host the past two faires, joining hundreds of brides with perfect vendors for their special day. This winter’s faire will showcase the entire range of wedding services, from food to photography. Attendees will be free to walk through the conference room and connect with numerous vendors, services and planners. Full wedding place settings, decorations and fashion will be on display. Brides who pre-register will automatically be entered to win an eight-day, seven night vacation in either Freeport, Bahamas; Cancun; Spain; or Whistler, British Columbia. Accommodations are included. The event is sponsored by the North Lake Tahoe Chamber/CVB/Resort Association and Squaw Valley | Alpine Meadows. Visit SquawAlpine.com to learn more.
For information on exhibiting or attending the 2015 Bridal Faire, contact Ginger Karl, with the Chamber, at Ginger@GoTahoeNorth.com or call 530-581-8764. This article was provided to the Sun by the PR firm The Abbi Agency.
Mark Your Calendar – Must Do Events in Reno/Tahoe February 1, 2015 There’s never a shortage of events in the Reno/Tahoe area, especially during the months ahead with Super Bowl parties, Valentine’s Day, President’s Weekend, St. Patrick’s Day, Spring Break and more! Here’s a list of my favorite events you should mark on your calendar. February 6th: Lewis Black Known as the king of the rant, Lewis Black uses his trademark style of comedic yelling and animated finger-pointing to skewer anything and anyone that gets under his skin. He has the ability to make people laugh at the absurdities of life and exposes the hilarious madness he sees in the world. 1-800-6483353, montbleuresort.com February 13: Brew HaHa at John Ascuaga’s Nugget You don’t have to be a beer connoisseur to enjoy this event! The Rose Ballroom at JA Nugget will transform into a brewer’s paradise featuring more than 150 types of beer to taste, and live music for your enjoyment. Proceeds help support the Sierra Arts Foundation to keep art programs accessible to the community. 1-800-648-1177, janugget.com February 14: Reno Pajama Crawl Looking for alternative fun this Valentine’s Day? You can have an exciting, yet cozy night partying with friends as you explore numerous bars in Downtown Reno. For only $5 admission, you can enjoy drink specials, costume contests, live music and more. This will be the most comfy night out ever! renopajamacrawl.com February 19 – 22: Eagles & Agriculture – Annual Gathering of Eagles and Celebration of Agriculture Calling all nature-lovers, photographers and birders! You can visit Carson Valley for an opportunity to see an influx of bald eagles, hawks and other birds of prey during the rare winter calving season. This remarkable weekend includes special tours, dinner and photography workshops. Sign up for the events! 775782-8144, carsonvalleynv.org
February 27 – March 8: 34th Annual North Lake Tahoe SnowFest Enjoy 10 fun-filled days and nights of events jam packed with festivities for all ages. This year, the annual favorites will be back, along with a host of great new ones! On and off the mountain, you can enjoy snowfilled fun at parades, races, concerts, and other special events. 530-583-7167, tahoesnowfestival.com March 14: Rocky Mountain Oyster Fry in Virginia City “Go Nuts” this St. Patrick’s Day and visit the historic town of Virginia City. Be brave and sample “testicle tastings” as up to 20 chefs compete for the title as the best Rocky Mountain Oyster cook in the West. This one-of-a-kind festival is a riot! The event also features a Beer Garden, parade, Irish music, costume contests and the annual Leprechaun Beer Crawl. 775-847-7500, visitvirginiacitynv.com March 15: DATSIK at the Knitting Factory in Reno With countless sell-out tours and a growing fan base, DATSIK, the talented producer and DJ, is making a stop in Reno for one epic night of sound. The recent release of his LP, “Let it Burn,” has added to his addition of smash hits within the dubstep community. Touring with DATSIK are special guests ETC!ETC!, Fox Stevenson, and Truth Sunday, making this a legendary night of bass. 775-3235648, re.knittingfactory.com March 20 – 22: WinterWonderGrass Tahoe in Squaw Valley Squaw Valley is hosting a world-class winter music and beer festival featuring three nights with more than 20 national, regional and local bluegrass bands and acoustic roots artists, complemented by 15 California craft breweries, local wines, spirits and foods. This event is open to all ages, complete with a fun Kids Zone!winterwondergrassfestival.com April 4: High Roller Hold ‘Em at Heavenly Mountain Resort Coming to Tahoe for another season, this signature event combines the thrill of snowboard Big Air with the strategy of high-stakes poker into an event that sends the winner home with $50,000. Olympic Gold Medalist Sage Kotsenburg will place bets against fellow Olympians Billy Morgan and Chas Guldemond, along with Gjermund Braaten and Eric Willett.skiheavenly.com SPOTLIGHT EVENT (SIDEBAR IF THERE’S ROOM)
2nd Annual Equinox Spring Festival – Tahoe is known for its spring skiing and great riding conditions thanks to the warm temperatures, abundant sunshine and plenty of snow. Between the end of March and beginning of April, join Sierra-at-Tahoe Resort in welcoming the season, with the 2nd annual Equinox Spring Festival. The Festival includes a free concert series over the course of three weekends, plus events, parties, and much more. This gives you a great opportunity to enjoy the outdoor plaza, listen to live music, reminisce about a great day on the mountain and celebrate spring in the Sierra.
2/26/2015
National Post ePaper Edmonton Journal 31 Jan 2015 Page #71
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Lake Tahoe offers serenity on one side, casinos on the other January 30, 2015 Readers frequently ask where is the one place I haven't been that I really want to go. After 24 years as a travel writer, the list is dwindling. There are a few I haven't ticked off my bucket list: Cambodia (mostly to see the ruins of Angkor Wat); Kenya (especially during migration season), and India (who doesn't want to see the Taj Mahal?). As for the United States, last year, I made it to the destination at the top of my most wanted list: serenely beautiful Lake Tahoe, although, sadly, the visit was cut short by last fall's forest fires (more on that later). If you're into statistics on Tahoe, whose name is derived from the Washoe Indian word "da ow," meaning lake, here they are: 12 miles wide, 22 miles long; North America's largest Alpine lake (with 72 miles of shoreline), and after Crater Lake in Oregon, its deepest (maximum depth, 1,645 feet). On its eastern shore is Nevada; on its western, California, with the state line running through the lake. Harder to pinpoint is its sheer physical magnificence, nestled in the often snow-capped Sierra Nevada mountain range and boasting such famous beauty spots as Emerald and Carnelian Bays. Then there's the almost mythical aura surrounding the lake, which has captivated visitors from Mark Twain, who first saw it while working as a Nevada newspaperman in the 1860s, to Frank Sinatra and his Rat Pack, who frequented the infamous Cal-Neva Lodge a century later.
California Dreaming On this trip, my two best friends and I eschewed the casino-laden Nevada side in favor of the more placid California side, with stops in Tahoe City, Squaw Valley and Truckee. With some of America's best scenery to explore and no rigid schedule, our Tahoe adventure was the perfect girls' getaway. First up was Tahoe City on the lake's northern end at the headwaters of the Truckee River. It's not a city but a picturesque hamlet with a collection of rainbow-hued bungalows that are home to restaurants, bars, shops and accommodations. Located 14 miles southeast of the Donner Pass, Tahoe City's altitude of 6, 250 feet takes a bit of getting used to if you're from flatter lands. . Getting acclimated is an excuse for taking things at a leisurely pace as we did, starting our first morning with breakfast at Rosie's CafĂŠ, where bountiful breakfast platters are served in a rustic setting. Along with freshly brewed coffee, our friendly server offered suggestions for places to visit. One was the Tahoe Maritime Museum, a gem of a place that was equal parts fact and fantasy. You'll learn that while Tahoe remains one of the world's clearest lakes, it is, nonetheless, ecologically threatened, losing about a foot of visibility every year. Still, I was more drawn by the fantasy, particularly the legend of the water babies, playful creatures that lived at Cave Rock on the Nevada side. According to Washoe lore, the smaller lakes surrounding Tahoe were formed after one of the weasel brothers stole the hair of a water baby, whose brethren magically flooded the area until the weasel brothers gave the hair back. In later years, the Washoe people claimed to know the mood of the water babies by watching the rising and falling shoreline. Before we knew it, it was time for lunch on the patio at Sunnyside, a venerable lakeside resort. With glasses of California wine in hand, we toasted a golden sheen over the lake. The afternoon stretched lazily on and we ordered more wine and watched the gulls circling above us. A visit to the quirky Indian Basket Museum preceded our return to Tahoe City where we had dinner reservations at the heartily recommended Christy Hill Restaurant. (Are you beginning to sense a theme here?) This time, there was a silver glow over the lake. That, and the seasonal California cuisine, proved so delightful that we returned several nights later. Squaw Valley and Truckee Just a 20-minute drive from Tahoe City is Squaw Valley, best known as the home of the 1960 Winter Olympics. This time of year, it's a virtual paradise for skiers and snow boarders who, with one ticket, can get access to 6,000 acres of Alpine meadows and 270 ski trails. With an annual snowfall of 450 inches, Squaw Valley lures skiers of every level during the season, which is the day before Thanksgiving to mid-May.
You can go high, to the 6,200-foot Village at Squaw Valley — with its array of shopping, restaurant and accommodations options — or higher, a ride on the aerial tram to the 8,200-foot summit, High Camp. Once on top, admire the views from the poolside café, and ski — or the rest of the year, hike — one of the trails from the Camp to the Village. If you love small town America, don't miss Truckee, a collection of 19th-century buildings housing one-of-a-kind shops, bars and restaurants. Named after a Paiute chief, Truckee began as a railroad town and is still a stop on the Amtrak line from Chicago to San Francisco. The old depot is one of those buildings that belong in every coffee table book of Americana. Truckee's attractions range from Donner Lake and Memorial Park just outside of town to the Old Jail Museum, a block off the main drag. Dating from 1875, it's one of the West's few remaining 19thcentury jailhouses, and over the years, has housed desperadoes such as Baby Face Nelson and "Machine Gun" Kelly, who sampled its hospitality after getting caught shoplifting in the Truckee General Store. Don't leave town without having breakfast at the original Squeeze-In, where the line snakes out the door and down the main street. Once inside the tiny café, where every surface area is covered in scrawled messages from admirers, you'll join other devotees of dishes such as the Racy Tracy, a gargantuan omelet featured on the Food Network's Throwdown with Bobby Flay. In fact, the TV chef was honored with his own menu dish, the Spanish Flay, thinly diced red bell peppers and potatoes sautéed with smoked paprika in butter and folded with jack cheese into seasoned eggs. Pair it with a goldfish bowl-sized Bloody Mary and you're good to go. As it turned out, we weren't good to go. Heading south to Emerald Bay, a National Natural Landmark, we found the ominous gray tinge to the sky and acrid smell of burning brush from the wild fires that had been slightly noticeable at the northern end of the lake was getting stronger. After a quick consultation, we reluctantly decided to end our trip earlier than planned. Driving back to Sacramento, we got a glimpse of Emerald Bay through a gray curtain of haze. Peering through the thick veil, I could just make out the granite cliffs and pine and cedar forests that encircled the bay. It was beautiful in a black-and-white-movie kind of way. So, now when people ask me where is the one place you really want to go, I'll have an answer: back to Emerald Bay on a sunny day to see the Technicolor version.
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8 Valentine’s Destinations: Tahoe Ski Resorts up the Romance January 28, 2015
Trying to wow that honey on the slopes this Valentine’s Day? It’s easy at Lake Tahoe ski resorts. In conjunction with skiing or snowboarding, you can plan romantic, private time, dine on exquisite meals or go wild and hit the party scene. This year, you can even get married on the slopes. So here’s our list of 8 suggestions to pull off that savvy Valentine’s Day at Lake Tahoe.
1. Intimate Hill Skiing, Waterfront Dining Those looking for a skiing an intimate hill followed by romantic dining can plan a day at Homewood Ski Resort. Ski runs plunge toward blue water, and the lakefront West Shore Café and Inn offers the picturesque place to relax for an après glass of wine. Dine in the café with Lake Tahoe reflecting the glow of lights, and you can tuck into bed in a cozy suite.
2. Dazzle at Night If you’re looking for romance under the stars, try night skiing or riding at Boreal Mountain Resort. Lifts run until 9 p.m. every night, including on Valentine’s Day.
3. Ski Together, Relax Together At Squaw Valley, you can spend the day chasing each other through favorite stashes followed by unwinding with a massage at Trilogy Spa. The spa has a Valentine’s Day celebration for couples with a dual massage for two, champagne and decadent chocolate-covered strawberries.
4. Ski the Rose, Music in Reno Drive up to Mt. Rose to spend the day cruising runs; then head down to Reno to spend a night at the Grand Sierra. Take in their Valentine’s Affair show in Summit Pavilion featuring the love songs of R & B’s Color Me Badd.
5. Get Married on the Slopes A mass wedding ceremony takes place February 14 at Northstar California. The 2 p.m. on-snow wedding will be performed at the top of Rendezvouz chair lift, and photographers can snap photos of couples swapping vows at the ceremony. The event is open to any couple that wants to marry, declare love or renew wedding vows. Those seeking to marry need to bring a Placer County marriage license. At the end of the ski day, the Cabana Bars at the Northstar skating rink will cap the event with a reception with drink specials, and live music takes to the stage.
6. Pair Skiing With Luxury At North Lake Tahoe, hit the corduroy at Diamond Peak for lazy turns that look like you just might fly into the lake. After skiing, check in at the Hyatt Regency Lake Tahoe on the waterfront. Relax with a spa treatment, dine at a cozy table in Lone Eagle Grille overlooking the lake and sink into secluded luxury in a private cottage for the night.
7. Ski Moves, Dance Moves At South Lake Tahoe, ski Heavenly Mountain Resort where the views of Lake Tahoe alone may make you swoon. Follow up skiing with the ideal après party at Tamarack. Starting at 3:30 p.m., the Unbuckle Après Party kicks into action with a live DJ, dancing, drinks, food, swag and the Heavenly Angels. At this adult afterparty, you can take your moves from the slopes to the dance floor.
8. Party the Night Away Pair up a day lapping lifts at Sierra-at-Tahoe or Kirkwood with a night in the casinos in South Lake Tahoe. In between the slopes and the late nightlife, a luxury suite at Harrah’s will offer a place of respite. Order up champagne and have a dozen red roses delivered to turn it into a memorable romantic hideaway.
10 Best Museums in Lake Tahoe and Reno January 26, 2015
Most people visit the Lake Tahoe and Reno area to experience the great outdoors, but the area has a surprising number of museums—some are even located outdoors. Like the Taylor Creek Visitor Center. This series of trails and interpretive markers profiles Tahoe's wildlife and streams. Two other museums that bring the outside in are the Tahoe Maritime Museum and the beautifulVikingsholm Castle in Emerald Bay. If you want a bit of history, head to the Gatekeeper's Museum in Tahoe City or the Emigrant Trail Museum at Donner Lake. Both tell the stories of the people who lived and settled the rough terrain of the Sierra. The wonderful Nevada State Museum in the capital city of Carson City has exhibits that talk about the Silver State's mining, gaming and ancient past. The museum even has an underground mine tour. For some fun interaction with art and science, take the whole family to The Discovery, an excellent museum that features a giant cloud climber, science experiments and even a place for kids to go mock camping while looking at the stars. At the KidZone in Truckee, children can learn to garden, paint and even play with farm animals. For some actual art exhibits from the likes of Van Gogh and Frida Kahlo, the award-winning Nevada Museum of Art has changing exhibits in a beautiful, contemporary building in downtown Reno.
10 Tallac Historic Site The Tallac Historic Site includes several large estates built by the rich during the late 19th and early 20th centuries--the Baldwin Estate, the Pope Estate and Valhalla. The entire site is open daily during the summer months. The Baldwin Museum includes an introductory video, a 1930s kitchen, children's games and toys and a gift shop. The Pope House is a great insight into how the Tahoe rich lived and the rest of the site contains a blacksmith shop, servant's quarters, gardens and workshop areas. Docent and self-guided tours of the properties are available as well as special events such as Tea with Mrs. Tevis and Vintage Vatican with appetizers and champagne. (530-5732600)
9 Gatekeeper's Museum Set in a wooded grove, this gracious log structure replicates the original gatekeeper's house on the Truckee River dam in Tahoe City, which burned down in the early 80s. The gatekeeper's job was to regulate water flow out of the lake, and the museum notes his role, along with many other facets of local history. Artifacts and ephemera relating to logging, geology, skiing, tourism, the railroad, the 1960 Olympics, and boating are displayed, and special attention is given to Native American baskets and dolls. A research library further elucidates Lake Tahoe's past. The Watson Cabin, also located on the property is on the National Register of Historic Places. (530-583-1762)
8 Vikingsholm Constructed as a vacation home in 1929, Vikingsholm sits at the head of Emerald Bay, a gracious tribute to Scandinavian architecture. Sited picturesquely amid dramatic evergreens, it features building materials harvested largely from the area. Portions of the home boast sod roofs; other details include six fireplaces, carved beams, and period and reproduction furniture. On Fannette Island, in the bay, are remnants of a tea house built for guests. Access to the property is by water; via a steep, mile-long hike from a parking lot off of Highway 89; or via a 1.7-mile hike from Eagle Point State Park. Either route you choose, you'll be rewarded by lovely vistas along the way and a glimpse of life from Tahoe's early days. Tours are about a half-hour long. (530-525-7277, 530- 5413030)
7 Nevada State Museum Originally built in the late 19th century as a US Mint, this museum is a treasure trove of local history. Not only does it showcase how the mint once functioned and stamped coins, but it houses re-creations of a mine and a ghost town. You can also learn about the state's history, trace the Native American experience, and marvel at the skeleton of a mammoth. In addition, geology, native wildlife, and a silver service from the USS Nevada battleship are displayed. The displays on the nuclear and gambling eras of the state are beautifully displayed and very interesting. A gift shop offers books, Native American jewelry, specially-minted coins, and more. The museum cost is $8 for adults and free for children under 17. (775-687-4810)
6 Taylor Creek Visitor Center The Taylor Creek Visitor Center is located near Camp Richardson on the south shore of Lake Tahoe. It is free to enter and offers both adult and children an up-close view of the local flora and fauna. The paved trails and bridges throughout the marshlands are stroller friendly and there are both guided and self guided interpretive trails, an underground "aquarium" area where you can see an actual part of Taylor Creek. During the fall the Kokanee Salmon are spawning and visitors can watch the process through glass windows. There is also a 180 degree curved diorama that illustrates life above and below the water. Be sure to look for the raccoon, crayfish, bats, frog, Stellar Jay, Bald Eagles, butterflies, and the slug. In winter, the Taylor Creek area becomes a crosscountry ski area especially suited to beginners. Using the area is free, but you need to purchase a California SNO-PARK permit for your vehicle. It comes to about $5 a day or $25 for a season. ((530) 543-2674)
5 The Discovery This museum is a celebration of the nature, science and weather of the Silver State. Children can visit a Native American tule house, learn about the early Pioneers, work on their own farm or ranch and study archeology. They can also climb around on a threestory-tall cloud climbing structure, get wet while learning about local water resources, or build structures and art while learning more about Leonardo Da Vinci. Older children can visit the Under the Stars exhibit where they can go fishing, go on a camping trip and meet Northern Nevada's wildlife. There is also an area for babies and toddlers with a tree house and slide, a mine elevator and tunnel and a place for nursing mothers. The Museum hours are Tuesday-Saturday, 10:00 am-5:00 pm and Sunday, Noon-5:00 pm. Daily admission is $8 and children under 1 year are free. There is a members program as well as art, history and science classes, birthday party options and corporate and special events. The museum store offers an excellent selection of educational toys, books and puzzles. ((775) 786-1000)
4 Tahoe Maritime Museum The Tahoe Maritime Museum, located in Homewood on the North Shore takes great pride in preserving Tahoe's maritime traditions. This growing museum displays vessels, engines, photographs, and memorabilia of Tahoe's shipping past and present, some of which date to the late 19th century. Runabouts and sail boats represent the variety of craft, and manufacturers include Gar Wood and Chris-Craft. Other exhibits highlight fishing, steam-powered ferries, water skis, and aquaplanes. Some of the displayed vessels have been retrieved from the lake bottom and restored; others were acquired. A children's room teaches young ones the basics of boating and has some interactive games. (530-525-9253)
3 Donner Memorial State Park Now a center for recreation and outdoor fun, this park also holds the memories of pioneer struggles, especially in regard to the Donner Party, who suffered a winter in the area and resorted to cannibalism to survive. Now, the tract of land in the Sierra Nevada range offers a wealth of warm- and cold-weather possibilities, including camping, fishing, hiking, boating, skiing, and more. Plus, the onsite museum charts local history
and geology, and a memorial to the Donner party documents the conditions through which the survivors lived. The Emigrant Trail Museum depicts the history of the area and the people who came into this part of the Sierra, including local Native Americans, the Donner Party, and builders of the transcontinental railroad. (530-582-7892, 800-4447275)
2 Nevada Museum of Art This award-winning museum is just south of downtown Reno and features permanent and traveling exhibits from various artists. This excellent museum is small, but packs in a wonderful selection of contemporary and traditional art, sculptures interactive exhibits, shows, and a rooftop sculpture with a view of all of Reno and the surrounding mountains. The outside area of the museum has several permanent exhibits including several pieces from the nearby Burning Man festival. Current and past exhibitions have included: To Live Forever: Egyptian Treasures from the Brooklyn Museum, Leo Villareal: Animating Light, Explorer, Naturalist, Artist John James Audubon and The Birds of America and the Baroque World of Fernando Botero. Experienced docent tours are available at the NMA as are special events, a Museum school for children, regular art classes and a cafe named Caf� Mus�e. The museum gift shop is a real delight. Numerous items based on current and past exhibits are available as well as learning toys for children, jewelry and art from local artists and a nice selection of books. (775329-3333)
1 KidZone Museum The KidZone Museum in Truckee is an interactive museum for children under the age of 10. Exhibits are designed to provide play that encourages a child's development of social, imaginative, physical and problem solving skills. Specific activity centers include the Baby Zone with a nature themed soft area, an art studio with paper, clay, paint and markers and classes like Messy Art and Messy Science. There is also a Jungle Gym play structure that increases gross motor skills and the Exploration Station where children can do science projects and learn more about the natural world.The Museum has traveling events as well including TakeFlight and summer barn animals. Parents are encouraged to be with their children in the museum. It is closed on Monday, but open Tuesday-Friday from 10:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. and Saturday and Sunday from 10:00 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. Admission for children and adults is $8. Infants are free. ((530) 587-5437)
Tahoe-Truckee shop local contest generates more than $400,000 January 26, 2015
TAHOE-TRUCKEE, Calif. — Holiday shoppers in North Lake Tahoe and Truckee who participated in the Shop Local Holiday Contest reportedly generated $407,476 in revenue for local businesses. This revenue increased by more than 100 percent from the 2012 campaign that generated $192,225, according to a press release from public relations firm The Abbi Agency. In all, 256 businesses and 1,420 people participated in the “Show Your Love — Shop Local” contest at participating retailers in Tahoe City, West Shore, Kings Beach, Northstar, Squaw Valley, Incline Village and, for the first time, Truckee. Shoppers received a stamp on a shop local card for each purchase of at least $25. Retailers reported an average of $24,000 in sales from the program, according to Abbi. The contest, which ran from Nov. 28 to Dec. 24, 2014, “was designed to support local businesses, reduce the carbon footprint of locals traveling outside of their community to shop, and protect the region’s local character,” according to the release. Visit ShopNorthTahoeTruckee.com or GoTahoeNorth.com to learn more.
Mapping the 17 Oldest Bars & Restaurants in Ski Country January 26, 2015 Ski towns are full of history, often of the gold, silver, and coal mining variety. This means that although the first destination ski areas in the United States weren't founded until the 1930s (Sun Valley installed the resort's first chairlifts in 1936), some of ski country's oldest bars and restaurants actually date back to the 1870s. In honor of Eater's first-ever Classics Week, a week that looks at everything old-timey and iconic, Curbed Ski rounded up the oldest bars and restaurants from Lake Tahoe to Jackson Hole. We've got 17 iconic establishments full of taxidermy, wood-paneled interiors, and saddle bar stools, coming up. Please note, the establishments are listed in no particular order.
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Getaways Calendar: February 2015 January 25, 2015 Western communities celebrate the joys of winter with festivals, athletic events and a very famous cowboy poetry showcase. Monday through Saturday, Elko: 31st annual National Cowboy Poetry Gathering. A weeklong celebration of Western life featuring traditional and contemporary arts. Poetry, music and photography will be presented as well as exhibits, workshops and film screenings. Western Folklife Center. 775-738-7508. www.westernfolklife.org. Wednesday through Feb. 2, Lake Tahoe: Carve Tahoe. An international snow sculpture competition where visitors can watch teams carve 25 tons of snow into works of art. Northstar California Resort. 415-561-4345.www.carvetahoe.com. Thursday through Saturday, St. George, Utah: St. George Winter Bird Festival. Take part in field trips, workshops, live displays and presentations while enjoying Southwest Utah’s hot spots. Red Cliffs Chapter of the National Audubon Society. Tonaquint Nature Center. 435-6730966. www.redcliffsaudubon.org. Saturday, Death Valley National Park, Calif.: Death Valley Marathon, Half Marathon and 10k. The entire event is below sea level on a relatively flat course. This event benefits Beatty High School student organizations. 855-969-5515. www.envirosports.com. Feb. 2-14, Reno: Reno/Tahoe Senior Winter Games. Dedicated to promoting and implementing fitness in people 50 and older. Competitions range from speedskating to skiing to table tennis with everything in between. Various venues. 775-657-4644. www.reno.gov. Feb. 4-8, Tubac, Ariz.: 56th annual Tubac Festival of the Arts. The longest-running art festival in the state features hundreds of artists from throughout the country. Horse-drawn trolleys, entertainers and a food court also featured. 520-398-2704. www.tubacaz.com. Feb. 6-8, Bullhead City, Ariz.: Colorado River Bluegrass Festival. The lineup of bluegrass bands includes Cliff Wagner and the Old No. 7, Bradford Lee Folk and the Bluegrass Playboys and Jerry Butler and the Blu-J’s. This festival takes place on the shores of the Colorado River in the 300-acre Rotary Park. 928-763-9400.www.gokingman.com.
Feb. 7-8, Lake Havasu City, Ariz.: 30th annual Winterfest. A weekend of family fun featuring more than 400 booths with crafts, artwork and demonstrations. The festival features a wide variety of entertainment, food and plenty of children’s events. 928-8554115. www.golakehavasu.com. Feb. 12-15, Lake Havasu City, Ariz.: Winterblast. During this annual meeting of the Western Pyrotechnics Association, city visitors will be able to watch random launching and detonation of new fireworks, as the association tests various products and shows off its newest mixtures. On Saturday night, visitors can see a spectacular fireworks show. SARA Park. 928-4533444. www.westernpyro.org. Feb. 12-15, Wickenburg, Ariz.: 67th annual Gold Rush Days. Head out Wickenburg way to celebrate the town’s gold mining origins. One of the highlights is a parade with more than 125 entries, including 1,000 horses, classic auto floats and marching bands. Other activities include gold panning, a rodeo and a carnival. 928-684-5479.www.wickenburgchamber.com. Feb. 13-16, Bryce Canyon, Utah: Winter Festival. This annual event features cross-country ski races, an archery clinic and an archery biathlon competition. Snowshoe tours, photography clinics, snow sculptures, children’s fun races and entertainment are also featured. Ruby’s Inn. 866-866-6616. www.rubysinn.com. Feb. 14, Parker, Ariz.: 24th annual Buckskin Mountain Desert Dash. Enjoy a 5-mile walk, run or mountain bike out to the Nellie E. Saloon. This is a benefit for Parker Rotary Club. 928-6696511. www.parkertourism.com. Feb. 14-16, Tombstone, Ariz.: 67th annual Vigilante Days. “The Town Too Tough to Die” celebrates with street entertainment, 1880s fashion show, 10k run, shootouts and chili cook-off. 520-457-3434.www.tombstonevigilantes.com. Feb. 14, Camp Verde, Ariz.: Buffalo Soldiers. In celebration of African-American Heritage Month, the Buffalo Soldiers will conduct living history and riding presentations. Fort Verde State Historic Park. 928-567-3275.www.azstateparks.com. Feb. 19-22, Carson Valley: Eagles and Agriculture. This four-day celebration is the valley’s favorite winter event. Learn about bald eagles and owls, and take part in a photography workshop. Various venues. 800-727-7677.www.carsonvalleynv.org. Feb. 27-March 8, North Lake Tahoe, Calif.: Annual Snowfest. North Lake Tahoe celebrates winter with on- and off-mountain events. The festival includes parades, live music, contests, comedy shows, ski races and a polar bear swim. 530-583-7167. www.tahoesnowfestival.com.
THE POOR MAN'S GUIDE TO FOOD, BOOZE, SKIING, AND MORE IN NORTH LAKE TAHOE January 23, 2015
While there's probably no better winter Bay Area getaway than a trip to Tahoe, between lift tickets, drinks, lodging, renting gear, food, and other-drinks, a quick ski trip can get pretty pricey pretty quickly. (No, really: lift tickets at Squaw and Alpine are $119.) Still, that doesn't mean you should spend the entire weekend nursing your Irish coffee by the fire while all of your friends are out having a blast. 'Cause seriously: it is possible to do Tahoe on a budget, which we set out to prove with this, our poor man's guide to North Lake. And no, South Lake isn't on here. If you're looking for cheap fun there, hit up the casinos. They'll give you free drinks while you lose your money. Wait. That's not how being on a budget works at all. Yeah. Maybe just stick to North Lake.
Willard's Sport Shop Tahoe City The Deal: You get your fifth day of rentals FREE. The Lowdown: Willard’s is a family-owned-and-operated shop, so you can feel good about giving them your money. Plus, Day 5 is free. Can’t really beat that.
Tahoe Dave's Skis & Boards Truckee, Kings Beach, Squaw Valley, and Tahoe City The Deal: Book your rentals online and save up to 20%. Enter promo code TDMAP20. The Lowdown: You can rent your gear at the mountain, but probably don’t do that. Dave’sprices are legit and there's a sweet demo selection. Plus, if you’re a kid, a student, in the military, super old, or just want to sing the Michigan fight song in its entirety, you’ll get extra discounts. You can also pick up and drop off at any of the four locations.
Alpine Meadows & Squaw Valley The Deal: Beginner Progression Upgrade The Lowdown: If you’re a legit beginner, renting at the mountain actually makes sense because you can get everything you need to get started -- a lift ticket, equipment rentals, and two days of lessons -- for $200. Considering a lift ticket alone costs $119, it's actually a great deal. They have the same deal for intermediates except it’s a oneday lesson and it costs $149.
Alice's Mountain Market Squaw Valley The Deal: Alice's is Squaw's village grocery, so beer is way cheaper there than anywhere else at Squaw. The Lowdown: Grab a beer (or 70) from the back fridge and then take it outside where you can enjoy it by one of the fire pits or on the chairlift.
Bar of America Truckee The Deal: Happy hour from 4-6pm Monday-Friday. Fish Taco Fridays from 6-9pm include $4 fish tacos (they’re huge, with a double tortilla so you can split one into two). Draft beer, house wine, and margaritas are all on special. Appetizers and pizzas are 50% off. And every time you order something, you get a raffle ticket for the hourly raffle. Prizes include snowboards, shot skis, lift tickets, snow gear, SHOT SKIS, and more. The Lowdown: This bar and restaurant in the heart of historic Downtown Truckee was just renovated, but the good food, great drinks, and live music are still all there.
The Bridgetender Tavern and Grill Tahoe City The Deal: Fat Tuesday is every Tuesday from 5-10pm. Enjoy raw or BBQ oysters from Tomales Bay, homemade jambalaya with shrimp, chicken, and andouille sausage, $3 pints of Abita
Amber, and Southern jazz. The Lowdown: Walk into the BT on any weekday and you’ll find the bar packed with locals. Go on the weekend and you’ll find it packed with locals and tourists. Both for good reason: it’s a mellow spot to grab a bite, the staff is friendly and on top of its game, and the food is affordable in a town where "affordable" isn’t really a thing. It's also a great spot to watch the game.
The Blue Agave Tahoe City The Deal: Happy hour Sunday-Thursday from 4-7pm with bottomless chips and salsa. The Lowdown: The Blue Agave serves traditional Mexican food and has a pretty great drink menu, assuming you like margaritas and twists on margaritas. If you come when it’s warm out, you can sit outside in the sun with your dog and enjoy lake views right across the street. Or leave the pup at home and watch the game inside on the big screen.
Cornice Cantina Squaw Valley The Deal: Make your first drink a "shifter." It’s a PBR for a buck. The Lowdown: Tucked away in a corner of the Squaw parking lot, you’ll find Cornice Cantina. This restaurant/bar is all about affordable Mexican food during the day and a lively bar scene at night. The chicken wings are not to be missed, even though chicken wings aren’t Mexican.
The Crest Café Base of Alpine Meadows The Deal: Happy hour every day from 3pm until close includes $2.25 PBR drafts and $3.75 premium drafts. On Thursdays you can get a $5 PBR and sushi hand roll from 3-5pm. The Lowdown: Though it’s hard to beat Treats at Alpine Meadows, Crest Café is also a great breakfast spot to hit on your way to the mountain. You can even call ahead and your food will be ready for you to pick up.
Fat Cat Bar & Grill Tahoe City The Deal: Happy hour every day from 4-6pm and all day on Sunday. Includes: half-priced appetizers, and $1 off well cocktails, draft beers, and house wine. In addition, they have $1 PBRs after 9pm. The Lowdown: Fat Cat has a laid-back vibe, good food, and friendly bartenders who know how to make a strong, tasty drink. You’ll find a mix of locals and tourists at this cozy spot that often has live music.
FiftyFifty Brewing Company Truckee The Deal: Happy hour from 3-5pm, Monday-Friday includes food specials and 33% off of all drinks. Plus, there’s a $3 “Beer of the Moment” on special daily. The Lowdown: FiftyFifty is a craft brewery and restaurant most famous for its award-winning Eclipse barrel-aged stout. The portions are huge, so order wisely.
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HACIENDA DEL LAGO
Hacienda del Lago Tahoe City The Deal: Happy hour from 4-6pm every day includes pitchers of margaritas for $12, $2 Miller drafts, and $3 Dos Equis; $3 well drinks and a DJ on Thursdays from 9pm-12:30am if you’re paying with cash; live music and drink specials on Fridays; two tacos for $5 on Wednesdays; $7 shot and a beer every single day. Bam. The Lowdown: Super affordable, good Mexican food with amazing views of the lake. Great for big groups or just hanging out at the bar, drinking margaritas made by awesome bartenders, and watching the game/view.
Le Chamois Squaw Valley The Deal: $14 pitchers of Bud and Bud Light The Lowdown: The Chammy is the spot to go when you’re finished skiing and the sun is still up. Bring your dog. Grab a beer. And if you plan on being there often, look into the Pint & Pitcher Passes.
Mamasake Sushi + Tapas Squaw Valley The Deal: Get a hand roll (spicy tuna or spicy salmon) or one of the famous Mama’s Balls, plus a Bud or Bud Light for $6 every day from 3-5pm and all day on Tuesdays. The Lowdown: One might think it’s weird to get sushi in Tahoe, but one would be wrong. Especially if the sushi is from Mamasake, a super-popular restaurant in the Village with views of the mountain.
MOE'S ORIGINAL BBQ - TAHOE CITY
Moe's Original BBQ Tahoe City The Deal: $2 Tall Boy Tuesdays with live music, plus daily specials. The Lowdown: The BBQ may be from Alabama, but the stunning lake view is all Tahoe. Moe's smokes its fresh meat daily, so when it's gone, it's gone. There are also 8-10 Southern-style
side dishes every day. Order a platter of pulled pork with cornbread, two sides, and a drink for just $12.
Plumpjack Cafe and Bar Squaw Valley The Deal: Social hour from 2-4pm, Monday-Friday includes $2 PBR, $2 Tecate, $5 adult hot chocolate, $5 skinny margarita, $5 wine specials, and a bunch of apps from $3-6. The Lowdown: Plumpjack is definitely the fanciest restaurant at Squaw (see: “social hour,” not “happy hour"), but the scene in the bar is always comfy and chill and you can’t really beat $2 PBRs. Plus, they have a fire pit. So... yeah.
The River Grill Tahoe City The Deal: Happy hour in the bar from 5-6:30pm every day and all night long on Sundays and Mondays. Specials include $3 draft beers, $4 glasses of wine, $4.50 house margaritas, $4 vodka lemonades, and a ton of appetizers for 50% off. The Lowdown: The River Grill feels super fancy with its white tablecloths and views of the Truckee River, so it’s sort of surprising that they have such a great happy hour, but the happy hour is so great that it’s one of Tahoe’s most popular. In other words: get there right at 5pm if you want a seat at the bar.
Rocker@Squaw Squaw Valley The Deal: Happy hour from 4-5:30pm, Monday-Friday. Nachos, wings, and a duo of sliders are $6 each and select draft beers are $4. The Lowdown: Rocker’s name is a tribute to Shane McConkey and the technology for skis that he helped pioneer. It’s also home to The Big Gnarly Burger, a 4lb burger that feeds up to eight people and will cost ya $54.
Squeeze In Truckee The Deal: Download the app for a specials page that gets you free upgrades like getting your spudz "Otis Style" with melted cheese and onions. The Lowdown: If you’re staying in Truckee, you’ve got to get breakfast at Squeeze In. The menu is extensive, to say the least, and you can get two mimosas for $9.99 (or a pitcher for $21.99).
Sunnyside Restaurant & Lodge West Shore The Deal: Burger and a beer (draft) for $10 on Tuesdays. Half-price fish tacos (two for $6.50), $4 Pacificos, and $5 margaritas on Wednesdays from 4-9pm. The Lowdown: The Sunnyside Cheeseburger (usually $14) is one of the best in Tahoe, and the fish tacos are the real deal (get one beer battered and one Cajun). Plus, Sunnyside is right on
the lake, so if you get there before the sun goes down, you’ll be treated to a view that makes everything taste even better.
22 BISTRO
22 Bistro Squaw Valley The Deal: Happy hour Monday-Thursday from 3-5pm. Live music, $4 draft beers, $5 well drinks, $6 house wine. Plus, rotating food specials.
The Lowdown: Grab a seat on the patio where you’ll still be able to hear the live music, but also chat with your buddies.
West Shore Café West Shore The Deal: Half-price dinner entrees on Mondays (through April 6, 2015); complimentary s’mores every day from 4-4:30pm; après ski special every day from 3-5pm that includes $5 draft beer, $5 house wine, and $3 off specialty cocktails; $20 endless mimosas on Sundays during brunch. The Lowdown: Walking into the West Shore Café is a bit like walking into a Restoration Hardware catalogue, but in a good way and with kick-ass views and seriously good food. It's the perfect spot to relax after a day at Homewood (or any mountain for that matter). You really can’t beat free s’mores, ya know?
Alpine Meadows & Squaw Valley The Deal: 1) Tahoe Super 4: Ski for $83 a day 2) $39 Beginner Only Lift Ticket The Lowdown: Though KSL buying Alpine Meadows wasn't a unanimously popular decision, it does mean that your lift ticket now gets you access to Squaw and Alpine. And there’s a shuttle that will take you back and forth. Of course, that lift ticket will cost you $119 if you’re an adult, so if you’re going to ski or ride for four days, the Tahoe Super is a good call. If you’re a beginner, the $39 is a great deal, as long as you have zero plans to leave the beginner area at Squaw or the Subway/Meadow chairlifts at Alpine.
Homewood Mountain Ski Resort The Deal: 1) Triple Play Pass: Three full days of skiing or riding, starting at $186. 2) Adult First Timer: Get all-day equipment rental, a beginner lift ticket, and a half-day lesson for just $49 Sunday-Friday (and not on holidays). Purchase it online at least two days in advance to lock in the price. 3) Active military ski and ride free on any day that’s not a holiday. And their spouses and children get 50% off of lift tickets. The Lowdown: Homewood is by far one of the most beautiful mountains (you feel like you’re going to ski right into the lake) and also has some of the best deals on lift tickets, especially if you buy online.
Boreal Mountain Resort The Deal: 1) $15 Fridays for college students and active military. 2) Three-pack of lift tickets for $109. The Lowdown: For just $64, adults can ski and ride from 9am to 9pm. If your legs can handle it, that is.
Aviva Inn Tahoe City The Deal: Get 15% off of a two-night stay through March 13th. Or take your chances and use Hotel Tonight for an even better deal. The Lowdown: Pet-friendly, really good (free) waffles in the morning, clean rooms, and it’s right
across from the lake.
The Inn at Truckee Truckee The Deal: Rooms range from $90 to $195 a night The Lowdown: It’s still pricey, but it’s a good deal for Tahoe, where rooms can run a few hundred bucks a night. Plus, you can bring your dog and there’s a free continental breakfast. Sign up here for our daily San Francisco email and be the first to get all the food/drink/fun SF has to offer. Daisy Barringer is Thrillist's SF Editor and if you want to know her absolute favorite place for cheap drinks in Tahoe, you're going to have to hit her up on Twitter @daisy and offer to buy her one. Don't worry; she drinks PBR, so it won't cost you that much.
Snippets about Lake Tahoe January 22, 2015 • Resort at Squaw Creek is turning 25 this year. • The 256 businesses and 1,420 shoppers who participated in the Shop Local Holiday Contest in North Lake Tahoe-Truckee generated $407,476 in revenue for local businesses. This is an increase from 2012 campaign when $192,225 was generated. • Winter Discovery Center at Tahoe XC is having a yurt fund-raising dinner on Jan. 31 from 6-9pm. For more info or to buy a ticket call 530.405.6689. • South Lake Tahoe Recreation Facilities Joint Powers Authority meets Jan. 23 at 9am at Lake Tahoe Airport. • The 10th annual Health & Life Science Expo at Tahoe Center for Environmental Sciences for children ages 6-12 and their families is March 18 from 4-6pm in Incline Village. It is free.
9-day outdoor festival on North Shore January 19, 2015 Alpenglow Mountain Festival, the nine-day festival in North Lake Tahoe, returns Feb. 21-March 1. This is a celebration of human-powered mountain sports, events, clinics, equipment demonstrations, presentations, film and more. Geared toward beginner and intermediate winter recreation enthusiasts, the Alpenglow Mountain Festival will showcase some of the best activities Lake Tahoe has to offer – Nordic skiing, backcountry skiing and split boarding, snowshoeing and natural history events. The festival has been designed to inspire participants as they enjoy and explore North Lake Tahoe’s playground with friends and family. The festival offers a range of activities that span daily ski and snowboard tours, winter adventure presentations, and natural history excursions for outdoor enthusiasts of all interests and ability levels. The majority of events are free, so space is limited and participants are encouraged to register online.
February Events January 16, 2015
JAN. 31-FEB. 2 | Saturday-Monday Avalanche workshop Norden Alpine Skills International hosts a three-day AIARE Avalanche Level 1 course. $450. RSVP alpineskills.com.
FEB. 1 | Sunday Pancake breakfast Truckee Benefit pancake breakfast is offered on the first Sunday of every month from 8 to 11:30 a.m. at Truckee Senior Apartments to benefit Senior Meals on Wheels. $7, $3 children younger than 12. Ski Mountaineering Norden Alpine Skills International hosts a Skiing Mountaineering Techniques clinics. $195. RSVP alpineskills.com. Intro to telemark Norden Alpine Skills International hosts an Intro to Telemark for advanced beginner and low intermediate alpine skiers. $165, $225 includes lift pass. RSVP alpineskills.com. Avalanche clinic Norden Alpine Skills International hosts a AIARE Intro to Avalanche Safety clinic. $169 includes lift tickets. RSVP alpineskills.com. Castle Peak Tour Norden Alpine Skills International hosts a Castle Peak Tour starting from the SnoPark near Boreal. $165. RSVP alpineskills.com. Super Soul Party Truckee Soule House Project is hosting a benefit Super Bowl party from 3 to 8 p.m. with drinks and food from Kellen’s Kitchen while watching the game, along with prizes and contests to benefit the High Fives Foundation. $10 unlimited beer, $20 food and unlimited beer. Visit highfivesfoundation.org.
Transceiver clinic Olympic Valley Squaw Valley Professional Ski Patrol hosts free avalanche transceiver workshops at 5:30 p.m. at the office in the Red Dog Complex on the 1st and 15th of each month through March 15. All ages. Visit squawalpine.com. Full moon tour, dinner Soda Springs Enjoy a full moon tour and dinner at Royal Gorge Cross Country at 5:30 p.m. Limited seating. $20, $15 passholders. RSVP (530) 426-3871.
FEB. 1-6 | Sunday-Friday Discounted ski days Northstar Northstar host Skiing for Schools day with $60 lift tickets valid any one day. Advance purchase online exined.org or Tahoe Dave’s in Tahoe City, Truckee and Kings Beach. Visit exined.org.
FEB. 2-4 | Monday-Wednesday Avalanche clinic Olympic Valley Squaw Valley hosts an AIARE Avalanche Level 1 class. For intermediate to advanced skiers, riders and telemarkers. 13+ only. $389, does not include equipment. (800) 403-0206 or squawalpine.com
FEB. 3 | Tuesday Full moon snowshoe Tahoe Vista Tahoe Adventure Company hosts a Full Moon Snowshoe hike at North Tahoe Regional Park from 4:30 to 7:30 p.m. featuring natural history, fascinated facts about the moon and astronomy. Enjoy snacks and hot drinks. Easy, all ages. $65 per person. RSVP tahoeadventurecompany.com.
FEB. 4 | Wednesday Heart Health talk Truckee Tahoe Forest Hospital hosts a Heart Health Talk from 9:30 to 10:30 a.m. in the Eskridge Conference Room on The Heart-Emotion Connection and on Yoga and Healthy Heart. Free. (530) 582-7419. Family Story Time Incline Village Incline Village Library hosts a Family Story Time from 4 to 4:45 p.m. for children of all ages with stories, songs, games and crafts. (775) 832-4130.
FEB. 5 | Thursday Toddler Story Time Incline Village Incline Village Library hosts a Toddler Story Time from 11:15 to 11:45 a.m. for ages 6 months to 3 years with stories, puppets, music and movement. (775) 832-4130.
FEB. 6 | Friday First Fridays Tahoe City Tahoe City hosts First Friday from 4 to 6 p.m. each month with specials at participating shops throughout town. North Tahoe Fire will be at the Cobblestone Center from 4 to 6 offering free blood pressure checks for Heart Health Awareness Month, with engines and equipment on display. Visit visittahoecity.com. Kids Night Out Tahoe Donner On the First Friday of every month from 5 to 9 p.m., kids ages 4 to 9 year are invited to an evening of games, dinner, arts and crafts, the Friday Night Movie and even a bedtime story at Northwoods Clubhouse. Parents may enjoy a night out while the trained staff looks after your little ones. Space is limited. Pre-registration and payment is required at least one day in advance. $20 per child. RSVP (530) 587-9437. First Fridays Truckee Every First Friday of the month from 5 to 8 p.m. head to Historic Downtown Truckee where several of downtown’s unique shops, boutiques, art studios and eateries keep the doors open later and offer special promotions, activities, demonstrations, food and beverages, music and more. Participating shops and restaurants will display First Friday Flags. Visit historictruckee.com. Father Daughter Dance Crystal Bay Tahoe SAFE Alliance hosts the 6th Annual Father Daughter Dance from 6 to 9 p.m. at the Tahoe Biltmore for all fathers, grandfathers and uncles and other important male figures in a girl’s life. Features DJ music, snacks, activity stations, portraits and more. Prix-fixe dinner at Bilty’s BBQ offered from 4:30 to 6:30 p.m. Dinner $39, dance $25 per father/daughter, $5 each additional daughter. Visit tahoesafealliance.org. Parents’ Night Out Tahoe City First Baptist Church hosts Parent’s Night Out on the first Friday of each month until May 1 from 6 to 10 p.m. for ages birth to 12 years. All are welcome. Activities include recreation, Bible story, craft, music and a movie. Feed child before.$10 donation per child requested. (530) 583-1534. Super Bowl ad talk Truckee Sierra College hosts its Insights presentations at the college at 6:30 p.m. Tonight features “Four million dollars for 30 seconds: Are Super Bowl Ads worth it?” with Kurt Heisinger. Refreshments provided. Limited space. Free. RSVP sierracollege.ticketleap.com.
Family Movie Night Incline Village Incline Village Library hosts a Family Movie Night from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. with “The Princess Bridge.” Popcorn served. Bring pillows, blankets and drinks. (775) 832-4130.
FEB. 6-7 | Friday-Saturday Writers in the Woods Incline Village Sierra Nevada College presents Writers in the Woods with Saeed Jones, the editor of BuzzFeed LGBT. There will be a public talk on Friday at 7 p.m. in the TERC building, with a workshop from 9 a.m. to noon on Saturday. Free Friday reading, $50 Saturday workshop. Visit sierranevada.edu.
FEB. 6-8 | Friday-Sunday Advanced ski camp Olympic Valley Squaw Valley hosts an Advanced Skiing Camp with coaching, video analysis, clinics and more. 13+. $1,209 includes lift tickets, $989 without. RSVP (530) 452-4349. Avalanche workshop Norden Alpine Skills International hosts a three-day AIARE Avalanche Level 1 course. $450. RSVP alpineskills.com.
FEB. 6-9 | Friday-Monday Avalanche workshop Norden Alpine Skills International hosts an AIARE Avalanche Level 2 course. $595. RSVP alpineskills.com.
FEB. 7 | Saturday Intro to splitboarding Norden Alpine Skills International hosts an Intro to Splitboarding. $209 includes gear, $169 without. RSVP alpineskills.com. Backcountry Experience Incline Village Tahoe Mountain Sports hosts a Backcountry Experience with guided back-country tours to explore terrain in Diamond Peak’s Golden Eagle Bowl from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Open to intermediate and advanced skiers and riders. Includes demo of Dynafit touring gear. $150 includes gear, $135 for passholders, $100 for those with own alpine touring gear. RSVP (530) 536-5200. Bridal faire Olympic Valley North Lake Tahoe Bridal Faire comes to the Olympic Village Lodge from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. with the region’s top wedding planners, wedding photographers and wedding venues. Dozens of wedding experts will be on hand. (530) 581-8764. Register squaw.com.
Take Your Child to the Library Day Incline Village Incline Village Library hosts Take Your Child to the Library Day from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. Kids that visit will receive a free book. (775) 832-4130. Snowshoe Tour Northstar Northstar hosts a Twilight Snowshoe Tour at 5 p.m. through the forest down to the Village, then enjoy music, s’mores and hot chocolate. Dogs on leash OK. $52, $36 10 to 12, $20 snowshoe rentals. Visit nortshstarcalifornia.com. Winemaker event Northstar Petra in the Village at Northstar hosts a Meet the Winemaker with John Anthony Truchard of Farm Wines and tasting from 6 to 8 p.m. $12.
FEB. 7-8 | Saturday-Sunday Women’s Edventure Camp Homewood Sharpen your skills and make some new ski buddies with Homewood Mountain Resort’s two-day Women’s Edventure Camp featuring top female instructors, video analysis, and more. $499 includes lift tickets, $399 passholders. RSVP (530) 584-6800.
FEB. 8 | Sunday Snowshoe tour Tahoe Donner Tahoe Donner Cross Country hosts a snowshoe tour. Details TBA. Visit tahoedonner.com. Avalanche clinic Olympic Valley Squaw Valley hosts an Avalanche clinic. For intermediate to advanced skiers, riders and telemarkers. 13+ only. $149, does not include equipment. (800) 403-0206 or squawalpine.com. Razorback Ridge tour Norden Alpine Skills International hosts a Razorback Ridge tour. $165. RSVP alpineskills.com.
FEB. 10 | Tuesday Book reading & signing Truckee Bookshelf hosts a reading and book signing with author Buzzy Jackson, a native of Truckee, at Cedar House Sports Hotel for her book “The Inspirational Atheist. Fundraiser for Friends of the Truckee Library. $25. Tickets Truckee Library, Bookshelf or brownpapertickets.com. (530) 314-9368.
FEB. 11 | Wednesday Heart Health talk Truckee Tahoe Forest Hospital hosts a Heart Health Talk from 9:30 to 10:30 a.m. in the Eskridge Conference Room on Helpful or Harmful: 5 Fitness Tips. Free. (530) 582-7419.
Valentine’s Day Story Time Incline Village Incline Village Library hosts a Valentine’s Day Story Time from 4 to 4:45 p.m. for children of all ages with stories, treats and crafts. (775) 832-4130.
FEB. 12 | Thursday Heart Health talk, cooking demo Incline Village Incline Village Community Hospital hosts a Heart Health Talk and cooking demo from 11:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. in the Community Room with a heart-healthy food demo, lunch, and talk on heart healthy foods. Free. RSVP by Feb. 10. (775) 888-4262. Toddler Story Time Incline Village Incline Village Library hosts a Toddler Story Time from 11:15 to 11:45 a.m. for ages 6 months to 3 years with stories, puppets, music and movement. (775) 832-4130. Kids & Horses talk Tahoe City North Tahoe AAUW host a program with Bill Pifer of Kids & Horses at 1 p.m. at the Tahoe Yacht Club. Open to everyone. Contact northtahoeaauw@gmail.com. Paws 2 Read program Incline Village Incline Village Library hosts Paws to Read for children of all ages from 4 to 5 p.m. to read a book to a friendly dog for beginner readers. Children receive a free book. (775) 832-4130. Winter film series Olympic Valley Alpenglow hosts its Winter Film Series featuring Melissa Arnot at 7 p.m. at the Olympic Village Lodge. Free.
FEB. 13 | Friday Parents’ Night Out Incline Village Kids ages 5 to 11 will have the chance to experience fun at the Recreation Center and parents will get an evening off from 5:30 to 9:30 p.m. The schedule is packed full of fun, pizza and salad, games, swimming, arts and crafts, and a movie. $25, $20 with IVGID pass. RSVP by Feb. 11. (775) 8321310. Mountain Table Dinner Northstar Northstar hosts a Mountain Table Dinner featuring MacMurray Ranch at Zephyr Lodge from 6 to 9 p.m. with a menu featuring California-sourced ingredients. $120. RSVP northstarcalifornia.com.
FEB. 13-16 | Friday-Monday Avalanche education Truckee North American Ski Training Center hosts an AIARE certified Level 2 avalanche education with classroom and field training. Skier levels 6 to 9. RSVP skinastc.com.
FEB. 14 | Saturday Intro to splitboarding Norden Alpine Skills International hosts an Intro to Splitboarding. $209 includes gear, $169 without. RSVP alpineskills.com. Historical snowshoe tour Tahoma Enjoy a history-filled Snowshoe Tour at Sugar Pine Point State Park at 11 a.m. around the HellmanEhrman estate and along Lake Tahoe’s shore. Park in Day Use area. Free, $10 parking. Bring equipment. 75th Anniversary Party Norden Sugar Bowl celebrates its 75th Anniversary at Mt. Judah Lodge with live music, prizes, drinks, raffle and more. Visit sugarbowl.com. Winemaker event Tahoe City Uncorked Tahoe City hosts a winemaker event from 5 to 7 p.m. with Sean Minor of Sean Minor Wines. $10 tastings. Visit teloswine.com. Stargazing Snowshoe Tour Northstar Northstar hosts telescopic viewing with Star Guide and poet Tony Berendsen starting with a guided snowshoe tour at 5 p.m. Features later tour of the night sky and viewings with Celestron telescopes. $59, $42 10 to 12, $20 snowshoe rentals. Visit northstarcalifornia.com. Full Moon Yurt Dinner Tahoe City Tahoe Cross Country hosts Full Moon Yurt Dinner with guest Chef Dough Baehr to benefit Sierra Watershed Education Partnerships. (530) 583-1430. Black Tie & Tales Northstar Humane Society of Truckee-Tahoe hosts its annual Black Tie & Tails benefit at The Ritz-Carlton with a black-tie optional event from 5:30 to 11 p.m. Bring your canine companion to this red-carpet event with champagne and hors d’oeuvres, dinner, music, dancing and more. $175. Limited tickets. RSVP (530) 582-2468.
FEB. 14-16 | Saturday-Monday Avalanche workshop Norden Alpine Skills International hosts a three-day AIARE Avalanche Level 1 course. $450. RSVP alpineskills.com.
FEB. 14-17 | Saturday-Tuesday Mardi Gras Celebration Northstar Indulge in a weekend filled with scavenger hunts, live music including Saint Gabriel’s Celestial Brass
Band, face painting and snow cones in the Village at Northstar. Be sure to join the helmet decorating station and show off your creation during the Fat Tuesday Ripperoo Parade. Visit northstarcalifornia.com.
FEB. 15 | Sunday Avalanche clinic Norden Alpine Skills International hosts a AIARE Intro to Avalanche Safety clinic. $169 includes lift tickets. RSVP alpineskills.com. Avalanche workshop Norden Alpine Skills International hosts an AIARE Avalanche Level 1 Refresh course. $195. RSVP alpineskills.com. Anderson Ridge Tour Norden Alpine Skills International hosts an Anderson Ridge Tour starting from Mount Lincoln. $165, does not include one-way Sugar Bowl lift ticket. RSVP alpineskills.com. Bartender competition Homewood The West Shore Bartender Competition’s Top 10 Competitors have been chosen and are ready to battle it out from 2 to 5 p.m. Justincredible DJ will be announcing, and each bartender will be mixing to his or her own beat. Try 10 different cocktails from 10 competitors. $5 advance, $10 at the door. RSVP (530) 525-5200. Family Snowshoe Tour Northstar Northstar hosts a family snowshoe tour for all ages and ability levels with hot chocolate and cookies. $49, $29 12 and younger, $20 snowshoe rentals. Visit northstarcalifornia.com. Full moon snowshoe Incline Village Enjoy a Full Moon Snowshoe Hike to Diamond Peak’s Snowflake Lodge from 5 to 9 p.m. for ages 9 and older. Light fare available for purchase at the lodge. Register (775) 832-1310. Twilight Snowshoe Tour Northstar Northstar hosts a Twilight Snowshoe Tour at 5 p.m. through the forest down to the Village, then enjoy music, s’mores and hot chocolate. Dogs on leash OK. $52, $36 10 to 12, $20 snowshoe rentals. Visit nortshstarcalifornia.com. Transceiver clinic Olympic Valley Squaw Valley Professional Ski Patrol hosts free avalanche transceiver workshops at 5:30 p.m. at the office in the Red Dog Complex on the 1st and 15th of each month through March 15. All ages. Visit squawalpine.com.
FEB. 17 | Tuesday Fat Tuesday Whiskey Dinner Northstar Enjoy a five-course culinary experience inspired by Southern flair paired with a variety of whiskey pairings at TC’s Pub for Fat Tuesday. Visit northstarcalifornia.com.
FEB. 18 | Wednesday Silver Peak tour Olympic Valley Alpine Skills International hosts a Silver Peak tour. $165 RSVP alpineskills.com. Heart Health talk Truckee Tahoe Forest Hospital hosts a Heart Health Talk from 9:30 to 10:30 a.m. in the Eskridge Conference Room on Eat to Your Heart’s Health. Free. (530) 582-7419. Family Story Time Incline Village Incline Village Library hosts a Family Story Time from 4 to 4:45 p.m. for children of all ages with stories, songs, games and crafts. (775) 832-4130.
FEB. 19 | Thursday Toddler Story Time Incline Village Incline Village Library hosts a Toddler Story Time from 11:15 to 11:45 a.m. for ages 6 months to 3 years with stories, puppets, music and movement. (775) 832-4130. Tahoe Weekly mixer Tahoe City Tahoe Weekly magazine hosts a mixer with the North Lake Tahoe Chamber at the Tahoe City Visitor Center from 5 to 7 p.m. with drinks, appetizers and giveaways to celebrate the launch of our Tahoe Powder and Tahoe Summer magazines. Catered by Bridgetender Tavern & Grill with wine from Merlot Family Vineyards. Open to members and prospective members. Canine companion talk Incline Village Finding Your Ideal Canine Companion is the topic of this talk at Tahoe Environmental Research Center with Drs. Benjamin and Lynette Hart of the UC Davis School of Veterinary Medicine at 6 p.m. at the center. They will present new information on breed-specific and gender-specific behavioral profiles on dogs most commonly chosen as companions in the mountains. No-host social at 5:30. Visit tahoe.ucdavis.edu. Lake Tahoe Railway talk Truckee Truckee Donner Historical Society host the Truckee Railroad History Alive! series at 7 p.m. featuring a talk on Lake Tahoe Railways and Transportation Company with Jerry Blackwell of the Truckee Donner Railroad Society at the Veterans’ Hall. (530) 582-0893 or truckeehistory.org.
FEB. 20 | Friday Peak performance talk Olympic Valley Squaw Valley Institute presents Steven Kotler, an award-winning journalist, co-founder of the Flow Genome project and New York Times best-selling author, at Olympic Village Lodge at 6:30 p.m. Kotler explores the frontier science of flow, an optimal state of consciousness in which we perform and feel our best. Cocktail hour starts at 5:30. $25 adult, $10 12 and younger, free members. Tickets squawvalleyinstittute.org.
FEB. 20-22 | Friday-Sunday Avalanche education Truckee North American Ski Training Center hosts an AIARE certified Level 1 avalanche education with classroom and field training. Skier levels 6 to 9. RSVP skinastc.com.
FEB. 21 | Saturday Intro to telemark Norden Alpine Skills International hosts an Intro to Telemark for advanced beginner and low intermediate alpine skiers. $165, $225 includes lift pass. RSVP alpineskills.com. Backcountry Experience Incline Village Tahoe Mountain Sports hosts a Backcountry Experience with guided back-country tours to explore terrain in Diamond Peak’s Golden Eagle Bowl from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Open to intermediate and advanced skiers and riders. Includes demo of Dynafit touring gear. $150 includes gear, $135 for passholders, $100 for those with own alpine touring gear. RSVP (530) 536-5200. Clicquot in the Snow Olympic Valley PlumpJack hosts a series of Clicquot in the Snow events featuring Veuve Clicquot Yellow Label and Rose from 2 to 5 p.m. with champagne specials, DJ, snow games, giveaways, a photo booth and more. Visit plumpjacksquawvalleyinn.com. Winemaker event Olympic Valley Uncorked Squaw Valley hosts a winemaker event from 5 to 7 p.m. with Kirk Venge of Venge Vineyards. $10 tastings. Visit teloswine.com. Twilight Snowshoe Tour Northstar Northstar hosts a Twilight Snowshoe Tour at 5 p.m. through the forest down to the Village, then enjoy music, s’mores and hot chocolate. Dogs on leash OK. $52, $36 10 to 12, $20 snowshoe rentals. Visit nortshstarcalifornia.com.
Glowstick parade & carnival Tahoe Donner Tahoe Donner Downhill hosts the Children’s Glowstick Parade and carnival. Details TBA. Visit tahoedonner.com. Snowshoe Star Tour Tahoe Vista Tahoe Adventure Company and Tony Berendsen host a Snowshoe Star Tour at North Tahoe Regional Park from 5 to 9 p.m. featuring natural history and astronomy. Enjoy snacks and hot drinks, along with a star tour, telescope viewing and more. Easy to moderate. $75 per person. RSVP tahoeadventurecompany.com. Squaw Valley Prom Olympic Valley Ocean’s Eleven is the theme for the 11th annual Squaw Valley Prom starting at 8 p.m. at Olympic House featuring six bars, live music, a bigtruck headwear sew on site, photo booth, screen printing, videos, drink specials and more to benefit High Fives Foundation and CHARITYSMITH. Sells out. $100 couple, $200 single. Tickets squawvalleyprom.com.
FEB. 21-22 | Saturday-Sunday 50th Anniversary Event Truckee Come celebrate Boreal Mountain Resort’s 50th anniversary in style with a beer garden, live music and more. Visit rideboreal.com.
FEB. 21-28 | Saturday-Saturday Alpenglow Mountain Festival Area venues The second annual nine-day festival focuses on human-powered winters sports, including backcountry and cross-country skiing, snowshoeing and snowbiking. Almost all of the activities are free including instruction, demos, special events and nightly presentations and films. Visit facebook.com/alpenglowsports.
FEB. 22 | Sunday Ski tour Tahoe Donner Tahoe Donner Cross Country hosts Paco’s Ski Fondo tour featuring a long course for the adventurous and a shorter course for the less energetic with lunch and a raffle drawing. $30 adults, $20 18 and younger. Visit tahoedonner.com.
FEB. 22-23 | Sunday-Monday All Conditions/All Terrain clinic Olympic Valley North American Ski Training Center hosts an All Conditions/All Terrain clinic at Squaw Valley for skiers that want to build stronger technique for all mountain skiing, as well as for those that are
starting to make the transition from groomed terrain to off-piste terrain. Skier levels 6 to 9. RSVP skinastc.com.
FEB. 25 | Wednesday Heart Health talk Truckee Tahoe Forest Hospital hosts a Heart Health Talk from 9:30 to 10:30 a.m. in the Eskridge Conference Room on The Heart of the Matter: Women and Heart Disease. Free. (530) 582-7419. Dr. Suess Story Time Incline Village Incline Village Library hosts a Dr. Suess Story Time from 4 to 4:45 p.m. with stories and crafts to honor Dr. Suess. (775) 832-4130.
Wine dinner Olympic Valley PlumpJack CafÊ hosts a Master Sommelier Wine Dinner with Reggie Narito featuring selected wines paired with Chef Wyatt Dufresne’s four-course menu along with a discussions on the Court of Master Sommeliers and the Deductive Tasting Method. No-host social hour with the sommelier at 6 p.m., lecture at 6:30 and seating at 7. RSVP (530) 583-1578.
FEB. 26 | Thursday Toddler Story Time Incline Village Incline Village Library hosts a Toddler Story Time from 11:15 to 11:45 a.m. for ages 6 months to 3 years with stories, puppets, music and movement. (775) 832-4130. Steam Party Incline Village Incline Village Library hosts a Steam Party from 4 to 5 p.m. featuring new science, technology, engineering, art and math toys to try out. (775) 832-4130. Business mixer Truckee Truckee Donner Chamber of Commerce hosts a business mixer from 5 to 7 p.m. at 1882 Bar & Grill, located at the River Street Inn. Backcountry Film Festival Tahoe City The Winter Wildlands Alliance brings the 10th annual Backcountry Film Festival celebrating the human powder experience through film to Tahoe Art Haus. The festival includes full-length films and short clips from some of the best production companies. Trailer winterwildlands.org.
FEB. 27 | Friday Mountain Table Dinner Northstar Northstar hosts a Mountain Table Dinner featuring Ferrari-Carano Winery at Zephyr Lodge from 6 to 9 p.m. with a menu featuring California-sourced ingredients. $120. RSVP northstarcalifornia.com.
FEB. 27-March 8 | Friday-Sunday SnowFest Area venues Ski races, parades, SnowFest Queen coronations, parades, polar bear swims, bizarre contests and a whole bunch of great food have been the hallmark of the annual SnowFest celebration of winter for more than 30 years. Visit tahoesnowfestival.org.
FEB. 28 | Saturday Polar Bear Swim Carnelian Bay Gar Wood’s hosts the annual Polar Bear Swim at 2:30 p.m. in the chilly waters of Lake Tahoe, followed by a raffle in the bar. Visit garwoods.com. Winemaker event Tahoe City Uncorked Tahoe City hosts a winemaker event from 5 to 7 p.m. with Joe Shebl of Fiddletown Cellars. $10 tastings. Visit teloswine.com. Twilight Snowshoe Tour Northstar Northstar hosts a Twilight Snowshoe Tour at 5 p.m. through the forest down to the Village, then enjoy music, s’mores and hot chocolate. Dogs on leash OK. $52, $36 10 to 12, $20 snowshoe rentals. Visit nortshstarcalifornia.com. Scotch tasting dinner Incline Village Tahoe Institute for Natural Science hosts a benefit Scotch Tasting Dinner from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. at the Parasol building featuring five scotches paired with a four-course meal from As You Wish Catering. Cocktail attire. $225. RSVP tinsweb.org or (775) 298-0065. Full moon snowshoe tour Tahoma Enjoy Full Moon Snowshoe Tours at Sugar Pine Point State Park at 7 p.m. around the HellmanEhrman estate and along Lake Tahoe’s shore. Beginner’s clinic at 6:30 p.m. with West Shore Sports. Park in Day Use area. Benefits Sierra State Parks Foundation. Limited space. $25, free 12 and younger, includes parking and snowshoe rentals. RSVP (530) 525-9920. Book release party Olympic Valley Gallery Keoki in the Village at Squaw Valley hosts a book pre-release party from 6 to 8 p.m. for Keoki Flagg’s forthcoming book, “Elemental.” Visit gallerykeoki.com.
Ability Bash Alpine Meadows Enjoy the Ability Bash to benefit Disabled Sports Far West from 6 to 10 p.m. at Alpine Meadows Lodge featuring a gourmet dinner, wines and microbrews, silent auction, raffle and dancing to DJ Silver Boombox Thief. $100. Tickets (530) 581-4161 or disabledsports.net.
FEB. 28-MARCH 2 | Saturday-Monday Avalanche workshop Norden Alpine Skills International hosts a three-day AIARE Avalanche Level 1 course. $450. RSVP alpineskills.com.
JANUARY IS LEARN TO SKI & SNOWBOARD MONTH! January 16, 2015
START 2015 OFF BY EITHER LEARNING TO SKI OR SNOWBOARD OR BY IMPROVING YOUR SKILLS ON THE SLOPES! WHETHER YOU HAVE NO SNOW SPORT EXPERIENCE WHATSOEVER OR HAVE BEEN ON THE MOUNTAIN FOR YEARS, MANY LOCAL RESORTS HAVE DEALS ON LESSONS TO HELP YOU GET MOVING! Alpine Meadows has a special first time lesson package for beginners who are ages 13+. This package includes a beginner lift ticket, a 2.5 hour lesson, and equipment rentals. This package is available until the 30th of January. Mt. Rose’s first timer package for beginners 11+ includes a all-day lift ticket good for their beginners lifts, equipment rental, Learn-at-your-own-pace lessons (available weekends and holidays) or twohour group lessons (available weekdays). For those of you who have some experience under your
belts but are looking to take it to the next level Mt. Rose also offers Next Step Lessons as a refresher course. In these lessons you will review the basics like stopping and turning, as well as develop confidence on the hill. The Next Step lesson is two hours long and includes a beginner lift ticket and rental equipment. Sugar Bowl Resort is also embracing Learn to Ski & Snowboard Month by offering lessons throughout January. For children 12 and under, Sugar Bowl Resort haslessons for beginners that are taught in groups. The package includes a rental package and lift ticket. They also have an equivalent package for adults who are looking for some professional instruction. Homewood Resort has first-timer lessons for adults that include a half-day lesson, equipment rental, and a beginner lift ticket. They also have a first-timer 3-day package that includes three full days of lift tickets, rentals, and lessons for three days. Northstar California has plenty of lesson options for skiers and snowboarders of all levels and ages. They offer 6 or 3 hour private lessons that include first-class private lift lane privileges and oneon-one instruction (you have the option to share your lesson with up to six friends and family members). They also have the Ultimate 4 Lesson package for skiers and snowboarders, as well as 2.5 hour group lessons for all levels of experience. Heavenly Mountain Resort has similar ski and snowboard lessons, as well. Some lesson options include: first timer, second timer, group, and private lessons. They also have a special on two adult lessons, giving you a lesson for two for the price of one that includes two half-days of lessons, lift access, and rental equipment. Sierra-at-Tahoe has a Learn to Ski and Ride online special for the month of January that includes a lift ticket for limited access to conveyor lifts, equipment rental, and a 2.5 hour first-timer lesson. Kirkwood Mountain Resort is offering beginner lessons for first-timers starting as young as the age of 3. These lessons are available in morning or afternoon sessions, or you can receive a full-day or half-day private lesson, as well.
Learn to Ski & Snowboard Month is the perfect excuse for everyone to get up on the mountain and improve their downhill skills. Be sure to check out each resort’s website for lesson prices, additional lesson options, and much more!
Winter-lovers should get a taste of Tahoe Januray 15, 2015
The Ridge Run at Heavenly ski resort offers unparalleled views of Lake Tahoe. PHOTO: SUZANNE MORPHET/FOR THE VANCOUVER SUN
“We’re going to keep our speed up as we cross the state line,” Tony, my ski guide, yells as he surges ahead of me on a straight stretch. A few seconds later he looks back with a grin. “We’re in Nevada now.”
I’ve heard about skiing from one country to another in Europe’s Alps, but skiing between American states? At Heavenly ski resort at Lake Tahoe it’s not only possible to ski from California to Nevada (and vice versa), but you don’t have to brush up on another language for when you arrive. While two-state skiing makes Heavenly unique, it’s just one of more than a dozen downhill resorts around the lake, each with its own distinctive personality. But you needn’t be a skier to enjoy winter at Lake Tahoe. From curling to wine-tasting, The Lake – as everyone here calls it – has something for everyone. After following Tony down one of Heavenly’s Nevada runs with views over the High Sierra Desert, we return to California where he has something else to show me: “one of the most beautiful ski runs in the world.” Now that’s a boast I want to test. We jump on the Sky Express and head up to the highest point skiers can access at Heavenly, just over 3,000 metres above sea level. As we carve our way down Ridge Run, The Lake spreads out before us like a giant blue sapphire rimmed with white snow. Tony wasn’t exaggerating – it’s stunning. Heavenly has the most terrain of all the resorts at Lake Tahoe – 1,940 hectares – so you could easily spend several days or a week right here, but our goal is to be in Northstar at the far end of the lake by Day 4, with a day at Squaw Valley in between. It’s 77 kilometres in total, or an hour and a half’s drive on the California side of the lake. Before leaving South Lake Tahoe, I have a mission: learn to curl, or at least get an introduction to the sport. It might seem odd for a Canadian to take up curling in the States, but the South Lake Tahoe Ice Arena offers 2.5-hour learn-to-curl sessions once a month. I’m here, so why not? I can’t say I fell in love with the game, but after a couple hours learning how to push off (and not fall on my face) and how to hurl 20 kilograms of solid granite, I have a new respect for the sport. That evening we walk along the 300-metre pier at The Boathouse to watch the sky turn rosy pink before going inside for dinner. Even a few years ago, Lake Tahoe wasn’t known for its food. But any thought that we might suffer a week of ho-hum meals was banished the previous evening when we dined at Jimmy’s at The Landing Resort. With dishes such as rabbit spanakopita and wood-grilled halloumi, we knew we were in California and in for a culinary adventure. My lamb lollipops on a bed of parsnip puree and wilted kale at The Boathouse simply confirmed it. The next morning, we headed north on Highway 89, following the curve of the lake past picturesque Emerald Bay and stopping to walk the shoreline at Camp Richardson, where San Francisco’s
wealthy families summered at the turn of the 20th century. Recent efforts to improve the water quality of Lake Tahoe have resulted in big improvements. Clarity has increased almost six metres in the last 15 years, with rocks now visible 25 metres below the surface. That afternoon we tried some off-mountain activities, first challenging ourselves on the ropes at Granlibakken Treetop Adventure Course, then snowshoeing through a delightful pine forest at Tahoe City Winter Sports Park, a local favourite. (The Tahoe basin supports 11 species of coniferous trees, including the sugar pine with its enormous cones.) Before a casual but scrumptious dinner at Jake’s on the Lake, we checked out one of the numerous wine bars in the region. Uncorked at Tahoe City offers a wide selection of limited production wines from around the world. Their tastings and by-the-glass wines change daily. The next day I’m getting off a chairlift on a mountaintop at Squaw Valley and who do I meet but Superman. Turns out he’s a Canadian living in California and drives up from San Francisco to snowboard on his days off, lucky guy. I didn’t ask about his costume, but you’ll need to be Superman too if you want to experience the six peaks serviced by 29 lifts at this resort in one day. Even if all you do is take the aerial tram to High Camp for lunch, it’s worth it – you’ll see beautiful rock formations and views of the valley and lake far below. The Resort at Squaw Creek is a delightful place to recover from your day’s exertions. It boasts three heated swimming pools, a fitness centre with the latest equipment, an award-winning spa and five restaurants. We reach Northstar the next day in a flurry of snowflakes. They’re so big they’re almost blinding as we stroll around Northstar Village, an upscale resort town with a 835-squaremetre outdoor rink. This is where families head after a day on the slopes to skate and roast s’mores over an open fire (you can purchase s’mores kits to build your own tasty treats). Of course, if you’re staying at the Ritz-Carlton Northstar, you can have your fill of s’mores in the backyard of the triple-A five-diamond hotel, the most luxurious resort in all of Lake Tahoe. Architecturally inspired by classic mountain lodges such as Ahwahnee in Yosemite National Park and Timberline on Mount Hood, the Ritz-Carlton is a fitting way to wrap up any visit to The Lake. IF YOU GO … Stay
Lake Tahoe Resort Hotel, South Lake Tahoe 530-544-5400 tahoeresorthotel.com The Resort at Squaw Creek in Squaw Valley 530-583-6300 squawcreek.com The Ritz-Carlton at Northstar 530-562-3000 ritzcarlton.com/en/Properties/LakeTahoe/Default.htm Eat and Drink The Boathouse Restaurant in South Lake Tahoe 530-545-4338 Jimmy’s at The Landing in South Lake Tahoe 530-600-3501 jee@thelandingtahoe.com Beacon Bar and Grill at Camp Richardson 530-541-0630 Jake’s on the Lake at Tahoe City 530-5830188 Uncorked has three locations on the California side of Lake Tahoe 530-581-1106 Do Learn to curl at the South Lake Tahoe Ice Arena tahoearena.com/#/home/Snowshoe, cross-country ski and sled at Tahoe City Winter Sports Park wintersportspark.com Have fun on the ropes and ziplines at Granlibakken Treetop Adventure Course granlibakken.com/adventure_ center.php
Top five family activities on Lake Tahoe's North Shore January 14, 2015 Lake Tahoe is world renowned for its natural beauty and abundance of family activities. Families visit to explore the pristine lake and the surrounding mountains year round. Read on for a list of the best winter activities on the family-friendly North and West shores to help you make the most of your next Tahoe vacation.
Homewood Ski Rangers Best Ski School for kids The Ski Rangers program at Homewood ski resort on the west shore is the perfect place to introduce your child to skiing or snowboarding or to perfect their skills. Families are warmly greeted at the Children's Center at Homewood's South Lodge where they fill out the appropriate paperwork, purchase any child size gear they may need and for their child to receive a GPS tracking device that follows your child's location while wearing it. A big hug goodbye at the blue arches and the kids excitedly enter the parent-free zone! They are greeted by the Homewood staff and fitted for their skis as they begin their big adventure on the Homewood slopes with their well-trained ski instructor. The Ski Ranger program consists of a full day of skiing (from 10 am to 3 pm) and it includes lift tickets, ski package rentals and lunch. For age-appropriate lessons, children ages 4-6 are in the Snow Ranger program and ages 7-12 are in the Mountain Rangers program. Parents can enjoy a day on the mountain or relax at either of the two lodges while their children enjoy their lesson. For those 13 and older, Homewood offers free intermediate and advanced lessons Sunday through Friday. Participants that can ski or snowboard intermediate terrain in parallel are welcome to meet the instructor at the top of Old Homewood Express at 10:30 am or 1:30 pm. While one lesson is wonderful, research has shown that the sweet spot for making progress on these skills is three days so Homewood offers a special three day package within the Ski Ranger program. West Shore CafÊ and Inn is located directly across the street from Homewood and serves complimentary s’mores daily from 4 – 4:30 p.m. on its beautiful deck overlooking the lake.
Olympic Ice Pavilion at Squaw Valley Best Ice Skating Rink Getting to the Olympic Ice Pavilion at Squaw Valley is half the fun! Guests take an aerial tram to High Camp at the top of the mountain and enjoy breathtaking 360 degree views along the way. High Camp offers a variety of cafes, bars and the gorgeous Terrace Restaurant. The restaurant is perched at the top of the mountain offering serene views of the Sierra Nevada and the crystal blue waters of Lake Tahoe. The food at The Terrace is scrumptious and the wait can be up to an hour so plan ahead to try to beat the afternoon rush. Just steps away from the Terrace restaurant on your way to the ice skating rink, you will pass by the Olympic Museum filled with memorabilia from the 1960 Winter Games at Squaw Valley. While skating at the High Camp ice rink, you will enjoy panoramic views of the ski hill behind you, the resort just below you and the beautiful lake. Tickets are just $12 for adults and $6 for children and include hockey or figure skate rentals. Ice skate helpers are available for beginners creating a fun and safe experience for all levels.
Granlibakken Resort Best sledding Granlibakken is a local favorite and a hidden gem, tucked away in Tahoe City off the beaten path. This charming resort offers lodging, dining, skiing, sledding and a ropes course with zip lining. The sled hill is very popular and is our top choice for sledding on the north shore. The sledding area at Granlibakken offers something for every age group. From a flat circular area with parents pulling infants around to sledding hills complete with staff to help you make a timely stop, there is safe fun for everyone. For $14 you receive rental of a saucer and access to the sledding hill for the day. You may also bring your own plastic sled if you prefer.
Borges Sleigh Rides at Sand Harbor Best Sleigh Ride Experience the magic of Lake Tahoe on a scenicsleigh ride at the stunning Sand Harbor beach. This family excursion takes you "over the meadow and through the woods" and even along the shores of the pristine lake. One of the newest attractions on the lake, the Sand Harbor sleighs are equipped with warm, cozy blankets and wheels in case of a lack of snow assuring your ride will be available, even when large amounts of snow are not. The sleigh ride meets at the Visitor's Center at Nevada State Park at Sand Harbor (2005 Hwy 28) everyday from 10 am to 4 pm. A one hour private sleigh ride is $45 per adult (over 10 years old) and $25 per child (2 to 10 years old). The CharPit restaurant at the visitor center is open most weekends and accepts reservations. On the days that the restaurant is closed, hot chocolate is available at the sleigh ride check in.
SnoVentures at Squaw Valley Best Tubing Park Do you prefer a steep or gradual hill? Will you go straight down, or spin all the way? You can have it your way and enjoy a fun day of tubing at Squaw Valley. Simply grab a tube, step on the moving walkway and be transported up the hill to the slope of your choice. The staff is at the top of each slope to monitor the track, help you get in your tube and to send you down the hill. There is also staff at the bottom of each run to make sure everyone is safely out of the way of each other. Each run is separated with walls of snow and carefully designed for safety so you can just sit down, hold on and enjoy yourself. Sessions are 55 minutes, starting on the hour and a limited amount of tickets are sold for each, ensuring the lines will not be too long and that everyone is safe. Tubing is open to those 3 and older that are over 36" and is $29 per session.
Powder Report January 14, 2014 Skogsloppet returns to Tahoe Donner Tahoe Donner Cross Country is offering a number of races this season starting with the Skogsloppet, a fundraiser for local cross-country teams, on Jan. 19. Choose from 15- or 7.5-km courses with a 2-km course for those 12 and younger. The cost is $30 for adults, $20 for kids and $10 for the 2km course. Visit tahoedonner.com. Zabell named to World Junior Team The United States Biathlon Association International Competition Committee has named Auburn Ski Club Biathlete and Sugar Bowl Academy Nordic Skier Sam Zabell to the Youth/Junior World Championship Biathlon Team. Zabell, 17, of Truckee will be a member of the four-person youth (under 19) team competing in Minsk-Raubichi, Belarus, in the Youth World Championships from Feb. 17 to 24. Zabell qualified for the team by placing 4th, 3rd and 4th, respectively, in the three-race US youth/junior trials held in December. Auburn Ski Club hosts races Auburn Ski Club is hostings races throughout the season. Pre-registration for events may be done at athleteinyou.com. And, a USSA membership is required to earn USSA points at all races. The 10th Mountain Biathlon takes place on Jan. 18 with a stadium youth race, 4.5K Novice race and 12.5K Pro race. Clinics will be offered on Jan. 17. The Chuck Lyda Biathlon is scheduled for Feb. 15 with a stadium youth race, a 4.5K Novice race and a 12. 5K pro race. The President’s Cup Freestyle Race on Feb. 16 is a 10K USSA sanctioned men’s race and a 5K USSA sanctioned women’s race. As well, a 10K USSA NRL for both men and women will be held. Kids may enjoy a 5K and 2K race. For more information, visit auburnskiclub.com. Tahoe Donner hosts fun races Tahoe Donner Downhill hosts a fun public race series this season. The races are formatted so that anyone with an intermediate skiing ability may compete. Races take place on Jan. 24, Feb. 7 and 28, and March 14. Age categories are split by male and female ages 18 and older and 17 and
younger. The cost is $5 for two-race run and $1 per additional run. For more information, visit tahoedonner.com. Boreal offers chances to compete Amateur and pro races will have many chances to compete in events scheduled at Boreal this season. Expression Sessions take place Jan. 16 and March 27. Riders, skiers and snowskaters battle it out in hopes of standing on top of the podium. The progressive setup will showcase features for a range of ability levels. With seven divisions, there will be plenty of prizes up for grabs. The USASA North Tahoe Series returns Jan. 24 with slopestyle, halfpipe and boarder cross events. Participants must have a USASA membership to earn points. Skiers and riders of all ages and abilities are encouraged to participate. Events are held Jan. 24 and 25, Jan. 31 and Feb. 1, Feb. 7 and 8, Feb. 28, and March 27. Join the Neff Beach Bash on March 15. Snowboarders compete on unique features inspired by Neff headwear for a chance to stand atop the beach ball covered podium. Come ride with Armada pro athletes during the Rip & Slide on April 4. This freeski event is all about a good time and enjoying the spring sunshine. For more information, visit rideboreal.com. Burton Mountain Fest comes to Northstar The Burton Mountain Festival comes to Northstar featuring three days of activities both on and off the hill. Guests may check out the Demo Village and Riglet Park before enjoying an after-party a TC’s Pub from Jan. 23 to 25. For more information, visit northstarcalfiornia.com. Wilderness First Aid offered The Tahoe Rim Trail partnered with the Wilderness Medicine Institute to offer a Wilderness First Aid course on Jan. 24 and 25. The WFA course will help participants prepare for the unexpected. This fast-paced, hands-on training is designed to meet the needs of trip leaders, camp staff, outdoor enthusiasts and individuals working in remote locations. To register, visit tahoerimtrail.org. Learn to ski, ride in January Multiple resorts in North Lake Tahoe invite skiers and riders of all levels to hit the slopes and take advantage of special deals during learn to ski and snowboard month. Tahoe Donner Ski Area offers a two-for-one package allowing groups of two to take a one-hour private lesson including a day pass or lift ticket and rentals for $81. Individual packages are $39 for a 1 hour and 45 minute lesson including ticket and gear rental. These deals are offered Jan. 19 to 22. Diamond Peak offers a $39 Learn to Ski & Ride package with a beginner lift ticket, gear rental and 1 hour and 45 minute lesson through Jan. 16. Participants may purchase the Diamond Club Membership for $119, which includes three beginner lesson packages and the chance to earn an extra day on the hill with tickets and rentals. Additionally, the Backcountry Experience Series is offered on Feb. 7, Feb. 21 and March 14. The series provides a safe introduction to Tahoe’s back country by providing tips on avalanche hazards and uphill skiing methods. The cost is $150 for a guided tour and equipment rental, $135 for Diamond Peak passholders and $100 excluding equipment rental.
Squaw Valley and Alpine Meadows offers a $49 Learn to Ski & Ride special Monday through Friday until Jan. 30 with a 2½-hour lesson with gear rental and lift ticket. Boreal continues to offer the Take 3, Ride free program. Participants may purchase a lessons package and after completing three lessons receive an unlimited season pass. Receive a 2-hour lesson with equipment and a lift ticket for $97 at Mt. Rose. Two-hour performance workshops are offered for $39 for intermediate skiers and riders looking to improve skills. Sugar Bowl offers terrain-based learning lessons including equipment and a lift ticket for $59. Northstar offers a variety of lesson options for first-time skiers and rider, as well as guided tours. Homewood Mountain Resort offers ski and ride packages including gear rental and ticket for $49. For more information about packages and Learn to Ski and Snowboard month, visit gotahoenorth.com. Winter mountaineering courses offered Two-day ice climbing courses are offered for levels 1 through 3 at June Lake and in Lee Vining Canyon through Alpine Skills International. Level 1 courses cover appropriate gear, low angle climbing techniques, high angle climbing techniques and belaying and lowering on ice. No previous experience is necessary. Courses are offered Jan. 18 and 19 and Feb. 8 and 9. Level 2 covers more sustained, steeper ice and placement and removal of ice protection while resting effectively. Anchor building and multi-pitch climbing also are covered. Previous ice climbing experience is required. Courses are offered Jan. 20 to 21 and Feb. 10 to 11. Level 3 includes two days of mixed, thin ice and rock climbing and steeper multi-pitch climbing. Previous experience must include climbing up to W14, ice screws, rock gear and belaying and rappelling. This course is offered from Jan. 25 to 26. The cost for each course is $370. For more information, visit alpineskills.com. Camp Richardson hosts cocktail race Camp Richardson hosts the popular Snowshoe Cocktail Race scheduled this season for Jan. 17, Feb. 21 and March 21. There’s no entry fee, just come and enjoy this fast-paced race with cocktail in hand. Spartan Race comes to Tahoe Spartan Race has announced that the obstacle racing series’ World Championship will be held in Squaw Valley on Oct. 3 and 4. Since its debut in 2011, the annual event had been held at Vermont’s Killington Mountain Resort & Ski Area. The weekend event will include the World Championship Spartan Beast (13-plus miles, 30-plus obstacles) on Saturday, and a Spartan Sprint (3-plus miles, 20-plus obstacles), a Spartan Beast and Ultra Beast (26-plus miles, 60-plus obstacles) on Sunday. The mountainous course will peak at 9,050 feet in elevation. Spartan Race expects more than 10,000 athletes around the globe to compete in the World Championships for more than $100,000 in cash prizes. NBC Sports has been awarded broadcast
rights and is expected to produce a one-hour television special on the event. For more details, visit spartan.com. Diamond Peak hosts Nachtspektakel The Nachtspektakel is a guided skin up the mountain, followed by a three-course dinner and drinks at Snowflake Lodge and ending with a private nighttime ski down on Jan. 31 from 2 to 9 p.m. Bring a head lamp, dress warmly, and pack a pair of sandals or comfortable shoes for the dinner. Free backcountry rentals may be reserved through Tahoe Mountain Sports. The cost is $45 and includes equipment rentals, two hours of lift-served skiing from 2 to 4 p.m., a guided skin up the mountain, dinner and drinks. For more information or to make a reservation, call (530) 536-5200. Avalanche education offered Tahoe Mountain Sports is offering a free Avalanche Education Series at the new location in the Gateway Shopping Center in Truckee. The series concludes with Read, Interpret, Decide: Analyzing Avalanche Reports on Feb. 4, conducted by the staff at Tahoe Mountain Sports with experienced guest speakers. For more information, visit tahoemountainsports.com. Learn to xc for seniors offered A learn to ski program for seniors will be offered at Tahoe Donner Cross Country from 1:30 to 3 p.m. on Wednesdays from Feb. 4 to 25. The program is designed for skiers to learn at his or her pace with experienced instructors. The cost is $81 or $61 for members. For more information, visit tahoedonner.com. Join Ripperoo’s Rail Jam Kids 12 and younger can join the Ripperoo Rail Jams on Fridays and Saturdays from 4 to 6 p.m. at Northstar Resort. The introductory park clinic is free to kids on skis or snowboards and includes instruction from Northstar’s Ski and Ride School coaches. Kids 12 and younger will learn the fundamentals of how to tackle his or her first rail slide and receive tips on how to ride other terrain park features. Kids also will learn general terrain park etiquette and safety. Guests must bring equipment. All participants must have parents sign a waiver and be accompanied by a parent at all times. The rail jam is subject to weather and conditions. Classes run every Friday and Saturday until March 28. For more information, visit northstarcalifornia.com. Tahoe Rim Tour & Race announced The 8th annual Tahoe Rim Tour & Race on Feb. 1 takes cross-country skiers on one of the most scenic tours of North Lake Tahoe. Beginning at the North Tahoe High School, racers climb the ridge and admire stunning views of the lake before ending at the Cross Country Center at Northstar. For more information, visit northstarcalifornia.com. Far West Nordic hosts competitions The 7th annual Tahoe Rim Tour and Race takes place on Feb. 1. This is a 26km point-to-point race starting at North Tahoe High School in Tahoe City and ending at the Cross Country Center at Northstar featuring classic, skate and snowshoe divisions.
The Billy Dutton Uphill on April 12 will take competitors up 2,000 feet of climbing over a 3.2-mile course. This fun challenge is open to runners, snowshoers, cross-country skiers and back-country skiers and snowboarders. For more information, visit farwestnordic.org. Race your sweetie on Valentine’s Racers of all abilities are invited to race his or her loved ones in a head-to-head competition on the Epic Mix Race Course at Northstar on Feb. 14. Fun prizes are awarded to winners in each category, with proceeds benefitting local nonprofits. For more information, visit northstarcalifornia.com. Jibs 4 Kids expands Jibs 4 Kids is a freestyle competition geared toward kids ages 12 and younger at Homewood. The competition is open to kids of all skill levels with the goal of improving park riding abilities and celebration a passion for snowsports. This season the event has expanded to include events on Feb. 14 and March 14. For more information visit skihomewood.com. Northstar hosts ButterBox Rail Jam Northstar hosts the Mountain Dew Butter Box Rail Jam on Feb. 21 with skiers and riders of all ages invited to compete. Terrain park crews will build a variety of features to challenge competitors to show off his or her skills. Prizes are awarded to winners in each age bracket. For more information, visit northstarcalifornia.com. Mt. Rose hosts Chutes Fest Advanced skiers and riders put it on the line choosing the best route down the El Cap chute at Mt. Rose for prizes in the annual Chutes Fest on Feb. 21. Excellent technical skiing and riding is often favored over high speeds and antics. For more information, visit mtrose.com. Take the Snow Bike Challenge Alpenglow Sports has announced the Snow Bike Challenge on Feb. 21 at the Tahoe Cross Country Center. This new event is part of the Alpenglow Mountain Festival. For more information, visit facebook.com/alpenglowsports. Alpenglow to host Mountain Festival The Alpenglow Mountain Festival, a bi-annual, 10-day celebration of human-powered mountain sports, events, clinics, equipment demos, presentations, film and more returns from Feb. 21 to March 1. Exploring some of the best activities Lake Tahoe has to offer, the event is the only mountain lifestyle event in North America that is free and community-centric. Avalanche instruction, guided back-country, splitboard and snowshoe tours, natural history excursions, Nordic instruction and racing highlight the festival. Events include films, presentations and equipment demos. The Alpenglow Mountain Festival is geared toward beginner and intermediate mountain enthusiasts, offering a range of activities for all interests and ability levels. For more information, visit alpenglowsports.com. Rahlves’ Banzai Tour returns The Rahlves Banzai Tour returns on Feb. 21 and 22 at Alpine Meadows. Skiers and boarders go head-to-head in a ski cross format over natural terrain for a chance at a piece of the $80,000 prize
purse. On March 7 and 8, competitors head to Kirkwood. The tour concludes on March 14 and 15 at Sugar Bowl with an opportunity for top racers to compete against Olympic Athletes Daron Rahlves and Nate Holland. Tag #RahlvesBanzai to share training photos. For more information, visit rahlvesbanzai.com. Tahoe Donner offers fun tours, races Tahoe Donner Cross Country hosts the Paco’s Ski Fondo challenge is a tour or a race featuring a long course for the adventurous and a shorter course for the less energetic on Feb. 22. Lunch and a raffle drawing are included. The cost is $30 for adults and $20 for participants ages 18 and younger. Join the fun during the Cross Country Junior Nationals by joining the Junior Nationals Challengerace on March 12. This is a fun, 1.5km youth and 5km adult race for locals and visiting families and coaches. The race is followed by wine tasting and appetizers. The cost is $10 for adults and $5 for those 18 and younger. The Tahoe Donner 20-year tradition of touring the Euer Valley returns on March 29, with a barbecue and live music at the new cross-country facility following the Tour d’Euer. For more information, visit tahoedonner.com. Granlibakken’s Gone Bonkers returns Granlibakken’s Gone Bonkers is a kid’s ski and snowboard obstacle course competition at 1 p.m. on March 1. The course is a top-to-bottom race over natural terrain complete with gates, obstacles, bumps and fun. The cost is $25. Awards, a costume contest, helmet decorating and s’mores will follow the race. For more information, visit granlibakken.com. Great Ski Race returns Registration is open for The Great Ski Race on March 1. The Western United States’ largest crosscountry ski race starts at the base of the Tahoe Cross Country Ski Area and heads to the Cottonwood Lodge in Truckee. The event is the annual fundraiser for the Tahoe Nordic Search and Rescue. The cost of the race is $60 until Feb. 4, $70 from Feb. 15 to Feb. 28, and $110 if registering on race day. Registration for athletes ages 18 and younger is $25. The entry fee buys includes a pre-race package, T-shirt, refreshments and hot lunch at the finish, a chance to win one of numerous prizes, plus live music and dancing at the finish. For more information, visit thegreatskirace.com. Compete during Face/Off Fridays Skiers, snowboarders and snow skaters are invited to test his or her skills during weekly rail jams at Diamond Peak every Friday in March. Features are located next to the Base Lodge Deck for prime spectator opportunity. Prizes are awarded for best performance. For more information, visit diamondpeak.com. World Cup returns to Squaw The fast-paced excitement of skicross and snowboardcross will come to Squaw Valley from March 4 to 8 with the resort hosting an Audi FIS Skicross World Cup and FIS Snowboard World Cup. This will
be the first time the International Ski Federation has brought a World Cup event to Squaw Valley since the FIS Alpine World Cup in 1969. The event will feature the top global stars in the sport, including local Olympian and seven-time X Games champion Nate Holland. Cross racing pits athletes against each other to race head-to-head down a course of jumps, bumps and berms. Snowboardcross made its Olympic debut in 2006, with skicross in 2010, and both events were among the top spectator events in the 2014 Winter Olympics in Sochi. For more information, visit squaw.com. Uphill Downhill Dash returns Some prefer the challenge of the climb, while others enjoy the rush of the descent. The Uphill Downhill Dash combines the exhilaration of both into one human-powered competition on March 7. Starting at the base lodge at Diamond Peak racers skin, snowshoe or run to the top of Crystal Express, ski, snowboard or snowshoe down Crystal Ridge, and then climb back to Snowflake Lodge at mid-mountain. A less competitive recreational course is available from the base area to Snowflake Lodge. For more information, visit diamondpeak.com. Squaw hosts stop on Revolution Tour The 2015 U.S. Revolution Tour includes a stop at Squaw Valley on March 12 and 13 with ski and snowboardcross competition. The tours includes stops at Seven Springs, Penn., Mammoth Mountain and Ski Cooper, Colo. Athletes may register at ussnowboarding.com. Pain McShlonkey returns A tribute to skier Shane McConkey pits skiers on ski blades against each other in a Chinese downhill competing for the coveted Golden Saucer at Squaw Valley on March 13. An event that got its start as a late-night, behind-the-scenes competition between X Games athletes, Pain McShlonkey has grown to attract professional and amateur athletes from near and far. For more information, visit shanemcconkey.org. Royal Gorge hosts fun races Royal Gorge hosts the Gold Nugget race with a free obstacle course that will be open from March 14 to March 16. The course is open to kids and adults with prizes for the fastest time to complete the course. Join the Gold, Silver and Bronze Rush on March 15 with 50km, 25km and 15km races. The cost is $45 before March 10 and $60 after. For more information, visit royalgorge.com. Compete against professional athletes The North Face Park and Pipe Open Series is an opportunity for amateur skiers and riders to compete alongside professional athletes in slopestyle, half pipe, big air and rail jam competitions at Heavenly on March 21 and 22. The event is a pipeline for upcoming athletes to develop skills and qualify for top-level competitions. For more information, visit thenorthfaceppos.com. Family challenge, rail jam return The Tahoe Donner Family Challenge takes place on March 22. This is a matched time Giant Slalom
competition raced by family teams. The time that counts is the difference between the first and second runs. The team component is a combined best difference from one child and one adult in the family. This event is free. The annual Dummy Downhill and Rail Jam takes place on April 12. Enjoy food and beverage specials, a bounce house, live music and the Boxing Match Rail Jam in addition to the Dummy Downhill event. Teams build unique dummies to send sliding down the hills and off a jump. This year’s theme is “Places Around the World” Prizes are awarded for best design, best air and best crash. For more information, visit tahoedonner.com. Olympic athletes to compete at Heavenly Three Olympic athletes from the inaugural USA slopestyle snowboarding team will arrive in South Lake Tahoe this spring to compete in the High Roller Hold ‘Em on April 4. Olympic Gold Medalist Sage Kotsenburg will place his bets against fellow Olympians Billy Morgan and Chas Guldemond, as well as High Roller Hold ‘Em veterans Gjermund Braaten and Eric Willett. Developed in partnership with Snow Park Technologies, the world’s leading consulting team for special projects on snow, High Roller Hold ‘Em combines the thrill of snowboard Big Air with the strategy of high-stakes poker into an event that sends the winner home with $50,000. This year the stakes are even higher, with the overall winner receiving a 2016 X Games Big Air event exemption. The Heavenly Angels host an after-party with a live DJ, fireworks and local athlete exhibition. Check it out on April 4. For more information, visit skiheavenly.com. Billy Dutton Uphill returns The Billy Dutton Uphill returns on April 12 with a 3.2-mile race with more than 2,000 feet of climbing starting at the base of Squaw Valley. There are divisions for skiers, snowshoers and runners. It’s a benefit for the Far West Nordic Ski Association. Visit farwestnordic.org for details. Shred the Love benefits B4BC The Shred the Love rail jam returns to Sugar Bowl from April 10 to 12. Enjoy yoga sessions, crosscountry skiing, auction and raffle prizes live music and drink specials, all benefiting Boarding for Breast Cancer. For more information, visit b4bc.org.
North Lake Tahoe resorts offer a variety of deals this month January 9, 2015
North Lake Tahoe invites beginners and winter sports enthusiasts alike to hit the slopes for Learn to Ski and Snowboard Month. The National SnowSports Industry Association puts on the event every January to ignite and rekindle passions for skiing and snowboarding. Many of North Lake Tahoe’s 12 downhill resorts are offering steep discounts on lessons, lift tickets, rentals and more, making it easier than ever to try a new sport. Tahoe Donner Ski Area There is no better feeling than enjoying a bluebird day with a friend by your side. Tahoe Donner provides this opportunity with its two-for-one combo package. Both Tahoe Donner’s cross-country and downhill ski areas offer the package through Jan. 16. For $81, two people can learn to ski with a one-hour private lesson, all-day trail pass or lift ticket and rentals. Individual packages are available for ages 7 and up at $39, which includes an allday lift ticket, rental equipment, and a 1 hour and 45 minute group lesson. Squaw Valley | Alpine Meadows Alpine Meadows offers a $49 Learn to Ski & Ride special Monday through Friday, Jan. 530. This first time lesson package for ages 13+ includes everything to get started: a beginner lift ticket, equipment rental and a two and a half hour beginner lesson offered at 10 a.m. and 1 p.m. daily. Diamond Peak Ski Resort
Diamond Peak will host its own Learn to Ski & Ride week beginning through Jan. 16 geared toward getting kids as young as four on the mountain. The $39 Learn to Ski & Ride package offered all week includes a beginner lift ticket, rental equipment and a 1 hour and 45 minute lesson for ages 7 and up and a two-hour lesson for ages 4 to 7. Lessons are offered twice daily at 10 a.m. and 2 p.m. For a more extreme adventure, Tahoe Mountain Sports, Diamond Peak and Dynafit present the Backcountry Experience Series that began Jan. 3. Open to intermediate and advanced skiers and riders, the Backcountry Experience provides a safe introduction to Tahoe’s backcountry. Packages with a guided tour through Diamond Peak’s Golden Eagle Bowl and a full Dynafit backcountry ski equipment rental are $150 ($135 with Diamond Peak Ski Resort season pass and $100 if a rental isn’t needed). The series will continue throughout the winter season Feb. 7, Feb. 21, and March 14. Boreal Boreal Mountain Resort continues to offer its highly recognized beginner program: Take 3, Ride FREE. Before heading up to the mountain, purchase a lessons package online and after completing three lessons, riders or skiers will be rewarded with a 2014-2015 Boreal Unlimited Season Pass. Mt. Rose Ski Tahoe For first-timers the wide slopes of Mt. Rose provide a comfortable and roomy learning environment. The beginning programs include a two-hour lesson, equipment rental and allday lift ticket for $97 at the window ($92 online). For skiers and riders who have strapped in before, but are not quite ready for the Chutes, Mt. Rose offers Next Step Lessons and Performance Workshops. The two-hour Next Step lesson provides a refresher to skiers and boards, all day beginner terrain lift ticket and rental equipment for $107 at the window ($102 online). Sugar Bowl Resort For the entire month of January, Sugar Bowl Resort will offer its terrain-based learning lessons at a discount of $30. The $59 Learn to Ski and Ride package includes a comprehensive two-hour lesson, equipment rental and a limited lift ticket for use on White Pine and Flume chairlifts. Northstar California
Northstar offers a variety of lesson options for first-time snow enthusiasts as well as worldclass guides that can be paired with seasoned skiers and snowboarders. Private lessons include lift lane privileges for quick access to the slopes, undivided one-on-one attention or the option to share with up to six guests, as well as customizable experiences based on skier level and desired terrain. Homewood Mountain Resort Homewood Resort’s Ski & Snowboard School designed Ski and Ride packages tailored for those who have never skied or snowboarded before. Homewood boasts stunning views of Lake Tahoe and offers adult Learn to Ski/Ride packages inclusive of a lift ticket, rentals and lesson for $49. Purchase online the day before hitting the slopes to receive this rate. For more information, check out www.GoTahoeNorth.com.
Deals offered for beginner skiers and snowboarders in January January 7, 2015
If you’re considering learning how to ski or snowboard, January may be just the month to do it. Numerous Lake Tahoe resorts have joined ski areas around the country in offering deals to those looking to start skiing or snowboarding as part of Learn to Ski and Snowboard Month. The seventh annual initiative takes place throughout January and encourages people to take up skiing and snowboarding through discounted lessons with professional instructors. “It’s an opportunity to share these sports, why we love Tahoe,” said Northstar California spokeswoman Rachael Woods. Taking a lesson with a certified instructor is a good way to get off on the right foot when approaching the unfamiliar territory of the mountains, she added. “As a beginner there are so many opportunities to have those moments of discovery,” Woods said. Overcoming the price barrier is also part of the initiative, which is organized by the National Ski Areas Association and the Professional Ski Instructors of America-American, among other ski industry groups. “Cost and convenience often are top of mind for people considering taking up skiing or snowboarding,” said Mary Jo Tarallo, executive director for the initiative, in a statement.
“Like anything else, making the sports affordable and accessible requires a little research and smart shopping.” Having someone to watch out for you when you’re learning how to take your first turns isn’t a bad idea either, said Ashley Quadros, spokeswoman for Tahoe Donner. “One of the most important reasons beginners should take a lesson is safety,” Quadros said in an email. “Lessons teach skiers proper technique — how to stop, how to turn, how to balance, etc. Without lessons, someone new to skiing or snowboarding could be more at risk for injury. In addition to safety, lessons will help newcomers enjoy the sport more. Learning the basics can feel challenging on your own, but once you master them with a group or private lesson, the sport is more fun and enjoyable.” Diamond Peak Ski Resort spokeswoman Jaclyn Ream agreed, saying taking lessons from an instructor will lay a solid foundation and allow skiers and snowboarders to progress quicker. Progressing faster on the cheap is a big part of what Learn to Ski and Snowboard Month is all about. “We definitely want to make it more affordable and get more people on the hill,” Ream said. “...and hope they fall in love.” Learn to Ski and Snowboard Month’s website,www.learntoskiandsnowboard.org, includes learning offers, as well as a list of snow sports retail shops and tips for newcomers. Learn to Ski and Snowboard Month deals At Lake Tahoe Boreal Mountain Resort Boreal Mountain Resort continues its Take 3, Ride FREE program. Those who purchase a lessons package online will receive a 2014-2015 Boreal Unlimited Season Pass after completing three lessons. Diamond Peak Ski Resort Diamond Peak will host its own Learn to Ski & Ride week Jan. 12-16. The $39 Learn to Ski & Ride package offered all week includes a beginner lift ticket, rental equipment and a lesson of one hour and 45 minutes for ages 7 and up and a two-hour lesson for ages 4 to 7. Lessons are offered twice daily at 10 a.m. and 2 p.m. Heavenly Mountain Resort Heavenly offers a $179 package that includes two consecutive days of half-day skiing or snowboarding lessons, limited access lift tickets and rental equipment. Half-day lessons are available at 10 a.m. and 1:15 p.m. This package is available with advanced purchase by calling 530-542-6904. Homewood Mountain Resort
Homewood’s adult Learn to Ski/Ride packages includes a lift ticket, rentals and lesson for $49. Purchase online the day before hitting the slopes to receive this rate. This package is available Sunday-Friday. Kirkwood Mountain Resort Throughout January, Kirkwood offers first-time skiers and riders a 2.5-hour Learn to Ski/Snowboard lesson, which includes equipment rental and a beginner lift access ticket for $89. This package is for students ages 13 and older and can be reserved in advance by calling 530-258-7754. Mt. Rose Ski Tahoe The beginning programs include a two-hour lesson, equipment rental and all-day lift ticket for $97 at the window ($92 online). Northstar California Northstar offers $20 savings per day with advanced reservations of three consecutive days of kids’ group lessons, Kids’ Ultimate 4 semi-private instruction (maximum of four students per class) or children’s snowboard instruction at the world’s only Burton Academy. Sierra-at-Tahoe Resort For first time skiers and riders, Sierra offers a $45 online beginners package. The package includes a two-and-a-half-hour lesson, rentals and lift ticket. Sugar Bowl Resort For the entire month of January, Sugar Bowl Resort will offer its terrain-based learning lessons at a discount of $30. The $59 Learn to Ski and Ride package includes a comprehensive twohour lesson, equipment rental and a limited lift ticket for use on White Pine and Flume chairlifts. Squaw Valley | Alpine Meadows Alpine Meadows offers a $49 Learn to Ski & Ride special Monday through Friday, January 5-30. This first-time lesson package for ages 13+ includes a beginner lift ticket, equipment rental and a two-and-a-half hour beginner lesson offered at 10 a.m. and 1 p.m. daily. Tahoe Donner Ski Area Both Tahoe Donner’s cross-country and downhill ski areas will offer a two-for-one package Jan. 5-9 and Jan. 12-16. For $81, two people can learn to ski with a one-hour private lesson, all-day trail pass or lift ticket and rentals. Individual packages are available for ages 7+ at $39, which includes an all-day lift ticket, rental equipment, and a group lesson of 1 hour and 45 minutes.
Travel deals: Ski deals for newbies January 7, 2015 Many Tahoe snow resorts are wooing novice skiers and first-time snowboarders with a variety of special deals this month. Here's just a sampling: Diamond Peak Ski Resort: A Diamond Club membership ($119) offers beginners three group lessons, including rental equipment and beginner lift tickets. Finish all three lessons and you can celebrate on the slopes with a free all-mountain lift ticket and one-day equipment rental. Boreal Mountain Resort: The resort's Take 3, Ride FREE package ($179 and up) includes three lessons, then rewards those now no-longer-beginners with an unlimited Boreal pass for the remainder of this ski season. Mount Rose Ski Tahoe: The beginner package ($92 online, $97 at the resort) includes a two-hour lesson, equipment rental and lift ticket. Sugar Bowl Resort: Take $30 off the cost of the resort's terrain-based lessons during January, or sign up for a Learn to Ski and Ride package ($59), which includes a two-hour lesson, equipment rental and a lift ticket for the White Pine and Flume chairlifts. Find more deals and details, including any restrictions, atwww.gotahoenorth.com/cool-deals.
Alpenglow Mountain Festival Feb 21-Mar 1 January 7, 2015 The Alpenglow Mountain Festival takes place February 21 through March 1 throughout North Lake Tahoe to showcase our Tahoe Mountain Culture through humanpowered mountain sports, events, clinics, equipment demos, presentations, film and more.Exploring some of the best activities Lake Tahoe has to offer, the event is the only mountain lifestyle event in North America that is entirely free and communitycentric. Avalanche instruction, guided backcountry, splitboard, and snowshoe tours, natural history excursions, Nordic instruction and racing highlight the event. The event includes film, presentation, and equipment demos. The Alpenglow Mountain Festival is geared toward beginner and intermediate mountain enthusiasts, offering a range of activities for all interests and ability levels. Driven by fun, community, health, education and the embodiment of the mountain lifestyle, the Alpenglow Mountain Festival has been designed to inspire participants to enjoy and explore North Lake Tahoe’s playground with friends and family. A list of events can be found here.
Ski season launches with changes at resorts in the West and Canada January 6, 2014 Ski industry attorneys and accountants were as busy during the off-season as any in recent memory. Besides Mammoth Mountain's acquisition of Bear Mountain and Snow Summit, here are some of the major changes: Vail Resorts bought Park City Mountain Resort, immediate neighbor of its other Utah property, sprawling Canyons. It plans to connect the two by chairlifts. Park City's luxe Deer Valley acquired Solitude, a couple of canyons distant, and will get the keys May 1. Utah-based Powdr Corp., whose properties include Oregon's Mt. Bachelor, Colorado's Copper Mountain and Vermont's Killington, partnered with Boyne Resorts, owner of Montana's Big Sky, Washington state's Crystal Mountain and Maine's Sugarloaf and Sunday River, among others. Colorado's Purgatory at Durango Mountain Resort and Arizona Snowbowl were sold to James Coleman, managing partner at New Mexico's Sipapu Ski & Summer Resort and Pajarito Mountain Ski Area. As the dust settles and with resorts already open for the ski and snowboard season, here are highlights of what's new in California, across the West and in Canada.
Eastern Sierra The Mammoth Brewing Co.'s new tasting room, just below the gondola at Mammoth Mountain, offers 13 beers — and its root beer — on tap. The 12-lane Mammoth Rock 'n' Bowl, which opened in March, also has three golf simulators and two restaurants. It will be easier this season to coordinate a Mammoth trip with your in- and out-of-state friends and relatives. Alaska Airlines has added flights from LAX, San Diego and Las Vegas to Mammoth Yosemite Airport, as has United Airlines from San Francisco and Denver. Info: www.mammothmountain.com Lake Tahoe cComments Got something to say? Start the conversation and be the first to comment. ADD A COMMENT 0 Alpine Meadows has renamed its upper terrain the Pacific Crest Bowls after the Pacific Crest Trail, which spans the length of Alpine's ridgeline. New this season, the North Face Mountain Guide program allows skiers and snowboarders to gain priority lift-line access, explore hike-topowder stashes and venture to neighboring Squaw Valley accompanied by the resort's most experienced guides. Info: squawalpine.com Heavenly Mountain Resort debuts two new on-slope parties, a bash Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays at East Peak Lodge and Tailgate at Tamarack on Sundays, showcasing NFL games and drink specials. They join the resort's signature Unbuckle at Tamarack après-ski parties featuring the Heavenly Angels. On the mountain, Heavenly has expanded its snowmaking system, focusing on beginner terrain at the top of the Heavenly Gondola and the Skyline Trail connecting the resort's California and Nevada sides. Info: www.skiheavenly.com
Homewood Mountain Resort expands skiable terrain to the top of Ellis Peak, adding 750 acres of runs with a nearly 2,000-foot vertical drop. Groups no larger than 10 skiers and riders, accompanied by guides, will access the terrain by enclosed snowcat. The resort's new First Tracks Breakfasts program combines a meal and access to the slopes an hour before the public. Homewood also unveils the Foundation Bowl, an urban-style terrain park within an unused building foundation adjacent to the resort's mid-mountain Big Blue View Bar. Info: skihomewood.com Kirkwood Mountain Resort, known for snowcat tours, private guides and avalanche education, introduces a new Discovery Series for intermediate skiers and riders. The clinics can be taken individually or as a series of three. Info: www.kirkwood.com Northstar California Resort unveils a daily Champagne toast at which guests are invited to raise a glass of bubbly on the mountain each day at 2 p.m. Northstar also introduces Mountain Table, showcasing the best of California produce, meats and seasonal ingredients paired with regional artisanal wines, craft beers and distilled spirits. The mountaintop dinners will be served in Northstar's Zephyr Lodge, with panoramic views of the Pacific Crest. Also new are Primo Private Lessons, which include expedited lift privileges, exclusive on-mountain dining experiences and customized on-mountain instruction. Olympic gold medalist David Wise has helped design a new family-focused Progression Park designed to ease riders' transition between beginner, intermediate and advanced features. Info: www.northstarcalifornia.com Sierra-at-Tahoe Resort's new $5-million Solstice Plaza includes a 30,000-square-foot deck and 9,000-square-foot base area with a new retail shop, demo center and restaurant. On March 28, Sierra-at-Tahoe will host the NewSchoolers Invitational featuring the best in freestyle skiing competitors, including multiple X Games gold medalists. Info: www.sierraattahoe.com
Squaw Valley, in the midst of a five-year, $70-million improvement program, will play host to several festivals and, on March 4-8, two World Cup events: the Audi FIS Skicross World Cup and the FIS Snowboard World Cup. Squaw also introduces Mountain to Mat workshops, incorporating a guided half-day on the mountain, afternoon yoga classes, mini-spa treatments and locally sourced breakfast/lunch ($169 for pass holders, $229 with lift ticket). Info: squawalpine.com Celebrating its 75th anniversary this winter, Sugar Bowl Resort has a season-long calendar of special events, après-ski parties, giveaways and a celebration slated for mid-February. This will be the first full season of operation for the Crow's Peak chairlift, part of more than $20 million in ongoing improvements that include the opening of the Sporthaus aquatic and fitness center. Sugar Bowl continues to expand offerings at the adjacent Royal Gorge Cross Country Center, said to be the largest in North America, to include snowbike-specific trails and the Sierra Snowkite Center, said to be the first and only resort-based snowkiting center in California. Sugar Bowl also will be the host mountain for the final stop on the Rahlves' Banzai Tour, a race series that pits four skiers or snowboarders in head-to-head descents down each resort's signature run. Info: www.sugarbowl.com
A Pro Skier's Guide to Undiscovered Lake Tahoe January 6, 2015
Lake Tahoe-based professional skiier Daron Rahlves gives his picks for the best places to ski, eat, and play in and around his adopted home. World Champion skier Daron Rahlves may have hung up his World Cup boots in 2006, but he remains a big mountain freestyle pro—you can regularly spot him shredding slopes across the globe in ski videos. Rahlves calls the small town of Truckee, California (just north of Lake Tahoe), and he also showcases the lakeside winter sports mecca with his annual Banzai Tour, a series of three open-entry, no-holds-barred, top-to-bottom races held at local Tahoe resorts. Here, he shares his favorite things to do in the famed city, but also in Truckee, a ski destination in its own right.
Why Lake Tahoe? The proximity to an airport is huge—Reno, NV is just a 40 minute drive, while San Francisco is three hours away. But that’s just the convenience factor; the real reason I live there is the lifestyle. The vibes are laid-back, the scenery is stunning, the mountains are gorgeous, and the water is beautiful. Aside from the winter, I love the shoulder seasons, especially spring. Early spring has great skiing, it’s usually a lot less crowded than during the heart of winter and we usually get a big late-season storm.
Where are your favorite places to ski? Sugar Bowl up on Donner Summit. I grew up skiing at Alpine Meadows and Squaw Valley and they’re great resorts with excellent amenities. For a skiing experience where you don’t feel like you’re totally overrun on the mountain and there aren’t long lift lines, I go to Sugar Bowl (2015 marks its 75th anniversary). It’s a place where I can get challenged as a professional skier with the really advanced terrain they have, but it’s also perfect for kids because it’s not too busy. Just like you wouldn’t want to introduce a new driver to driving in New York City, this is the same thing; it’s like teaching them on calm, crowd-free country roads—you get them comfortable early, without overwhelming them when they’re too young.
Where's the best place to get a bite on the mountain? Or for a more formal lunch? If I don’t pack a lunch I usually stop by the Mt. Judah Lodge’s Sierra Vista Bar & Grill. They have a killer turkey pesto panini. You can plan ahead and grab a sandwich to go at Full Belly Deli in Truckee—I love the Dirka Dirka made with pastrami, corned beef, and jalapeño coleslaw, it’s got a great kick to it. If you can eat a full sandwich there and still be hungry afterwards then there’s something wrong with you. I usually get the half sandwich and soup combo. Plus, if you need to fuel up in the morning, they have an awesome breakfast burrito.
What about for après-ski drinks? The best après spot on the mountain is The Belt Room Bar. It’s a small and cool bar with great energy and there are all these old black and white photos of skiing on the walls—it kind of takes you back in time. It’s a great place to talk to knowledgeable people about the mountain and grab a Bloody Mary—the make insane bloodies, the best I’ve every had.
What's your favorite dinner spot in your hometown? There are three spots in Truckee I like. Pianeta is a great Italian place with these cute little booths downstairs by the bar—you feel like you have a little bit of seclusion down there. I love
their spicy sausage pasta. And then there is the Cottonwood, which is always voted the best local place. It’s up on a hill and has a great view of downtown Truckee and the river; they have a killer Caesar salad and an excellent French margarita (aka ‘The Frenchy’). Another terrific restaurant is Moody’s. Aside from the jazz bands that come in and play they have a menu that uses organic ingredients sourced from local farmers. They also have delicious vodka drinks made with local Tahoe Blue Vodka.
Where do you go for a night out? South Lake (on the Nevada side of the lake) is more of an entertainment area with gambling, comedy shows, nightlife, and live music. There are always things going on at Harveys andMontBleu, and the Hard Rock Hotel is opening this year. But I prefer some of the more dank and grungy bars up in Truckee. Specifically the Pastime Club and the Tourist Club— what we call the T Club.
Where do you go for your ski gear? There’s this place that recently came under new ownership called the Tahoe Sports Hub in Truckee. The staff totally knows their stuff and they have all the insider info, like where to go for the best skiing at any resort. And it’s not one of those places where they’re trying to gouge the customer; they have really fair prices.
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Skiing Tahoe January 3, 2015
Thomas Kranzle/Courtesy Venture Media The Sierra Nevada mountain range runs through California like a 250-mile snowcapped spine, with the area around 22-mile-long Lake Tahoe, straddling California and Nevada, as its winter sports epicenter. Other ski areas dot the Sierras, but the Tahoe region is the shining star of the range, with the most varied and quality runs per square mile. Adventure seekers have trekked to the area for centuries; prospectors settled here in the late 1840s during California’s gold rush. But today the mountains draw ski and snowboard enthusiasts seeking a different kind of payoff. More than 3 million people visit Tahoe each year to enjoy its 300 days of sunshine and 450 inches of snow. Typically, snowfall starts around Thanksgiving and resorts stay open into May. Despite the considerable tourist traffic, community efforts have kept the famous clear-blue lake just that way and staved off overdevelopment. The California-Nevada state line bisects the lake, with most of the ski areas surrounding its northern rim, and the rest found to the south and southwest inside California’s vast Eldorado National Forest. Tahoe ski areas tend to be less expensive, warmer, and more laid-back than many of the Rocky
Mountain rivals. Although once known as a budget destination, the region has since seen a flurry of high-end hotel, inn, and ski lodge openings. These five ski areas (all in California, though some slopes stretch into Nevada) offer the best of Tahoe, from to-die-for ski runs to buzzing casinos and outstanding restaurants.
PlumpJack Squaw Valley Inn
Squaw Valley USA Located just northwest of the lake near Tahoe City, California, Squaw has a rough glamour, thanks to its mix of dirtunder-the-fingernails pros and upscale clientele (earning the nickname Squallywood). The ski area, which hosted the world’s first televised Olympics in 1960, is still where many snow enthusiasts test their mettle. In recent years extreme skiers have redefined the boundaries of the sport (and sanity), turning nearly every cliff into a launching pad. Squaw offers customized backcountry tours for intermediate and advanced skiers as well as snowboarders wishing to explore previously off-limits terrain like Happy Valley, a series of powder-filled bowls. But one need not be a pro to enjoy all that Squaw has to offer. Beginner and intermediate runs make up 70 percent of the mountain’s 3,600 skiable acres. The 405-room Resort at Squaw Creek (800-327-3353), remodeled in 2007, provides panoramic mountain views and a private chairlift to the top. In the lobby a pianist welcomes guests while a roaring blaze crackles in the granite fireplace. The resort operates four restaurants, including Six Peaks Grille, which is a great place to host an informal dinner, as chef Chad Shrewsbury will prepare custom five-course meals for as many as 10 guests.
PlumpJack Squaw Valley Inn (800-323-7666) and its affiliated café lie at the base of the mountain in a building originally constructed to house Olympic delegates. Guests of the 56-room earth-toned, modern-meetsrustic lodge can enjoy slopeside access, a gym, a pool, and two hot tubs. The café’s menu changes regularly and has included such dishes as ahi tuna and Scottish salmon cones with yuzu vinaigrette, Fresno chili, and ginger. The restaurant hosts cooking classes and events with local winemakers. Shakespeare’s Falstaff, nicknamed Plump Jack, inspired the company’s name; its insignia, a knight’s shield, crops up throughout the property. In the nearby Village
at Squaw Valley USA (an outdoor mall and promenade), sushi
bar Mamasake (530-584-0110) is a locals’ favorite, offering a beer and a hand roll special from 3pm to 5pm. The
Auld Dubliner (530-584-6041) serves excellent Irish fare in a setting where, along with the brews, the facade, furniture, and bar hail from the Emerald Isle. At Gallery Keoki (800-995-365 4), co-owner Keoki Flagg, who has taken photographs for Outside and Men’s Journal, sells his shots alongside prints, drawings, and sculptures by the likes of Calder, Dalí, Miró, and Picasso.
Ski Alpine
Alpine Meadows Although Alpine Meadows sits back-to-back with Squaw, its atmosphere couldn’t be further from its flashy neighbor. This ski area has no wine bars, the lodge’s dining area resembles a high school cafeteria, and roughly 70 percent of its 2,400 acres go ungroomed. But hard-core skiers and snowboarders (largely locals) don’t come to sip cabernet. They come for the thrilling backcountry-type terrain devoid of crowds.
While Alpine’s stripped-down appeal means no slopeside accommodations, the Hyatt
Regency Lake
Tahoe Resort, Spa and Casino (775-832-1234), 15 miles east in Incline Village, Nevada, offers respite for the eager snow bunny, with free shuttle services to nearby slopes. Skiers may book the Diamond Peak Package, which includes a standard guest room, round-trip shuttle to the slope, and two adult lift tickets, among other amenities. Following a recent multi-million dollar renovation, its standard rooms boast velvety fabrics, pillow-top mattresses, overstuffed armchairs, and black granite bathrooms. Staying at the 24 lakefront cottages, with their river stone fireplaces and Italian leather furniture, is a smart splurge. The resort is offering a Travel and Leisure package through February, promising accommodations at a lakeside cottage, one complimentary night for each two consecutive nights booked, two day passes for use at the Stillwater Spa, and a s’mores kit to boot. The
Hyatt’s Lone Eagle Grille (775-886-6899) is one of the best restaurants in all the Sierras, serving fare like seared elk chop with pear-parsnip puree and a poivrade sauce. The spot’s new lounge, unveiled after a $700,000 renovation, offers tapas-style delights, craft beers, cocktails, and wine. The 42-room Cedar House Sport Hotel (866-582-5655) is located in the historic railroad town of Truckee, California, 15 miles north of Alpine. The decor pairs recycled oxidized-steel support beams with exposed cedar woodwork. Stella, a guests-only Italian restaurant, was inspired by the Slow Food movement and offers entrées like lobster and passion fruit salad with baby beets and micro tatsoi as well as classes on cooking over a wood fire. Also in Truckee, the rustic Bar
of America (530-587-2626) has served frosty pints for more than three decades. Across the street, Moody’s Bistro and Lounge (530-587-8688), with its red-velvet booths and live jazz Wednesday through Saturday, brings a touch of cool to the town’s center.
Northstar-at-Tahoe
Northstar-at-Tahoe The development plan for Northstar seems to have followed a simple rule: Offer guests everything they need so they never have to leave. The five terrain parks and two pipes will occupy even the most enthusiastic jibber (that’s a trick-pulling skier or snowboarder, for the uninitiated). The owners have invested over $30 million into the resort, and guests this season will be able to enjoy the benefits fully. The completely overhauled Northstar-
at-Tahoe, celebrating its 40th birthday this month, boasts a new high-speed chair lift, new trails, a new 700seat restaurant, a 22 foot superpipe designed by Olympic snowboarder Shaun White, among many, many others. Another plus for Northstar: the abundance of luxury lodgings. One Village Place (800-757-9763) offers oneto three-bedroom suites equipped with top-of-the-line kitchens, giant Jacuzzi bathtubs, and slate floors. The mountain’s gondola runs quietly from its lobby. Northstar-at-Tahoe also recently waved its three night minimum for booking, ideal for those looking for a weekend getaway.
The Ritz-Carlton Highlands, Lake Tahoe (530-562-8900) is one of Tahoe’s newest constructions, the first in decades. The 170-room hotel resort provides class and luxury from its perch midway up the mountainside,
where guests can literally ski in and out. The hotel’s restaurant Manzanita, headed by James Beard Foundation award winner Traci des Jardins, serve French-inspired California cuisine derived from sustainable meat and produce. Some menu highlights include Berkshire pork belly, rotisserie game bird, and butterscotch pot de crème for those with a sweet tooth. At the Village at Northstar, the centerpiece is a 9,000-square-foot ice skating rink surrounded by covered outdoor seating areas warmed by heat lamps and fireplaces. Guests can purchase kits at adjacent shop True North to make gourmet s’mores over the fireplaces. An outpost of a Reno venue, the Chocolate Bar (530-5621800) specializes in handcrafted truffles and uses only Grand Cru chocolate. Try the Mayan hot chocolate, made with three types of milk and a spicy chili reduction. Nearby, shop at Olivier gourmet condiments like caramelized shallot and dark beer mustard.
Napa Valley
(530-562-1400) for
Flickr/glenngould
Kirkwood Inside California’s Eldorado National Forest, Kirkwood is the most remote of the major Tahoe resorts. It lies 35 miles southwest of the lake’s southernmost shore town, South Lake Tahoe, California, but is well worth the trip. Since the ski area runs along the Sierra Crest, the ridgeline connecting most of the range’s highest points, the resort is in a prime position to benefit from winter storms. The result? Each year the snowfall averages 600 inches, more than at any other Tahoe resort. Kirkwood possesses what it calls the “K-Factor” – a geographical predisposition to receive the “lightest, the driest, and the most plentiful snow” to blanket its 2,300 acres of terrain. The 32-unit Snowcrest Lodge (800-235-8259) offers ski-in, ski-out accommodations, ridgeline views, and full kitchens. For the best food and a rousing bar atmosphere, head to the Kirkwood Inn & Saloon (209-258-7304). A hearty saloon meal – say, a rack of barbecued pork spare ribs accompanied by a spicy Bloody Mary – can help mitigate the mountain’s chill. Don’t forget the region’s other famous distraction: gambling. Stateline, Nevada, about an hour’s car ride from Kirkwood, is home to MontBleu (800-235-8259), whose casino floor has favorites such as table games, slots, and No Limit Texas Hold’em daily tournaments in The Poker Room. Take a break from the tables at the HQ bar’s fire pit or head to the club Opal for hookah pipes and fire dancing shows. This casino hotel isn’t quite Vegas, but it’s as close as you’ll get in the Tahoe region. In downtown South Lake Tahoe, California, Blue Water Bistro (530-541-0113) specializes in French and California cuisine with dishes like black sesame ono and bouillabaisse. Café Fiore (530-541-2908) serves great northern Italian fare for only seven tables of guests. The house’s special: prawns, scallops, and other seafoods sautéed in a cognac and lemon butter sauce with capers and tossed with linguini.
Ski Heavenly
Heavenly Located smack on the California-Nevada border in South Lake Tahoe, Heavenly does everything big. Its gondola lift ascends nearly 3,000 feet, providing one of the region’s best vistas of 193-square-mile Lake Tahoe and the snowy peaks surrounding it. Skiers and snowboarders have access to 4,800 acres (some on the Nevada side). With peaks soaring more than 10,000 feet, this is Tahoe’s highest ski area. Size brings options. Too windy for shredding the upper mountain’s slopes? Head to Stagecoach or Olympic Downhill, a pair of 2-mile runs at lower elevations. If the Nevada snow becomes slushy in the afternoon, try the more sheltered California side. After giant storms, regulars charge the 5,500 vertical feet from the Fullstone backcountry gate to the desert floor of Nevada’s Carson Valley. One block away from Heavenly’s gondola, on South Lake Tahoe’s main strip, stands the twin-towered, 740room Harveys Lake Tahoe (800-786-8208). The hotel offers half-canopy beds, antique-style wood furniture, and marble bathrooms. The hotel’s restaurant, 19 Kitchen*Bar (775-586-6777), on the 19th floor, provides great views of the lake. The surf-and-turf–heavy menu includes dishes like Kobe beef fillet with lobster mashed potatoes. Offering quieter accommodations, the Black Bear Inn Bed and Breakfast (877-232-7466) lies a mile from Heavenly’s California ski lodge. Its Great Room Lounge projects a mountain-lodge ambience with a 34-foottall fireplace and the mounted head of a 12-point elk. All eight suites and cabins have private fireplaces. Across town, The Burger Lounge (530-542-4060) serves 13 different kinds of hamburgers and sandwiches; those not yet sated on snowy delights should try the peanut butter shake. - See more at: http://blog.shermanstravel.com/2013/skiing-tahoe/#sthash.HFAkAanZ.dpuf
Lake Tahoe Learn to Ski, Snowboard Month January 3, 2014
In conjunctiin with Learn to Ski and Snowboard Month, many of North Lake Tahoe’s 12 downhill resorts are offering steep discounts on lessons, lift tickets, rentals and more, making it easier than ever to try this winter snow sport. Find these cool deals and others all season long at GoTahoeNorth.com/cool-deals. Tahoe Donner Ski Area: There is no better feeling than enjoying a bluebird day with a friend by your side. Tahoe Donner provides this opportunity with its two-for-one combo package. Both Tahoe Donner’s cross-country and downhill ski areas offer the package January 59 and January 12-16. For $81, two people can learn to ski with a one-hour private lesson, all-day trail pass or lift ticket and rentals. Individual packages are available for ages 7+ at $39, which includes an all-day lift ticket, rental equipment, and a 1 hour and 45 minute group lesson.
Diamond Peak Ski Resort: Diamond Peak will host its own Learn to Ski & Ride week January 12-16 geared toward getting kids as young as four on the mountain. The $39 Learn to Ski & Ride package offered all week includes a beginner lift ticket, rental equipment and a 1 hour and 45 minute lesson for ages 7 and up and a two-hour lesson for ages 4 to 7. Lessons are offered twice daily at 10 a.m. and 2 p.m. For season-long learning, Diamond Peak offers the Diamond Club Membership for $119 which includes three beginner packages complete with rental equipment, group lessons and beginner lift tickets. Once a member completes three lessons, they earn a free allmountain lift ticket and one-day equipment rental for use during the season. Alpine Meadows: Alpine Meadows offers a $49 Learn to Ski & Ride special Monday through Friday, January 5-30. This first time lesson package for ages 13+ includes everything to get started: a beginner lift ticket, equipment rental and a two and a half hour beginner lesson offered at 10 a.m. and 1 p.m. daily. Boreal Mountain Resort: Boreal continues to offer its highly recognized beginner program: Take 3, Ride FREE. Before heading up to the mountain, purchase a lessons package online and after completing three lessons, riders or skiers will be rewarded with a 2014-2015 Boreal Unlimited Season Pass. Mt. Rose Ski Tahoe: For first-timers the wide slopes of Mt. Rose provide a comfortable and roomy learning environment. The beginning programs include a two-hour lesson, equipment rental and all-day lift ticket for $97 at the window ($92 online). For skiers and riders who have strapped in before, but are not quite ready for the Chutes, Mt. Rose offers Next Step Lessons and Performance Workshops. The two-hour Next Step lesson provides a refresher to skiers and boards, all day beginner terrain lift ticket and rental equipment for $107 at the window ($102 online). Performance workshops are geared toward intermediate skiers and riders who want to improve skills in powder, crud, bumps and steeps. Two-hour lessons are offered twice daily at 10 a.m. and 1 p.m. for $39 per person. Sugar Bowl: For the entire month of January, Sugar Bowl Resort will offer its terrainbased learning lessons at a discount of $30. The $59 Learn to Ski and Ride package includes a comprehensive two-hour lesson, equipment rental and a limited lift ticket for use on White Pine and Flume chairlifts, providing unlimited practice after the lesson. Northstar California: Northstar offers a variety of lesson options for first-time snow enthusiasts as well as world-class guides that can be paired with seasoned skiers and snowboarders. Private lessons include lift lane privileges for quick access to the slopes, undivided one-on-one attention or the option to share with up to six guests, as well as customizable experiences based on skier level and desired terrain.
Ultimate 4 lessons provide students with more one-on-one instruction and group lessons are a fun way to build confidence as well as customizable experiences with the Adventure, Guiding and Learning Center. Homewood Mountain Resort: Homewood Resort’s Ski & Snowboard School designed Ski and Ride packages tailored for those who have never skied or snowboarded before. Homewood boasts stunning views of Lake Tahoe and offers adult Learn to Ski/Ride packages inclusive of a lift ticket, rentals and lesson for $49. Purchase online the day before hitting the slopes to receive this rate. This package is a $40 savings, available Sunday-Friday. For more packages and information on Learn to Ski and Snowboard Month, check outwww.GoTahoeNorth.com.
Survive Wedding Season Twitter North Lake Tahoe Bridal Faire January 2, 2015
LEARN TO SKI, SNOWBOARD MONTH IN LAKE TAHOE January 2, 2015
Want to learn how to ski or snowboard? Here’s your chance. The National SnowSports Industry Association puts on Learn to Ski and Snowboard Month every January to ignite and rekindle passions for skiing and snowboarding. Many of North Lake Tahoe’s 12 downhill resorts are offering steep discounts on lessons, lift tickets, rentals and more, making it easier than ever to try this winter snow sport. Find these cool deals and others all season long at GoTahoeNorth.com/cool-deals. Tahoe Donner: There is no better feeling than enjoying a bluebird day with a friend by your side. Tahoe Donner provides this opportunity with its two-for-one combo package. Both Tahoe Donner’s cross-country and downhill ski areas offer the package January 5-9 and January 12-16. For $81, two people can learn to ski with a one-hour private lesson, allday trail pass or lift ticket and rentals. Individual packages are available for ages 7+ at $39, which includes an all-day lift ticket, rental equipment, and a 1 hour and 45 minute group lesson. Diamond Peak: Diamond Peak will host its own Learn to Ski & Ride week January 12-16 geared toward getting kids as young as four on the mountain. The $39 Learn to Ski & Ride package offered all week includes a beginner lift ticket, rental equipment and a 1 hour and 45 minute lesson for ages 7 and up and a two-hour lesson for ages 4 to 7. Lessons are offered twice daily at 10 a.m. and 2 p.m. For season-long learning, Diamond Peak offers the Diamond Club Membership for $119 which includes three beginner packages complete with rental equipment, group lessons and beginner lift tickets. Once a member completes three lessons, they earn a free all-mountain lift ticket and one-day equipment rental for use during the season.
Alpine Meadows: Alpine Meadows offers a $49 Learn to Ski & Ride special Monday through Friday, January 5-30. This first time lesson package for ages 13+ includes everything to get started: a beginner lift ticket, equipment rental and a two and a half hour beginner lesson offered at 10 a.m. and 1 p.m. daily. Boreal Mountain Resort: Boreal continues to offer its highly recognized beginner program: Take 3, Ride FREE. Before heading up to the mountain, purchase a lessons package online and after completing three lessons, riders or skiers will be rewarded with a 2014-2015 Boreal Unlimited Season Pass. Mt. Rose: For first-timers the wide slopes of Mt. Rose provide a comfortable and roomy learning environment. The beginning programs include a two-hour lesson, equipment rental and all-day lift ticket for $97 at the window ($92 online). For skiers and riders who have strapped in before, but are not quite ready for the Chutes, Mt. Rose offers Next Step Lessons and Performance Workshops. The two-hour Next Step lesson provides a refresher to skiers and boards, all day beginner terrain lift ticket and rental equipment for $107 at the window ($102 online). Performance workshops are geared toward intermediate skiers and riders who want to improve skills in powder, crud, bumps and steeps. Two-hour lessons are offered twice daily at 10 a.m. and 1 p.m. for $39 per person. Sugar Bowl: For the entire month of January, Sugar Bowl Resort will offer its terrain-based learning lessons at a discount of $30. The $59 Learn to Ski and Ride package includes a comprehensive two-hour lesson, equipment rental and a limited lift ticket for use on White Pine and Flume chairlifts, providing unlimited practice after the lesson. Northstar California: Northstar offers a variety of lesson options for first-time snow enthusiasts as well as world-class guides that can be paired with seasoned skiers and snowboarders. Private lessons include lift lane privileges for quick access to the slopes, undivided one-on-one attention or the option to share with up to six guests, as well as customizable experiences based on skier level and desired terrain. Ultimate 4 lessons provide students with more one-on-one instruction and group lessons are a fun way to build confidence as well as customizable experiences with the Adventure, Guiding and Learning Center. Homewood Mountain Resort: Homewood Resort’s Ski & Snowboard School designed Ski and Ride packages tailored for those who have never skied or snowboarded before. Homewood boasts stunning views of Lake Tahoe and offers adult Learn to Ski/Ride packages inclusive of a lift ticket, rentals and lesson for $49. Purchase online the day before hitting the slopes to receive this rate. This package is a $40 savings, available SundayFriday.
For more packages and information on Learn to Ski and Snowboard Month, check out www.GoTahoeNorth.com.
Tahoe City culture thrives with festivals, live performances, cinema, and down-toearth dining. January 1, 2014 Tahoe City culture thrives with festivals, live performances, cinema, and down-to-earth dining.Lake Tahoe's lively North Shore burg already wins kudos for the deep forests and snowy slopes nearby. Now it has morphed into a hub for adventure and art as well. Area code is 530. visittahoecity.org Test snow bikes, snowshoes, and skis at the largest demo of winter mountain sports gear in the West, the Alpenglow Mountain Festival, Feb. 21 to Mar. 1 this year. Join international guides in the back-country as they impart the nuances of Sierra terrain, or hike to a catered dinner. 583-6917,alpenglowsports.com. The recently renovated Tahoe Art Haus & Cinemaserves up indie movies, action sports films, and major releases along with snacks from the popcorn spice bar. The venue also features guest lectures, sponsors pub crawls, and hosts performances organized by the newly formed Lake Tahoe Dance Collective. 584-2431, tahoearthauscinema.com. At the new Tahoe City Winter Sports Park, glide beneath the stars at ski-to-bonfire dinners hosted by such local restaurants as Zia Lina, or bring the family out to slide, cycle, and run at the Pole, Pedal, and Pound triathlon on Jan. 2. 5831516,wintersportspark.com. Recently opened lakeside, Moe's Original Bar B Quepairs extra thick, smoky St. Louisstyle ribs with jalapeno-and-onion corn bread grilled briefly in butter. Other proteins worth trying: Southern-fried catfish and smoked tofu. 5834227,moesoriginalbbq.com/lo/tahoecity. Amid the small renaissance of hole-in-the-wall coffeehouses and snack shops in Tahoe City comes a darling place called Sugar Pine Cakery. Pastry queen Allison Sayles bakes organic treats using ingredients from local farmers' market vendors. Her salted caramel brownies, lavender tea cookies, and gluten-free chocolate chip cookies are to die for. 5832253, sugarpinecakery.com.
LEARN TO SKI, SNOWBOARD MONTH IN LAKE TAHOE Want to learn how to ski or snowboard? Here’s your chance. The National SnowSports Industry Association puts on Learn to Ski and Snowboard Month every January to ignite and rekindle passions for skiing and snowboarding. Many of North Lake Tahoe’s 12 downhill resorts are offering steep discounts on lessons, lift tickets, rentals and more, making it easier than ever to try this winter snow sport. Find these cool deals and others all season long at GoTahoeNorth.com/cool-deals. Tahoe Donner: There is no better feeling than enjoying a bluebird day with a friend by your side. Tahoe Donner provides this opportunity with its two-for-one combo package. Both Tahoe Donner’s cross-country and downhill ski areas offer the package January 5-9 and January 12-16. For $81, two people can learn to ski with a one-hour private lesson, all-day trail pass or lift ticket and rentals. Individual packages are available for ages 7+ at $39, which includes an all-day lift ticket, rental equipment, and a 1 hour and 45 minute group lesson. Diamond Peak: Diamond Peak will host its own Learn to Ski & Ride week January 12-16 geared toward getting kids as young as four on the mountain. The $39 Learn to Ski & Ride package offered all week includes a beginner lift ticket, rental equipment and a 1 hour and 45 minute lesson for ages 7 and up and a two-hour lesson for ages 4 to 7. Lessons are offered twice daily at 10 a.m. and 2 p.m.
For season-long learning, Diamond Peak offers the Diamond Club Membership for $119 which includes three beginner packages complete with rental equipment, group lessons and beginner lift tickets. Once a member completes three lessons, they earn a free all-mountain lift ticket and one-day equipment rental for use during the season. Alpine Meadows: Alpine Meadows offers a $49 Learn to Ski & Ride special Monday through Friday, January 5-30. This first time lesson package for ages 13+ includes everything to get started: a beginner lift ticket, equipment rental and a two and a half hour beginner lesson offered at 10 a.m. and 1 p.m. daily. Boreal Mountain Resort: Boreal continues to offer its highly recognized beginner program: Take 3, Ride FREE. Before heading up to the mountain, purchase a lessons package online and after completing three lessons, riders or skiers will be rewarded with a 2014-2015 Boreal Unlimited Season Pass. Mt. Rose: For first-timers the wide slopes of Mt. Rose provide a comfortable and roomy learning environment. The beginning programs include a two-hour lesson, equipment rental and all-day lift ticket for $97 at the window ($92 online).
For skiers and riders who have strapped in before, but are not quite ready for the Chutes, Mt. Rose offers Next Step Lessons and Performance Workshops. The two-hour Next Step lesson provides a refresher to skiers and boards, all day beginner terrain lift ticket and rental equipment for $107 at the window ($102 online). Performance workshops are geared toward intermediate skiers and riders who want to improve skills in powder, crud, bumps and steeps. Two-hour lessons are offered twice daily at 10 a.m. and 1 p.m. for $39 per person.
Taking up skiing or snowboarding at a young age is a great idea. Children are typically quick learners.
Sugar Bowl: For the entire month of January, Sugar Bowl Resort will offer its terrain-based learning lessons at a discount of $30. The $59 Learn to Ski and Ride package includes a comprehensive two-hour lesson, equipment rental and a limited lift ticket for use on White Pine and Flume chairlifts, providing unlimited practice after the lesson. Northstar California: Northstar offers a variety of lesson options for first-time snow enthusiasts as well as world-class guides that can be paired with seasoned skiers and snowboarders. Private lessons include lift lane privileges for quick access to the slopes, undivided one-on-one attention or the option to share with up to six guests, as well as customizable experiences based on skier level and desired terrain. Ultimate 4 lessons provide students with more one-on-one instruction and group lessons are a fun way to build confidence as well as customizable experiences with the Adventure, Guiding and Learning Center. Homewood Mountain Resort: Homewood Resort’s Ski & Snowboard School designed Ski and Ride packages tailored for those who have never skied or snowboarded before. Homewood boasts stunning views of Lake Tahoe and offers adult Learn to Ski/Ride packages inclusive of a lift ticket, rentals and lesson for $49. Purchase online the day before hitting the slopes to receive this rate. This package is a $40 savings, available Sunday-Friday. For more packages and information on Learn to Ski and Snowboard Month, check out www.GoTahoeNorth.com.
North Tahoe resort association hires new tourism director December 31, 2014 TAHOE CITY, Calif. — John “J.T.” Thompson was recently hired as tourism director and chief marketing officer for the North Lake Tahoe Resort Association. Thompson was formerly director of tourism for the Sacramento Convention and Visitors Bureau. He replaces Andy Chapman, who left NLTRA in November to become executive director and CEO of the Incline Village Crystal Bay Visitors and Convention Bureau. Thompson’s experience in tourism marketing in Sacramento and Palm Springs includes managing annual tourism budgets and developing regional partnerships through the Gold Country and the Central Valley, according to an NLTRA press release. “(Thompson) will be working with a seasoned marketing team, wonderful agencies and partners, and have the advice and expertise from our marketing committee to help him get up to speed,” NLTRA Executive Director Sandy Evans Hall said in a statement. “I have no doubt that he will quickly earn the trust and confidence of the community of North Lake Tahoe and will be a true asset to our region.” Following his work with the Sacramento Convention and Visitors Bureau, Thompson created his own specialty tourism marketing company that represented golf resorts and destinations from around the world to North American golf travelers, according to NTLRA. In this role, he published the Best of California Golf annual publication in conjunction with the California Travel and Tourism Commission, now known as Visit California. Visit nltra.org to learn more about NLTRA.
DEALS ABOUND IN JANUARY TO LEARN TO SKI AND SNOWBOARD December 31, 2014 January 2015 marks the seventh annual Learn to Ski and Snowboard Month. Right after New Year’s, during the entire month, ski and snowboard areas throughout the country offer their best deals for newcomers wanting to try one or both of these winter sports in the most affordable way.
“Cost and convenience often are top of mind for people considering taking up skiing or snowboarding,” said Mary Jo Tarallo, executive director for the snow sports industry’s national initiative. “Like anything else, making the sports affordable and accessible requires a little research and smart shopping.” The learntoskiandsnowboard.org web site not only provides access to resorts and their learning offers, it also provides a list of snow sports retail shops, tips for newcomers ranging from “How to Save Money”, “How to Dress” (starting with clothes from one’s closet), “Dealing with Children” and “How to Pack for a Ski/Snowboard Trip”.
“Having one web site that has so much basic information as well as links to other sites makes it easier for newcomers to shop around, and make more educated decisions on affordability and convenience,” added Tarallo. The site also includes links on renting clothing in addition to equipment, on-line swap platforms, clothing and equipment suppliers and much more. Several states including Vermont, New Hampshire, New York, Michigan, Pennsylvania, Maine, Minnesota, New Mexico, and Utah have a variety of statewide and discounted “learn to” programs to make it easy for beginners to get started in skiing or snowboarding. Programs vary and many have a standard price. One “standardized” program run by Ski the Northwest Rockies involved venues in Washington and Idaho.
Ski Vermont and Ski New Hampshire are running a $29 lift, lesson, and rental package at participating resorts. The Vermont program has been successful for a number of years and, this year, neighbor New Hampshire has jumped in with a similar effort. Ski Areas of New York is celebrating “Discover New York” on January 8 with $12 lift vouchers and learning programs that start at $25. Ski PA has a First-Timer learning program for $49 at its member resorts throughout the Keystone state. New York has 40 venues and Pennsylvania has 19. Ski Maine has harnessed its resorts to offer special “Bring a Friend learning programs at Sugarloaf and Sunday River and a host of other beginner packages at its other member resorts. In North Carolina, Beech Mountain’s Skiing 101 will be offered again this January, the third year for the program that provides one night’s lodging, equipment rental, helmet rental, full-day lift ticket, and a beginner ski or snowboard lesson at Beech Mountain Resort, Monday through Friday for participates age 8 and older, for $101 per person based on double occupancy. Registrants simply contact any of the participating lodging properties listed on Beech’s Skiing 101 page. “Skiing or snowboarding can be intimidating if you haven’t tried them before, so we offer a learning experience that’s easy, safe and fun,” says Talia Freeman, marketing director for Beech Mountain Resort. “We take you though each step. Everything is covered from equipment rental to lift tickets to the proper way to carry skis. We make all the rounds and ensure you arrive at the lesson on time and prepared.” Newcomers also can “Discover Michigan” by taking advantage of that state’s $20 cross country learning offer and its $35 learning offer for Alpine skiing and snowboarding at 27 venues throughout the state.. There’s another “Discover” program in Minnesota. A group of retail shops in that state have teamed up with the Minnesota Ski Areas Association on a program that combines learning how to ski or snowboard with learning about the clothing and equipment as well. The resorts also are members of the Midwest Ski Areas Association.
Ski New Mexico teams with local ABC television affiliate KOAT-7 on a special children’s “learn to” program priced at $40. Member resort Sipapu has a “first three lessons free” program. Residents of Utah can sample “the Greatest Snow on Earth” via theSki Utah $45 lift, lesson, and rental package. Newcomers must show proof of being a Utah resident. Ski the Northwest Rockies’ E Z Ski/Ride 1 2 3 includes four member venues in Washington and Idaho. Special deals are available for lift, lesson, and rental beginner learning packages and even better deals are offered in January. In California, many of North Lake Tahoe’s 12 member downhill ski resorts are offering steep discounts on lessons, lift tickets, rentals and more, making it easier than ever to try a new sport. Find these cool deals and others all season long at GoTahoeNorth.com/cool-deals. Many individual resorts in Colorado, and in other states, have a variety of beginner learning programs. All are available at learntoskiandsnowboard.org. Newcomers who take lessons during January have a couple of ways to make skiing and snowboarding more affordable. Online retailer skis.com/snowboards.com is giving a $50 gift voucher to anyone who takes a beginner lesson and sends in the receipt. The skis.comweb site has information starting January 1. A free subscription through learntoskiandsnowboard.org to the Mountain Sports Club paves the way for discounts and savings. Numerous “Passport” programs for kids offers parents substantial savings on lessons and lift tickets for elementary level school children. Discounted lift ticket/learning programs are available during January and beyond from specialized web sitesLiftopia.com and GetSkiTickets.com. Details and links to all of these opportunities are available through learntoskiandsnowboard.org. Snowlink.com is another good source for information.
Beginners who bring other beginners for lessons can win substantial prizes for doing so including skis from Head and Ramp, a snowboard from Ride or a $500 gift voucher from Krimson Klover. The key is to take the Bring a Friend Challenge.
Newcomers who enter the First Day Faces campaign (#firstdayfaces) are eligible to win a four-day trip to Utah including airfare from a major city. “We think that’s an affordable offer,” said Raelene Davis, Marketing VP for Ski Utah and sponsor for the trip.
What's New in California: Winter 2014-15 Edition December 30, 2014 SACRAMENTO, Calif. (December 19, 2014) - California’s glittering sunshine and abundance of winter recreational activities continue to draw visitors every year. This season, adventureseekers are sure to fall in love with a wealth of new attractions, including California’s first resortbased snowkiting center. Whether seeking luxury in an upscale resort or craving the tranquility of a lakefront lodge, the perfect trip awaits on California’s pristine, snow-covered mountains. For more information, visitvisitcalifornia.com/snow.
STATEWIDE California Restaurant Month Returns this January January marks the fifth anniversary of California Restaurant Month, a month-long culinary celebration taking place across the state. At special events throughout the month, visitors and locals alike can sample the best of California’s incredible culinary scene for a fraction of the cost. With such great savings, diners can treat themselves to those hotspots they’ve always wanted to try. California’s incomparable wine country, coastal villages and alpine resorts are amazing all year, but the serenity found in January makes it an excellent time to visit. Share culinary stories on social media using #DineinCA. Find a complete listing of cities, dates and restaurants at DineinCA.com.
OUTDOOR RECREATION NORTH LAKE TAHOE Vail Resorts Makes Skiing and Snowboarding More Accessible to Women New this winter season, Vail Resorts’ Ski & Ride Schools will offer the Women’s Ultimate 4, a lesson specifically designed for women to learn how to ski in a small-group setting, from the foundation-building basics of a “first-timer” class (open to all), to navigating the easiest greens, to sharing tactics and camaraderie on mountain green and blue runs. Women’s Ultimate 4 lessons will be offered at Heavenly, Northstar and Kirkwood Resorts in Lake Tahoe. Select resort Ski & Ride Schools will also offer four-hour lessons for women, providing ample time for the drop-off and pick-up times of their kids’ lessons, as well as “Mommy & Me” lessons, where instructors spend time with the mother and the child, reviewing what the child is working on and providing tips on how to continue to develop the child’s skills. Northstar Resort Offers New Family Après Snow Play New this winter season, Northstar Resort is offering Family Après Snow Play, an arena
dedicated to families and children featuring music, interactive snow sculptures and features, fun kid-centric coaching and special snow play with Northstar’s professional instructors. Conveniently located at The Village Overlook above the skate arena, the Après Snow Play area is perfect for families with kids or kids not quite ready to tackle the slopes. Plus, the large arena area allows for additional activities during select weekends and holidays. Sugar Bowl Resort Offers Snowkiting and Snowbiking at Royal Gorge Sugar Bowl Resort is home to California’s first and only snowkiting school at Royal Gorge Cross Country, North America’s largest XC resort, where visitors can learn to harness the power of the wind and rip along the scenic Van Norden Meadow on skis or snowboard. Tyler Brown, world champion snowkiter, will be at the reins, offering rentals, lessons, tips on technique and more. New this season, guests will also have the option of renting special fat-tired snowbikes that can be ridden on 10 kilometers of specific snowy single-track trails in the scenic Van Norden Meadow. Homewood Mountain Resort to Offer Guided Snowcat Skiing/Snowboarding Homewood Snowcat Adventures will debut this winter on 750+ acres of backcountry terrain on the flanks of Ellis Peak, pending U.S. Forest Service permits to operate on public lands above the resort’s traditional ski area boundary. Once transported to the summit, groups of up to 10 skiers and riders will enjoy guided access to a wide variety of terrain options—from perfectlyspaced tree runs to steeps, powder bowls and intermediate-level glades—all leading guests back to the inbounds terrain at the resort. All-day packages with Homewood Snowcat Adventures will feature small group sizes (10 skier/rider max) and a fully guided experience— with guides trained by the North American Ski Training Center—in the out-of-bounds terrain accessed by the snowcat. Participants will enjoy laps of up to 1,828 vertical feet from the 8,740foot summit of Ellis Peak—where panoramic views of Lake Tahoe and the Desolation Wilderness await—to the bottom of the Old Homewood Express chairlift. Mountain to Mat: Ski/Ride and Yoga Workshops New this winter, Squaw Valley will host three ski/ride and yoga workshops in January, February and March on the third Saturday of each month. Dubbed “Mountain to Mat”, the new workshops will incorporate locally-sourced, organic breakfast and lunch, a half day on the mountain with a professional ski/ snowboard guide, an afternoon restorative yoga class at the Wanderlust Yoga Studio, and mini-spa treatments while sipping wine at Trilogy Spa in The Village at Squaw Valley. The January and March workshops will be offered for skiers, while the February class will be for snowboarders. Mountain to Mat is offered to intermediate through expert skiers and riders. SANTA CLARA New 49ers Home, Levi’s Stadium Now Open South of San Francisco in the heart of Silicon Valley in Santa Clara, Levi’s Stadium—the new home to the San Francisco 49ers NFL team—opened this summer as one of the most technologically and environmentally advanced buildings in sports and entertainment. Boasting high definition outdoor screens among the largest in the world, the new stadium seats 68,500 and offers more than 150,000 square feet of event space. It also features the 20,000-squarefoot 49ers Museum presented by Sony, which celebrates the 49ers past, present and future. The stadium will host Super Bowl 50 on February 7, 2016. TRUCKEE
New Ski Facilities, Activities and Amenities Debut in Truckee Six Tesla charging bays are now available at the Gateway Shopping Center in Truckee. Those who prefer to travel by skis will enjoy the expanded offerings at Sugar Bowl Ski Resort, which now operates the Royal Gorge Cross Country facilities, North America’s largest cross-country ski resort. The hamlet of Glenshire recently opened the Truckee River Legacy Trail, a beautiful east-west trail for jogging, walking and connecting with locals. Northstar California recently launched Family Après Snow Play, an arena of interactive snow sculptures and features, kidcentric coaching and music. The resort’s Zephyr Lodge also opened Mountain Table, featuring California-sourced cuisine and panoramic, floor-to-ceiling views of the Sierra Nevada’s Pacific Crest. Northstar also debuted a Progression Snow Park, a terrain park offering a smoother, more refined transition between beginner, intermediate and advanced ability levels.
HOTELS & RESORTS BIG SUR Post Ranch Inn to Debut New Post House Accommodation in January 2015 The Post Ranch Inn, known for its elegant amenities paired with panoramic vistas of the Pacific Ocean, is now taking reservations for its new Post House accommodation which opens in early January 2015. Overlooking the sea or the Santa Lucia Mountains, the new 2,220-square-foot interior uses earth tones with an emphasis on natural and sustainable materials such as reclaimed wood. The house offers custom furniture, rugs hand-woven by indigenous weavers and original art, as well as heirlooms from the Post family, who were among Big Sur’s first pioneers. The lavish master bedroom offers clear coastal views and opens to a 1,300-squarefoot backyard open space, where couples can enjoy mountain views. The master bathroom offers tranquility with amenities including radiant heated slate flooring, a large rain shower with stone flooring and an oversized bathtub. The dining room features a custom-designed formal dining table and chairs, while the full kitchen boasts designer appliances and a skylight. Guests can grill on the original Post Family crank-style BBQ on the back patio, or cozy- up in the media room for a private screening on the 55- inch flat screen TV with DirecTV and Sonos wireless speaker system. CALISTOGA Indian Springs Resort Completes Major Expansion The storied Indian Springs Resort—with a compelling history dating back to the mid-19th century and originally founded by legendary Californian Sam Brannan— recently completed the finishing touches on a major expansion, including the addition of 75 new rooms and bungalows, a locally-inspired farm-to-table restaurant, bar and lounge, more than 3,500 square feet of indoor event space, a new yoga retreat center and various outdoor event areas. The collection of accommodations and group spaces unfold across 17 acres, granting privacy and access to rare natural resources, such as thermal mineral water from on-site geysers. Historic Brannan Cottage Inn Reopens After Extensive Restoration After an eight-month renovation, Napa Valley’s highly anticipated reopening of the historic Brannan Cottage Inn took place October 1, featuring six beautifully redesigned guestrooms and new landscaping. The iconic property, listed on the National Register of Historic Places, now offers the latest in modern technologies, green practices and luxury amenities. With a nod to the Calistoga property’s storied past, the new owners preserved and highlighted its 1860 Italianate Victorian architecture, featuring gabled roofs, wrap-around porch and arch-enclosed entryways.
The Inn is the last remaining building still in its original location from Calistoga’s 1862 Hot Springs Resort. The project echoes the Western frontier feel created by original owner Sam Brannan, a colorful 19th century American settler, businessman and journalist who founded San Francisco’s California Star newspaper and highly publicized the California Gold Rush. FORESTVILLE Farmhouse Inn Debuts $8 Million Renovation Internationally acclaimed boutique hotel Farmhouse Inn, best known for its intimate California wine country setting coupled with its eponymous Michelin-starred restaurant, just unveiled an $8 million renovation. The project includes nine new luxury rooms, impressive new outdoor spaces, a completely revitalized pool area and a new 3,000-square-foot farm-to-table spa facility, as well as a new guest services building, a private meeting space and fitness facilities. The nine new luxury rooms are a designed to offer a harmonization of rustic décor and over-the-top amenities, such as stone two-sided fireplaces, private redwood balconies, plush white linen beds and sliding barn door walk-in closets. LAKE TAHOE South Lake Tahoe Undergoes $150 Million in Improvements South Lake Tahoe resorts have reported more than $150 million in major revitalization and environmental improvements since the recession. The mountain of changes at Tahoe South, named the Best Ski Destination for 2013 by USA Today, includes more upscale lodging, entertainment, shopping, skiing and outdoor recreation that visitors can enjoy in the 2014-15 winter season. Scheduled to open in late December or January 2015, the new Hard Rock Hotel & Casino Lake Tahoe at Heavenly Village will offer a 25,000-squarefoot casino, 539 renovated hotel rooms, new restaurants and bars, the largest outdoor pool experience in South Lake Tahoe, and an assortment of live entertainment venues. Heavenly Village also recently welcomed new Mexican restaurant Azul Latin Kitchen, and in mid-town the Cold Water Brewery & Grill offers handcrafted brews and California comfort food. The Château in South Lake Tahoe, which completed a $15 million renovation, is now open with 27,868 square feet of shops and restaurants. Basecamp Hotel also acquired and renovated the former Capri Hotel next door to add 24 new guest rooms (74 total), a beer garden, meeting space for 40 people, a private event space in a vintage Air Stream trailer, a 20-person hot tub, three more fire pits and two large rooftop decks with views of Heavenly. The new Mellow Mountain Hostel appeals to international guests and backpackers, offering 11 dorm-style rooms. At the water’s edge, a multi-milliondollar renovation of the Landing Resort & Spa opened December 2013 and offers 88 upscale rooms, as well as Jimmy’s restaurant with wood-fire Greek and regional California cuisine. The lakefront Beach Retreat & Lodge at Tahoe recently completed $4 million in renovations including new bedding, drapes, décor, bathrooms and balcony furniture in its 262 rooms. MARINA DEL REY Iconic Marina del Rey Hotel Reopens After $20 Million Renovation The renowned Marina Del Rey Hotel is scheduled to reopen in mid-December after a $20 million renovation that will transform the property into a four-star accommodation, boasting a full-service restaurant, 24-hour room service, concierge assistance, an outdoor, marina-facing pool, sundeck, a spacious marina-front wedding venue and 6,291 square feet of meeting space. Guest rooms and suites have been fully revamped to embody the hotel’s tranquil waterfront location complete with a choice of a private balcony, patio or pool-facing cabana. Luxuriously furnished and appointed, rooms are equipped with premium high-thread Egyptian cotton linens,
50” LED HDTV’s, Keurig® coffeemakers, and Philosophy bath amenities. The new destination restaurant, aptly named SALT, will be an upscale, casual indoor-outdoor eatery serving contemporary California cuisine and fresh seasonal seafood fare, along with craft cocktails created by a master mixologist. NAPA Napa’s La Residence Becomes SENZA Hotel Originally built as the Parker Mansion in 1870, La Residence Hotel in Napa now boasts a new look and refreshed brand— SENZA Hotel. The updated design of the hotel includes a complete renovation of its 23 guest rooms and creation of 18 new suites with private patios. The hotel also features a new contemporary lobby with a fully equipped kitchen, an updated dining room, a heated outdoor pool with cabanas, a remodeled hot tub and a new outdoor fireplace. The new Riposa Center offers a full spa with a variety of spa services, while a state-of-the-art fitness room rounds out the wellness amenities. The hotel is surrounded by vineyards, which guests can enjoy with complimentary continental breakfast by Napa’s famous Bouchon bakery, or complimentary local wines paired with artisanal cheese boards. NEWPORT BEACH Newport Beach Hotel Unveils Five Fully Equipped Suites Four Sisters Inns’ Newport Beach Hotel recently added five fully equipped suites to meet the growing demand from travelers who want to sleep more people and prepare their own meals. The Sailor Suites—all decorated with casually elegant Pottery Barn furnishings—come in two sizes. One-bedroom suites sleep four and include a fold-out sofa in the living area, while two bedroom suites sleep as many as six. All suites feature full kitchens, complimentary continental breakfast, free WiFi and use of the inn’s bicycles to explore the town. PASADENA Pasadena Welcomes First New Hotel in Two Decades Pasadena is celebrating the opening of its first new hotel in more than 20 years—dusitD2 constance pasadena—the first U.S. location of Thailand’s Dusit International. Built in 1926 as the Constance Hotel, the new hotel features 136 guest rooms and the D2 Restaurant and d’bar — a new cocktail spot featuring classic American dishes with an Asian fusion twist. The hotel also boasts an inroom Virtual Concierge and Thai-inspired bath amenities. dusitD2 constance pasadena offers a contemporary feel with the juxtaposition of old and new that flows seamlessly throughout the hotel. A second phase of the hotel’s development, slated for completion in 2016, will include 25 club level guest rooms with a club lounge, a rooftop pool with an outdoor sundeck and pool bar, a fitness center, two intimate meeting rooms, and new retail and dining outlets adjacent to the hotel. RANCHO BERNARDO Rancho Bernardo Inn Unveils Wellness Rooms for Guests Seeking Serenity Rancho Bernardo Inn recently debuted 15 Wellness Rooms designed with the wellness-seeking guest in mind. Each room features exclusive amenities from the inn’s spa, including signature candles and upgraded bath products, daily homemade seasonal body scrub, as well as yoga mats, exercise balls and fitness DVDs. The resort, which is nestled on a premier 18-hole golf course, offers top-notch spa treatments, dining and relaxation. To celebrate the update, the hotel will give guests who book the wellness rooms a 15 percent discount on spa products at
the spa gift shop. REDONDO BEACH Redondo Beach Hotel Reopens With $13 Million in Upgrades The Redondo Beach Hotel recently reopened after a $13 million renovation that included new balconies on the ocean-facing guestrooms, a second-level outdoor lounge with ocean and marina views, a completely remodeled lobby, and an expansive portico that ties in architectural elements from the city’s cultural history. The renovation also included the addition of two new fully-equipped meeting spaces offering 2,000 square feet of meeting and event space and a year-round outdoor heated pool and spa. The hotel also launched its weekly hosted Wine Down Hour on Monday through Wednesday evenings. SAN FRANCISCO Scarlet Huntington Hotel Opens Doors Following $15 Million Renovation Singapore-based hospitality group Grace International opened the Scarlet Huntington in May, following a $15 million renovation of San Francisco’s historic Huntington Hotel. The original hotel, built in the early 20th century by Old West Big Four railroad tycoon Collis P. Huntington, was designed in an avant-garde style that draws inspiration from a deep Peranakan heritage. The new design reflects the blended cultures of 15th century Chinese immigrants in modern-day Malaysia and Singapore, woven together with San Francisco’s history and diversity. The iconic red brick façade of the former Huntington Hotel’s exterior permeates the new aesthetic, representing the hotel’s heritage while embracing opulent gold, sophisticated black and bright gemstone-inspired colors to convey sheer luxury and glamour. To preserve the historic integrity of the hotel, the owners retained the “bones” of the building, including the black wood handcarved door at the entrance, crystal chandelier, crown molding, adorning arches and the original mailbox chute from 1924 that will continue to be used by hotel guests. W San Francisco Unveils FIT and SOCIAL Spaces W San Francisco recently launched two innovative venues for guests, strikingly designed by Skylab Architecture: FIT, a revolutionary fitness space and concept designed in collaboration with yoga rebel Tara Stiles, as well as SOCIAL, a design-forward event venue with an adjacent terrace. Available to guests 24/7, FIT boasts state-of-the- art equipment for cardio, strength training and Pilates. The epicenter features central seating and a self-serve bar area with rings of color-changing light fixtures. SOCIAL offers as many as 200 seated guests the chance to enjoy a 2,467-square-foot event space and scenic terrace overlooking the city’s bustling SoMa district—including cultural destinations such as the SFMOMA and Yerba Buena Center for the Arts. SAN JOSE Hotel Valencia Embraces the Mediterranean Lifestyle The Hotel Valencia Santana Row, located in the heart of Silicon Valley, is undergoing the final stages of its renovation to boost the Mediterranean decadence befitting its Santana Row location. As guests enter the updated lobby, they are transported to a place reminiscent of the Spanish Golden Age with walls featuring embossed plaster treatments with hand-carved details, wrought iron chandeliers hung from a raked plaster ceiling and contemporary Iberian-inspired furniture. The guestrooms feature plush beds, long oak credenzas and other Spanish-inspired accents. Some updated rooms overlook the hotel’s tranquil inner plaza, which is home to restaurant Citrus, serving a locally sourced seasonal menu. The final phase of renovations is
scheduled to be completed in January 2015, and will include the Patio, a new glass-roofed courtyard seating area featuring bougainvillea-adorned walls and serving breakfast, light lunch, cocktails and appetizers. When the sun goes down, enjoy a custom cocktail menu at Vbar, the hotel’s popular hot spot where guests can mingle with trendy locals—known as “Digerati.” SANTA CRUZ Seascape Beach Resort Unveils New Renovations Seascape Beach Resort, recognized as one of the top coastal conference centers in California, completed a seven-month, $1.5-million refurbishing that includes a dramatic redesign to the property’s entry lobby and front desk. In addition, many of the property’s conference rooms, as well as Sanderlings Restaurant and Lounge, received significant facelifts. The all-new front desk was manufactured from recycled wine barrels, while the new tables in the lobby were constructed from a 100-yearold, local elm tree. Sanderlings Restaurant now features all new wood tables, while the accompanying Lounge has a stunning, new bar table - made from another elm tree that was removed on the San Jose State University campus - and all new wood flooring. Seascape Beach Resort features 17,000 square feet of meeting space with 15 conference rooms— most with ocean views - as well as 285 spacious suites and beach villas with fully equipped kitchens or kitchenettes, fireplaces and private balconies facing the majestic Monterey Bay. The four-diamond resort sits on a wide, sandy beach that runs the length of the resort, with a host of resort options such as in-suite spa treatments, beach-fires-to-go, and much more. SANTA MONICA Hotel Casa del Mar Marks Full Redesign What began with the opening of Terrazza lounge over the summer came full circle this fall as Hotel Casa del Mar completed its redesign by famed White House decorator Michael S. Smith and artisans from Southern California and abroad. The grand entryway features new antiquefumed oak wood floors, while the lounge boasts a new fireplace, chic artwork and custom furnishings in an ocean-inspired color palette, as well as four new blue-and-white-striped indoor cabanas—all of which serve as the backdrop for enjoying seasonal cocktails or small plates with friends. With these transformations at Hotel Casa del Mar, scheduled to be completed by January 2015, guests will discover a distinct blend of quintessential California touch points and a seaside Mediterranean aesthetic. SANTA ROSA Flamingo Conference Resort and Spa Completes $3 Million Makeover Sonoma County’s Flamingo Conference Resort and Spa recently completed a multimilliondollar transformation with Miami Beach styling—a nod to its iconic pink flamingo sign that has been greeting visitors since the late 1950s. The $3 million project included an extensive redesign of the lobby, guest rooms and suites, as well as recent remodels of the Terrace Grille restaurant and bar. The Santa Rosa-based hotel’s local entertainment hotspot—The Lounge— features a new look for locals and visitors to enjoy, including live bands for dancing on weekends, local artists on Thursdays, Western Swing dancing on Tuesdays and Salsa lessons and dancing on Sundays. The hotel now boasts a state-of-the-art indoor cycling, yoga and barre studio—The Studios at Montecito Heights Health and Racquet Club—which is open to the public. Hotel guests receive a 33 percent discount on classes. SODA SPRINGS
Soda Springs Mountain Resort Completes $1 Million Upgrade Soda Springs Mountain Resort, the longest operating ski resort in California, just celebrated its 80th anniversary with a $1 million addition, the West Meadow Lodge. The building provides rental, ticket and foodservice facilities at Planet Kids, a program for kids ages 8 and younger to experience snowsports. Planet Kids offers a snow playground featuring tubing carousals, snowtubing lanes, ski/snowboard specific learning areas, snow volcanoes to climb and more. For those looking to speed things up a bit, Tube Town is Tahoe’s premier snow tubing area with more than eight long runs and a surface lift.
CULINARY BEVERLY HILLS Beverly Hills Rolls Out Red Carpet for New Restaurants Beverly Hills visitors can enjoy new restaurants such as Ocean Prime, which serves seafood, steaks, cocktails and wine, and the Palm Restaurant (set to open in late November), a classic steakhouse featuring iconic white-jacketed servers and wall art highlighting iconic spots from Los Angeles. The new Spaghettini and the Dave Koz Lounge, an upscale Italian restaurant and jazz club will also open later this month, expanding the partnership between Seal Beach restaurateurs and renowned saxophonist Dave Koz to Beverly Hills. BIG BEAR LAKE Big Bear Welcomes New Lakefront Restaurant The Pines Lakefront recently opened on Big Bear Lake, featuring the only waterfront dining in town. The eatery offers fine dining with an extensive seasonal menu featuring steak, seafood and pasta dishes, as well as wild game such as elk, wild boar, venison and rabbit. The restaurant boasts the only multipurpose smoker in Southern California, and will change the wood flavor according to the seasons. The Pines Lakefront also offers the largest wine list in Big Bear Lake, including 110 wines. COSTA MESA Orange County Restaurateur Andrew Dorsey Opens SOCIAL Popular regional restaurateur Andrew Dorsey recently introduced his first craft restaurant experience to the Westside Costa Mesa area with Social, which offers ingredient-focused dishes and craft cocktails with house-made bitters and syrups. Chef Jeffrey Boullt - formerly of Playground in Santa Ana - is taking helm of the kitchen, offering diners a Californian take on classic Southern dishes like Chicken and Waffles (Jidori Chicken Oysters, Louisiana Hot Sauce, and Steen’s Cane Syrup), Brussels Sprouts (Honey, Sweet Potato, House Cured Tasso Ham, and Hazelnuts), and more. The inviting atmosphere with communal reclaimed wood tables encourages interaction between guests, hence the name SOCIAL. DANA POINT Seaside Waterman’s Harbor Opens in Dana Point Touting a locally sourced menu developed by James Beard Award nominee Chef John Cuevas, Waterman’s Harbor offers seaside views from inside or on the deck and patio. Named after the men and women who make their living from the water, the restaurant features water-themed
décor and fresh seafood. LOS ANGELES Famous Aussie Meat Pies Eatery Comes to Los Angeles Renowned in Australia as an authority on meat pies, brothers Sean and Nathan Garlick recently brought their iconic dishes to Los Angeles with Garlo’s Aussie Pie Shop in the Westwood Village shopping district. Guests can enjoy savory and sweet pies and pastries baked fresh daily for breakfast, lunch and dinner. MENDOCINO COUNTY Two New Wineries Crop Up in Anderson Valley Lula Cellars recently opened to the public its 22-acre property and hospitality center in Philo, featuring a tasting room, a pond, a picnic area, a well-stocked deli case for picnics, a 14-acre Pinot Noir vineyard, a small-production winemaking facility, a guest cottage, an acre of organic vegetable gardens and a 10,000-square-foot events area for private gatherings. Located in Boonville, Seebass Family Wines opened a tasting room featuring award-winning Chardonnays, Syrahs, Merlot, Rosé of Grenache and Zinfandel from their 100-year-old vines. The winery offers vineyard tours, scenic airplane flights over the area and overnight stays in its deluxe private vineyard guesthouse. NORTH LAKE TAHOE Northstar California Resort Now Offers Mountain Table, A New Culinary Experience Epicureans are invited to discover the essence of Northstar’s laid-back California luxury through Mountain Table, the new mountaintop culinary experience at Northstar’s Zephyr Lodge, which features an entire menu highlighting California-sourced ingredients. Offered twice a month starting in December, Mountain Table will run through March 2015, with each mountaintop dinner presenting a feast for the senses. Celebrating the best of California’s freshly-sourced produce, meats and seasonal ingredients, each dinner will be masterfully paired with regional artisan wines, craft beers, and distilled spirits to give dinner guests an unforgettable meal. Dinner will be served in Northstar’s Zephyr Lodge, renowned for its refined mountain elegance and unmistakable, panoramic view of the Sierra Nevada’s Pacific Crest through floor-to-ceiling windows. Mountain Table will donate proceeds to one of North Lake Tahoe’s nonprofit foundations. SAN LUIS OBISPO Foremost Wine Co. to Open New Restaurant and Wine Lounge Downtown San Luis Obispo will welcome a new regional wine-centric eatery and hotspot in January 2015. The Foremost Wine Co. will debut at the Creamery—a courtyard of eateries on Higuera Street—and feature a wine shop, restaurant and lounge. Chef Julie Simon has designed the locavore menu to be enjoyed with local and faraway wines. Foremost Wine Company stems from a community of passionate farmers, wine makers and wine drinkers in San Luis Obispo, with the common goal of making great wine accessible to the masses. SAN DIEGO Vacant Lot to be Developed Into Innovative Culinary Park RAD Lab, a design and development firm aiming to develop underused or vacant lots into
outdoor gathering places for local communities, broke ground in October 2014 on Quartyard in San Diego’s downtown East Village neighborhood. The company will transform this 30,000square-foot empty lot on Market Street and Park Boulevard into an urban park by December 2014, with an area designated for farmer’s and craft markets, a catering kitchen and outdoor event space, and downtown’s only dog run. Food tenants will include Meshuggah Shack Coffee Shop, as well as an outpost of S&M: Sausage and Meat, the new concept from Slater’s 50/50. Quartyard will also include a 10,000-square-foot beer garden, run by Best Beverage Catering that will pour local craft beer, wine and cocktails. Curbside Bites will curate a rotating roster of food trucks on site for lunch and dinner. STUDIO CITY Gourmet Marketplace and Eatery Opens in Studio City Internationally recognized chef Joan McNamara recently celebrated the opening of Joan’s on Third, a gourmet marketplace with a friendly atmosphere, communal tables and casual, charming décor. Located in a former post office on Ventura Place, the eatery features a case filled with cheeses and charcuterie, a bakery display piled high with Joan’s signature pastries, and retail shelves stocked with specialty gourmet items from candy to imported mustards. Customers can savor time-honored classics including turkey meatloaf, Chinese chicken salad, short rib sandwiches and decadent pastries.
ENTERTAINMENT, ARTS & CULTURE LAGUNA BEACH Laguna Beach Art Museum Hosts Two New Exhibits Now through January 18, 2015, Laguna Beach Art Museum offers two new exhibits, including a solo exhibition of work by mixed-media artist Elizabeth Turk, and an installation by internationally acclaimed environmental artist Lita Albuquerque. Turk’s Sentient Forms exhibit features a multi-media exploration of the recurring themes of time, matter, and space. The installation features marble sculptures from her Cage and Collars series, the fragility and fluidity of which are a stark contrast to the heavy materials from which they are made. It also includes X-ray mandala LED illuminated prints, an installation of scholar stones, and a “cabinet of curiosities” consisting of objects and drawings that have played a part in the artist’s imaginative and working processes. Albuquerque’s Particle Horizon installation complements her latest large-scale performance work, An Elongated Now, which reminds viewers “that the human being is the architecture that houses the connection and relationship between art and nature.” Her main work in the installation is Pigment Figure No. 1 (2012), which features a plaster human figure in a horizontal position and covered in blue pigment. The figure depicts a human lying in a state of suspended reality, at one time referencing the past self and at another alluding to the future, the never-ending “now.” SAN FRANCISCO San Francisco’s Renovated Masonic Concert Venue Reopens Atop San Francisco’s historic Nob Hill, the city’s famed concert venue The Masonic just reopened after a massive transformation. Renovations include a new concert stage, state-of-theart sound system, VIP room for 300 with views of the city and bay and luxury VIP boxes with wait service and private restrooms. A new tiered and open general admission floor brings the capacity to 3,300 people.
FAMILY FUN LONG BEACH Aquarium of the Pacific Debuts New Exhibits and Programs The Aquarium of the Pacific is hosting a new El Niño show on its cutting-edge Science on a Sphere video projection system developed by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA). The show explains the El Niño weather phenomenon, forecasting systems and impacts. The Aquarium also launched a series of talks scheduled through October 2015 called the Future of Food, hosted by Los Angeles Times Food Editor Russ Parsons, featuring farmers, authors, chefs and other experts. In May 2015, the Aquarium will unveil new exhibits and programs featuring sea jellies. SAN DIEGO USS Midway Museum to Open New Exhibit and Theater The Battle of Midway Experience will open aboard at the USS Midway Museum in early 2015, commemorating the greatest battle fought by the U.S. Navy. The new exhibit and theater showcases the historic June 1942 victory at the Battle of Midway, a victory that turned the tide of war in the Pacific in only six minutes. Highlights include a restored SBD Dauntless dive bomber and F4F Wildcat suspended from the overhead—the two aircraft that won the pivotal battle. A 90-seat holographic theater will feature a 14-minute multimedia film, Voices at Midway, showcasing the American heroes who faced overwhelming Japanese firepower. The theater’s exterior will be a replica of the USS Yorktown that the enemy sank at Midway, with artifacts on display. VALENCIA Innovative Roller Coaster Thunders into to Six Flags Magic Mountain Twisted Colossus—the longest, most innovative hybrid coaster in the world—will thunder into Six Flags Magic Mountain in spring 2015. Representing the next generation of the beloved Colossus wooden roller coaster that thrilled millions of guests in its 36-year reign at the park, the new coaster will be a unique technological marvel combining an iconic wooden structure with state-of-the-art Iron Horse Track. Twisted Colossus will feature numerous exciting components including: a “Top Gun Stall” inversion where the train slows down upside down; the Western Hemisphere’s first “High Five” element, where two trains pass through an overbanked turn facing each other with the illusion that riders can reach out and “high five” each other; a Zero G Roll where the track twists 360 degrees; and a staggering 128-foot drop at an amazing 80degrees. The coaster will be the focal point of the newly themed area where guests can expect the unexpected through whimsical experiences in entertainment, food and retail.
SHOPPING, SPAS & WELLNESS CATALINA ISLAND Catalina Island Welcomes New Spa, Event Spaces Santa Catalina Island Co.’s new Island Spa Catalina, the island’s first resort spa, offers a variety of signature treatments and rejuvenating therapies using island-grown ingredients. Located in
Avalon’s historic El Encanto building, the 15,000-square-foot spa features nine treatment rooms, a nail salon, a Spa Shoppe, Spa Café, an outdoor courtyard, a soaking pool and a vista deck. Descanso Beach Club on Catalina Island debuted a new look last winter with upgraded facilities and new high-end amenities, including private cabanas, chaise lounges and an indoor-outdoor restaurant and meeting space. The new look includes 7,000 square feet of function space overlooking the Pacific Ocean. SOUTH LAKE TAHOE Sierra-at-Tahoe’s New Solstice Plaza Now Open After a $5 million investment, Sierra-at-Tahoe’s Solstice Plaza is now open. Solstice Plaza features an exciting new après scene, enhanced guest services, a new retail shop, demo center and restaurant, Solstice Eatery. Along with Solstice Eatery, Sierra is also introducing the new indoor/outdoor Corkscrew Bar with full liquor license and the Golden Bear Terrace featuring California-centric barbeque flavors based on California lifestyle and attitude, highlighting craft beers from California. Guests can enjoy these delectable new options while relaxing around fire pits on a large outdoor deck overlooking the action on the mountain and enjoying live music and events throughout the course of the season.
TECHNOLOGY, TOURS & GUIDES LAKE TAHOE Squaw Valley | Alpine Meadows Launches Ski App, New Tours and Dining Options Squaw Valley | Alpine Meadows is gearing up for winter with exciting new activities and amenities for visitors. The resort recently launched the ski industry’s first app for Google Glass, giving wearers the chance to view what trails and lifts are open without checking their phones or signs. Billed as Squaw Valley | Alpine Meadows’ ultimate guided tour, the new North Face Mountain Guides program offers unrivaled access to the resorts’ most coveted terrain and secret stashes for intermediate to advanced skiers and snowboarders. In addition to priority lift line access, participants also get a complimentary ThermoBall Jacket from the North Face or other branded items, and après ski discounts. Stoked Oak, Alpine Meadows’ new BBQ joint, celebrates a new barbecue style unique to the Sierra, featuring dishes with regional microbrew pairings. New this year, guests can also experience a snowshoe hike under the stars to the Chalet at Alpine Meadows, where they can enjoy an intimate seated dinner at the Swiss-style mid-mountain lodge. NORTH LAKE TAHOE New Google Glass App for Skiers and Snowboarders Squaw Valley is launching the ski industry’s first app for Google Glass. Designed by Lumiplan, a tech company based in the French Alps and known for their solutions for electronic display systems, the Squaw Valley app will allow Google Glass wearers to view which trails and lifts are open and closed, without ever having to check a signage board or take their phone out of their pocket. Squaw Valley is the first ski resort to develop an app for Google Glass. The Squaw Valley Google Glass app will be available for the 2014–15 season through the Google Glass app store. Additional capabilities are planned for the app in the future.
MILESTONES & LOOKING AHEAD
DANA POINT Dana Point IlluminOcean Debuts for the City’s 25th Anniversary Kicking off November 26, Dana Point will celebrate its 25th with the exciting debut of a spectacle of sea lights—Dana Point IlluminOcean. Like Rockefeller Center in New York or Millennium Park in Chicago, Dana Point IlluminOcean is creating waves of excitement in Southern California this winter showcasing 40 nights of holiday lights. The OC Dana Point Harbor will transform into the festive village to mingle and jingle, surrounded by over a half million LED lights creatively sculpted into 22 gigantic marine inspired light sculptures—grand creations like a towering 50-foot GlowMotion tree, a Blue Whale so large families will walk through the belly and Lightwave tunnels stretching longer than a football field! INDIAN WELLS Renaissance Indian Wells Resort & Spa Undergoes Major Rebrand for 25th Anniversary During its 25th anniversary this year, the former Renaissance Esmeralda Resort & Spa recently underwent a major update and is now known as the Renaissance Indian Wells Resort & Spa. The updates honor the valley’s Hollywood and mid-century history with the introduction of 10 celebrity star suites and transformed dining options. Guests feel as though they are opening the dressing room doors of such icons as Peter Lawford, Lucille Ball, Bing Crosby, Marilyn Monroe and Frank Sinatra, and can enjoy casual bites at the new Sirocco Pizza Co. The hotel is scheduled to complete an exciting transformation of the largest California desert pool experience in December 2014, featuring a new pool deck, umbrellas and chairs and luxury cabanas surrounding the resort’s three distinct pools, sandy beach entrance, waterfall and hot tubs. The resort also will renovate its meeting spaces, set for completion in January 2015. MAMMOTH LAKES Mammoth Yosemite Airport Announces New Flights from Denver and Las Vegas This winter, getting to Mammoth Lakes and the legendary Mammoth Mountain Ski Area is easier than ever. Two new flights have been added to the Mammoth Yosemite Airport lineup for the 2014-2015 winter season. Offered by United Airlines, the Denver flight will fly to and from Mammoth Lakes on Saturdays beginning December 20. Alaska Airline’s nonstop flight between Mammoth Lakes and Las Vegas will operate Mondays and Thursdays beginning January 15, 2015. Visitors can also fly to Mammoth Lakes from Los Angeles, San Francisco and San Diego. MARINA DEL REY Marina Del Rey Turns 50 in 2015 In 2015, the waterfront community of Marina del Rey is celebrating its 50th birthday. To honor this important milestone, community officials are planning a series of year long celebrations, including special events and promotions with a big birthday bash planned in April, commemorating the harbor’s official dedication. Birthday festivities are open to the public & will take place in different locations across the Marina, including Burton Chace Park and Marina (Mother’s) Beach. NAPA VALLEY 2015 Marks 100 Years of the Napa Valley Wine Train’s Rail Cars
In 2015, the Napa Valley Wine Train will celebrate the 100th anniversary of their original, 1915iconic rail cars. Lovingly restored to their original glory with Honduran mahogany paneling, brass accents, etched glass partitions and plush armchairs, these rail cars are part of American history. Visitors are invited to celebrate this milestone and take advantage of this unique opportunity to see what it was like during the era of luxury train travel rather than just viewing them in a museum. NORTH LAKE TAHOE Sugar Bowl Resort Celebrates 75th Anniversary with Major Improvements To commemorate its 75th year of operations, Sugar Bowl recently underwent $20 million in major improvements, including the new Crow’s Peak chairlift on the western edge of the resort, and a new $4.5 million Sporthaus Fitness and Aquatic Center featuring two lap lanes, outdoor hot tubs, fitness facilities, a yoga studio, spa treatment rooms, and athletic training space. The resort also installed $500,000 in snowmaking equipment to improve snow quality and capacity, and launched California’s first and only snowkiting school at Royal Gorge Cross Country, North America’s largest XC resort. The cross-country ski area also will rent special fat-tired snowbikes that can be ridden on snowy single-track trails at the resort. SAN FRANCISCO San Francisco’s New Cruise Terminal Launches its First Ship from Pier 27 The new James R. Herman Cruise Terminal at Pier 27 welcomed its inaugural ship, Grand Princess, on September 18. The structure, which was used as the venue for the 34th America’s Cup Village in 2013, is adjacent to a new 2.5-acre public park known as the Cruise Terminal Plaza. The new cruise terminal accommodates vessels as big as 1,200 feet long, carrying 2,600 passengers, and has the capacity at key areas to allow it to service vessels carrying as many as 4,000 passengers. On non-cruise days, the terminal doubles as a special event facility. SODA SPRINGS Boreal Mountain Resort Celebrates 50th Anniversary Boreal Mountain Resort near Lake Tahoe will celebrate its 50th year of operations by offering commemorative giveaways and a new website. The resort recently invested in energy-efficient snowmaking and other infrastructural improvements, including a new 100-foot surface lift and expanded learning terrain. A new pirate-themed terrain park, Neff Land, will be unveiled in January 2015, boasting more than 30 ride-able features including a life-sized ship mast, cannons, pirates and more.
New tourism marketing chief named at N. Tahoe December 30, 2014
California tourism veteran John “J.T.” Thompson has been hired to replace Andy Chapman as tourism director and chief marketing officer for the North Lake Tahoe Resort Association. Thompson, a former director of tourism for the Sacramento Convention and Visitors Bureau, takes over for Chapman, who last month took the position of executive director/CEO of the Incline Village Crystal Bay Visitors and Convention Bureau. “We are thrilled to have J.T. Thompson join our organization,” Sandy Evans Hall, executive director of the North Lake Tahoe Resort Association, said in a news release Tuesday. “He will be working with a seasoned marketing team, wonderful agencies and partners, and have the advice and expertise from our marketing committee to help him get up to speed,” Hall said. “I have no doubt that he will quickly earn the trust and confidence of the community of North Lake Tahoe and will be a true asset to our region.” Thompson worked in tourism marketing in Sacramento and Palm Springs and created his own specialty tourism marketing company that represented golf resorts and destinations worldwide to North American golf travelers. In that role, he published the “Best of California Golf” annual publication in conjunction with the California Travel and Tourism Commission, now known as Visit California.
John “J.T.” Thompson December 30, 2014
Tahoe ski resorts offering January deals December 30, 2014 Lake Tahoe skiing just got better. January is Learn to Ski and Board month. The National SnowSports Industry Association fields this event each year to fire up everyone's skiing and snowboarding passions.
Photo courtesy of Connie Anderson/Abbi Agency Connie Anderson of the Abbi Agency said that this is the time to get out there and learn. From beginners to the more advanced, January is the time hone those skills. Best of all are the deals being offered. There are 12 ski resorts in the North Lake Tahoe area. Most of them are offering deals during the month. With a snowpack that is expected to build, it's a good time to check out the offerings at your favorite resort. Tahoe Donner Ski Area is offering a two for one package. Ski with a friend on January 5-9 and January 12-16. You'll pay just $81. You will get a one-hour private lesson, allday trail pass or lift ticket and rentals.If you are going alone, packages are available for
ages 7+ at $39, which includes an all-day lift ticket, rental equipment, and a 1 hour and 45 minute group lesson. At Diamond Peak Ski Resort the Learn to Ski & Ride is a week long, January 12-16. It's geared toward gettingthe young ones, as young as four years old, on the skis or boards and on the trails. For $39, their Learn to Ski & Ride package, offered all week, includes a beginner lift ticket, rental equipment and a 1 hour and 45 minute lesson for ages 7 and up and a two-hour lesson for ages 4 to 7. Lessons are twice a day at 10 a.m. and 2 p.m. Sign up for their Diamond Club Membership and score three beginner packages complete with rental equipment, group lessons and beginner lift tickets. Once a member completes three lessons, they earn a free all-mountain lift ticket and one-day equipment rental for use during the season. Diamond Club Membership is $119. Want more? Tackle the Backcountry Experience Series. Starting January 3, for the intermediate and advanced crowd, learn backcountry skills, avalanche issues, and how to ski uphill using ski skins. Grab a package for a guided tour through their Golden Eagle Bowl. Dynafit backcounty ski rentals, the full package, is $150. If you are a season pass holder, it's $135, or if you have your own gear, plan on spending $100. They will continue this series through February, on the 7th, 21st, and again on March 14, Over at Alpine Meadows first time skiers age 13 and older will spend $49 for a ski package that includes a beginner lift ticket, equipment rental and a two and a half hour beginner lesson offered at 10 a.m. and 1 p.m. daily. You can take advantage of this offer Mondays through Fridays, from January 5th to the 30th. Boreal has a great beginner package, called Take 3 Ride FREE. It's exactly what it says. Here's what you do: before making your way to the mountain, purchase a lessons package online and after completing three lessons, riders or skiers will be rewarded with a 2014-2015 Boreal Unlimited Season Pass. That's quite a deal. Mt. Rose has a beginner package, which includes a two-hour lesson, equipment rental and all-day lift ticket for $97 at the window ($92 online). the wide open beginner slopes here make it easy for beginners to learn how to manage those skis and boards. If you are a bit more advanced, take advantage of their Next Step Lessons and Performance Workshops. The two-hour lessons provides a refresher to skiers and riders. The all day beginner terrain lift ticket and rental equipment is $107 at the window ($102 online). Performance workshops are geared toward intermediate skiers and riders who want to improve skills in powder, crud, bumps and steeps. Two-hour lessons are offered twice daily at 10 a.m. and 1 p.m. for $39 per person. Learning how to navigate the different conditions on a ski slope are important skills to master. This is a great way to improve your skiing and riding.
Sugar Bowl is offering a $59 Learn to Ski and Ride package includes a comprehensive two-hour lesson, equipment rental and a limited lift ticket for use on White Pine and Flume chairlifts, providing unlimited practice after the lesson. That's a $30 savings from the regular price. The fun and memories are part of the deal. Perhaps you'd like to do your learning at Northstar. Start with private lessons. You'll get lift lane privileges for quick access to the slopes, always a plus on at the lifts. You'll also score undivided one-on-one attention or the option to share with up to six guests, as well as experiences based your skill level and desired terrain. The Ultimate 4 package gives students more one-on-one instruction and group lessons, which are a fun way to build confidence as well as gaining personalized experiences with the Adventure, Guiding and Learning Center. Homewood, which has the reputation of feeling like you might actually ski into the lake due to the utterly fantastic views from the top, has designed a great beginner packagefor those who have never skied or snowboarded before. Adult Learn to Ski/Ride packages which include a lift ticket, rentals and lesson for is $49. You have to make your purchase online the day before hitting the slopes to receive this rate. You'll save $40, and this deal is available from Sunday to Friday.
John “J.T.” Thompson Named Tourism Director of North Lake Tahoe Chamber/CVB/Resort Association December 30, 2014
Mapping the 18 Top On-Mountain Dining Spots at Ski Areas Monday, December 29, 2014, by Laurel Miller It's a conundrum faced by every skier at some point. You're famished/freezing, and need to take a break that doesn't involve snarfing an energy bar on the lift. Most resort-operated dining is notoriously overpriced, awful, and devoid of atmosphere, right? Not anymore friends. Curbed Ski has done the work for you, from Kicking Horse and Telluride to Stowe. In our inaugural guide to the best on-mountain and slopeside dining, we've got everything from funky warming huts tohigh-style cafeterias and fine-dining. Note that establishments aren't listed in any particular order. PO'ed we forgot your favorite place? Instead of throwing a hissy fit, why not email us your suggestion? We'll be updating this map frequently.
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‌ http://ski.curbed.com/archives/2014/12/mapping-the-19-top-on-mountain-dining-spots-at-ski-areas.php
Where to Have An Awesome New Year's Eve in Ski Country Monday, December 29, 2014, by Laurel Miller It's time to bid 2014 buh-bye, but don't just have a post- snow sesh Tallboy and call it. Whether you're looking for a family affair, full-on fĂŞte, fireworks, funk show, or fancy dinner, Curbed Ski has got the intel for you. From Mammoth to Sugarloaf, here's how to say sayanora. Psst, be sure to check out our ski town hangover cure guide. Not that we're implying anything. Note that listings are ordered West to East, not best to worst. Whistler: Got the kids in tow? There's no shortage of family events, including the alwayspopular Fire & Ice Show (featuring the Whistler Blackcomb Ski School instructors catching big air through the flames) at the Olympic Plaza. You'll need to purchase tickets, which will get you wristbands and access (kids 2 and under are free), to live music, art, crafts, food, dancing, and ice skating before the midnight fireworks display. Money tight? Watch for free from Skier's Plaza, which is also the best place for viewing. There are loads of events for the 21-and-up set at bars and restaurants around town; check 'em out here. South Lake Tahoe: If getting sardined amongst thousands of drunken college students in Stateline isn't your idea of good time, perhaps you should check outThe Landing Resort & SpaTahoe's only five-star boutique lakeside hotel. On Dec. 30, there's an artisanal cheese and wine pairing from the Landing's cellar for just $35; New Year's eve features a prix fixe dinner and dancing (just $89/adult, $45/child) at signature restaurant Jimmy's, with option for a Champagne pairing.
Squaw Valley: Through the 31st, you can hit the slopes with hometown heroJonny Mosely for free (lift ticket required), two-hour mountain tours at Alpine Meadows and Squaw. New Year's Eve at Squaw's tony High Camp on-mountain facility features a family buffet and East Coast toast at 9pm; reservations required. The 21-and-up crowd will want to check out the New Year's Eve Bash at Olympic House, which includes live music, a DJ, and a mere ten-spot at the door. Huzzah! Click here for deets. Mammoth Mountain: There are parties aplenty, at seemingly every joint in town- from Campo and Dry Creek Bar to Lakanuki, Red Lantern and Mammoth Rock n Bowl, but kick things off in the Village with free music including a concert by Bump City from 6-9pm. Want to go big? Check out the base at Canyon Lodge, featuring live tunes, Olympic bronze medalist Scotty Lago, and other pretty people. The Gatsby NYE at Underground Lounge- the newest night spot in townwill be hopping, if you've got the $200 to pony up. Looking for something more mellow (and affordable?) The Special Kid's Kickoff at The Village will feature a primo view for the 9pm fireworks, as well as face painting, art, party favors, hot chocolate and snacks, and a bar for big people. Tickets $10/adult, $5/ kids 5-12. Jackson Hole: All three of the Jackson area's ski resorts- Jackson Hole, Snow King, and Grand Targhee- ring in the New Year with torchlight parades and fireworks (the latter is open to participants, starting at 4pm with the Kid's Glowstick Parade; you can register at the ski school that day). If you want to kick up your cowboy boots, there's several great options, including the Gondi-Galaat Couloir Restaurant (one of our best on-mountain dining spots), at the top of the Bridger Gondola; Whisky Mornin will be playing until 1am at Jackson Hole Mountain Resort. The world-famous Silver Dollar Bar at the Wort Hotel will have live music by Quenby & The West of Wayland Band. In Grand Targhee, the New Year's Eve Bash at the Trap Bar & Grill, will feature the Thrift Store Funk Party and the Kris Lager Band. Sun Valley: Affordable and family-friendly fun are the calling card here- surprising for such a high-end resort. The Kid's New Year's Party for ages 1-7 includes dancing on ice (good thing they don't have far to fall) and dinner (additional fee), and other activities; reservations required. There's also Family Skate Night at the Outdoor Rink, which includes free hot chocolate, apple cider, and cookies, or you can reserve a sleigh ride and prix fixe dinner at gorgeousTrail Creek
Cabin. Adult events include a special tasting menu at Roundhouse(another one of our best onmountain dining picks), and the Bubbly Bash at River Run (fyi, home of one of Curbed Ski's fave Bloody Mary's) which will set you back just $65 for advance purchase tickets and a night grooving to the the tunes of DJ Shark. ‌ http://ski.curbed.com/archives/2014/12/where-to-have-the-most-awesome-new-years-eve-in-ski-country.php
13 NORTHERN CALIFORNIA EVENTS WORTH TRAVELING TO THIS WINTER DECEMBER 22, 2014 Not to freak you out, but 2014 is seriously almost over, which means it's definitely time to start planning for 2015. And we don't mean stupid resolutions you'll never keep (just accept that you're never going to wake up at 6am to go to the gym and move on already); rather, we mean super-cool stuff to do that's not in SF. You know, stuff you actually have to kind of plan for. Yeah, planning is The Worst, but in the case of these 13 events, it's totally worth it.
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‌ http://www.thrillist.com/entertainment/san-francisco/tahoe/13-winter-norcal-events-worth-traveling-to
THREE MORE LAKE TAHOE SKI RESORTS OPEN FOR SEASON DECEMBER 22, 2014 There are three more Lake Tahoe ski resorts to consider for some holiday skiing and snowboarding – Homewood Mountain Resort, Diamond Peak Ski Resort and Tahoe Donner Downhill Ski Area. Winter storms and continual snowfall prompted the season opening of the three North Lake Tahoe ski resorts. All 17 Lake Tahoe-area ski resorts are now open for skiing and snowboarding. See the list of openings below.
Diamond Peak: The cozy Incline Village resort opened Saturday (Dec. 20), spinning three lifts that provide top-to-bottom skiing and snowboarding. School Yard, Lodgepole, Crystal Ridge and Sunnyside trails will be open. Homewood Mountain Resort: Located off Highway 89, Homewood also opened Saturday (Dec. 20) with limited intermediate and advanced level terrain on the upper mountains via the Old Homewood Express chair and Madden Triple Chair. Beginner slopes are open at the Children’s Center and North Lodge Carpet surface lifts. Tahoe Donner Downhill Ski Area: The resort opened Saturday (Dec. 20) with the Eagle Rock chairlift running and Mile Run open. In addition to skiing offerings, food and beverage service, a retail shop and rental equipment will be available. Sugar Bowl: The ski resort off Interstate 80 celebrating the holidays with live music by Eric Engerbreston, an acoustic guitarist, at Judah Lodge each afternoon from Dec. 26-28. The resort will also host horsedrawn sleigh rides throughout the holidays. For cross-country enthusiasts, Tahoe Donner Cross Country will open with 30 kilometers of trails. Royal Gorge Cross Country Resort is also open with 19 kilometers and 14 groomed tracks. Squaw Valley: Olympic Gold Medalist, Jonny Moseley, will be on hand to ski with the public Dec. 26-31. Meet him at Squaw Valley’s Gold Coast Demo Center at 2 p.m. Santa Claus and a group of carolers will continually move through The Village at Squaw Valley during the holiday. With the holidays approaching, Santa Claus will be making appearances across various resorts to spread holiday cheer. Don’t miss Santa hitting the slopes at Diamond Peak, Homewood, Northstar California, and Squaw Valley/Alpine Meadows. Santa will be handing out candy canes to fellow skiers and riders.
Lodging over the Christmas holidays is still available across North Lake Tahoe. For information on lodging and activity deals visit www.GoTahoeNorth.com/Cool-Deals. SKI RESORT OPENINGS
*Boreal Mountain: Nov. 18 Northstar California: Nov. 21 Heavenly Mountain Resort: Nov. 21 *Mt. Rose: Nov. 21 Squaw Valley: Nov. 26 Sugar Bowl: Dec. 6 Kirkwood Mountain Resort: Dec. 6 Diamond Peak: Dec. 11 Alpine Meadows: Dec. 12 Homewood: Dec. 12 Sierra-at-Tahoe: Dec. 12 Donner Ski Ranch: Dec. 13 Soda Springs: Dec. 13 Granlibakken: Dec. 19 Homewood Mountain: Dec. 20 Tahoe Donner: Dec. 20 Diamond Peak: Dec. 20
*Both Boreal and Mt. Rose opened briefly in early November
Northwest Travel: More than skiing at Tahoe Exploring off-the-snow options around California’s great lake December 21, 2014 SOUTH LAKE TAHOE, Calif. — I am a lifelong skier. I have no greater passion than pointing my skis into dry powder and carving turns down a mountain, throwing back a roostertail of icy white as I descend through an alpine paradise. But sometimes, especially early or late in a season, there is no wintry wonderland. The blizzards that cloak the mountains in snow are late to arrive, or — worse yet — warm fronts bring rain that washes away what snow has fallen and leaves grass and rocks showing through. Snow-making operations can cover only so many slopes. So what do you do on a ski vacation when downhill skiing is limited? Even if you’re a die-hard who will ski in any conditions, what choices are available to spouses or children when they tire of the mountain? I had an opportunity to explore some options on a March trip to the Lake Tahoe area. While I did get out on the hill at the Heavenly, Squaw Valley and Northstar resorts, late-season warmth was beginning to take its toll on snow cover, even above 9,000 feet. So I knocked off at lunchtime each day. I went hiking beside the lake, zip-lining on a treetop adventure course, even stand-up paddling on the nation’s largest mountain lake. I dropped a few coins into casino poker machines at Stateline, Nevada, dined at fine restaurants and went souvenir shopping among the quaint shops of Tahoe City. And I took a portion of one day to drive from and to South Lake Tahoe on the winding, 72-mile scenic highway that wraps around this immense lake — 22 miles north-south, 12 miles east-west and 1,645 feet deep. South-side activities That water is cold, less than 40 degrees in March at this elevation of 6,250 feet. The simple thought of stand-up paddleboarding at this time of year made me shiver. But the reputation of Chris Brackett, founder and lead instructor at South Tahoe Standup Paddle, and the knowledge that I’d get wet only if I fell in, prompted me to don sweats and venture out on the lake at El Dorado Beach. Brackett — along with his wife, Jennifer, and nine children between the ages of 3 and 22 — have made the sport of SUP synonymous with “family.” He tells visitors that in 2010 his son Joshua, then 8, paddled the length of the lake during the Tahoe Fall Classic. Although it took the boy seven hours, he became the youngest to accomplish the feat. The Bracketts’ shop carries a colorful variety of boards and paddles, for everything from flat-water touring to racing in waves, along with clothing, illustrated magazines and good conversation. The vibe is such that you’ll find yourself getting centered even before you head out from the nearby beach, where being centered on the board is absolutely essential.
I’m sure I didn’t look graceful on my board, but I stayed dry — except for my bare feet as I started from and returned to the gravelly beach. A few miles west, Camp Richardson encompasses a historic resort site that has been owned by the U.S. Forest Service since 1967. As early as 1875, a sawmill and rail line at this site were providing timbers for beams in the silver mines of Virginia City, Nevada. One of the San Francisco entrepreneurs who got lucky in that boom, E.J. “Lucky” Baldwin, invested some of his stake in the exclusive Tallac Hotel. From the 1890s to 1920s, Tallac gained fame as a world-class lakeside resort with a casino and dance hall, gardens, riding stable and fishing fleet. Its remnant is now a 74-acre national historic site that incorporates the Baldwin, Pope and Valhalla private estates — the latter home to the summerlong Valhalla Art, Music and Theatre Festival. Toward the end of Tallac’s heyday, in the mid-1920s, merchant marine Captain Alonzo “Rich” Richardson purchased an adjacent marina and added guest cabins. His modest resort eventually eclipsed Tallac and by the 1950s had become a family destination in and of itself. Since the U.S. Forest Service assumed ownership, the resort and its marina continue to operate under special-use permits. There was just enough snow on the ground during my visit that I could have chosen to go cross-country skiing on 7 miles of loop trails from Camp Richardson’s Mountain Sport Center to Fallen Leaf Lake, a gentle elevation gain of 250 feet. Instead, I took a lakeshore hike through the Tallac site, admiring the handsome log architecture of homes a century or more old. Deer peeked through a ponderosa woodland as I made my way back to lunch at The Beacon Bar & Grill, beside the resort’s marina and boathouse. West and north shores There is no more scenic view in the Lake Tahoe area than that of Emerald Bay, 10 miles up the western shore from South Lake Tahoe. Under an overcast sky, this inlet might appear more aquamarine in color than emerald, but that does nothing to diminish its beauty. A California state park since 1953, Emerald Bay was designated as a national natural landmark by the Department of the Interior in 1969. Its most notable features include rocky Fannette Island, the only island in Lake Tahoe, and a 38-room mansion called Vikingsholm. Built in 1929 under the direction of architect Leonard Palme, it is considered an outstanding example of Scandinavian architecture in the United States. State Highway 89 winds 18 miles from Emerald Bay to Tahoe City, en route passing through D.L. Bliss and Sugar Pine Point state parks and the lakeside community of Homewood. There is a small but popular ski hill here, as well as the Tahoe Maritime Museum, displaying a collection of vessels that plied the waters of this inland sea more than a century ago. The hill called Granlibakken, just outside of Tahoe City, is smaller, appealing largely to beginning skiers, families and sledders. It also accesses some great snowshoeing terrain in the lower Sierra Nevada range. But its distinctive attraction is the Tahoe Treetop Adventure Park and Ropes Course. This creative venture challenged me not only to zip line from one giant ponderosa pine to another, but also to make my way up rope ladders and across swaying bridges, one of which required riding a snowboard 20 feet in the air. I imagine it’s great for team-building exercises. Tahoe Treetop has five adult courses, and I tackled four of them in two hours. My favorite was the canopy course (“Twins”), which featured 500 feet of zip lines (four in all) and a 120-foot suspension bridge between cedars estimated at more than 500 years old.
With a population of 1,700, Tahoe City is the largest town on Lake Tahoe’s north or west shores. It is the junction for onward travel to the ski resorts of Squaw Valley and Alpine Meadow and to the historic railroad town of Truckee on Interstate 80. It has its own winter sports park, which offers free sledding, skiing and snowshoeing; a variety of contemporary and vintage shops in places such as Cobblestone Center and the Boatworks Mall; and a year-round park at Commons Beach, where free weekly concerts are offered throughout the winter season. I enjoyed a visit to the Museum of Sierra Ski History, a collection housed in the Boatworks Mall to honor the region’s ski heritage — highlighted by the 1960 Winter Olympic Games, hosted by nearby Squaw Valley. State Highway 28 continues around the north shore of Lake Tahoe, through the villages of Carnelian Bay, Tahoe Vista and Kings Beach, to Crystal Bay, a Nevada border destination with several small casinos. Three miles farther (14 from Tahoe City) is Incline Village, an upscale resort community with its own local ski resort (Diamond Peak) and ready access to Mount Rose, at the summit of winding state Highway 431 to Reno, 35 miles distant. The scenic 25 miles along Tahoe’s eastern shore to Stateline, Nevada, are as discreet as a national scenic byway can be. Viewpoints Sand Harbor (you may see surfers, even in winter), Cave Rock and Zephyr Point let you know you’re on the right road to return to your starting point. Skiing times three I didn’t forget the skiing on my Tahoe visit. Though it would have been impractical for me to experience the slopes at every Sierra resort on or near the lake — there are 15, including Boreal Mountain, Donner Ski Ranch, Soda Springs, Sugar Bowl, Tahoe Donner, Kirkwood and Sierra-at-Tahoe — I was able to spend a few hours on three of the best. With a gondola that carries skiers to its midmountain Tamarack Lodge (9,130 feet), Heavenly succeeds when there is no snow at lake level. This rare ski resort extends across two states: From its 10,067-foot summit, 18 lifts access 4,800 acres in the Eldorado and Toiyabe national forests. I found the High Five run off the Sky Express lift and the Big Dipper on the Nevada side of the mountain especially to my liking. Where Heavenly’s gondola rises heavenward, South Lake Tahoe shares the state line with Stateline, Nevada. A few steps from the base of the mountain, a visitor can stand in California and stare through the doors of Harrah’s casino in the next state. That doesn’t necessarily do anything to help one’s skiing, but it offers promise of an interesting nightlife. Squaw Valley and Northstar have similar base elevations — 6,200 feet at Squaw, 6,330 at Northstar — but the latter resort has the advantage of a location nestled into mountains away from the lake. Although Squaw Valley is higher by 400 feet (its summit elevation is 9,050) and its expert runs more challenging, it doesn’t seem to hold its snow as long as Northstar. I enjoy skiing both, but in recent years I’ve been more drawn to Northstar, located just off the main road between Truckee and Kings Beach. Its modern village, surrounding a central ice-skating rink, offers ski-in, ski-out access to all lodge guests, and it’s linked by a short gondola to the luxurious Ritz-Carlton, Lake Tahoe, the most chic resort hotel in the Tahoe region. Manzanita, the fine-dining restaurant at the Ritz, is a foodie destination worth saving for. But I was similarly impressed by Jimmy’s, in South Lake Tahoe’s Landing Resort & Spa. Chef Maria Elia prepared a Greek-influenced spread of carrot and beet keftedes and rabbit spanakopita that still has me salivating.
— Reporter: janderson@bendbulletin.com.
Expenses Gas, Bend to South Lake Tahoe (round-trip), 894 miles at $3.20/gallon: $114.43 Meals (five days): $280 Lodging (two nights), Lake Tahoe Resort Hotel: $311.80 Lodging (two nights) Resort at Squaw Creek: $415.80 TOTAL: $1,122.03
Information Lake Tahoe Visitors Authority. 169 U.S. Hwy. 50, Stateline, Nevada; 775-588-5900, www.ltva.org North Lake Tahoe Convention & Visitor Bureau. 100 N. Lake Blvd., Tahoe City, California; 530-581-6900, 888-4341262, www.gotahoenorth.com California Tourism Commission. P.O. Box 1499, Sacramento, CA 95812; 916-444-4429, 877-2254367, www.visitcalifornia.com
Lodging Camp Richardson Historic Resort & Marina. U.S. Highway 89, South Lake Tahoe, California; 530-541-1801, 800-5441801, www.camprichardson.com. Rates from $80. The Beacon Bar & Grill, lunch and dinner, moderate. Lake Tahoe Resort Hotel. 4130 Lake Tahoe Blvd., South Lake Tahoe, California; 530-544-5400, 877-497-8483, www.tahoeresorthotel.com. Rates from $139 Resort at Squaw Creek. 400 Squaw Creek Road, Olympic Valley, California; 530-583-6300, 800-327-3353, www.squawcreek.com. Rates from $189 The Ritz-Carlton, Lake Tahoe. 13031 Ritz Carlton Highlands Court, Truckee; 530-562-3000, www.ritzcarlton.com. Rates from $319. Manzanita restaurant, dinner only, expensive.
Dining Austin’s. 120 Country Club Drive, Incline Village, Nevada; 775-832-7778, www.austinstahoe.com. Lunch and dinner. Moderate The Boathouse. 3411 Lake Tahoe Blvd., South Lake Tahoe, California; 530-541-6722, www.tahoebeachretreat.com/dining/. Lunch and dinner. Moderate to expensive Jake’s on the Lake. 780 N. Lake Blvd., Tahoe City, California; 530-583-0188, www.jakestahoe.com. Lunch and dinner. Expensive Jimmy’s Restaurant. The Landing Resort & Spa, 4104 Lakeshore Blvd. S., South Lake Tahoe, California; 530-5415263, www.thelandingtahoe.com/dining/. Three meals every day. Moderate to expensive
Ski Resorts Heavenly Mountain Resort. 1001 Heavenly Village Way, South Lake Tahoe, California; 775-586-7000, 800-432-8365, www.skiheavenly.com Northstar California Resort. 5001 Northstar Drive, Truckee, California; 530-562-1330, 800-466-6784, www.northstarcalifornia.com Squaw Valley. 1960 Squaw Valley Road, Olympic Village, California; 530-583-6985, 800-403-0206, www.squaw.com
Other Attractions Camp Richardson Historic Resort & Marina. 1900 Jameson Beach Road, South Lake Tahoe, California; 530-5411801, www.camprichardson.com South Tahoe Standup Paddle. 3115 Harrison Ave., South Lake Tahoe, California; 530-416-4829, www.southtahoesup.com. Tahoe Treetop Adventure Course. 725 Granlibakken Road, Tahoe City, California; 530-581-7563, www.northtahoeadventures.com.
12/22/2014
National Post ePaper The Vancouver Sun 20 Dec 2014 Page #101
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People on the Move: Dec. 21 December 20, 2014 • April Gonzales, executive director of Casa de Vida, has announced a new board member, William Garrison English, who will serve as a trustee on the Casa de Vida Board for the 2014-15 term. English is a staff accountant for Melvin Ray, CPA where he is primarily responsible for preparing individual tax returns, bookkeeping and payroll services on behalf of clients. (Has mug that is sideways) • Northern Nevada Medical Center has announcedJenette Franks as its new executive assistant to the chief executive officer and chief operating officer. Franks served as the administrative assistant at NNMC for 18 months before accepting this new role. Franks has more than 25 years of experience in accounting, auditing and payroll, always working closely with management. She decided a few years ago to move to the administrative assistant field and brings with her to this new position, years of expertise. Franks accepted the position as an interim and will continue working full time in this role. • ArchCrest Commercial Partners, a commercial real estate firm in Northern Nevada specializing in the sales and leasing of land and commercial properties, has announced that Mike Van Blaricom and Kevin Annis of ArchCrest Commercial Partners represented the buyer, THAG Industries LLC, and the seller, RTTC Town Center LLC, in the sale of 4,266 square feet of office space at 10745 Double R Blvd., in RTTC Town Center in Reno. • ArchCrest Commercial Partners, a commercial real estate firm in Northern Nevada specializing in the sales and leasing of land and commercial properties, has announced that Kyle Eigenman, Tim Bloom and Todd Collins represented the landlord, J.E. Patridge Jr., in the lease of 2,940 square feet of industrial/flex space at 2248 Meridian Blvd. in Minden. •Bill Hoffman, executive director/CEO of the Incline Village Crystal Bay Visitors and Convention Bureau for the past 16 years, is retiring. Hoffman will be replaced by Andy Chapman, who has served as chief marketing officer of the North Lake Tahoe Resort Association. Hoffman's retirement ends a 35-year career in the hospitality industry. Hoffman started his career in Hawaii after he retired from military service as an officer in the U.S. Navy. Hoffman then served as the director of convention center sales for the San Diego Convention and Visitors Bureau, as the national sales manager for the Reno Sparks Convention and Visitors Authority and as the executive director of the National Association of Golf Tournament Directors, before taking the job in Incline Village in 1999. Hoffman led the effort to form the North Tahoe Marketing Cooperative, which unified marketing efforts for North Tahoe that had previously been divided between two states and multiple counties. Chapman has been marketing Lake Tahoe for more than 20 years. With the North Lake Tahoe Resort Association, he directed the efforts of six departments. He also served as chair of the California Travel and Tourism Commission's Rural Tourism Advisory Council, sits on the Visit California Advertising and Rural
committees, is a member and past chair of the Regional Air Service Committee, member and past chair of the High Sierra Visitor Council and member of the Sierra Ski Marketing Council. • Dickson Commercial Group has announced that Joel Fountain has joined the organization as a commercial broker. Fountain started his commercial real estate career as an associate in the office division for Grubb-Ellis | NCG. For three years, he focused on the leasing and sales of office properties, as well as tracking and researching market trends in Northern Nevada. Fountain served as an associate for Sperry Van Ness specializing in the sales and leasing of office, retail, industrial and land. Fountain, a Sparks native, is pursuing his Certified Commercial Investment Member designation. • KOLO8 News Now has announced the addition of Noah Bond to the KOLO8 News Now team. Bond has joined Sarah Johns, Jeff Thompson and Josh Little, co-anchoring the weekday 5 and 6:30 p.m. newscasts and solo anchors the 11 p.m. newscast. He worked in Seattle as a reporter and anchor at KOMO-TV.
Tahoe ski resorts ready for the holidays December 20, 2014
Snow continues to fall in Lake Tahoe. With more storms lined up the resorts will be more than ready for the holiday season. Santa will be on skis this year. Connie Anderson of the Abbi Agency in North Lake Tahoe, said that Santa will be on the slopes at Diamond Peak, Homewood, Northstar California, and Squaw Valley | Alpine Meadows. If you are on Santa's nice list this year, you might find yourself with a candy cane to chew on as you carve a few turns. Sugar Bowl will host Eric Engerbreston, and his acoustic guitar, at Judah Lodge afternoons from December 26-28. Sleigh rides in a horse drawn sleigh will be available throughout the holidays. The Village at Squaw Valley will present wandering carolers, along with Santa, during the holidays. Johnny Mosley, Olympic Gold Medalist, will ski with the public from December 26th through the 31st. Other spots around Tahoe will present holiday cheer as well. Sand Harbor, a favorite place for families during the summer months, will host holiday crafts and hikes with Rangers December 20th and 21st, 11:00 a.m. to 3 p.m. Sleigh rides will take guests through the snow-covered vistas of Sand Harbor each weekend until January 4. Fantastic lake views are all around, and camera's are encouraged. With most of the resorts open skiers, riders and snow sports enthusiasts should enjoy a much more robust holiday ski season this year. Storms are predicted to continue to grace the slopes, perhaps right up to Christmas Day. Santa will be happy. Remember to be nice.
Winter-lovers should get a taste of Tahoe Ski from one state to another December 19, 2014
“We’re going to keep our speed up as we cross the state line,” Tony, my ski guide, yells as he surges ahead of me on a straight stretch. A few seconds later he looks back with a grin. “We’re in Nevada now.” I’ve heard about skiing from one country to another in Europe’s Alps, but skiing between American states? At Heavenly ski resort at Lake Tahoe it’s not only possible to ski from California to Nevada (and vice versa), but you don’t have to brush up on another language for when you arrive. While two-state skiing makes Heavenly unique, it’s just one of more than a dozen downhill resorts around the lake, each with its own distinctive personality. But you needn’t be a skier to enjoy winter at Lake Tahoe. From curling to wine-tasting, The Lake — as everyone here calls it — has something for everyone.
After following Tony down one of Heavenly’s Nevada runs with views over the High Sierra Desert, we return to California where he has something else to show me: “one of the most beautiful ski runs in the world.” Now that’s a boast I want to test. We jump on the Sky Express and head up to the highest point skiers can access at Heavenly, just over 3,000 metres above sea level. As we carve our way down Ridge Run, The Lake spreads out before us like a giant blue sapphire rimmed with white snow. Tony wasn’t exaggerating — it’s stunning. Heavenly has the most terrain of all the resorts at Lake Tahoe — 1,940 hectares — so you could easily spend several days or a week right here, but our goal is to be in Northstar at the far end of the lake by Day 4, with a day at Squaw Valley in between. It’s 77 kilometres in total, or an hour and a half’s drive on the California side of the lake. Before leaving South Lake Tahoe, I have a mission: learn to curl, or at least get an introduction to the sport. It might seem odd for a Canadian to take up curling in the States, but the South Lake Tahoe Ice Arena offers 2.5- hour learn-to-curl sessions once a month. I’m here, so why not? I can’t say I fell in love with the game, but after a couple hours learning how to push off (and not fall on my face) and how to hurl 20 kilograms of solid granite, I have a new respect for the sport. That evening we walk along the 300-metre pier at The Boathouse to watch the sky turn rosy pink before going inside for dinner. Even a few years ago, Lake Tahoe wasn’t known for its food. But any thought that we might suffer a week of ho-hum meals was banished the previous evening when we dined at Jimmy’s at The Landing Resort. With dishes such as rabbit spanakopita and wood-grilled halloumi, we knew we were in California and in for a culinary adventure. My lamb lollipops on a bed of parsnip puree and wilted kale at The Boathouse simply confirmed it. The next morning, we headed north on Highway 89, following the curve of the lake past picturesque Emerald Bay and stopping to walk the shoreline at Camp Richardson, where San Francisco’s wealthy families summered at the turn of the 20th century. Recent efforts to improve the water quality of Lake Tahoe have resulted in big improvements. Clarity has increased almost six metres in the last 15 years, with rocks now visible 25 metres below the surface. That afternoon we tried some off-mountain activities, first challenging ourselves on the ropes at Granlibakken Treetop Adventure Course, then snowshoeing through a delightful pine forest at Tahoe City Winter Sports Park, a local favourite. (The Tahoe basin supports 11 species of coniferous trees, including the sugar pine with its enormous cones.) Before a casual but scrumptious dinner at Jake’s on the Lake, we checked out one of the numerous wine bars in the region. Uncorked at Tahoe City offers a wide selection of limited production wines from around the world. Their tastings and by-the-glass wines change daily.
The next day I’m getting off a chairlift on a mountaintop at Squaw Valley and who do I meet but Superman. Turns out he’s a Canadian living in California and drives up from San Francisco to snowboard on his days off, lucky guy. I didn’t ask about his costume, but you’ll need to be Superman too if you want to experience the six peaks serviced by 29 lifts at this resort in one day. Even if all you do is take the aerial tram to High Camp for lunch, it’s worth it — you’ll see beautiful rock formations and views of the valley and lake far below. The Resort at Squaw Creek is a delightful place to recover from your day’s exertions. It boasts three heated swimming pools, a fitness centre with the latest equipment, an award-winning spa and five restaurants. We reach Northstar the next day in a flurry of snowflakes. They’re so big they’re almost blinding as we stroll around Northstar Village, an upscale resort town with a 835-square-metre outdoor rink. This is where families head after a day on the slopes to skate and roast s’mores over an open fire (you can purchase s’mores kits to build your own tasty treats). Of course, if you’re staying at the Ritz-Carlton Northstar, you can have your fill of s’mores in the backyard of the triple-A five-diamond hotel, the most luxurious resort in all of Lake Tahoe. Architecturally inspired by classic mountain lodges such as Ahwahnee in Yosemite National Park and Timberline on Mount Hood, the Ritz-Carlton is a fitting way to wrap up any visit to The Lake. If you go Stay Lake Tahoe Resort Hotel South Lake Tahoe +1 530-544-5400 tahoeresorthotel.com The Resort at Squaw Creek in Squaw Valley +1 530-583-6300 squawcreek.com The Ritz-Carlton at Northstar Phone +1 (530) 562-3000 ritzcarlton.com
Eat and Drink The Boathouse Restaurant in South Lake Tahoe (530) 545.4338 Jimmy’s at The Landing in South Lake Tahoe Phone 530.600.3501 or email jee@thelandingtahoe.com Beacon Bar and Grill at Camp Richardson (530) 541-0630 Jake’s on the Lake at Tahoe City Phone: (530) 583-0188 Do Learn to curl at the South Lake Tahoe Ice Arena See tahoearena.com Snowshoe, x-country ski and sled at Tahoe City Winter Sports Park wintersportspark.com Have fun on the ropes and ziplines at Granlibakken Treetop Adventure Course granlibakken.com/adventure
LAKE TAHOE SKI RESORTS ENJOYING STRONG HOLIDAY SEASON DECEMBER 19, 2014 There’s no doubt Lake Tahoe depends heavily on the ski season to help fill its hotels, visit its restaurants, spend money at its casinos, and in general leave behind a trail of cash that gets spread around throughout the region’s business community. And there is no more important time than during the holiday season. Experience a poor one and the ramifications are felt all through the year. Thanks to a number of winter storm systems that generously dropped snow by the foot, Lake Tahoe definitely enjoyed a Merry Christmas and the good times continued into the New Year. Despite the tremendous advances in snowmaking, this is still a sport that relies heavily on the fickle ways of Mother Nature. There’s no better advertising than a snowy Lake Tahoe portrait. “The holiday season has a way of seeming magical. There’s lots of smiling faces in the parking lot and on the hill,” said Sierra-at-Tahoe spokesperson Thea Hardy. “We hope that having snow during the holidays propels our guests’ interest in continuing to enjoy skiing and snowboarding throughout the beginning of next year.” The Tahoe-area business community certainly understands the importance of a strong holiday, not only in the business it brings, but the potential for more. It’s been a good Christmas for Steve Sewell, who owns Truckee-Tahoe Pet Lodge. “Business definitely seems better this year than last, especially our day care,” Sewell said. “Lots of skiers have been attracted by the recent storms and we’ve had more advance reservations than last year. A good holiday season definitely gets January going. But in the end it depends how well the snow holds up and if the storm door stays open.” Here’s a sampling of how Lake Tahoe-area ski resorts are faring during the holidays. Kirkwood: The resort off Highway 88 near South Lake Tahoe has more snow than any resort thus far. It has 100 percent of its terrain – 11 lifts and 86 trails – available for skiing and snowboarding over the holidays. Heading into the final week of December, Kirkwood had received 53 inches of new snow at its base elevation of 7,800 feet and had significantly more snow (83 inches) at its summit. Kirkwood has 65 inches of snow at its base and 103 inches at the summit.
“What a great way to start out the season – good conditions and 100 percent open over the holidays will set the tone in the minds of skiers and riders,”Kirkwood spokesperson Kevin Cooper said. “What we are looking at is a normal winter pattern, consistent precipitation moving across the state, small storms, easy to navigate, and great for the mountain and fun for all to enjoy.”
Sugar Bowl: The recent winter storms dropped considerable snow on Donner Summit, which allowed the resort off Interstate 80 to open 100 percent of its terrain one day after Christmas. “With that message reaching skiers and riders, coupled with great word-of-mouth testimonials regarding the quality conditions, we’ve seen great turnout thus far,” Sugar Bowl’s John Monson said. “When the holiday skiers and riders return home and spread the good word about great conditions in Tahoe, it definitely carries forward and sets us up for a strong January ahead as well.” Sierra-at-Tahoe: The South Tahoe resort has 10 lifts available that access 34 trails, which translates to 70 percent of the mountain open. “It’s exciting to see children and adults lined up for lessons, ready to adopt a new sport. We also love seeing families and groups of friends gather on the slopes to make unforgettable memories together,” Hardy said. Northstar: Recent snowfall and cold temperatures that dipped to near zero degrees made for ideal snowmaking conditions, allowing the resort to open additional terrain, including the popular Lookout Mountain. “With cold temps in the forecast for quite a significant number of future days, we expect guests to enjoy the mountain well beyond the New Year,” said Northstar spokesperson Rachael Woods. Diamond Peak: The family-friendly resort in Incline Village didn’t open until Dec. 20. It currently has three lifts operating, but anticipates providing more terrain, especially if the cold weather continues. “I think when it snows during Christmas and people have had a great experience in Tahoe, they’ll start planning their MLK and President’s Weekend vacations here, so it definitely helps out with the rest of the season,” Diamond Peak spokesperson Kayla Anderson said. Granlibakken: The historic ski hill in Tahoe City was open Dec. 19 for sledding and skiing. According to Granlibakken CEO Ron Parson, the resort experienced good lodging numbers over Christmas and New Year’s. He hopes the trend continues, but cautions that “low snow conditions are reducing advance bookings into January.”
Snippets about Lake Tahoe December 18, 2014
Storms allow more Lake Tahoe ski resorts to open December 17, 2014
Incline Village’s Diamond Peak Ski Resort will be the latest Lake Tahoe ski area to benefit from a recent wave of storms to hit the Sierra Nevada. The North Shore ski resort is set to open for skiing and riding Saturday, Dec. 20, according to Monday announcement from the resort. Storms that hit the area over the last week also allowed Sierra-at-Tahoe and Alpine Meadows to open Dec. 12 and Soda Springs to open Dec. 14. After opening to skiers and riders Dec. 13 and 14, Donner Ski Ranch is set to begin daily operations Friday, Dec. 19. Lake Tahoe area ski resorts were reporting between 1 and 5 inches of new snow Wednesday morning. Reported storm totals at Lake Tahoe resorts for Tuesday and Wednesday ranged anywhere from 2 to 21 inches. A weak system is also expected to move into the area Friday. Homewood Mountain Resort and Tahoe Donner Downhill Ski Area have not yet set opening dates, but both resorts have said via social media that they expect to open soon. Boreal Mountain Resort, Heavenly Mountain Resort, Kirkwood Mountain Resort, Mt. Rose Ski Tahoe, Northstar California, Squaw Valley and Sugar Bowl Resort have each already opened for the 2014-2015 ski season.
Rounding-Up the 11 Best Ski Towns for the Holidays Wednesday, December 17, 2014, by Laurel Miller It's official: The holidays are here, aka full-bore ski season is upon us. Looking for ideas on what to do during your vacay? From Tahoe to Stowe, Curbed Ski has the lowdown on the biggest-deal festivities for family, friends, food-lovers, and freeloaders. Holiday happenings are listed from West to East, not best to worst. ‌
North Tahoe From Squaw to Sugar Bowl, there's tons going on. The big events are Ski with Santa at Homewood, Dec. 20, where he'll be shredding the slopes and handing out candy. Over at Sugar Bowl, horse-drawn sleigh rides around the "nation's only snowbound village" are the inthing; there's also live music Dec. 26-28 at The Judah Lodge. Sugar Bowl and Squaw will hold torchlight parades on Christmas Eve. For après Christmas Day, check out the Holiday Buffet at the Ritz-Carlton Lake Tahoe, near Truckee, 2-7pm, advance reservations required.
South Shore Heavenly Village goes nuts for the holidays with a two-week fiesta featuring professional ice skating shows, ice sculptors, carolers, local artists and a 16-foot interactive snow globe. Hop inside for a photo opp on Santa's lap while a live DJ spins tunes. The ice rink features different nightly performances the 28th through the 30th. For a more mellow experience, go Nordic at Spooner Lake or the Cross Country Center at Kirkwood.
‌ http://ski.curbed.com/archives/2014/12/rounding-up-the-11-best-ski-towns-for-the-holidays.php
12 US and Canadian winter festivals worth traveling for December 17, 2014 It might be tempting to hide out until spring time, but don’t hibernate this winter. We know it’s cold, but there’s lots of incentive to get out and have fun in the form of unique winter festivals across North America. These festivals embrace winter weather and offer a way for people to enjoy the snow and chillier temperatures. Whether you want to see a professional ice carving, you’re into winter sports, you love music or you just want to see some live entertainment, there’s a winter fest for you. With that in mind, we’re sharing our picks for some of the best winter festivals in the U.S. and Canada. Here are 12 to get you in the mood for winter. … North Lake Tahoe Snowfest, Lake Tahoe, Nevada North Lake Tahoe SnowFest began in 1982. The 10-day event runs from Feb. 27 to March 8 and is packed with snow-centric fun and games. Parties, parades and ice carving are mixed in among other events like fireworks, a polar bear swim, an ice cream eating contest, a dress-up-your-dog contest, snow building and much, much more.
… http://www.cheapflights.com/news/us-canadian-winter-festivals-worth-traveling/
Lake Tahoe weather: Foot of snow likely by Wednesday above 7,000 feet December 15, 2014 TAHOE-TRUCKEE, Calif. — A series of storms is forecast to hit the Truckee-Tahoe region this week, bringing up to a foot of snow at higher-elevation areas, according to the National Weather Service. As of about 10:30 a.m. Monday, as much as 4 inches had fallen at some locations, and snow was falling steadily at lake level, making for slick driving conditions along highways and side streets. Snow tire or chain restrictions are in effect along most highways and passes, including Interstate 80, U.S. Highway 50, California highways 28, 89 and 267, and Nevada highways 28, 207 and 431. According to NWS, it’s expected to snow off and on through Wednesday, and a foot or more of snow is possible above 7,000 feet, and at higher locations like Donner Summit and Mount Rose. The storms are fairly weak in terms of what Truckee-Tahoe locals are used to when it comes to big snow systems, but they should provide more coverage for the region’s ski resorts. They come after a wet storm hit the region Thursday and Friday, bringing up to 2 feet of snow at some locations, including at Sugar Bowl Resort in Norden — and as little as 3 inches or less at others, including Diamond Peak in Incline Village, which postponed its opening last week due to poor snow coverage. According to the ski resort’s Facebook page, however, Diamond Peak is benefiting from Monday’s snow and now has a projected opening date of Saturday, Dec. 20, right in time for the vacation crowds that will likely be at Tahoe for the Christmas and New Year’s holidays. Initial NWS forecasts show another storm could roll into the Truckee-Tahoe region on Friday and Saturday.
SURFING AT NORTH SHORE … OF LAKE TAHOE? HERE’S THE VIDEO December 15, 2014 We wrote about this last week, but still photos don’t do it justice. Waves were so high (45 mph wind, up to 75 mph gusts) during the big “killer” storm on Friday that some people stopped shredding and started surfing.
Question: who brings their surfboards to a mountain skiing destination? That’s some optimism right there. But it happened … cruising with salmon instead of dolphins, the coldest water on earth, crawdads in your shorts. Unique.
Where else can you ski in the morning and surf later that morning? Then you have dinner at a casino — going from ski & surf to surf & turf (reader throws brick).
Hanging 10 at Tahoe? Storm Churns Up Big Waves December 12, 2014
Lake Tahoe is supposed to be paradise for skiers, not surfers. That changed on Thursday, when the most powerful storm to hit California in five years rolled across the Sierra Nevada mountains, whipping up hurricane-force winds — and surf conditions on the lake. Some of the waves reached 7 feet.
NBC News Facebook Surf’s up at Lake Tahoe December 12, 2014
KVAL Surfing on Lake Tahoe December 12, 2014
Novelty Sessions: Lake Tahoe turns on during storm December 11, 2014 Surf Sessions Lake high in the Sierra Nevada Mountains dishes out surf Surfersvillage Global Surf News, 11 December, 2014 - A massive winter storm moving across northern California and northern Nevada, has made for some interesting weather at Lake Tahoe. Swells in North Lake Tahoe were reported up to seven feet high, so locals turned out for an unusual lake sport - surfing. All video was taken in North Lake Tahoe on December 11.
Surf's up at Lake Tahoe as storm moves inland December 11, 2014
RENO — The big storm hitting the West Coast and Northern Nevada brought snow for the skiers, Lake Tahoe waves for the surfers, and lots of hassle for everyone else. The wind-driven winter storm blasted through the Reno-Tahoe area Thursday, with gusts exceeding 140 mph in parts of the Sierra Nevada, snow and some rain in the valleys. Trees and fences toppled, Lake Tahoe whipped into a boil and homes lost power throughout the day. The storm is expected to linger into Friday, with some rain and snow in the mountains forecast but with the pounding wind that caused most of the problems lessening throughout the morning. At Reno-Tahoe International Airport, 50 mph winds caused flight delays and cancellations, meteorologist Edan Weishahn said. The storm deposited a layer of fresh powder at the ski resorts and sent surfers out onto the high chop on Lake Tahoe, which looked more like an oceanfront than a mountain lake. Travel was restricted along southbound Interstate 580, from Mount Rose Highway to Carson City. The Nevada Highway Patrol reported no major car accidents, Trooper David Gibson said. Weishahn said the storm was expected to drop up to 2 feet of snow in areas above 7,000 feet. That included up to a foot at lake level in Tahoe.
The mountains around Lake Tahoe, about three hours east of San Francisco near the Nevada border, are famed for recreation activities, particularly skiing. But drought conditions over the past two years have been hard on skiers and businesses that support them. Overall, the area would need at least five more storms to put a dent in the drought, Weishahn said. Although the storm marks the first of the season, it's not unusual. "We usually have three to five winter storms, but we're behind by three years," Weishahn said. "We've gotten these types before."
Gallery: Surfing on Lake Tahoe The storm front in Northern California brought waves big enough to surf at Carnelian Bay on Lake Tahoe Thursday, Dec. 11, 2014.
CALIF. KILLER STORM IS JUST A SURFING OPPORTUNITY AT LAKE TAHOE DECEMBER 11, 2014
We’re gonna need more Dr. Zogg’s Sex Wax. Lake Tahoe is a somewhat placid alpine lake on the border of California and Nevada in the Sierras — except when the “Storm of the Century” hits. To give you an idea of what’s going on here right now, we’re expecting seven-foot waves in my mountain community — rather unprecedented. And while for me that means huddling in my house near a fire enduring multiple power outages, for our more robust and gnarly residents it just means surf’s up.
Photo: #fox11weather (Dave Zaski, NLT Fire).
Storm means surf’s up ... at Lake Tahoe? December 11, 2014
Wind gusts of up to 70 mph buffeted Lake Tahoe Thursday as the winter storm that dropped buckets of rain on the Bay Area kicked up waves high enough to surf on. The Placer County sheriff’s office posted pictures of one man — in a full wetsuit and hood — who brought out his surfboard to catch waves near the North Lake Tahoe substation east of Tahoe City. The winds on the lake were calm, though, compared to the strongest gusts seen on ridges around the area. On Mount Lincoln, near the Sugar Bowl ski resort, one gust was clocked at 147 mph, said Jim Wallman, a forecaster with the National Weather Service in Reno. The storm was expected to drop between 1 and 2 feet of snow above 7,000 feet and around a foot at lake level, Wallman said, with the system moving out in time for the weekend. Another storm was predicted for Monday, but was looking to be much weaker than Thursday’s system, Wallman said.
Ski resorts dig out new offerings December 11, 2014
A skier gets a face full of powder while hitting fresh snow in the Crow’s Peak terrain at Tahoe’s Sugar Bowl in this file photo. Most resorts are running and will be packed to the gills with powder after this storm passes through. Grant Barta/Sugar Bowl file — contributed
The sheets of rain that are falling in Santa Cruz County translate to snow in the high country. That means it’s time to break out the skis, board, snowshoes and sleds if you haven’t already. Many resorts will open Friday. Here’s what’s new for the 2014-15 winter season. Alpine Meadows >> Alpine and Squaw are nearing the end of a five-year, $70 million renovation project. New this year: The North Face Mountain Guides will be leading personal ski tours for intermediate and advanced skiers and snowboarders, ages 14 and up, with priority lift line access, North Face jackets and access to coveted terrain. Opens Dec. 19; squawalpine.com. Badger Pass >> This year’s season passes offer new benefits, including free lodging at Curry Village and 10 percent off other Yosemite lodging, ice skating, trail rides, and food and beverage purchases. And if you had a 2013-14 pass, you can apply half that purchase price to this season’s pass by calling 209-372-1114. Season opens Friday; www.yosemitepark.com/BadgerPass.aspx. Bear Valley >> The big news out of Bear Valley this fall is its sale, subject to U.S. Forest Service approval, to Toronto’s Skyline International Development, which owns ski resorts in Canada. Skyline has the option to build a new lodge and a 40,000-square-foot village center. This winter, though, will be business as usual with season passes that include discounts at Bear Valley restaurants and free tastings at nearby wineries. Opens Saturday; www.bearvalley.com.
Boreal >> New multiweek lessons for kids, including a skills building program for “micro shredders,” ages 6 to 12, with four Saturday sessions. A new pirate-themed terrain park, dubbed Neff Land, made its debut last January. Open; www.rideboreal.com. Diamond Peak >> New slope grooming technology, two electric vehicle charging stations and some new perks for passholders — including 16 bonus lift tickets for other resorts. Kids under 7 ski free. Opening TBA; www.diamondpeak.com. Dodge Ridge >> Late last winter, Dodge Ridge and UC Berkeley’s Pinecrest Chalet teamed up to offer Winter Lair (of the Golden Bear) weekend getaways that will continue into 2015. Also check out Dodge Ridge’s ski school programs for kids as young as 2, and their adaptive snowsports program (reservations required), which helps disabled children and adults hit the slopes, too. Opening day tba; www.dodgeridge.com.Donner Ski Ranch >> Stay at Rustic Cottages and you can ski or snow tube for free at this family-owned ski resort. Opening day, Dec. 19; www.donnerskiranch.com. Granlibakken >> This low-key skiing spot includes a hill for beginning and intermediate skiers and snowboarders and a groomed sledding area. Opening day, Dec. 19; www.granlibakken.com. Heavenly >> Heavenly, Northstar and Kirkwood are introducing two new mobile apps offering Epic Pass, advance purchase tickets with discounts of up to 25 percent, and Epic Mix Guide, which creates custom ski itineraries. Try it out on Heavenly’s slopes, where new snow-making equipment will be making extra fluffy stuff.A DJ Cat — a grooming machine retrofitted with 52 speakers, lights, a DJ podium and a 52-inch LCD screen — brings music to the mountain. Open; www.skiheavenly.com. Homewood >> The brand new Homewood Snowcat Adventures will take small groups of advanced skiers and snowboarders to previously out-of-bounds terrain atop Ellis Peak. Opening TBA; www.skihomewood.com. June Mountain >> Kids, 12 and under, ski free. And even nonskiers will enjoy Woolly’s Tube Park, the snowmobile treks and snowcat tours. Slopes open Saturday; www.junemountain.com Kirkwood >> Ski education gets even more adventuresome with Expedition:Kirkwood, which Men’s Journal rates as the top black-diamond ski school. There are seven new courses this year, including an intro to the backcountry and classes on navigating chutes, exploring cornices and other extreme terrain. Open; www.kirkwood.com. Mammoth Mountain >> Mammoth’s recent purchase of Southern California’s Big Bear Mountain Resorts means that its new Cali4nia Pass will give you access to four California mountains: Mammoth, June, Snow Summit and Bear Mountain. (And if you already bought a 2014-15 Mammoth MVP pass, consider yourself upgraded.) Open. Mt. Rose >> Mt. Rose is a favorite spot for beginners because of packages like the new Dip Your Toe in the Snow Pass, which includes lift access to three beginner slopes, unlimited use of rental equipment, one private lesson and unlimited group lessons through Dec. 19 for $99. Open; www.mtrose.com.
Mt. Shasta >> Enjoy the views of snowy Mt. Shasta from the lodge’s newly remodeled upper deck, which offers more seating and a fire pit to warm frosty toes. If you bought a season pass here last year, you can roll it over to 2014-15. Opening day tba; www.skipark.com. Northstar >> Northstar’s new Smart Terrain ski lessons use berms, gentle rollers, angled features and other terrain-based challenges to move skiers from beginner to intermediate and advanced levels. Check out the new progression features at the terrain park. Then relax at the Village Overlook, where a new Family Après Snow Play lets kids play, while mom and dad relax. Open; www.northstarcalifornia.com. Royal Gorge >> Last winter, this cross-country resort, the largest in the U.S., began experimenting with alternative snow sports, including fat-tire snow biking and snowkiting, which allow skiers and snowboarders to literally harness the wind. World champion snowkiter Tyler Brown heads up the latter program, which includes lessons, equipment rentals and more. Opens Saturday; www.royalgorge.com. Sierra at Tahoe >> Fuel up after a day on the slopes at the resort’s new Solstice Eatery, indooroutdoor Corkscrew Bar or Golden Bear Terrace.Kids, ages 7 to 12, can learn to snowboard offworld at the new Burton Star Wars Echo Base, which combines terrain-based instruction, Jedi knights and that creature from the Planet Hoth. Opens Dec. 19; www.sierraattahoe.com. Squaw Valley >> Expect more ski-able terrain at Squaw this year, thanks to an ecological treethinning project that removed 5,000 dead or diseased trees from the lower mountain, and opened up almost 100 acres in the Red Dog region, including three new glade areas and a connector trail. Got tykes? The Teaching Tykes program, which helps parents teach their tots to ski or snowboard, now includes kids ages 3 to 6. Open; squawalpine.com. Sugar Bowl >> Sugar Bowl is celebrating its 75th season after finishing $20 million in improvements that included the opening last winter of a new chairlift to Crow’s Peak and the Sporthaus fitness center. Currently open; www.sugarbowl.com. Tahoe Donner >> Last year brought the construction of a new warming hut — or rather, a 700square-foot yurt with a sun deck. This winter will bring the unveiling of a new cross-country ski facility, which will house ticket sales, equipment rentals, food service and special programs. Opening Sunday; www.tahoedonner.com.
Surf's up on Lake Tahoe, thanks to ferocious winds December 11, 2014
As driving rain and powerful winds began to sweep across Northern California on Thursday morning, a few hearty souls braved the elements and went surfing. On Lake Tahoe. The accompanying images were captured by the Placer County Sheriff’s Office at its North Lake Tahoe Station.
While the surf may have been up, thanks to 50-mph winds, ski resort operators were hoping the temperature would drop and rain would turn to snow. As of the time of this post, snow in the Lake Tahoe area was falling only above 7,000 feet.
Massive storm in California means surf's up on Lake Tahoe December 11, 2014
In an unusual sight in California's Sierra Mountains, surfers paddled out on Lake Tahoe, taking advantage of the high winds and big waves brought by the massive storm that began pummeling the northern part of the state on Thursday. The "Pineapple Express" storm, so called for its point of origin near Hawaii, is the strongest storm to hit the northern and central parts of the state in six years. It brought some travel disruption and property damage with it, but Tahoe's surfers were quick to make the most of the unusual weather system. The Reno office of the National Weather Service tweeted that conditions at the alpine lake, generally more popular for boating, water skiing and other summertime activities, were "dangerous" and that wave heights could reach up to seven feet. The temperature at the lake was 42 degrees Fahrenheit at time of writing, likely significantly warmer than at the time of the early morning surf sessions.
One person's dangerous weather, however, is another's idea of a good time, as shown in the album of images posted to Facebook by the Placer County Sheriff's Office this morning, and videos posted to other social media sites.
One surfer posting to Instagram wrote that conditions were "wicked" and that he caught three waves before heading in to warm up. "You're awesome," California, he wrote.
Tristan Roberts, a Lake Tahoe real estate broker, said the waves were the biggest he has seen since coming to the area in 1995. The conditions left many in the community surprised. “The road that rims the lake is small and so there really isn’t a whole lot of room for parking and it was just packed with locals watching the surfers," said Roberts. "Many of them said they have never seen waves this big, and they have been here longer than me."
Roberts posted the video below of the spontaneous, though not completely unprecedented, Tahoe surf session to Instagram.
"In the area I was standing, there were about half a dozen people out on the water and further down the road there were about half a dozen more. There were quite a lot of people on the lake," Roberts continued. It wasn't all fun and games in Tahoe or elsewhere in the region, however.Downed trees caused damage and injuries there and in many cities, drivers all over the Bay Area
were stranded in their cars as they tried to plow through flooded roadways, and tens of thousands of PG&E customers were without power for most of the day, despite the best efforts of the electricity provider. The high winds that brought in the surfers will turn to heavy snow in the high Sierras this afternoon, Reno NWS reported, and snow was already starting to stick to the ground near Donner Pass, which is just above 7,000 feet, earlier this morning. By 2 p.m. PST, a jackknifed big rig caused the closure of Interstate 80 near Donner Lake, according to CHPTruckee.
Storm Brings Surfers to Shores of Lake Tahoe December 11, 2014
LAKE TAHOELet’s be clear — Lake Tahoe is an extremely cold lake. However, the frigid temperatures of the water did not stop a small group of thrill seekers from getting the chance of a lifetime: a chance to surf on Lake Tahoe. If you’re familiar with the lake, you know what its waves usually look like when they calmly ripple against the beach. The wind from Thursday’s storm brought massive waves that resembled those of Santa Cruz.
The pictures above were provided by the Placer County Sheriff’s Office, taken near their North Lake Tahoe station.
Storm Surfers In Lake Tahoe Are Making The Most Of Crazy Winds December 11, 2014
(Placer County Sheriff’s Office)
Not all Northern California residents are freaking out about #Stormageddon. Up in Lake Tahoe, for instance, surfers are utilizing the wild winds for some December surfing. In case you’re not familiar with surfing, let us tell you: this is not a thing that happens in Lake Tahoe, ever. Today, the Placerville County Sheriff’s Office posted a few photos of these die-hard riders in action. Check them out below (click to enlarge), and for more head to the Placerville County Sheriff’s Facebook.
(Placer County Sheriff’s Office)
(Placer County Sheriff’s Office)
(Placer County Sheriff’s Office)
(Placer County Sheriff’s Office)
(Placer County Sheriff’s Office)
(Placer County Sheriff’s Office)
Not far far away, just west of Donner Lake, wind gusts Thursday morning hit 135 MPH. If sustained, that would be category 2 hurricane strength.
Surfing Lake Tahoe? You bet December 11, 2014 Thanks to a storm system packed with high winds, at least two brave souls donned wetsuits and went surfing on the shores of the iconic lake.
Several surfers enjoyed waves at the iconic lake. Photo from the Placer County Sheriff’s Office
Lake Tahoe, a premier skiing destination, is expected get a couple of feet of snow with thecurrent storm system that is moving through, but skiers and snowboarders aren’t the only ones benefiting. Thanks to high winds kicking up huge waves—for Lake Tahoe, anyway—surfing Lake Tahoe became a reality. Several brave souls donned wetsuits and went surfing along the shores of the iconic lake on Thursday morning. Yeah, surf’s up at Lake Tahoe.
Logan Knutzen nabbed one of the bigger waves of the day.
“These amazing photos were just taken near our Placer County Sheriff’s Office, North Lake Tahoe Station [near Tahoe City],” the sheriff’s office posted on its Facebook page. The Weather Channel, which called the storm the strongest in Northern California in nearly five years, reported 7-foot waves on Lake Tahoe. Reno Gazette-Journal reporter Jeff DeLong posted video of two surfers:
Waves cover portion of a dock. Photo from Placer County Sheriff’s Office
Many commenters on the Placer County Sheriff’s Office Facebook page were surprised by the Lake Tahoe surfing photos. “I have never seen waves like this!!!” one wrote. “I would NEVER think surfing in Tahoe was possible,” wrote another. “That is simply amazing … fun!!” It isn’t unprecedented, however. Whenever the wind kicks up this strong—they were at 112 mph at 7 a.m. local time on Slide Mountain near Mount Rose—the possibility of surfing exists on Lake Tahoe.
Funny, on the RGJ Facebook page, Steve Morlet mentioned one advantage to surfing Lake Tahoe rather than in the ocean: “No sharks to worry about.� Frostbite is a different story, however.
Storm Brings Surfers to Shores of Lake Tahoe December 11, 2014
LAKE TAHOELet’s be clear — Lake Tahoe is an extremely cold lake.
However, the frigid temperatures of the water did not stop a small group of thrill seekers from getting the chance of a lifetime: a chance to surf on Lake Tahoe.
If you’re familiar with the lake, you know what its waves usually look like when they calmly ripple against the beach. The wind from Thursday’s storm brought massive waves that resembled those of Santa Cruz. The pictures above were provided by the Placer County Sheriff’s Office, taken near their North Lake Tahoe station.
California Pounded by Fiercest Storm in 5 Years December 11, 2014
Extremely high rain soaked winds wrecked havoc by downing trees and disrupting schools and traffic in the Bay Area, and in Lake Tahoe produced waves that towered as much as 7 feet high. The Placer County Sheriff's Office posted a series of photos of daredevil surfers riding waves on the typically placid Lake Tahoe.
The storm prompted hundreds of schools in California to close today and they weren't the only ones to take precautions as ferries stopped running. Some mass transit was ground to a halt as the Bay Area braced for the "Pineapple Express." The moisture-packed storm, which is technically known as an atmospheric river, has been dubbed the "Pineapple Express" because of its Hawaiian origins. More than 100,000 students stayed home, and others struggled to get around through the blustery and rain soaked area. With wind gusts expected to hit 30 to 50 miles per hour, some folks in Sacramento took precautions, by taking down their holiday decorations. Tens of thousands of people lost power on Wednesday as gusts of up to 63 miles per hour hit the Seattle area, and more than 100,000 lost power today in the Bay area. ‌ http://abcnews.go.com/US/storm-century-hit-west-coast/story?id=27531784
ABC News Facebook Surfing in Lake Tahoe December 11, 2014
What’s New in Ski Resorts December 10, 2014 The flurry of recent ski news in North America has drifted into several piles. To ensure their own longevity, resorts continue to court families and increasingly offer a variety of nonski activities — from the novelty of biking in the snow to pre-ski-runyoga classes — that keep casual skiers from straying. This year, there’s more terrain to ski, and sometimes more terrain per pass (Vail Resorts’ recent acquisition of Park City Mountain Resort in Utah means a lift ticket there is also good at nearby Canyons Resort, another Vail property). Among novelties, expect snowcat-based “food trucks,” ice glamping and a nightclub at a lightheaded 10,000 feet. Bring the Family To encourage the next generation of skiers and snowboarders, ski resorts are relying on entertainment, easier slope access and a few bargain offers. In Colorado, Aspen Skiing Company will unveil a $5 million children’s center at the base of Buttermilk, one of its four ski areas, this year. The 7,500square-foot Hideout will house the ski school and serve students ages 2 to 12 with indoor play areas as a gateway to the family-friendly slopes. Nearby, its Snowmass resort will add four new lift-served snow tubing lanes for ages 4 to 14. Replacing the classic bunny hill, new sculpted terrain with bumps, berms, banks and mini-halfpipes adds excitement to beginner lessons. Northstar California Resort near Lake Tahoe will expand its terrain-based learning area, while Whistler Blackcomb in British Columbia will add similar features to its teaching area. For the third year, Keystone Resort in Colorado will offer free lift tickets to children 12 and under, provided they (and parents) stay two or more nights at one of the resort’s accommodations. Active Après After-hours parties still fill mountainside bars, but several resorts are expanding the definition of night life to include nocturnal recreation. Mammoth Mountain in California plans to introduce “cosmic tubing” at Woolly’s Tube Park, featuring a D.J. and music-synched disco-style lighting along with food and drink specials. Steamboat Ski Resort in northwestern
Colorado introduced night skiing last year and will add two nights for a total of five per week this year. Guests of the Sebastian-Vail hotel in Vail, Colo., can enroll in its new “night owl” fitness program, offering moonlight snowshoeing, tubing and biking. In Aspen, Hotel Jerome will offer twilight dog sledding. Beyond Skiing Top on the list is snow biking — the equivalent of mountain bikes with puffy snow tires. In Colorado, Crested Butte Mountain Resort just purchased 10 snow bikes, offering renters the opportunity to pedal on approved trails after taking a two-hour lesson and a guided tour around the mountain. In Breckenridge, Colo., Breck Bike Guides now offers snow bike rentals as well as guided tours. Sugar Bowl Resort near Lake Tahoe, Calif., will introduce snow-bikespecific trails at its affiliated Royal Gorge Cross Country Ski Resort next door. The 6,000-acre Nordic ski center will also offer snow kiting, in which a kite-boarding-style sail propels the skier holding it. Several new programs combine adventure and relaxation, such as “Mountain to Mat” workshops at Squaw Valley in Lake Tahoe, including a half-day guided ski tour, lunch, an afternoon yoga class and a mini spa treatment. Telluride Ski Resort in southwestern Colorado will offer a fourday “Ski, Yoga, Ride,” bracketing ski lessons with morning and evening yoga classes. New Ways to Stay Among new lodging options in ski country, the rustic-chic 64-room Hotel Jackson will open in downtown Jackson, Wyo., in January. Near Jackson Town Square, the hotel will offer complimentary breakfast and free shuttles to the airport and to Jackson Hole Mountain Resort. In Stateline, Nev., the new 539-room Hard Rock Hotel & Casino Lake Tahoe will open in January, with four restaurants, a 25,000-square-foot casino and live music venues. In British Columbia, Four Seasons Resort Whistler will introduce glamping on ice this winter, offering helicopter transfers to the Pemberton Ice Cap in the Coast Mountains for a pampered overnight in a pop-up snow hotel, complete with hot tubs and pre-warmed duvets on the beds. Dining, Stationary and Mobile The food truck phenomenon has been adapted to the slopes in the form of mobile snowcat machines that go where no caterer has gone before. In Colorado, Ski Cooper will dish hot food from its snowcat-based Cat Trax. Nearby, Breckenridge Ski Resort will introduce its mobile Snowdrifter, a
trailer towed by a snowcat, which will rove around the resort throughout the season. Slower on-mountain options offer rooms with views. In southwest Montana, Big Sky Resort will open Everett’s 8800 atop Andesite Mountain, promising hearty fare, fireplaces indoors and out and views of surrounding peaks. In Park City, Utah, Canyons Resort built a new home for its Cloud Dine restaurant, popular for its chicken potpie, expanding capacity 40 percent. In Lake Tahoe, Northstar’s Zephyr Lodge will introduce a twicemonthly “mountain table” menu, sourced entirely in California. Skip lunch and go straight for taffy and Tootsie Rolls at the new Candy Cabin, selling sweets by the pound at the top of the Strawberry Park Express Lift at Beaver Creek. Après Day & Night The traditional après-ski party will expand at Heavenly Mountain Resort in South Lake Tahoe. Friday through Sunday, a midday party at its East Peak Lodge will start at 1 p.m. with drink specials and live music. For six nights throughout the season, Vail Mountain will offer Decimo, a nightclub at 10,250 feet reached by a gondola with heated seats and with free Wi-Fi for posting Instagram updates.
KXTV Multiple North Tahoe Resorts opening December 10, 2014
Nearly 2 feet of snow boosts Sierra ski resorts December 5, 2014 RENO, NEV. — Mid-week storms dumped nearly 2 feet of snow on the upper elevations around Lake Tahoe, where Sugar Bowl opens for its 75th season on Saturday and ski resorts up and down the Sierra are feeling much better about conditions than they did a week ago. Mount Rose Ski Resort, which reported 18 inches of new snow southwest of Reno, was among those that opened access to the top of their slopes for the first time this week. "This storm has been the good old-fashioned Sierra storm we've been waiting for, one that helps to build a fantastic base that will keep our guests skiing and riding all season long," said Mike Pierce, Mount Rose's marketing director. Northstar California, along U.S. Interstate 80 near Truckee, opened 12 additional trails on Thursday after reporting 31 inches of new snow on the upper runs over the six previous days. "We're thrilled," Northstar Vice President Beth Howard said. "Conditions are great." On the Tahoe's south shore, Heavenly Mountain Resort reported 20 inches of snow throughout the week, allowing for the opening of its premier runs serviced by the Big Dipper express lift. "We began making snow on Big Dipper a week ago, and this storm brought us that last little bit we needed to be able to open it to guests," Heavenly Vice President Pete Sonntag said. Just before the storm arrived, the Sierra Nevada snowpack was at just 24 percent of normal for this time of year. The early snow is a welcome change for ski operators who last year had to lean heavily on man-made snow. "We are way ahead of where we were last year," said Bob Roberts, executive director of the California Ski Industry Association. "People are pretty excited."
Tahoe resorts now open December 4, 2014 The Monterey Bay area isn’t the only place in California pleased by the resurgence of much needed rainfall coming from a recent series of powerful storms from the Pacific. But those looking to indulge in more of these early winter treats better pack their bags and boards and head up north. Lake Tahoe’s mountains have opened once again, with up to 30-plus inches of fresh powder now filling the summits to kick off the ski and snowboard season. Along with supplementary snowmaking efforts, the recent snowfall looks to be just the start of a promising December with forecasters calling for additional accumulations over the next few weeks. For now, several Tahoe resorts are all ready for prime winter season. Among those is Sugar Bowl Resort, which received up to 21 inches of snow as of Wednesday and will open to the public on Saturday. Other popular resorts, which offer skiers and riders a wide range of terrain, including beginner and top-to-bottom runs, have been open since mid- to late-November. Northstar California has received 31 inches of snow as of Wednesday and opened 12 additional trails on Thursday, while Squaw Valley and Alpine Meadows now have up to 23 inches of snow with three runs and seven lifts operating. Mt. Rose Ski Resort boasts a total of 21 trails and three lifts open to the public after receiving 13 to 16 inches of powder this week. Heavenly Mountain Resort, Bear Valley and Boreal Mountain Resort are also up and running, with 14, 16 and 25 inches of snow, respectively. Diamond Peak Ski Area — up to 18 inches of snow — and Homewood Mountain Ski Resort — up to 12 inches on Upper Mountain and four inches on Lower Mountain — are set to open next weekend on Dec. 11 and 12, respectively. Kirkwood and Sierra-at-Tahoe both have yet to announce opening dates. All major resorts are slated to be open by mid-December. The National Weather Service predicted that snow accumulation would end early Thursday morning and the chance of precipitation remained low throughout Friday and Saturday. Weekend temperatures will remain in the mid-40 degrees during the day.
North Tahoe snow outlook (with photos) December 3, 2014
Here’s the latest report from the North Tahoe tourism bureau, regarding the current snowstorm raging in the Sierra: A strong winter storm continues to move through the Sierras, covering a majority of North Lake Tahoe resorts with nearly a foot of snow in the past 24 hours. A Winter Storm Warning remains in effect until 4 a.m. PST Thursday above 7,000 feet. Another four to eight inches of snow is expected to accumulate throughout the evening. The National Weather Service has predicted that snow accumulation will end early Thursday morning and the chance of precipitation will remain low
throughout Friday and Saturday. Weekend temperatures will remain in the mid-40 degrees Fahrenheit during the day. Squaw Valley | Alpine Meadows, Boreal Mountain Resort, Mt. Rose Ski Resort and Northstar California are open and offering skiers and riders a wide range of terrain, including beginner and top-to-bottom runs. A complete list of North Lake Tahoe downhill resort totals below: Boreal Mountain Resort: Open 24 hours: 1.5’ 4 runs open 2 lifts open
Diamond Peak Ski Area: Closed (opening December 11) 24 hours: 18”
Homewood Mountain Ski Resort: Closed (opening December 12) 24 hours: Lower Mountain 4” Upper Mountain 12”
Mt. Rose Ski Resort: Open 24 hours: 13-16” 21 runs open 3 lifts open
Northstar California Resort: Open 24 hours: 13″ 7 runs open 7 lifts open
Squaw Valley | Alpine Meadows: Open 24 hours: 23” 3 runs open 7 lifts open
Sugar Bowl Resort: Closed (opening December 6) 24 hours: 21″
North Tahoe shop local event to feature more than 50 vendors December 1, 2014 KINGS BEACH, Calif. — Residents who attend the second annual Hospitality Holidays event Wednesday, Dec. 3, can complete their holiday shopping in one night and give the gift of locally made products from more than 50 artisans and vendors. The event is from 5:30-9:30 p.m. at the North Tahoe Event Center in Kings Beach and is sponsored by the North Lake Tahoe Chamber/CVB/Resort Association. The event includes free photos with Santa, face painting and sleigh rides, as well as performances from local band Sneaky Creatures and dancers with Tahoe Flow Arts. Free food tastings and $5 drinks are available. Raffle tickets can be purchased for many prizes, including items from each vendor, overnight hotel stays, restaurant gift cards and more. Shoppers will be entered to win the Show Your Love Shop Local contest by collecting eight stamps from vendors. To get a stamp, pick up a contest card at the door upon arrival. Each vendor will stamp the card after completing a purchase of at least $25. The winner will receive two lift tickets at 10 local ski areas. Two drawings will be held; winners do not need to be present. Completed contest cards will also be entered into the North Tahoe-Truckee Shop Local Holiday Contest for a seven-night accommodation package in Greece, Costa Rica, Sedona or Cancun, in addition to a $300 cash prize, That drawing will be held on Jan. 15. The contest was designed to support local businesses, reduce the carbon footprint of locals traveling outside of their community to shop, and protect the region’s local character. Money spent at local businesses recirculates through wages and taxes, benefitting the economic health of the entire community and supporting unique local businesses.
Top Holiday & Christmas Events in Northern California with Kids November 27, 2014 Updated for the 2014 Season The holiday and Christmas season is upon us and Northern California is filled with a plethora of family-friendly activities. Whether you’re soaring with Santa above San Francisco in the world’s largest airship, waving at surfing Santa from the shores of Capitola, or meandering through historic Christmas Villages draped in holiday lights, Northern California offers something for everyone. Here are our best holiday and Christmas events in Northern California.
Ride the Rails with Santa Northern California Christmas trains are popular events that sell out quick. During the months of November and December, numerous train companies offer young guests the opportunity to meet Santa in vintage passenger cars decked with dazzling lights and holiday swag. Napa Valley Wine Train’s Santa Trains, pictured above, combines the best of worlds, a mother’s love of wine and a child’s love of Santa. The Polar Express in Sacramento (should you be lucky enough to have already secured tickets for the often sold-out event) gives out the “first gift of Christmas” — a sleigh bell — to each passenger. On the return trip, all join in and sing Christmas carols when pulling into the station at the California State Railroad Museum. Sacramento & SierraChristmas Trains carry not just Santa, but elves, storytellers, musicians, hot cocoa, and cookies. The Niles Canyon Railway Train of Lights features 15 train cars draped in holiday lights. The Christmas Train to Willits is a 90 minute merry treat for pajama clad passengers. Roaring Camp Railroads offers the children of Santa Cruz not just one, but two holiday trains departing directly from the Santa Cruz Boardwalk: Santa Cruz Holiday Lights Train and Chanukah Train. Explore where to catch the Polar Express.
Recapture the Spirit of Christmas Past
Evoke the spirit of Christmas past amidst the delightful backdrop of historic downtown Grass Valley during their yearly Cornish Christmas Celebration. Mill and West Main Streets are blocked to traffic and packed with the resonances of an old-fashioned Christmas while the Grass Valley Cornish Carol Choir croons Christmas carols on the steps of the historic Union Building. Delight your senses with the aromas of your favorite foods while you stroll down the bustling historic streets of Downtown Grass Valley. Listen to musicians play Christmas music as shops bathed in Christmas lights twinkle in the night air. In Nevada City, at the Victorian Christmas, you’ll see kids and adults dressed in period costumes and Santa Claus. Delicious food and drink can be purchased from a number of specialty food vendors. On two special Saturday’s in Sacramento, attend Christmas Memories at the Governor’s Mansion State Historic Park to delight in elaborate festive decor, live holiday music, family activities, and docent storytellers in period attire sharing holidayrelated stories of past governors and their families. To add to the festive activities, Santa and Mrs. Claus will make special visits to the Mansion to meet your little ones and be available for holiday photographs. In Paso Robles, Vine Street Victorian Showcase features Ebenezer Scrooge, the Snow Queen, and Mr. & Mrs. Claus. Bring the kids to Vine Street for the festive sounds of caroling, illuminated floats, entertainers, live music, cotton candy, and free cookies and hot chocolate! When: • Cornish Christmas Celebration held every Friday Night, November 28 – December 19, 2014 from 6:00 – 9:00 p.m. • Nevada City Victorian Christmas held Wednesdays, December 10 & 17 from 5:00 to 9:00 pm & Sundays, December 7, 14 & 21 from 1:30 – 6:00 p.m. •Christmas Memories held December 6 & 13, 2014 from 10:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. •Vine Street Victorian Showcase held December 13, from 6:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m.
Winter Wonderland On special days in December, Fairytale Town in Sacramento is decorated with festive trimmings and lit up with dazzling lights, starting at dusk. This holiday event features hands-on craft activities and holiday vendors. Two of Santa’s reindeer will visit on December 13 and 14, and children can visit with Santa in his workshop December 13-14 and 20-21. December 24 is free admission day! Held Thursdays through Sundays, December 11-14 and 18-21 from 1:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. In nearby Old Sacramento, celebrate the annual Theatre of Lights performance with state-of-the-art sound and lighting technology on Wednesdays, and Thursdays through Sundays at 6:15 p.m. and 7:45 p.m. Special performances on Christmas Eve at 6:15 p.m. and New Year’s Eve at 7:00 p.m. and 8:30 p.m. In Oakland, Children’s Fairyland celebrates the winter holidays for 11 exciting days with a salute to Christmas, Hanukkah, Kwanzaa, Las Posadas, Diwali, and Chinese New Year! Enjoy crafts, a festival of lights, and a visit from Santa on Friday through Sunday, December 5-21 and December 22-23 from 12 – 7 p.m. Visit Oakland Zoo for their annual holiday event, ZooLights. Dazzling LED lights light up the Zoo and night sky to celebrate the holiday season. This year’s festive display features a merry music-themed light show illuminating the Zoo’s African Veldt. Held December 5 – January 4, 2015 from 5:30 p.m. to 9:00 p.m. (Closed December 13, 24 & 25). In Alameda, South Shore Center’s Little Ice Rink is open every day until 10:00 p.m., through January 19. Panera Bread will be serving treats and hot chocolate. Families can meet Santa and have pictures taken at The Santa House, that is to say, when he’s not busy ice skating. In Copperopolis, the community will light its Holiday Tree, traditionally a 40-foot fir with more than 1,000 lights, in Town Square at 6:00 p.m. on November 29. Festivities are scheduled from 4:00 to 7:00 p.m. and will include music, an appearance by Santa and Mrs. Claus, and carriage rides. Take a snow day in Berkeley’s Gourmet Ghetto! Bring your boots and mittens to play in the snow that will be gently falling on Shattuck Avenue between Rose and Vine Streets in Berkeley on December 7 from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. (rain date is December 14). Visit with the Snow Queen who will listen to all of your holiday wishes, ride the decorated live ponies, make holiday crafts, warm up with hot cider, and find one-of-a-kind holiday gifts from local craft vendors. This is a free event for children of all ages. Mom’s listen up, there’s a diamond giveaway at M. Lowe & Co. Find the ‘ice’ in a snowball – one has a real diamond ring inside, held 1:00 p.m. – 4:00 p.m. as a benefit for Berkeley Arts Magnet School. The Gourmet Ghetto is just 6 blocks north of the Downtown Berkeley BART station and has festive lights in over 50 trees.
Also in Berkeley, The Lawrence Hall of Science in Berkeley makes the last day of 2014 one to remember at their New Year’s Eve Day Party! Count down to 2015 in the Science on a Sphere exhibit while observing what happens as the clock strikes midnight in different time zones around the world. No need to worry about forcing the kids to stay up until midnight — at 2:00 p.m. cheer with fellow families as hundreds of balloons mark the celebration of the New Year. December 31, 2014, 12:00–2:00 p.m. In Windsor, stroll through Charlie Brown Christmas Tree Grove, a joyful and inspiring grove of decorative Charlie Brown Christmas Trees on Windsor Town Green. Snow falls each evening at 5:30 p.m. and 7:30 p..m., November 29 through January 3. Be sure to check Trekaroo’s lists for Fun Holiday Activities for Kids in Sacramento, CA.
Break for the Slopes
Magical Memories at Resort at Squaw Creek Thanksgiving weekend brings the much-anticipated start to Resort at Squaw Creek‘s Magical Memories holiday celebration. The event begins from 5:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. on November 28 with the Gingerbread Village Unveiling and Grand Tree Lighting Ceremony. Through January 3, events at Magical Memories include a turkey hunt, snow fort building contest, caroling, ice rink games, winter wonderland stories with Mrs. Claus, elf tuck-ins, family movies, breakfast with Santa, or Hanukkah menorah lighting. Northern Lights at Northstar California Experience the first ever two-day Northern Lights Festival which concludes December 13, during which kids and families take part in a day and evening of illuminated merriment with a torch light procession and snow cat light parade, glow-in-thedark face painting, balloon twisting and games along with DJ’s and live music on the Village Stage. Finish the evening with spectacular fireworks! Heavenly Holidays Celebrate nearly two weeks of Christmas at Heavenly Holidays. This elaborate 13-day family-friendly festival at the Heavenly Village features professional ice skating shows, ice sculptors, and carolers. Santa’s Workshop will be recreated inside of a 16-foot interactive snow globe where families can get their photos taken with Santa! Festivities begin on December 19, and conclude on December 31 with A Heavenly New Year’s Celebration featuring a 9 p.m. ball drop and fireworks show! The Ritz-Carlton, Lake Tahoe Enjoy a Gingerbread Workshop Saturday, December 13 and 20 – 3 to 4 p.m. Under the expert teachings of a RitzCarlton pastry chef, guests are invited to experience the wonder of creating a personalized gingerbread house decorated with all the trimmings. Holiday beverages included. Advance reservations are required. $125 per family. Café Chocolat served daily from December 19 through January 4 – 4 to 6 p.m. Families can sip a variety of house-made chocolate sweets, confections, and fondue treats throughout the holiday season. A hot chocolate bar complete with freshlymade marshmallows will also be served. Prices are à la carte.
Holiday Dinner on Wednesday, December 24 and Thursday, December 25 – 4 to 10 p.m. Enjoy a holiday meal with family in the resort’s signature restaurant, Manzanita. A unique menu developed by Chef de Cuisine Jeremy Grossman will include holiday-inspired dishes. Advance reservations are required. Holiday Buffet served Thursday, December 25 – 2 to 7 p.m. A traditional holiday feast featuring a grand buffet of winter favorites for the whole family, seatings take place throughout the afternoon and early evening in The Ritz-Carlton Ballroom. Advance reservations are required. $95 adults, $35 kids (ages 4 to 10). Family Movie Night occurs daily from December 26 through December 30 at 7 p.m. This event created a reason for guests to leave their luxurious suites. Families are invited to get comfortable in The Pines Ballroom during complimentary screenings of family favorites on the big screen. Kids’ Crafts & Creations offered daily from December 26 through December 30 – 3:30 p.m. to 5 p.m. From creating picture frames to designing cookies and making holiday sock monkey dolls, each day offers a new activity to stir creative juices at the Kids Crafts & Creations Workshop. These free projects are an amenity of the resort’s Ritz Kids program, which provides year-round entertainment specially designed for children. New Year’s Eve Family Buffet begins with dinner in The Ballroom where sumptuous delights get the New Year started. Afterwards, visitors can visit the Village at Northstar for live music, ice skating and a fireworks show at 9 p.m. Advance reservations required. $95 adults, $35 kids (ages 4 to 10). Hyatt Regency Lake Tahoe Sierra Café Thanksgiving Buffet on November 27 from 2 p.m. – 9 p.m. Enjoy casual all day dining at the breakfast buffet, a la carte lunch, and Thanksgiving dinner buffet. Dinner features a classic carving station and a large selection of entrees with all the fixings and a West Coast Cheese Bar. For dessert, Chef Guido Landolt offers a selection of desserts such as pies and cakes. Advance reservations are recommended 775-832-1234. Thanksgiving Weekend Activities are scheduled throughout each day from November 26-29. Hyatt Regency Lake Tahoe hosts a series of merry games and activities for every member of the family, such as scavenger hunts, pine cone decorating, horseshoes, and ping pong tournaments. Each night, the hotel will also offer “Tahoe Cinema,” a family-friendly movie on the silver screen. Christmas Buffet at Sierra Café on December 25 at 2 p.m. – 8 p.m. Yuletide feasts are offered throughout the day. Dinner highlights include fennel and apple martini with Dungeness crab and shrimp cocktail with lemon and cocktail sauce; two carving stations with glazed bone-ham and slow roasted prime rib beef. Advance reservations are recommended 775-8321234. A giant cottage-inspired Gingerbread House will take over the lobby of Hyatt Regency Lake Tahoe for the holiday season. This 8’ x 11’ display will be created with over 360 pounds of homemade gingerbread dough, creating 91 square feet of gingerbread brick walls and over 78 square feet of gingerbread roof shingles. The Chef used over 120 pounds of icing to frost the delicious masterpiece, in addition to homemade candy decorations, candy canes, red and green gum drops, and Boston Baked Beans. Holiday Feasts Granlibakken Conference Center & Lodge offers a hearty Thanksgiving feast that celebrates family and friends around the dinner table. Join the group celebration for $40 ($20 for children 12 years and younger). Before dinner, work up an appetite outdoors at Granlibakken’s Treetop Adventure Park. Set 30 feet off the ground, the ropes course and zip line will be open Thanksgiving week (weather permitting) and throughout the winter season. Camp Richardson Historic Resort and Marina is an all season resort with lodging in cabins and hotel rooms. The Beacon Bar and Grill, situated on the scenic shore of Lake Tahoe, is offering special menus for Thanksgiving, Christmas, and New Year’s Eve. Enjoy Winter Holiday Activities for Kids in Lake Tahoe & Nevada.
Sequoia and Kings Canyon National Parks
Wuksachi Lodge On December 14, the 89th annual Trek to the Nation’s Christmas Tree (the General Grant Tree), is a tribute to the men and women of the Armed Forces who have sacrificed their lives for their country. A memorial wreath placed is placed at the base, and an NPS representative will speak on the tree’s role as a national shrine. Attendees can park at the Grant Tree Trail entrance lot, take a free shuttle from the Kings Canyon Visitors Center, or a paid shuttle from the Sanger Chamber of Commerce offices. In addition, Kings Canyon Park admission is free from 2 to 4 p.m. on the day of the event. Tenaya Lodge and Yosemite National Park This is not your ordinary competition! Hundreds of families gather at Tenaya Lodge on November 28-29 for a gingerbread decorating contest and go through 1,000 pounds of candy to duke it out for the top house in 5 categories—Traditional, Wackiest, Kids Only, Outside Influence (i.e., bringing in their own lights and décor), and Most Creative. This is a really fun spectacle, even if you’re not competing. Additional holiday activities include a kids dinner with Santa from 6 to 8 p.m. December 22-23.
San Luis Obispo County Hearst Castle Hearst Castle is an unforgettable experience on any given day, but during the holidays you’ll be awestruck. From December 1-31 (except Dec. 25), the Castle decks the halls generously, giving guests the sense they’ve traveled back through time and are celebrating the holidays with Hearst’s iconic roisterers. The Great American Melodrama For 40 years residents have looked forward to The Holiday Extravaganza, presented by The Great American Melodrama, occurring this year from November 30 – December 31. The show features a matchless holiday performance, including an uplifting one-act rendition of Charles Dickens’ A Christmas Carol, a heartwarming splintered fairy tale opera and a wellknown Holiday Vaudeville Revue. Cal Poly Music enthusiasts can enjoy the annual Cal Poly Presents, A Christmas Celebration, taking place December 12. This year the classical musical feature will include the debut of Cal Poly Professor Antonio G. Barata’s new Spanish carol and an audience sing-a-long. Theater
For more than thirty years, both residents and guests have appreciated the Civic Ballet’s Annual Nutcracker performance, taking place December 13-14 at the San Luis Obispo Performing Arts Center, starring the Opera San Luis Obispo Orchestra conducted by Brian Asher Alhadeff. Enjoy SLO Little Theatre’s “A Christmas Story” December 5-21. The play chronicles the story of 9-year-old Ralphie Parker in his mission to acquire the perfect gift under the tree for Christmas. Parade Downtown San Luis Obispo’s 39th Annual Holiday Parade on December 5 summons partygoers to have a “Hula Holiday” and delight in nearly 100 decorative floats, jammin’ musical acts, and dancers. Morro Bay sponsors the free Lighted Boat Parade December 6, where spectators can peer out into the bay at ornamented Christmas skiffs, yachts, fishing boats, cutters, sailboats, and kayaks. Tree Lighting’s and Santa Every tot who takes a picture with St. Nick at Santa’s House in the historic Mission Plaza on November 28 gets a gratis candy cane, toy, and coloring book. Guests are invited to take in an old-fashioned Holiday Lighting Ceremony in Atascadero on December 5, where revelers can drink hot chocolate and listen to live holiday music at the Sunken Gardens Park and City Hall steps. If you prefer a more coastal Christmas, Pismo Beach is hosting a “Holiday Harmony & Tree Lighting Ceremony” on December 5, including fresh snow, pictures with Santa, cookie decorating, and bounce houses. Reindeer Run In SLO County, locals don’t take themselves too seriously, and they’ll make sure you don’t either. A fun way to stay fit is the Reindeer Run 5K Run/Walk at Mitchell Park, a 5K route run/walk featuring witty holiday costumes and pancakes with Santa. Ice Skating Madonna Inn, a historic landmark hotel with themed rooms, presents its popular Winter Wonder SLO Jiffy Lube Ice Skating Rink December 19 – January 4. During the holiday season, the inn also displays glittering decorations and holiday shopping. Arrive at Winter Wonderland in Downtown Atascadero on December 12, where every member of the family can ice skate and play in over 50 tons of fresh snow, placed over five blocks!
Paso Robles Downtown Holiday Lighting Ceremony On November 28th at 5:30 p.m., lights will illuminate the way to this year’s holiday festivities in City Park. Mrs. Claus will arrive and light the downtown, sharing her merriment with all. Enjoy music, candlelight caroling, free cookies, and hot chocolate. Admission is free. Christmas Light Parade On December 6th at 7 p.m., relish the sights of the holiday spirit with a brilliant parade featuring an array of lighted spectacles from local businesses. Awards will be given for best in show. Join Santa and Mrs. Claus and witness downtown light up with holiday spirit! Wild Lights On December 7th from 3:30 p.m. to 6:30 p.m., Zoo to You Education lights up after dark with thousands of festive holiday lights. Visit with Santa and enjoy hot cider, cookies, and hot chocolate while composing letters to Santa. Holiday craft booths will also be available for holiday shopping. You don’t want to miss the bears, lemurs, and parrots opening their Christmas presents from Santa early! BBQ dinner available for $5.
Teddy Bear Tea The Downtown Paso Robles’ 24th Annual Teddy Bear Tea on December 20 invites kids to bring their teddy bear for tea, stories, gingerbread cookie decorating, arts and crafts, and visits with the Snow Queen and King, Mrs. Claus, Santa Claus, lovable elves and Victorian friends. New Year’s Eve “Glow In the Park” Celebrate New Year’s Eve at Paso Robles City Park. This family-friendly event in the park will be filled with free activities. A sampling of glow in the dark activities include croquet, horseshoes, and hula hoops. There will also be food trucks, face painting, and an exciting choreographed light show.
Healdsburg All Aboard for Toyland The historical Healdsburg Museum presents its annual holiday display of antique toys. Embrace the nostalgia and familiarize yourself with local history. Held November, 28 – January 4. Healdsburg Downtown Holiday Party On November 28, the downtown merchants will provide savory treats and musical entertainment. Santa swings by the Plaza from 4:00 p.m. – 6:00 p.m. for pictures and wish list requests. Fine Wine and Foodie Walking Tour Through January 22, this four-hour guided Fine Wine and Foodie Walking Tour is your opportunity to sip, savor, stroll, and shop Healdsburg. Discover the holiday swagger of Healdsburg with its sparkling lights and holiday window displays. Tour available daily. Tree Lighting View in the Healdsburg Tree Lighting on November 30 in pretty Healdsburg Plaza. Breakfast with Santa On December 6, 13, and 20, Costeaux Bakery presents baked goods and photos with Santa. Holiday Home Tour Beginning at the Healdsburg Museum, tour beautifully decorated homes around town on December 6. Kids’ Holiday Treats Workshop On December 22, Kids will create a variety of seasonal goodies from scratch at this hands on cooking class. Kids will measure, mix, stir, roll, bake, decorate and taste, and decorate a take-home goodie box. On December 17, spend a holiday-filled night decorating a gingerbread house at Relish Culinary Center. Craft a beautiful and delicious design with frosting and oodles of candy, cookies, cereal, and candy canes. You can look forward to holiday music and hot chocolate during this family-friendly gathering. Dickens Dinners at Madrona Manor Step back in time at Madrona Manor, this charming, historic wine country inn will be decorated in Victorian Splendor for the holiday season. Enjoy an evening of fine dining along with carols December 7-25. Insider Tip: Many children attend this dinner, but keep in mind that the price is the same for adults and children and the dinner service lasts a little over two hours.
Sonoma
Le Cirque de Boheme A 1920’s style Circus based on the French tradition Le Cirque de Boheme will transport you into a surreal dream filled with enchantment, wonder, and discovery. A Magician, Contortionist, Hat Juggling, Ball Spinning, Unicycle, Mime, an eccentric Clown, Knife-Thrower and other assorted performers of Paris of the 1920’s can be seen November 28-30, December 20-22 and 26-28. Lighting of the Snowmen Festival On December 7, see what the snowmen are up to this year at Cornerstone Sonoma! Music and entertainment, pictures with Santa on the big blue chair, and the annual lighting of the snowmen around the Cornerstone Gardens. Available to view through December 29. Christmas at the Mission Join in a candlelight procession from Sonoma Barracks to Mission San Francisco Solano followed by a non-demoninational service on December 12.
Walnut Creek Christmas Tree Lighting Rejoice at the return of Walnut Creek’s Christmas Tree Lighting event after a three-year pause with sweet treats and merry carolers at Civic Park on November 29 from 5:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m. Walnut Creek On Ice Eight thousand square feet of ice are set in a charming winter wonderland scene in Civic Park through January 11, 2015. Walnut Creek Wednesdays Walnut Creek Wednesdays offers leisurely strolls downtown for visits with Santa, sweet treats, horse and carriage rides ($5/ride), and carolers throughout November and December. It’s held every Wednesday till December 17. Holiday Teas Shadelands Ranch Museum offers Victorian Teas and its 32nd Annual Holiday Faire. Held November 29 – December 14. The three-course seatings are at 11:30 a.m. and 1:30 p.m. The Gardens at Heather Farm presents its 18th Annual Teddy Bear Tea. It is held December 6 and 7 with seatings at 11:30 a.m. and 2 p.m. Whistle Stop Holiday Shows The Walnut Creek Model Railroad Society lets families ‘ride’ the Diablo Valley Lines during their whistle stop holiday shows, featuring model trains traveling over one of the world’s most mountainous model railroad layouts.
Petaluma
Santa’s Riverboat Arrival Rudolph and his reindeer pals get the day off when Santa and Mrs. Claus arrive in Petaluma on a Jerico tugboat on November 29 at 11:00 a.m. Their trusty tug chugs up the Petaluma River and arrives at noon at River Plaza shopping center where the waiting crowd has been entertained by a variety of festive performers at this free event. After Santa and Mrs. Claus disembark, they are greeted by costumed dancers from Petaluma City Ballet’s “Nutcracker” and are escorted to a Santa’s workshop for photos with children and lots of Christmas wishes. Lighted Boat Parade On December 13 at 6:30 p.m., a flotilla of lighted boats makes a dramatic arrival at the Petaluma River Turning Basin. This free event is an annual favorite for amateur and professional photographers alike; the reflection of the lights off the water creates a magical effect. After the parade, spectators can keep the festive mood going by shopping and dining in historic downtown Petaluma, just steps from the Turning Basin. City of Lights Driving Tour Take a self-guided tour of spectacularly decorated homes and businesses throughout Petaluma. Maps are available at the Petaluma Visitors Center or online by the end of November. The tour runs from December 1-27. Holiday Open House On December 6 in Historic Downtown Petaluma, join the Downtown Merchants for a festive day. Snag shopping deals, photos with Santa and Mrs. Claus, horse and carriage rides, hot apple cider, face painting, balloon art, sweets, and more.
Santa Cruz Surfin’ Santa Santa and his reindeer surf into Capitola Beach. Bring your Christmas list to discuss with Santa at Capitola Village. Candy Canes for everyone! This event is free on November 29. Lighted Boat Parade Enjoy 50 decorated boats parading throughout Santa Cruz Harbor on December 6, rain or shine. This family-oriented festival is free and held from 5:30 p.m. – 7:30 p.m. at the Santa Cruz Harbor. Also on December 6, attend the Scotts Valley Christmas Tree Lighting Festival with music and Santa at 5:00 p.m. Jingle Shells Art and Craft Festival Ocean-inspired gifts from local artists, live musical performances, kids crafts, and other festivities on December 7, from 12:00 p.m. – 5:00 p.m. at the Seymour Marine Discovery Center. Strike Out Hunger & Bowl for Free From November 1 – December 31, bowl a game for free when you bring a can of food to the Boardwalk Bowl for Second Harvest Food Bank of Santa Cruz County. This is a fun and easy way to help feed needy families this holiday season. The Boardwalk Bowl is across the street from the Boardwalk’s Casino Arcade.
Kid-Friendly Luxury At The Ritz-Carlton, Half Moon Bay, bring the children in to enjoy breakfast with Santa and Mrs. Claus. The breakfast buffet will feature traditional morning fare with Christmas selections and a Christmas candy table on Monday, December 22, from 9:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. for $54 per person. The Ritz-Carlton, San Francisco The legendary Teddy Bear Tea at The Ritz-Carlton, San Francisco runs from November 29-30 and December 5-7, 13-14, 19-23, with seatings at 10:00 a.m. and 1:00 p.m. Children and their beloved stuffed animals are invited to assemble in The Terrace Courtyard Tent for a glamorous tea service featuring the giant Ritz-Carlton Teddy Bear. Holiday entertainment is dished along with hot chocolate, holiday confections, and assorted sandwiches. Tickets are $110 per guest. Mandarin Oriental, San Francisco Mandarin Oriental, San Francisco invites children and their families to Ho-Ho-Homes for the Holidays for two delightful hours of gingerbread house decorating fun with Christmas elves. This afternoon of sugary delights takes place at the hotel on December 7 from 2:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m. Adults and children alike will learn how to decorate gingerbread houses and holiday themed sugar cookies using an array of sweets including icing of all colors, sprinkles, candy canes, gum drops, and licorice.
Children will receive their very own chef’s apron, chef’s hat, and boxes to take home their finished houses and cookies. The event is $60 per child, reservations are required. Rosewood Sand Hill, Menlo Park See Santa and share classic holiday stories such as How the Grinch Stole Christmas and The Nutcracker as children gather in the Library lounge by the Christmas tree for Afternoon Tea and hot cocoa at Rosewood Sand Hill. Kids will take home a special teddy bear and write handwritten Christmas cards for children of The Ronald McDonald House at the Children’s Holiday Tea with Santa on Saturday’s in December. Carmel Valley Ranch, Carmel Set amidst the beautiful Santa Lucia Mountains in Carmel, Carmel Valley Ranch is hosting a large lineup of holiday activities and attractions on their 500-acre resort on the Monterey Peninsula. On December 23, families hunt for Santa while enjoying a lighthearted scavenger hunt around the property, clues lead from Elf to Elf and on to Old St. Nicholas himself! Other great activities throughout the season include a Nutcracker Holiday Tea, 12 Days of Holiday Cookies, and holiday family portraits. While you are in the city, learn Where to Enjoy Holiday Lights in San Francisco
Stunning Apple Hill Apple Hill, located just northeast of Placerville, is a beautiful destination to pick and chop a Christmas tree. Currently, seven full-sized Christmas tree farms open the day after Thanksgiving and remain open until Christmas Eve. Visiting Apple Hill is a memorable experience any time of year, especially over Christmas! Some of the more popular Christmas Tree Farms include: High Sierra Iris Gardens, Hillside Tree Farm, and McGee Christmas Tree Farm. Christmas at Apple Hill isn’t just about picking a Christmas tree; many farms offer great family oriented activities for the kids and have steaming cups of hot chocolate or homemade apple cider waiting for you. Be sure to check Trekaroo’s list for Apple Hill Christmas Tree Farms.
Holidays with an Ocean View
Monterey’s signature holiday event is Christmas in Adobes. On December 5 & 6 from 5:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m., stroll thought the streets of Historic Downtown Monterey and enjoy live performances as volunteers in period attire welcome you into 19th Century homes decorated in historical style. Refreshments, games, history, and merriment await the entire family. First Night Monterey celebrates the active arts scene in Monterey County with its family-friendly celebration on December 31. Over thirty venues hold simultaneous performances and activities for every member of the family, concluding on Custom House Plaza, Monterey State Historic Park to welcome in 2015. Welcome the New Year with the entire family (ages 5 and older) at the Monterey Bay Aquarium! The evening will feature a sparkling cider toast at 9:00 p.m. and a Pinkberry sundae bar to celebrate the countdown to the New Year on East Coast time. Fun family oriented activities and programs are planned for this unique night of celebration. Rise with the fishes on New Year’s Day and enjoy a continental breakfast, then join the aquarium’s naturalists in admiring marine and wildlife from the Great Tide Pool Deck. Direct from the North Pole, Santa and Mrs. Claus fly in by helicopter to Carmel Valley Village Airfield on December 13 at 10:30 am! There they’ll board their sleigh and lead a parade through Carmel Valley Village. The parade is filled with horses, a train, vintage cars, and more! Afterwards, kids can take a photo with Old Saint Nick at the Carmel Valley Youth Center. The Holiday Parade of Lights is an annual tradition in Pacific Grove and includes floats, marching bands, dance troupes, performing horses, and Santa Claus. Afterwards, carolers will walk through the streets of downtown as local shops stay open well into the evening for the holiday celebration. Held December 1 from 5:30 – 7:30 p.m.
The Half Moon Bay Brewing Company in Half Moon Bay offers a family friendly New Year’s Eve celebration from 5:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m. On December 31, the Brewing Company will celebrate an “Early Bird New Year’s Eve” with local favorite Catie Chase and the Getaways. When the ball drops on the East Coast (9:00 p.m. PST) the TVs in the bar will televise it, and everyone will celebrate like it’s 2015. Santa Claus arrives by boat at Tomales Bay with treats and holiday wishes. Santa will dock at the Boat Shack at Nick’s Cove Restaurant, Oyster Bar & Cottages for his annual visit on Sunday, December 7. Children can sit and chat with Santa in the Boat Shack, which is illuminated for the holiday season, and enjoy complimentary hot chocolate and sweets. Mendocino’s 5th Annual Festival of Lights at Mendocino Coast Botanical Gardens promises to impress visitors with thousands of glittering lights to create a fantastical coastal garden full of sparkling whimsy. The community light display opens Friday, November 28 and runs Thursday through Sunday each weekend through Sunday, December 14, from 5:00 p.m. to 7:30 p.m.
Kid Friendly Tahoe Without the Crowds November 22, 2014 If you’ve ever stood among a crowd snapping on ski or snowboard gear at any of Lake Tahoe’s resorts, or found yourself challenged to eke out a spot on one of its beautiful beaches and thought you might scream, “Serenity Now!” then you’re going to want to read this story.Believe it or not, there is a time of year when it’s possible to visit Tahoe without crowds. It’s called the “shoulder season;” the period of time exists after the kids go back to school until the ski resorts swing into full operating mode. The area is quieter during the shoulder season, the pace is slower, and the traffic thins out. Best yet, there’s still plenty of family fun to be found during Lake Tahoe’s shoulder season. Have an Adventure in the Tree Tops
Located at the Granlibakken Resort near Lake Tahoe’s North Shore, the Treetop Adventure Parkis filled with opportunities to challenge yourself, bond with your kids, face fears, and leave walking a little taller. With 65 tree platforms connected by a variety of bridges and zip lines, the park is split into two zones. The Flying Squirrel zone has three courses geared for beginners. With events such as a suspended tunnel as well as a collection of swinging stepping points, this is a great place to kick off a first aerial adventure. While this zone provides a great introduction to zip lining, it also has a lot of rope bridges and stairs. My kids found great hilarity in my constant affinity to get my feet tangled up in these ropes crisscrossing any way I tried to walk! Parts of the Flying Squirrel were 40 feet in the air and the zip lines total almost 1000’ in length. While we utilized all of the levels, much of the time each of us were on a different part of the course, yet we were
still together. I was always able to spot my kids and revel in their feats even if I wasn’t up in the trees with them. The Monkey Course is for the daredevil set. Geared towards older kids and adults, it consists of challenging zip lines, a canopy tour, and suspension bridges, including one that stretches between twin Cedars that are estimated to be over 500 years old! The park is open year round so enjoy it during every season if you wish! Enjoy a Walk Along the Lake
A stroll along Commons Beach yields attractions that every member of the family will love. An array of Fall colors are on prominent display; hues of yellow, orange, and red light up the landscape as a brisk breeze rushes through the leaves as a reminder of precisely what time of year it is. A nearby playground provides a nice spot for running off youthful energy. The grass in front of the playground is a great place to toss a football or a Frisbee and there are plenty of places to skip rocks across the water’s surface. This beach yields so much natural beauty to enjoy with only a fraction of the large crowd that would be present during other times of year. Take on a Family Project
Gather the family to take part in an art project at Everything Hunky Dory. Located in the Village at Squaw, this DIY craft studio has everything needed to construct scented candles, design fashionable buttons, and create duct tape projects. My family opted for the candle making. We started our project by selecting a shape for our candle among rectangles, squares, balls, half-moons, cat’s eyes, and other assorted molds. Next, we negotiated over which kicks would accent our candle including wax animals, shapes, letters, and hearts. Under the direction of a staff member, we continued to work together to properly arrange colorful chunks of wax to build up our project inside of its mold before choosing a scent for our creation. From Chardonnay and Spruce to Hawaiian Hibiscus and Monkey Farts (a real scent I assure you), we then left our creation in the capable hands of the staff to pour hot wax into the mold and to cool it afterwards before we picked it up. This project was so much fun, we returned to make individually styled candles. Where to Stay
Tucked into a grove of trees just steps from Squaw Valley’s Aerial Tram and a short walk from the magnificent shops, dining, and activities in Squaw Village is a wonderful little surprise. The Plumpjack Squaw Valley Inn, once home to the 1960 Winter Olympics delegation, boasts a modern and welcoming atmosphere that is all at once casual, cozy, and elegant. The interior with it copper accents and lamps is dazzling, and the rustic wood finishes give visitors that cabin feel many expect when in the mountains. The inn’s open floor plan makes it easy to navigate and provides the feeling of visiting a home. A scrumptious breakfast is served here daily and the dining area even includes a table specifically for guests who wish to dine with the family dog. Yes friends, this is a dog-friendly hotel! Places to Eat Rocker@Squaw has a great vibe and delicious food. There’s nothing like a plate of pork ribs or a juicy hamburger after a day of hiking and exploring the area. Kids also love MamaSake where my kids not only enjoyed the Miso soup, Tempura Shrimp, and rice, but they loved the fact that the restaurant owner was a silver-haired woman named Elsa, just like the now famous royal in the movie, Frozen.
Welcome Aboard: New Hires and Promotions for November 21, 2014 … Lake Tahoe Hires New CVB Manager Bill Hoffman, the executive director/CEO of the Incline Village Crystal Bay Visitors and Convention Bureau for the last 16 years, is retiring. Hoffman will be replaced by Andy Chapman, who currently serves as the chief marketing officer of the North Lake Tahoe Resort Association. Hoffman’s retirement ends a 35-year career in the hospitality industry. Hoffman started his career in Hawaii after he retired from military service as an officer in the U.S. Navy. Hoffman then served as the director of convention center sales for the San Diego Convention and Visitors Bureau, as the national sales manager for the Reno Sparks Convention and Visitors Authority and as the executive director of the National Association of Golf Tournament Directors, before taking the job in Incline Village in 1999. Hoffman led the effort to form the North Tahoe Marketing Cooperative, which unified marketing efforts for North Tahoe that had previously been divided between two states and multiple counties. … http://www.travelpulse.com/news/people/welcome-aboard-new-hires-and-promotions-for-november-21-2014.html
November 19, 2014 The Biggest Little City has had quite the Renaissance since we last posted a guide (2010!). As more businesses flock to the area to start their restaurants, retail stores and more, the area has become a bustling desert city and local artist and photographer Sarah Stevenson knows all about it. She spent most of her professional life as an interior designer, working in Chicago for large corporate clients. But now, Sarah calles Reno home, where she facilitates an annual women’s art retreat called create.explore.discover, while also creating and selling her own work through Redline Design. Today she gives us a glimpse into blossoming Reno with her updated guide. -Stephanie Read the full guide after the jump… When many people think of Nevada, they instantly think of Las Vegas, and when you say Reno chances are most people think that Reno is a suburb of Las Vegas. Reno actually sits eight hours to the north on the border of California and Nevada and is the gateway to Lake Tahoe. There is a large Basque and Italian influence in the area and it is not unusual to find families that have 4th and 5th generations here. Our climate is high desert and Reno sits at approximately 4,500+ feet in elevation. We are definitely an outdoor city and boast world class skiing, biking, hiking, kayaking, golf and mountain climbing. What most people don’t know about Reno is its current rebirth in the areas of food, art and design. Young entrepreneurs are flourishing and new shops and restaurants are opening regularly, providing the region with a bustling and lively downtown and outlying neighborhoods. … North Tahoe EAT Lone Eagle Grill: Situated right on the northern shore of Lake Tahoe in Incline Village, this is one of the best places to grab a drink, an appetizer, sit by the fire and watch the sunset. In Truckee, Stella is attached to Cedar House Sport Hotel and Chef Jacob Burton serves farm fresh and locally sourced ingredients from an open kitchen. During the summer months, many ingredients are selected from onsite gardens. In downtown Truckee you will find Trokay. Owners John and Nyna Weatherson relocated to Truckee from New York City in 2011 and opened their restaurant Restaurant Trokay. John is a graduate from the Culinary Institute of America in Hyde Park, NY and has received numerous accolades for his culinary genius. SHOP Shopping in Lake Tahoe is varied among the small towns, ski resorts and Truckee to the north. Front Porch has always been a favorite for mountain antiques and fabric and the items change often, so there is something new on each visit. Bespoke is the best boutique shop in the region. Heather River and her partner, Brian Hess, have created a beautifully curated shop with items by many local and regional artists, fashion designers and one-of-a-kind items from independent artists.
Riverside Studios is owned by five local artists and highlights work from many artists in the region. They have art openings often, so make sure to check their schedule to see who they are highlighting on your visit. Finally, High Camp Home is a high-end interior design studio specializing in contemporary mountain interiors. Many items can be customized for your needs and they also carry several local and regional artists’ work. PLAY Each year in October, create.explore.discover art retreat comes to the Cedar House Sport Hotel. Founded by Sarah Stevenson of Red Line Design, this women’s art retreat has a teaching lineup that has included: Mati McDonough, Marisa Anne of Creative Thursday, Lisa Congdon, Andrea Jenkins, Courtney Cerruti, Alessandra Cave and Anne Weil of Flax and Twine; 30 women come together to paint, knit and explore with their cameras. Of course, coming to Reno/Tahoe is also all about the skiing/hiking/biking.
… http://www.designsponge.com/2014/11/reno-nevada-guide.html
North Tahoe resort association seeks marketing committee members November 17, 2014 TAHOE CITY, Calif. — The North Lake Tahoe Resort Association is accepting applications for three open seats on the association’s marketing committee. Appointments will be made based on marketing experience, type of business the member is affiliated with and the portion of North Tahoe that the member represents, according to an NLTRA press release. New members will be appointed at the January board meeting and will serve a three-year term through 2017. Applicants should submit a letter of interest and resume to Anna Atwood of the North Lake Tahoe Chamber/CVB/Resort Association by Nov. 28, via email at Anna@GoTahoeNorth.com, or by mail at Attention: Marketing Committee Application, North Lake Tahoe Chamber/CVB/Resort Association, P.O. Box 5459, Tahoe City, CA 96145. The marketing committee is one of six NLTRA committees. Other committees are dedicated to infrastructure, transportation, finance, and advising the Chamber of Commerce. Committee membership includes NLTRA board members as well as community members. Visit nltra.org for more information about the North Lake Tahoe Chamber/CVB/Resort Association.
High snow line petrifies ski biz November 15, 2014
Early November snowfall at Mount Rose, with a base at 8,260 feet, can get snow when lower-elevation resorts get rain. Photo courtesy Mount Rose.
It isn’t the chance of another drought this winter that has folks petrified in the ski and snowboard business. It’s the snow line, the exact elevation where rain turns to snow. This past week, the snow line was high again, about 7,000 feet at Lake Tahoe. Resorts received about half foot of snow at their higher elevations, with a light dusting below that and rain at lake level. The snow line has everyone bamboozled. Resorts staged at higher elevations, Mount Rose on the Nevada side of Tahoe and Mammoth Mountain in the eastern Sierra, were able to open this weekend with limited terrain for skiing and boarding. At the others, everybody is a prisoner of hope. That is, they have set hopeful dates to open. Resorts set to open Heavenly and Northstar at Tahoe are set to open Friday. Kirkwood says it will open Saturday. Sugar Bowl, Squaw Valley and neighboring Alpine Meadows have set their opening dates for the 26th, the day before Thanksgiving. Boreal is on stand-by, where they will open at least one run, the moment it is cold enough to make enough snow or they get the real thing; that one run last week was a thin layer bordered by dirt. Most weather experts and resort owners are expecting a moist winter. It’s already rained 7 inches and up (depending where you look) in the north state, and with 10 inches by Thanksgiving, is a strong start to a typical, solid winter in the mountains. But like at Tahoe, snow levels have been high. To calculate snow levels, the rule of thumb (for temperature lapse rate) is that the temperature climbs 3.5 degrees for every 1,000foot gain in elevation, with snow at 34 degrees. During the brunt of the storm on Thursday, it was 46 degrees with rain at South Lake Tahoe. More of the same this winter, mild and moist, would be a nightmare for the 12 Tahoe-area resorts staged at 6,200- to 7,000foot elevations.
For the coming winter sports season, here’s a list for the resorts, their base elevations, locations and contact info. Many have live webcams so you can see the conditions for yourself: I-80 corridor Boreal, 7,200 feet: On standby to open on weekends. One run opened last weekend, then closed; located off I-80 near Donner Pass, (530) 426-3666,www.rideboreal.com. Sugar Bowl, 6,883 feet: Opens Nov. 26; located off historic U.S. 40 near Donner Pass, (530) 426-1111, www.sugarbowl.com. Donner Ski Ranch, 7,031 feet: No projected opening date; located off historic U.S. 40 near Donner Pass, (530) 4263635, www.donnerskiranch.com. Soda Springs, 6768 feet: Projected to open in December; located near Donner Summit, (530) 426-3901, www.skisodasprings.com. Tahoe-Donner, 6,750 feet: Projected to open in December; located in Truckee, (530) 587-9444, www.skitahoedonner.com. North Tahoe Squaw Valley, 6,200 feet: Opens Nov. 26; located off Highway 89, (800) 403-0206, www.squawalpine.com. Alpine Meadows, 6,835 feet: Opens Nov. 26; located off Highway 89, (800) 403-0206, www.squawalpine.com. Northstar at Tahoe, 6,330 feet: Opens Nov. 21; located off Highway 267, (530) 562-1330, www.northstarcalifornia.com. Granlibakken, 6,540 feet: No opening date set; located on west shore of Lake Tahoe near Tahoe City, (877) 5526301, www.granlibakken.com. Homewood, 6,230 feet: No opening date set; located on Highway 89 on west shore of Lake Tahoe, (530) 5252900, www.skihomewood.com. South Tahoe Heavenly, 6,540 feet: Opens Nov. 21; located at South Lake Tahoe, (775) 586-7000, www.skiheavenly.com. Sierra at Tahoe, 6,640 feet: No opening date set; located off U.S. 50 near Echo Summit, (530) 659-7453, www.sierraattahoe.com. Kirkwood, 7,800 feet: Opens Nov. 22; located off Highway 88 near Carson Pass, (800) 967-7500, www.kirkwood.com. Nevada at Tahoe Mount Rose, 8,260 feet: Open this weekend (likely to close Monday, then reopen on Friday); located southwest of Reno, (775) 8490704,www.mtrose.com. Diamond Peak, 6,700 feet: No opening date set; located at Incline Village, (775) 831-3211, www.diamondpeak.com. Central Sierra Bear Valley, 6,600 feet: Opens Nov. 29; located off Highway 4 east of Arnold, (209) 753-2301, www.bearvalley.com. Dodge Ridge, 6,600 feet: Projected to open mid-December; located off Highway 108 east of Sonora, (209) 5365300, www.dodgeridge.com. North state Mount Shasta, 5,445 feet: No opening date set; located off Highway 89 on Mount Shasta, (530) 926-8686, http://skipark.com. Eastern Sierra Mammoth Mountain, 7,953 feet: Open for this weekend; located off Highway 203 above town of Mammoth Lakes, (888) 7669778,www.mammothmountain.com. June Mountain, 7,545 feet: Opens Dec. 11; located off June Lake Loop near U.S. 395, (800) 586-3686, www.junemountain.com. Tom Stienstra is The San Francisco Chronicle’s outdoors writer. E-mail:tstienstra@sfchronicle.com. Daily twitter at: @StienstraTom
NLTRA seeks marketing committee members November 15, 2014 The North Lake Tahoe Resort Association is accepting applications for three open seats on the association’s marketing committee. Appointments will be made based on marketing experience, type of business the member is affiliated with and the portion of North Tahoe the member represents. New members will be appointed at the January board meeting and will serve a three-year term through 2017. Applicants should submit a letter of interest and their resume to Anna Atwood of the North Lake Tahoe Chamber/CVB/Resort Association by Nov.28, via email at Anna@GoTahoeNorth.com, or by mail at Attention: Marketing Committee Application, North Lake Tahoe Chamber/CVB/Resort Association, P.O. Box 5459, Tahoe City, CA 96145.
North Lake Tahoe bureau names new CEO November 12, 2014 The Incline Village Crystal Bay Visitors and Convention Bureau has a new leader. Bill Hoffman, who’s served as executive director/CEO the last 16 years, is retiring. Andy Chapman, who currently serves as the chief marketing officer of the North Lake Tahoe Resort Association, will replace him, officials announced last week. Hoffman’s retirement ends a 35-year career in the hospitality industry. He started his career in Hawaii after he retired from military service as an officer in the U.S. Navy. He then served as director of convention center sales for the San Diego Convention and Visitors Bureau, as national sales manager for the Reno Sparks Convention and Visitors Authority, and the executive director of the National Association of Golf Tournament Directors, before taking the job in Incline Village in 1999. Among his accomplishments, Hoffman led the effort to form the North Tahoe Marketing Cooperative, which unified marketing efforts for North Tahoe that had previously been divided between two states and multiple counties. “The establishment of the North Lake Tahoe Marketing Coperative, allowed us to consolidate marketing funds behind one brand — North Lake Tahoe — instead of maintaining dual brands that competed with each other,” Hoffman said in a statement. Hoffman points to the hiring of Chapman, an executive with a long tenure with the North Lake Tahoe Marketing Cooperative, as an example of the talent the organization has fostered and the maturity of the tourism professionals marketing North Lake Tahoe. “I think any time you can recruit and have available talent from within, it gives you a head start because they understand the mission, the vendors and they understand the staff,” Hoffman said. Chapman has been marketing Lake Tahoe for more than 20 years, most recently with NLTRA the past 12 years. In his CMO role, Chapman directed the efforts of six departments — advertising, conferences sales, special events, leisure sales, public relations, social communication and visitor information services. He has also served as chair of the California Travel and Tourism Commission’s Rural Tourism Advisory Council; sits on the Visit California Advertising and Rural committees; is a current member and past chair of the Regional Air Service Committee; is a member and past chair of the High Sierra Visitor Council; and is a member of the Sierra Ski Marketing Council.
“Andy’s extensive knowledge and experience in the tourism industry and in our market in particular are invaluable assets that he brings to our community,” said Lee Weber Koch, chair of the Incline Village Crystal Bay Visitors and Convention Bureau. “In addition, he has a keen understanding of the very complex cooperative marketing programs and committees that work together to keep our brand ‘top of mind’ within the markets that mean so much to us today, and for our future. We are honored to have him on our side.” The Incline visitors bureau is located at 969 Tahoe Blvd. (Highway 28) in Incline Village. Visit gotahoenorth.com to learn more.
New CEO at Tahoe tourism agency November 10, 2014 Bill Hoffman is saying goodbye after 16 years as executive director/CEO of the Incline Village Crystal Bay Visitors and Convention Bureau. His replacement is another veteran in Tahoe Basin tourism: Andy Chapman, chief marketing officer of the North Lake Tahoe Resort Association. Hoffman led the campaign to form the North Tahoe Marketing Cooperative, which unified marketing across the north end of the lake that was fragmented among two states and several counties. “(It) allowed us to consolidate marketing funds behind one brand – North Lake Tahoe – instead of maintaining dual brands that competed with each other,” Hoffman said in a statement accompanying the announcement of his retirement after 35 years in the hospitality industry. Hoffman said Chapman “understands the mission” of tourism in the Tahoe region where Chapman has been involved in marketing on several committees and councils for more than 20 years. In a statement, Lee Weber Koch, chair of the Incline Village Crystal Bay Visitors and Convention Bureau, said Chapman brings “invaluable assets” to the agency. “In addition, he has a keen understanding of the very complex cooperative marketing programs and committees that work together to keep our brand 'top of mind' within the markets that mean so much to us today, and for our future,” Koch said. “We are honored to have him on our side."
What’s new at Lake Tahoe ski resorts November 10, 2014 After last year’s sparse season for snow, Lake Tahoe-area skiers and boarders — and all the resorts and shops that serve them — are praying for better weather this year. “Forget El Niño — we’re just hoping for a normal snow season. That’s all I’m asking,” says Kevin Cooper, marketing director for Kirkwood Ski Resort. Early-season snowfalls and some cool temperatures are hopefully signs for a big season to come. When the snow does dump, here’s what to look for in terms of what’s new and what’s cool at many of the ski resorts in the Lake Tahoe area this season:
Squaw Valley and Alpine Meadows A new tree skiing area will be opening around the Red Dog lift at Squaw. At Alpine Meadows, they’re launching snowshoe dinners, an alpine feast at the mid-mountain lodge ($69) accessible only by foot. Alpine will also be launching its Stoked Oak barbecue restaurant for the holiday season. Both mountains will offer a chance to hire North Face Mountain Guides ($699 for four guests) for special terrain tours, gear gifts and priority lift access. Squaw will host World Cup ski-cross and snowboard-cross events March 4-8, at which time the High Camp pool and hot tub parties will probably be in full swing. And to keep your energy going, Squaw’s ski-through Starbucks will be open all season. Squaw and Alpine are partnering with Sierra and Sugar Bowl for a Tahoe Super Pass offering, with benefits at nine other North American resorts in the Mountain Collective program. Sugar Bowl Sugar Bowl is celebrating its 75th anniversary this season with a series of events culminating in a Feb. 14 party. Walt Disney himself was skiing here in 1938. Sugar Bowl has expanded snowmaking systems to guard against sparse coverage. Their new Sporthaus will have spa and fitness services for lodge guests. And Sugar Bowl’s management of the Royal Gorge cross country resort will feature the return of the fat tire snow-biking trails and a snow-kiting school.
Heavenly Along with Northstar and Kirkwood, Heavenly is part of the Vail conglomerate’s Epic Pass, now covering 12 resorts in the U.S. along with Niseko, Japan; Verbier, Switzerland; and Les 3 Vallées, France. Near the base of Heavenly in South Lake Tahoe, the Hard Rock Casino is scheduled to open this winter, and the Chateau shopping area is already up and running. Kirkwood The Expedition Kirkwood training and adventure program will expand its offerings of avalanche awareness classes as well as guided SnowCat tours. Northstar Northstar is launching a daily “tost” event with Champagne toasts on the mountain daily at 2 p.m. Continuing the resort’s gourmet focus, the mountain’s Zephyr Lodge will host twice-monthly Mountain Table meals with California-sourced cuisine and drink pairings. The on-mountain RitzCarlton has its own series of food events and launched its Backyard Bar & BBQ. If you really want to splurge, stay in one of the new 2,300-square-foot, four-bedroom residential suites. Expanded family-oriented ski activities will include a new terrain-based learning program, a progression snow park, and a “family après snow play” park for those not into the skiing, or who toasted a bit too long mid-afternoon. Diamond Peak Added a new snow-grooming fleet to help shape the slopes in all conditions. Expanded the transferable Flex Pass program, and added perks to the season pass offering partnering with Homewood, Boreal and June Mountain. The excellent “Last Tracks” on-mountain beer and wine tasting events will also continue. Sierra-at-Tahoe Sierra’s new $5 million Solstice Plaza will be in full operation, with expanded deck, retail shops and dining areas including a barbecue, new bar and the Solstice Eatery, featuring delectable-sounding “ancient grains bowls.” The plaza will host its second annual Equinox Spring Festival. On mountain, Sierra will have a Star Wars-themed kids’ snowboarding learning park and expanded teaching programs. The Powder Alliance ski pass includes coverage at 11 other resorts. Homewood
Homewood has introduced a Snowcat Adventure program with guided backcountry access from the resort. In-bounds, Homewood will offer free intermediate and advanced ski and snowboard lessons Sundays to Fridays (non-holiday). Yes, free. It is also introducing an “urban terrain park” for those tiring of natural scenery. For families that ski together (or at least on the same mountain) Homewood is offering excellent deals on family season passes. Across the street, the West Shore Cafe has a number of new holiday events and some posh lodging. Tahoe-Donner Tahoe-Donner will open a new cross-country ski area building in February and will have season-long cross-country special events, including orienteering, snowshoe touring, equipment demos and races. The downhill area will have a $5 ski day on Dec. 14, a ski-with-Santa day on Christmas, and a 200foot-long banana split on the mountain in spring. Boreal Boreal’s 50th anniversary season will feature a few fine parties. It has expanded beginner’s terrain and added a new 100-foot surface lift. There is also expanded snowmaking coverage across the mountain. For ecological (and maybe aromatic) benefit, Boreal has converted one chairlift to run on biofuel made from its restaurant fryers. Plus it has added a new pirate-themed terrain park. Yarrrrgh! Mount Rose Mount Rose will have expanded beginner terrain around the Flying Jenny and Wild Horse Adventure trails, and widened graded access to Galena and Around the World trails. It has increased its snowmaking coverage by 50 percent mountainwide and enlarged the dining area in the Main Lodge with an additional 250 seats. Mammoth Mountain This season you can fly from SFO to Mammoth in just over an hour on daily flights (except Wednesdays) on United Airlines, with four flights a day on weekends. The mountain is scheduled for a Nov. 13 opening day. Mammoth has purchased Southern California’s Snow Summit and Bear Mountain, which combined with Mammoth and nearby June Mountain make up their “Cali4nia” season ski pass combo for $689, a good deal for people headed south. In Mammoth Village, Mammoth Brewing Co. has opened a tasting room, which you can visit après-ski, then go hit the lanes at the new Rock N Bowl, and finish with a steam at the new day spa at the Sierra Nevada Resort.
Snippets about Lake Tahoe November 7, 2014
• People who purchase a new Lake Tahoe license plate in either California or Nevada could receive two free lift tickets to one of 13 Tahoe resorts participating in the program. More info is available online. • Tahoe Regional Young Professionals’ mixer is Nov. 12 at 6pm at Azul Latin Kitchen in Heavenly Village in South Lake Tahoe. Admission is free for TRYP members and $10 for nonmembers. • Tahoe Cross Country ski swap is Nov. 15 from 10am-4pm, 925 Country Club Drive, Tahoe City. • The last day to purchase a fuel wood permit from the U.S. Forest Service Lake Tahoe Basin Management Unit is Nov. 14 and the last day to cut wood is Nov. 16. Permits cost $20 per cord, with a two-cord minimum purchase and a limit of 10 cords per household. • Bill Hoffman, executive director/CEO of the Incline Village Crystal Bay Visitors and Convention Bureau for the last 16 years, is retiring. Andy Chapman, chief marketing officer for North Lake Tahoe Resort Association, will replace Hoffman.
Mergers, mountains and kid stuff at Western ski resorts By WALT ROESSING Special Contributor Published: 07 November 2014 04:25 PM
Resorts across Utah, Colorado and California have been hard at work all summer adding new lifts and terrain, on-mountain enhancements and new luxury hotels. There has also been a flurry of big resort sales and mergers: Vail Resorts Inc. acquired Utah’s Park City Mountain Resort. Utah-based Powdr Enterprises partnered with Boyne Resorts. Colorado’s Purgatory at Durango Mountain Resort and Arizona Snowbowl were sold to James Coleman, managing partner at Sipapu Ski and Summer Resort and Pajarito Mountain Ski Area of New Mexico. Deer Valley will buy Solitude Mountain Resort and take over operations on May 1. In California, Mammoth Mountain acquired Bear Mountain and Snow Summit, two smaller resorts. California
The Heavenly Ski Area’s resort is the dominant winter sports attraction at South Lake Tahoe and it continues its array of improvements. Adjacent to the 10,000-foot Adventure Peak summit of its gondola are two new zip lines, led by the 3,300-foot-long Blue Streak. A new Hard Rock Hotel and Casino will open this season at the base of the gondola. Another development, the Chateau, will have more than 30,000 square feet of stores, restaurants and bars. Both developments are within walking distance of Lake Tahoe, which is 200 miles northeast of San Francisco and 58 miles southwest of Reno, Nev., on the California-Nevada state line.
Due east is Nevada’s Mount Rose-Lake Tahoe Ski Area, which partners with numerous Reno casino properties to offer bargain stay-and-ski packages starting as low as $79 per person for lift ticket and lodging. West of the lake is Homewood Resort, which offers free lessons to intermediate and advanced skiers and snowboarders. Also to the west is historic Sugar Bowl, which opened for skiing Dec. 15, 1939, with Walt Disney as an original investor. It will mark its 75th anniversary with a long calendar of special events. The resort continues to expand the offerings at adjacent Royal Gorge Cross Country Center, the largest in North America. Mammoth Mountain Ski Area, with 1.3 million annual skier visits, is the country’s third most frequented winter-sport resort. Mammoth also operates an Olympic training ground for U.S. free skiing and snowboarding, and the nearby June Mountain Ski Resort. Last season the resort had a $700,000 renovation.
http://www.dallasnews.com/lifestyles/travel/us/20141107-mergers-mountains-and-kid-stuff-atwestern-ski-resorts.ece
Restore Your Soul in Lake Tahoe By Ann Nelson 11.5.2014 As a reluctant city person, when I want to get away, nothing beats the destinations that combine a natural quiet elegance with untamed spaces and simple pleasures. Lake Tahoe, with its sparkling and seductive personality, has the ability to permeate your soul. Mark Twain was so enamored with its beauty in the late 1880’s that he referred to the lake as “the fairest picture the whole earth affords.” The stunning scenery is matched with world-class options for outdoor recreation, premier restaurants and fabulous places to stay. After flying into Reno, I departed for Lake Tahoe on the Tahoe Express shuttle service to meet my good friend DJ. We both love outdoor adventure and within a few hours after arriving we were up in the air parasailing over the lake. Our view from high in the sky as we sailed over the crystal clear water was simply spectacular! Lake Tahoe is North America’s largest alpine lake, with 72 miles of shoreline. It is the highest lake of its size, with an elevation of 6,226 feet. With a depth of 1,645 feet, it is the third deepest lake in North America and the 10th deepest in the world. The panorama of mountains surrounding the lake create postcard beauty in the summer and turn into some of the world’s finest downhill skiing in the winter. After our parasailing adventure, we headed to Cedar Glen Lodge to our two-bedroom cabin with a wood-burning stove, just across the street from the lake. The cozy lodge felt like a secluded retreat, sheltered among seasoned pine and cedar trees. Cedar Glen is ideally situated, close to skiing, hiking trails and dozens of regional attractions. Prior to heading over to dinner at The Rustic Lounge, just across the courtyard, neither DJ nor I were aware that this small, casual restaurant offers fine dining with two Le Cordon Bleu-trained chefs. The French-inspired cuisine featuring local ingredients left us speechless! We sampled the Starter Scallops with brown butter, sage, heirloom garlic puree and pecan wood smoked bacon. Sumptuous and deliciously garnished main courses followed. We completed a night of sheer indulgence with a Cherry Bomb, consisting of cherry mousse, toasted pistachio cake, cherry and cocoa nib sorbet, stewed huckleberries and chocolate for dessert. After a good night’s sleep and scrumptious continental breakfast in the lobby bar, we headed off to Treetop Adventure Park to embark on a morning filled with sheer thrills and heart-stopping challenges. The competent and attentive staff gave us the reassurance and individual attention
we needed before heading out to conquer the zip lines and rope ladders hanging high between the trees. Afterwards, we took our time to explore the 50-foot tree platforms connected by the bridges and zip lines and patted ourselves on the back for our bravery. Visiting the Thunderbird Lodge Historic Estate, with its stunning architecture and panoramic views, came as a complete surprise. Prior to this visit, I’d never even heard of this place and didn’t recognize the name of the former owner, George Whittell Jr. Heir to one of San Francisco’s wealthiest families, Whittell inherited $30 million dollars and soon afterwards, made $20 million more in the stock market before the1929 Crash. Whittell proceeded to purchase 40,000 acres of the Nevada Shore of Lake Tahoe, initially planning to develop it and then decided he “liked not having neighbors.” When he died in 1969, much of the land went to the state or the U.S. Forest Service. Today, this huge piece of property remains undeveloped for all of us to enjoy. What a legacy! The next day, we drove six miles along the Truckee River and headed up to Squaw Valley in North Tahoe. The site, home to the 1960 Winter Olympic games, buzzes in the summer with hiking and bike riding and thrills skiers during the winter. We stayed at the Village in Squaw Valley and walked everywhere. We rented bikes at Parallel Mountain Sports and rode the tram up to High Camp, with an elevation of 8,200 feet. We walked around the corner to Trilogy Spa and treated ourselves to an afternoon of pampering. I chose the Lehua Honey Escape, a luxurious signature treatment consisting of applications of honey and coconut oil, followed by a cascading vichy rain bar rinse. In the evening, we decided to make the short drive to River Ranch Restaurant, on the banks of the Truckee River for dinner. While sipping wine and perusing the menu, we looked out the window and watched the water roll across the top of the river rocks. Halibut Ceviche and Cervena Elk with Spice Rub and Sweet Corn Grits are house specialties. Perfection! Leaving this outdoor wonderland turned out to be an arduous task. It is easy to see why Lake Tahoe, with its spectacular views of ice-blue water and majestic mountains, is one of the most photographed places in the world! Prior to flying home, I wanted to spend the night in Reno at the eco-conscious Peppermill Resort Spa Casino. This AAA Four-Diamond resort, known for their ground-breaking green initiatives, is said to be the only U.S. hotel heated 100% by on-site geothermal energy. What does this mean? The Peppermill saves millions of dollars a year in natural gas bills and their carbon footprint has been drastically reduced by 12,000 metric tons of CO2 emissions per year. Along with other conservation programs, including LED parking lot lights and 40,000 square-feet of artificial grass turf that saves approximately 5.2 million gallons of water per season, a soap recycling program is in place and diverts more than 1,000 pounds of soap and shampoo a month from local landfills to a nonprofit agency that benefits Third World children.
Hopes high in the Sierra after a respectable weekend snowfall November 5, 2014 It’s been snowing in the Sierra. From Mammoth Mountain to Lake Tahoe, mountaintops have turned from granite to white. Ordinarily, Sierra snowfall in November would not be news. But Tahoe saw almost no snow last winter, only a little more the winter before and not much the winter before that. Last season, some ski areas limped by; others didn’t open. Chefs, groomers, ticket takers and ski patrollers were laid off. Cash registers never rang. So with this November snow, mountain managers, ski-shop owners, waitresses, snowboard instructors, skiers and snowboarders are breathing a collective — but cautious — sigh of relief. That relief could be short-lived, though; forecasters still are reluctant to say this winter will be any better than the past three. “We’d love to have a banner winter,” said Kay Williams, resort manager at Granlibakken Conference Center & Lodge in Tahoe City, “but the local paper (the Sierra Sun) says this will be more like the past two years. And Lake Tahoe’s water level is below the natural rim; it doesn't come over the dam anymore.” Last year, snow fell on Oct. 29 and pretty much never fell again. By late January, the Sierra snowpack was 90 percent below normal. The snow that fell last week was less than epic, but it was the only topic of conversation around Lake Tahoe. The first flakes fell around 10:30 Friday night. By 5 a.m., Kirkwood had nearly 10 inches on its trails. Northstar and Heavenly, which are better at making snow but not as good at attracting it, each had 3 inches. More than 100 miles south, Mammoth Mountain had 12-16 inches. Getting prepared The mountains and peaks at Tahoe look like mid-January,” said Casey Blann, general manager at Kirkwood. “Everyone in town is in full prep-for-winter mode.”
Eddy Ancinas, who lives on the Truckee River at the entrance to Squaw Valley, was less excited. “It was very nice when I looked up from my driveway and saw snow on Squaw Peak, but November snowfalls are typical,” she said. “Everybody gets excited, and then the sun comes out. “The river looks awful. I call it the Truckee Trickle. No rafts, just trickle and a lot of rocks. You could walk across it in most places.” Curtis Fong, a.k.a. “The Guy from Tahoe,” is a radio and TV host and a columnist for the Tahoe Daily Tribune. From his home in Gardnerville, Nev., he can see snow on Heavenly’s Mott Canyon. Fong, a dedicated skier, has lived at and around Tahoe since 1972. A heartening sight “I’ve seen it snow every month of the year in Tahoe,” he said. “For this time of year, a good dusting of snow is normal. It gets folks jazzed up about snow. It’s a kickoff for winter. And it brings people into the shops; they get their skis tuned and try on new boots. It’s perfect timing right now.” That view is shared by Bob Roberts, president and CEO of the California Ski Industry Association, a trade group representing almost all the ski resorts in California and Nevada. But businesses in the Sierra aren’t ready to declare a renaissance on the slopes. “As for the implications of this snowfall for the winter, it’s very hard to predict,” Roberts said. “Meteorologists are being circumspect about El Niño, which usually brings deep snow.” Bryan Allegretto, a snow forecaster in Truckee, predicted that the Tahoe area has a 50-50 shot at a normal year. “The long-range forecast models are showing the second half of November and early December being stormier and colder,” he said. “With a weak El Niño expected this winter, it looks like there could be above average precip to the south of the Tahoe basin and below normal to the north. Tahoe will be right in the middle, so the season could go either way.” The excitement for the early precipitation trickled down to San Francisco, where ski and snowboarding businesses have been left high and dry. Optimism reigns
“Snow is really critical at this time of year to remind people that there will be a winter,” said Ben Cranson, director of rentals and service at Sports Basement. “If there's snow on Thanksgiving, we’ll be skiing at Christmas.” That’s all fine. But Wayne Wong, world freestyle skiing champion and U.S. Ski and Snowboard Hall of Famer, has something even the meteorologists don’t — a built-in snow divining rod. “I'm kind of the Tahoe groundhog guy,” Wong said. “If my hair grows fast in the fall, then we’re gonna have a big snow season. Grows slow, no snow. And I've been right 90 percent of the time over the past 40 years.” So what is Wong’s hair telling him now? “We’re gonna have a regular Tahoe ski season. No drought, but not super snow either. Temps are dropping, and we've had snow. I think my hair is right.”
North Lake Tahoe Offers New Winter Experiences 2014-2015 November 4, 2014
This Article:
15 Way To Play At Tahoe This Winter Also Featured In: November 4, 2014
November 6, 2014
15 ways to play at Tahoe this winter November 4, 2014 There's no doubt about Tahoe's fame as a winter playground. Luxurious resorts offer ski-in, ski-out access. Chair lifts and gondolas soar above the fresh powder, and colorfully clad skiers and snowboarders schuss and shred their way down the slopes.
But Tahoe and the northern Sierra offer more than just ski fun during the winter months. You'll find a full complement of ski slope news and resort maps on this site. But here's just a sampling of all the new and delicious ways to eat, drink and play this season -- 15 snowy amusements, including two that bring Tahoe to you. 1. S'MORIN' AT THE RITZ
Tykes skiing at Alpine Meadows, Lake Tahoe ( POBY )
They call it Marshmology, which is a fancy way of saying "Let's get a sugar rush while warming up by the fire." The Ritz-Carlton at Tahoe, located at Northstar, rolls out a wagon of goodness for a half-hour at 4:30 every day (4 p.m. from April 15 to Nov. 20) and invites guests to get their s'more on. They provide the skewers and two types of marshmallows (try the apricot), graham crackers and two types of chocolate. A "Marshmologist" will talk about the history of the s'more and how to roast the perfect marshmallow. 2. SNOWCAT TOURS Advertisement
You can tour Tahoe's snowy terrain by horse-drawn sleigh, dog sled or snowshoes, but if you're an adventuresome skier, head for Homewood, where snowcat tours are set to debut in January. Grab your skis or snowboard and board a 12-passenger Bombardier snowcat for a guided ride to the backcountry terrain atop 8,740-foot Ellis Peak -- far above the resort's normal ski boundary.
Then frolic your way back down through a snowy playground of steeps, bowls and glades to the base of the Old Homewood Express lift. This region is part of the Tahoe National Forest, so the resort is awaiting a final go-ahead from the U.S. Forest Service, but they anticipate launching the tours in mid-January with all-day Homewood Snowcat Adventure packages starting at $399 per person, including lift access. Find details at SkiHomewood.com/Snowcat. 3. OLYMPIC MUSEUM Remember that big U.S. hockey victory over the heavily favored Soviets during the Olympics of 1960? That's right. Twenty years before the better known game between the superpowers that prompted books and movies, the same scenario played out in Squaw Valley. The newly renovated Olympic Museum, located at High Camp, details that glorious victory and features lots of memorabilia, displays and film about the 1960 Olympics. Go to squawalpine.com or call 800-403-0206 ahead of time for hours and days of operation.
Family skiing at Northstar, Lake Tahoe ( Northstar California )
4. AERIAL TRAM A good way to get to that Olympic Museum is via the very scenic Aerial Tram, which travels 2,000 vertical feet (not all at once) to High Camp, which comes by that name honestly -- the elevation is 8,200 feet. It's one of Squaw Valley's most popular attractions, and you don't have to wait for snow to experience it, as it operates nearly year-round (though it's closed now until Nov. 26). Waiting for riders at the top: incredible views of Lake Tahoe, as well as dining possibilities, a pool, roller skating rink and awesome hiking trails. The trip ranges from $10 (children and "super" seniors who are 76 and older) to $39 (adults). Find more information at squawalpine.com. 5. MOUNTAIN BARBECUE Pulled pork may be the hottest food trend to hit Tahoe. Who knew? Alpine Meadows just opened a new BBQ spot, Stoked Oak, that pairs Northern California and Pacific Northwest craft beers with tri-tip, locally made sausages, baked beans, house-made pickles and barbecue sauces. The Ritz-Carlton's ski-in, ski-out Backyard Bar & BBQ opened last winter, with burgers, pulled pork, tritip and brisket, and a range of sides that includes cheddar cornbread and pit-smoked pork beans. While the barbecue is worthy of your time, the beans are almost worth the drive all by themselves. Whatever you
do, don't skip the beans. They already offer their homemade (hotelmade?) kettle chips, and word around the campfire is that a barbecue version will be on the menu by December. 6. SNOWSHOE DINING Don't worry -- there are no bindings on the menu. Think Sierra Nevada Porter potato-cheese soup, prime rib and apple strudel instead. Alpine Meadows' new Showshoe Dinners include a moonlit snowshoe trek to The Chalet, the resort's Swiss-style mountain lodge, for an intimate, Alps-meets-California repast for up to 50 guests. The yodeling is up to you. The Snowshoe dinners ($69 per person) will be offered on peak weekends and holidays through the winter season. Find details atsquawalpine.com/events-thingsdo/moonlit-snowshoe-tour-dinner. 7. SNOW KITING You can ski, snowboard or cross-country ski, but if you're looking for the next big thing, try snow kiting. In much the same way that kite-boarding works, you're harnessed to a large kite, which catches the wind and sends you racing across the snow or ice -- and even uphill. Take a 90 minute lesson at Royal Gorge, where Northern American snowkite tour champion Tyler Brown and his staff offer starter classes in mountain wind theory, power management, steering techniques and everything else you need to get out there and fly. Brown also offers backcountry adventures for more experienced snowkiters. Find details atwww.sierrasnowkite.com. 8. APRÈS SNOW PLAY It's not just the grown-ups who want to play after a day on the slopes. Northstar's Village Overlook is adding a family-friendly Après Snow Play area with interactive snow sculptures and kid-centric activities led by Northstar instructors. Parents can play, too, or warm their toes by the firepit and dream of the S'moresapalooza to come. No, seriously -- in addition to the daily s'mores fest at the Northstar fire pits, there's a S'moresapalooza on Feb. 21. 9. TÕST Meanwhile, Northstar's grown-up guests are invited to join in a festive toast -- or rather a Nordic tõst -- to family, friends and bracing mountain air every day at 2 p.m. We're imagining the ski patrol slaloming with bottles of bubbly, but we have a feeling that sparkling wine will probably be poured on the terrace, not halfway down a black diamond run. Details: www.northstarcalifornia.com. 10. EXTREME SHREDDING Ski resorts have been building terrain parks the last few years to appeal to both extreme snowboarders and beginning extremists. Think skateboard park, but with snow. And loops, jumps, jibs, rails, barrels and, in the case of Boreal Ridge's NeffLand, a pirate ship. Arrr. Squaw Valley has two terrain parks, including a Snoventures park with micro-hill, micro pipes and mini-terrain park features. Find details at www.rideboreal.com and squawalpine.com. 11. ANTARCTIC ICE AND STARS
Love the ice, but not the slopes? Head for Reno's Nevada Museum of Art, a scant hour's drive from Truckee, where Lita Albuquerque's stunning "Stellar Axis" exhibit runs through Jan. 4. Art meets science and landscape in this contemporary environmental artist's work. You may have seen her work at the Smithsonian, the Whitney Museum or the J. Paul Getty Museum. Or you may have heard about her dramatic ephemeral art installations at sites around the world, including the Washington Monument, Egypt's Great Pyramids and, in 2006, Antarctica. With support from a National Science Foundation grant, Albuquerque's team placed 99 blue spheres of varying sizes on the Ross ice sheet at the summer solstice, creating a constellation of the stars that would have been visible in the sky above, were it not for the continent's endless daylight. The exhibit at the Reno museum includes photographs, artifacts and a re-creation of the installation that fills an entire room. Tickets are $1-$10. Open Wednesdays through Sundays at 160 W. Liberty St., Reno. Find details on this and other exhibits at www.nevadaart.org. 12. ESTEE EATERIES Most people go to Tahoe to ski, not dine in dazzling fashion. But the Sierra dining scene has changed dramatically in the last few years. British chef Maria Elia landed at South Shore earlier this year. Florida's Stanley Miller moved to the Ritz last year. And James Beard nominee and former Bay Area chef Mark Estee has built a small restaurant empire that stretches from Truckee to Reno. What began a decade ago with Moody's Bistro and Lounge, a Truckee landmark, has led to half a dozen other Estee iterations, including Burger Me! in Truckee and Reno; Chez Louie at the Nevada Museum of Art; and Campo, an Italian bistro in Mammoth Lakes and Reno. Esquire dubbed Reno's Campo one of the nation's best new restaurants when it opened in 2012. Estee launched the Heritage Restaurant at Reno's new Whitney Peak Hotel earlier this year and in a matter of weeks, he'll open Reno Provisions, a market hall with a cafeteria, butcher shop, bakery, demonstration kitchen and a shop that stocks sauces, handmade pasta and pizza dough from Campo, as well as other artisanal food products and cookbooks. Stop by Burger Me! at 10418 Donner Pass Road in Truckee or 6280 Sharlands Ave. in Reno; www.realfreshburger.com. Find Campo at 50 N. Sierra St., Reno;camporeno.com. Peek inside the Whitney Peak Hotel to find Heritage, 255 N. Virginia St., Reno; renoheritage.com. Find Chez Louie at 160 W. Liberty St., Reno;www.chez-louie.com. The new Reno Provisions is slated to open this month at 100 N. Sierra St. in Reno. 13. WORK, THEN RELAX THOSE MUSCLES The Ritz-Carlton at Tahoe has a 17,000-square foot gym and spa that may rival the one travelers joined at home. There's a full complement of weight machines, free weights, and cardio equipment. The fitness center also offers a packed slate of classes, including yoga, boot camps, dance, core focus and winter conditioning. The spa features 16 treatments rooms, a lounge area, an adult-only lap pool, saunas, steam rooms and a whirlpool. 14. TAHOE BLUE ON ICE Cruise the cocktail menus at Tahoe resorts, and you may notice a certain color coming up again and again. That would be Matt Levitt's Tahoe Blue. Don't worry -- the name is a nod to the lake. The triple threat
vodka -- a blend of grape, corn and sugar cane-based vodkas -- made by this family-owned, three-year-old South Shore company is perfectly clear. "The idea was to capture the essence of Lake Tahoe, to create a vodka that embodies the clarity and smooth waters of Lake Tahoe," Levitt says, and a portion of the proceeds go to nonprofit organizations working to help preserve the pristine lake. Of course, the proof is in the flavor and the, well, high proof. But the result is an incredibly smooth spirit - and we're not the only people who think so. Tahoe Blue has won nearly a dozen major awards in the last year alone, including first place at New York's prestigious Ultimate Spirits Challenge, beating Belvedere and Chopin for honors in the unflavored vodka category. Sip it at the bar at Northstar and other Tahoe resorts, or pick up a bottle at Bay Area stores, including Andronico's, Bianchini's and BevMo. 15. BAY AREA SNOW FROLIC Tahoe's Noel Nights and the new Northern Lights festival -- both at Northstar -- are terribly tempting, but you don't have to go all the way to Tahoe to get a sampling of snow. Northstar is collaborating with Sausalito's Bay Area Discovery Museum on a Snow Days fest, Dec. 12 to 14, that includes exhibits on the science behind the frosty white stuff and how ski resorts make their own -- plus a chance to play in that freshly made snow. Tickets are $10, and it's best to book ahead, because this icy event will be a hot ticket: BayKidsMuseum.org/snowdays.
Tahoe's winter playground November 3, 2014 Snow flurries in the last few weeks have ratcheted up the excitement level among ski enthusiasts in Tahoe and the Bay Area. Here's what's new for the 2014-15 winter season. Opening day estimates are, of course, subject to Mother Nature's whimsy. Mt. Rose opened this weekend; others are waiting until the fluffy white stuff starts falling in earnest before setting a date. Either way, check with the ski resort before hitting the road. 1 Alpine Meadows Alpine and Squaw are nearing the end of a five-year, $70 million renovation project. New this year: The North Face Mountain Guides will be leading personal ski tours for intermediate and advanced skiers and snowboarders, ages 14 and up, with priority lift line access, North Face jackets and access to coveted terrain. Season opens Dec. 12; squawalpine.com. 2Badger Pass This year's season passes offer new benefits, including free lodging at Curry Village and 10 percent off other Yosemite lodging, ice skating, trail rides, and food and beverage purchases. And if you had a 201314 pass, you can apply half that purchase price to this season's pass by calling 209-372-1114. Season opens Dec. 12, if Mother Nature cooperates;www.yosemitepark.com/BadgerPass.aspx. 3Bear Valley The big news out of Bear Valley this fall is its sale, subject to U.S. Forest Service approval, to Toronto's Skyline International Development, which owns ski resorts in Canada. Skyline has the option to build a new lodge and a 40,000-square-foot village center. This winter, though, will be business as usual with season passes that include discounts at Bear Valley restaurants and free tastings at nearby wineries. O4 Boreal New multiweek lessons for kids, including a skills building program for "micro shredders," ages 6 to 12, with four Saturday sessions. A new pirate-themed terrain park, dubbed Neff Land, made its debut last January. Opening day tba;www.rideboreal.com. 5 Diamond Peak New slope grooming technology, two electric vehicle charging stations and some new perks for passholders -- including 16 bonus lift tickets for other resorts. Kids under 7 ski free. Opens Dec. 11; www.diamondpeak.com. 6 Dodge Ridge
Late last winter, Dodge Ridge and UC Berkeley's Pinecrest Chalet teamed up to offer Winter Lair (of the Golden Bear) weekend getaways that will continue into 2015. Also check out Dodge Ridge's ski school programs for kids as young as 2, and their adaptive snowsports program (reservations required), which helps disabled children and adults hit the slopes, too. Opening day tba; www.dodgeridge.com. 7 Donner Ski Ranch Stay at Rustic Cottages and you can ski or snow tube for free at this family-owned ski resort. Opening day, tba; www.donnerskiranch.com. 8 Granlibakken This low-key skiing spot includes a hill for beginning and intermediate skiers and snowboarders and a groomed sledding area. Opening day, tba;www.granlibakken.com. 9Heavenly Heavenly, Northstar and Kirkwood are introducing two new mobile apps offering Epic Pass, advance purchase tickets with discounts of up to 25 percent, and Epic Mix Guide, which creates custom ski itineraries. Try it out on Heavenly's slopes, where new snow-making equipment will be making extra fluffy stuff, and a DJ Cat -- a grooming machine retrofitted with 52 speakers, lights, a DJ podium and a 52-inch LCD screen -- brings music to the mountain. Opens Nov. 21;www.skiheavenly.com. 10 Homewood The brand new Homewood Snowcat Adventures will take small groups of advanced skiers and snowboarders to previously out-of-bounds terrain atop Ellis Peak. On Nov. 24, the resort's year-old West Shore Cafe will reopen for the season -- and will offer Thanksgiving dinners to-go, too, which must be preordered by Nov. 19. Homewood ski resort will open Dec. 12; www.skihomewood.com. 11 June Mountain Kids, 12 and under, ski free. And even nonskiers will enjoy Woolly's Tube Park, the snowmobile treks and snowcat tours. Slopes open Dec. 13;www.junemountain.com. 12 Kirkwood Ski education gets even more adventuresome with Expedition:Kirkwood, which Men's Journal rates as the top black-diamond ski school. There are seven new courses this year, including an intro to the backcountry and classes on navigating chutes, exploring cornices and other extreme terrain. The resort opens Nov. 22;www.kirkwood.com. 13Mammoth Mountain Mammoth's recent purchase of Southern California's Big Bear Mountain Resorts means that its new Cali4nia Pass will give you access to four California mountains: Mammoth, June, Snow Summit and Bear Mountain. (And if you already bought a 2014-15 Mammoth MVP pass, consider yourself upgraded.) 14 Mt. Rose
Snow is already falling at Mt. Rose, a favorite spot for beginners because of packages like the new Dip Your Toe in the Snow Pass, which includes lift access to three beginner slopes, unlimited use of rental equipment, one private lesson and unlimited group lessons through Dec. 19 for $99. Slopes opened Nov. 7;www.mtrose.com. 15 Mt. Shasta Enjoy the views of snowy (we hope) Mt. Shasta from the lodge's newly remodeled upper deck, which offers more seating and a fire pit to warm frosty toes. If you bought a season pass here last year, you can roll it over to 2014-15. Opening day tba; www.skipark.com. 16Northstar Northstar's new Smart Terrain ski lessons use berms, gentle rollers, angled features and other terrainbased challenges to move skiers from beginner to intermediate and advanced levels. Check out the new progression features at the terrain park. Then relax at the Village Overlook, where a new Family Après Snow Play lets kids play, while mom and dad relax. Opening day: Nov. 21;www.northstarcalifornia.com. 17 Royal Gorge Last winter, this cross-country resort, the largest in the U.S., began experimenting with alternative snow sports, including fat-tire snow biking and snowkiting, which allow skiers and snowboarders to literally harness the wind. World champion snowkiter Tyler Brown heads up the latter program, which includes lessons, equipment rentals and more. Opening day, tba; www.royalgorge.com. 18 Sierra at Tahoe Fuel up after a day on the slopes at the resort's new Solstice Eatery, indoor-outdoor Corkscrew Bar or Golden Bear Terrace. And kids, ages 7 to 12, can learn to snowboard off-world at the new Burton Star Wars Echo Base, which combines terrain-based instruction, Jedi knights and that creature from the Planet Hoth. Opening day tba; www.sierraattahoe.com. 19Squaw Valley Expect more ski-able terrain at Squaw this year, thanks to an ecological tree-thinning project that removed 5,000 dead or diseased trees from the lower mountain, and opened up almost 100 acres in the Red Dog region, including three new glade areas and a connector trail. Got tykes? The Teaching Tykes program, which helps parents teach their tots to ski or snowboard, now includes kids ages 3 to 6. Opens Nov. 26; squawalpine.com. 20Sugar Bowl Sugar Bowl is celebrating its 75th season after finishing $20 million in improvements that included the opening last winter of a new chairlift to Crow's Peak and the Sporthaus fitness center. Opening day tba; www.sugarbowl.com. 21 Tahoe Donner
Last year brought the construction of a new warming hut -- or rather, a 700-square-foot yurt with a sun deck. This winter will bring the unveiling of a new cross-country ski facility, which will house ticket sales, equipment rentals, food service and special programs. Opening day tba; www.tahoedonner.com. pening day Nov. 29;www.bearvalley.com
Where to snowshoe and sled around Lake Tahoe November 1, 2014 Lake Tahoe has so much beautiful terrain to explore in Tahoe and snowshoeing and sledding can be great ways to do it. WHERE TO SNOWSHOE Both North Shore and South Shore offer great options for beginning to advanced snowshoers. Before it became a recreational sport, snowshoeing was used as a method of transportation during the cold winter months. The flat shoes, which look like rackets, made it easier to navigate snow and ice. Since the 1970s, snowshoes have become even easier to use and there are shoes for all types of terrain. In North Lake Tahoe, most of the ski resorts offer snowshoe rental. At Squaw Valley and Alpine Meadows, visitors can strike out on their own during the day, exploring the terrain near the lodge, but the guided night-time snowshoe tour or the snowshoe dinner offer the most unique experience. The night-time snowshoe tour offers a moonlit romp through Squaw Valley Meadow. For an special experience, do the snowshoe dinner, which takes guests on a tour to the mid-mountain chalet at Alpine Meadows for an intimate dinner. The dinner tour is $69 per person; only available select dates during the season. Snow shoe rentals are $25 for regular snowshoeing. Squaw Valley is located at 400 Squaw Creek, Olympic Valley, CA. Call 530-583-6300 for more information. Northstar-at-Tahoe, located in Truckee, is home to more than 20 trails for snowshoers of all levels. The trails are meticulously groomed making for safe fun for people of all ages. There are warming huts along the trails, offering hot drinks and rest areas. The Snowshoe Center offers equipment rentals, fire pits, and a large teaching area. Trail rates for snowshoeing range from $15-$27. Northstar-at-Tahoe is located at 5001 Northstar Drive, Truckee, CA. Call 530-562-3270 for more information. Sierra-at-Tahoe offers snowshoe rentals, including access to three miles of maintained trails at Blizzard Mountain. The self-guided trail takes snowshoers through beautiful scenic mountain hideaways. There is plenty to explore and lots of fun to be had. Plus, snowshoeing is a great aerobic workout! Snowshoe rentals are $25 for a full day, including poles and shoes. Sierra-at-Tahoe is located at 1111 Sierra at Tahoe Road, Twin Bridges, CA. For more information, call 530-659-7453. At Camp Richardson, bike trails are transformed into a winter wonderland for snowshoeing. The trails offer wellgroomed, safe terrain for kids and adults. Snowshoe rental rates range from $9-$12 for kids and $15-$19 for adults. Full and half day packages are available. Camp Richardson is located at 1900 Jameson Beach Road, South Lake Tahoe, CA. Call 530-541-1801 for more information. WHERE TO SLED If you brought the kids to the lake with you, sledding is the way to go. There are several places for sledding on both North Shore and South Shore. Kingvale Tubing and Sledding Center is located 18 miles west of Truckee at the I-80 Kingvale exit. Kingvale offers five lift-served lanes and several miles of groomed trails. This winter, night tubing and snowmobiling will be offered, in addition to sledding. All equipment is provided. Call 530-426-1941 for more information. Playland Tubing at Boreal Mountain Resort offers fun for everyone. With multiple lanes, there’s plenty of room for everyone
to have fun, whether tubing or playing in the snow. Playland Tubing will open November 27 and cost $34 for a twohour session, including tube rental. Hansen’s Resort, on the way to Heavenly, has 400 feet of trails on Snow Tube Run; runs are groomed daily and there’s a hill at the bottom of the run to help you slow down. Hansen’s offers hourly rates: $20/hour per person for the first hour and $15/hour thereafter. If you’re staying in one of resort’s cabins, you can tube for $20/day per guest. Those rates include tube or saucer rental. Sledding and snowshoeing are great exercise and a fun way to pass a sunny winter day in Tahoe. They are great activities for families of all ages and sizes, because everyone from the littlest kids to grandparents can participate if they want and the learning curve isn’t as steep as it is with skiing or snowboarding.
WinterWonderGrass at Squaw Valley/Alpine Meadows October 30, 20145:34 PM MST
WinterWonderGrass is coming to Squaw Valley/Alpine Meadows in March, according to Melissa Brouse Matheney, Pubic Relations Coordinator at the resorts. Mark your calendars for March 20 through March 22. "Music, Brews, and Mountains", the theme of the event, encompasses what the event is all about WinterWonderGrass is, "...a boutique winter music and craft beer festival featuring more than 15 bands and 12 California breweries over three days. The finest ingredients of the North Lake Tahoe lifestyle are brought together by WinterWonderGrass Tahoe to craft an experience of natural elation, delivering a batch of fulfillment and a dose of memories to local music enthusiasts and a global winter audience..." and will be a definite highlight of the winter event season in the mountains. Jesse Dunn, a Tahoe native and musician who plays guitar and is a vocalist for the Dead Winter Carpenters, said this about the event: “WinterWonderGrass is a radical, grassroots, bluegrass takeover unlike any other. We are so excited to be a part of this unique event, especially in our hometown. We encourage everyone to dress warm and bring the positivity.” The lineup of musicians and groups is extensive. Bluegrass fans will be in foot stomping heaven with this impressive list: Trampled by Turtles, Greensky Bluegrass, The Infamous Stringdusters and Elephant Revival and bluegrass legend Sam Bush. California favorites Nicki Bluhm and the Gramblers, Dead Winter Carpenters, The California Honey Drops and Brothers Comatose, along with Fruition, Scott Law, Head for the Hills, Front Country, T-Sisters and The Dustbowl Revi will performing as well during this three day event. Sierra Nevada Brewing Co. and Golden Road Brewing are the festival’s presenting beer sponsors. Each day between 2:30 and 5:30, these craft breweries will be pouring their best in two heated tents. Skiers and boarders will be able to finish a run and have a brew with ease.
In their ongoing efforts to minimize waste,"... the festival will have composting and recycling stations to help offset the environmental impact of the event, as well as give three-day ticket holders a stainless steel commemorative festival mug that will help minimize single use plastics. WinterWonderGrass Tahoe will also use all California brands and products in an effort to support local business." This event had its first airing at Vail Valley, Colorado in 2012. The California debut, at Squaw/Alpine, with support from the North Lake Tahoe Resort Association, is another fine effort to bring the best to the Lake Tahoe ski scene. According to Brouse Matheney, First Chair tickets, at $119 for the event, go on sale November 4. They will be available at www.winterwondergrasstahoe.com for a limited time. Plan now to attend this wonderful addition to the Tahoe ski scene.
Popular picks among Lake Tahoe ski resorts October 29, 2014
The Tahoe basin hosts the nation’s highest concentration of ski resorts, according to local historian Michael Makley. The region has produced generations of national and international ski and snowboarding champions. Squaw Valley: The Olympic flame still burns at the entry to the 1960 Games’ host. In the fall, strong hikers can take the trail from the village via Shirley Lake to High Camp, where the aerial tramway runs in the summer and winter. Beginner trails are high up, with views of other mountains, not just of the lodge and parking lot. www.squawalpine.com, Sugar Bowl: The resort celebrates its 75th anniversary this year. For the occasion, it is also revamping various facilities: installing more snow-making equipment, and, at the base, a fitness center with an outdoor pool and hot tubs. This year, on some open fields near the slopes, it is offering instruction in kite-skiing — essentially kite-surfing on snow, a sport that's big in Scandinavia. www.sugarbowl.com. Homewood: The hiking trails are closed for the duration of the fall because of the King Fire. One of its key winter selling points is the view from many of the runs out over the lake.www.skihomewood.com. Northstar: In the fall, the trail to Sawmill Lake is popular with runners, while strong hikers in search of a view can access Castle Peak in just over an hour. www.northstarcalifornia.com.
Lake Tahoe’s low season high time for recreation By Alec Scott Updated 2:11 pm, Wednesday, October 29, 2014
“The fall up here? It’s a time when we watch extreme snowboarding videos and get psyched for the winter to come.” So says a guy who’s seated near me at dinner on a dock stretching out into Lake Tahoe from its less-visited west shore. He’s a precision carpenter from out East who’s worked on many high-end homes around the lake and in the villages that have grown up near its ski resorts. I’m a skier and understand that sense of eagerness for the season to get under way. But there's something to being up here now, with fewer folks, between its big-box-office summers and winters — the “shoulder season.” The roadside altitude markers jump up in increments of a thousand feet fairly quickly to top 6,000 as one enters Placer County, and my ears periodically pop. The efforts of engineers to make these high peaks passable draw attention to themselves: a tunnel driven with rudimentary tools through igneous rock, road switchbacks carved up steep slopes. Case in point: the curved Donner Memorial Bridge or Rainbow Bridge, perching precariously over a chasm on Donner Pass Road, part of the old U.S. Highway 40. Completed in 1929, it was designed by Norman Raab, the man whose most famous spans support the Pacific Coast Highway near Big Sur. A bear recently got trapped in the arch under the bridge and needed help to get down. Mountain views Near where I’m staying, in the guest rooms at the West Shore Cafe, there are bays on which multicolored powerboats and small yachts bob up and down, with the mountains of the Carson Range in the distance. Tahoe reminds me of Alpine lakes near the border of Italy and Switzerland. But the landscape is less manicured. Long-gone glaciers have tossed van-size boulders here and there as if they were so many dice; even after logging, second-growth Jeffrey pines can
reach almost 200 feet, generally taller than the conifers near Lake Como, with rough, red bark. At this time of year, the pines drop sharp brown needles and the odd big cone down from great heights — as I discovered on my first real hike, getting bonked and pricked, walking through a pine forest, on the way up to Brockway Summit East. The treeline ends just before the rocky top, and most of the lake is visible from here. The next couple of days pass in a feverish round of activities — a somewhat frantic effort to make up for a sedentary line of work. I bike from the village at Squaw Valley along the Truckee River, Tahoe’s sole outlet, to Tahoe City. It seems somehow appropriate that one of the first offerings at the newly opened art-house cinema here is a Wes Anderson festival — the alpine kitsch near Tahoe seems right out of his “Grand Budapest Hotel” or “Moonrise Kingdom.” Still, no amount of quaint outdoor art can undermine the grandeur of the setting. Fall color In the Southwest Bay, a steep trail mounts up to Eagle Falls, dramatic even with minimal water this time of year. The trembling aspens have turned yellow; the stairs hewn into the mountainside again speak, in a micro way, of the strenuous efforts people have made to access this extraordinary place. Another nearby trail goes down to Emerald Bay — a layer of water that appears green along the bay’s edge explains the name. Here, Santa Barbara socialite Lora Knight commissioned a Scandinavian-style mansion, Vikingsholm, in 1929, and, on an island in the bay are the remains of a stone teahouse in the same style — a ruin made even more evocative by the knowledge that a hermit lived for years on the island. Trail calm now There’s no one else on a small portion of the Pacific Crest Trail that I hike and that passes through the slightly lunar, extremely dry landscape known as Desolation. I don’t expect to have this trail to myself at any walkable season next year: One of December’s most widely anticipated movie releases is “Wild,”with Reese Witherspoon playing a woman grappling on the trail with her divorce and her mother’s death. (A few days after my return, the King Fire rages for more than two weeks, laying waste to nearly 100,000 acres, including parts of Desolation, but largely sparing Tahoe and its immediate surrounds.)
Tahoe tends to hold on to much of the summer’s heat through the fall, and both kayaking and paddleboarding remain popular pursuits, especially in the early-morning calm. My first effort at paddleboarding, unfortunately, doesn’t go so well. “You did fine,” the instructor kindly lies. Activity rewarded Still, in the compensations category, there was a bird I’d never seen floating nearby, a chestnutcolored merganser with a fringe on its head. It’s hardly a triathlon, but still I schedule a double reward for this rare bout of activity: a massage at the spa at the Ritz-Carlton at Northstar and a meal at its flagship restaurant, Manzanita. On the trip’s last morning, I wake up early, and the sun coming over the Carson range paints the placid lake in pink, orange and blue. To butcher Wordsworth: bliss in this dawn to be alive. On the descent from these heights, again the ears pop. The signs come on all too quickly — 5,000 feet, 4,000, 3,000 — and lower still. Alec Scott is a Bay Area freelance writer. E-mail: food@sfchronicle.com If you go Bike Rental: Parallel Mountain Sports, 1960 Squaw Valley Road, Olympic Valley; (530) 452-4478.www.squawalpine.com. Movies: Tahoe Art Haus, 475 N. Lake Blvd., Tahoe City; (530) 5842431.www.tahoearthauscinema.com. Paddle Board and Kayak Rental: Tahoe Adventure Co., various locations; (866) 8306125.www.tahoeadventurecompany.com. Ritz-Carlton, Lake Tahoe: 13031 Ritz-Carlton Highlands Court, Truckee; (530) 5623000.www.ritzcarlton.com/en/Properties/LakeTahoe. West Shore Cafe: 5160 West Lake Blvd., Homewood; (530) 5255200. www.westshorecafe.com. The Tahoe basin hosts the nation’s highest concentration of ski resorts, according to local historian Michael Makley. The host of the first non-European Winter Olympics, the region has produced generations of national and international ski and snowboarding champions. Squaw Valley: The Olympic flame still burns at the entry to the 1960 Games’ host. In the fall, strong hikers can take the trail from the village via Shirley Lake to High Camp, where the aerial tramway runs in the summer and winter. Beginner trails are high up, with views of other mountains, not just of the lodge and parking lot. www.squawalpine.com,
Sugar Bowl: The resort celebrates its 75th anniversary this year. For the occasion, it is also revamping various facilities: installing more snow-making equipment, and, at the base, a fitness center with an outdoor pool and hot tubs. This year, on some open fields near the slopes, it is offering instruction in kite-skiing — essentially kite-surfing on snow, a sport that's big in Scandinavia. www.sugarbowl.com. Homewood: The hiking trails are closed for the duration of the fall because of the King Fire. One of its key winter selling points is the view from many of the runs out over the lake.www.skihomewood.com. Northstar: In the fall, the trail to Sawmill Lake is popular with runners, while strong hikers in search of a view can access Castle Peak in just over an hour. www.northstarcalifornia.com. — Alec Scott
Lake Tahoe–America’s Backyard Wants You to Come Play October 27, 2014 3:00 pm
Ever enjoyed an afternoon in the sun at Meech Lake? Maybe you have ridden there by bike, hit the slopes at nearby Camp Fortune, zip-lined at the aerial park or visited Chelsea for a meal or to meander through art galleries. Now, imagine if Meech Lake was the largest alpine lake in America, as in 22 miles across, crystal clear for 75-plus feet down and surrounded by some of the best and most skiable terrain in the world. This is Tahoe. The ancient summering ground for the Washoe Indians, Tahoe was stumbled upon during the gold rush. It became the summer retreat for western America’s elite, who built elaborate estates and enjoyed their private retreats until roads opened access to everyone. In 1960, local ski hill, Squaw Valley hosted the Winter Olympics and the area became known to the world. Today, standing at the water’s edge looking at the snow capped peaks that fill the landscape, Tahoe is a beautiful, peaceful, soulful place. However, turn around and there is a bevy of the most thrilling activities that beckon you to join in. Tahoe is shared by two states, California and Nevada, and divided into two areas, North and South. Both are spectacular and offer great skiing and off-slope adventure opportunities. The locals all seem to have their favourite spot. South Tahoe is a little busier and borders the Nevada state line. A town of 20,000 plus, the South is part back to nature, eco-friendly with a glitzy neighbour right next door. Ski all day at Heavenly in California and when the lifts close, take in a show at a casino in Nevada or head to one of the many great restaurants in South Tahoe. Hit the Après Wine Company for wine by the glass and tapas. Dinner at The Boathouse On the Pier is the perfect place for a great meal and to enjoy the sunset. There is also Jimmy’s Restaurant at the Landing Resort. British expat, Maria Elia, runs the kitchen. Recently renovated, it is a stunning location and the food is fabulous. A little more laid back, The Beacon Bar and Grill at historic Camp Richardson also has great lake views and no worries if you have your back to the window. There is an enormous mirror that serves as a trompe-l’oeil. Enjoy that and one of their signature Rum Runner drinks and you’ll never know you weren’t facing the beautiful lake view. North Tahoe offers equally great dining. It is a little more spread out than the South but if all goes as planned, 2015 will see a trans-lake ferry service that will move guests back and forth across the lake. So, you can stay in South Tahoe but have easy access to North Tahoe.
Family friendly is the way they roll in Tahoe. The Ritz-Carleton at NorthStar even sets up tents in your room for your kids to have an “indoor campout.” They also have a great kids’ program, Ritz Kids designed by Jean-Michel Cousteau’s Ocean Future Society. Why not split your trip between North and South? The drive alone will make it worthwhile. You will pass the beautiful Emerald Bay and see spectacular granite cliffs drop away to the lake below. You will see the long driveway that leads to the water- front mansions of Rubicon Bay. Try to spot the driveway leading to the estate of the Corleone family from the Godfather II. You will love the drive through thick forest where the pine trees seem to touch the sky. Tahoe is a year-round destination but surprisingly it sees more visitors in the summer than in the winter. However, if you are a skier, take your first trip to Tahoe in the winter. With Alpine Meadows, Kirkwood, Heavenly, Sierra at Tahoe, NorthStar, Squaw Valley, Homewood and Sugar Bowl, the Tahoe Basin has more lifts than the entire state of Colorado. It’s no wonder the area fielded more athletes for the Sochi 2014 Winter Olympics than anywhere else in the U.S. All the hills are great. Combined with the average annual snowfall, at hill level, of 350 inches, Tahoe is hard to beat. The two big ones are Heavenly with 97 trails and 4,700 acres and Squaw in the North which has 177 trails and 3600 skiable acres. That is a lot of terrain. (To offer a comparison in terms of size, local Ottawa fav Camp Fortune has 95 acres.) Both Heavenly and Squaw are fantastic destinations and both offer multi-day and multi- hill ticket options. Don’t forget the sunscreen as the region gets on average 307 days of sun a year. Most ski areas offer activities including rope courses, snowmobiling, dog- sledding, snowshoeing, skating, spas and more. Heavenly has the high-energy zip line called the Blue Streak that will knock your socks off. NorthStar, a true ski-in ski-out resort, has a craft workshop/store called Villager Candle Shop, Pottery Painting & More where you can do mosaics, make candles or paint. If you enjoy curling, South Tahoe’s only indoor hockey rink has a dual purpose: hockey, of course, but it is also home to Lake Tahoe Epic Curling. The club offers drop-in curling (currently on Sundays) for existing curlers of varying levels. Stand-up paddle boarding (SUP) is amazing. Almost anyone can do it — no special talent is required. The board is wider than a surfboard and rounded on the edges to ensure smooth gliding through the water. Summer or winter, Tahoers believe that it is always the perfect condition to SUP. It is incredible to see fully clothed, barefoot people stand-up paddle boarding with snowcapped peaks behind. You can hire a guide and head out for a day tour or just go on your own for an hour or two. Most resorts have rope courses but we headed to the woods in North Tahoe and harnessed our inner monkey at Tahoe Treetop Adventure Park at Granlibakken Resort. This adventure park is open winter or summer and has 3 kid and 5 adult courses. With 120 suspension bridges and 13 zip lines it has something for everyone. The course is marked just like a ski hill with green, blue and black markers so you can get a sense of the level before attempting a course. Adrenaline junkies and beginners will both be satisfied and it is safe too. The smart belay system only allows for one carabiner to be unhooked from the safety cable at a time. Make sure to book ahead.
If snow-shoeing, cross-country or back-country are your thing, local stores rent the gear and offer guide services. Gear rental is inexpensive, about $22 a day for snowshoes, poles and boots or $15 a day for x-country equipment. Depending on the level of experience you are looking for, you might need to take an introductory course as winter survival, avalanche knowledge and mapping skills are key and don’t forget to check the weather before heading out. (tahoeweatherblog.com) There is so much to do in Tahoe — both North and South Tahoe have fantastic tourism bureaus with very helpful web sites to help you plan any type of trip, including lodging. Airport transfers are easy as both North and South Tahoe are a short 40-minute drive to the Reno Airport. There are both shuttles and car rentals available. With Olympic-caliber hills, great dining, seemingly limitless activities, some of the most amazing views, it is a great time to head to Tahoe.
Mapping 27 Ski Country Cocktail Spots to Get Your Drink On Tuesday, October 21, 2014, by Megan Barber
Gone are the days when ski towns only supplied shot skis and cans of nasty light beer. Now, in bars from Stowe to Whistler, master mixologists are whipping up cocktails made with house-made syrups, specialty bitters, and locally distilled spirits. And while Curbed Ski has mapped the best ski town breweries and the top distilleries in the high country, we now bring you theultimate guide to craft cocktails. Whether you're looking for an après indulgence or a wee-hour night cap, these 27 hot spots have you covered.Please note, the following map is ordered from east to west.
The Ultimate Mountain Biking in Tahoe: A Casino, Crazy Inclines, and Big Brown Bears Bill Fink October 15, 2014
The Plan: Cycle around Lake Tahoe to check out what may be the best twoday bike ride in America. It promises fresh mountain air, peaceful forest trails, and stunning lake views, not to mention heart-palpitating uphills, teeth-rattling downhills, and once off my bike, some microbrews, mountain barbecue, and perhaps some luck at the blackjack tables. The Route: A 72-mile loop around Lake Tahoe, from California to Nevada and back again. Pedal through4,300 feet of combined elevation changes along bike paths, city streets, and highways, with a few detours as the mood strikes me. The Ride: A Cannondale Synapse Hi-MOD Ace DI2. I’m borrowing the high-end, lightweight, carbon fiber road bike primarily to help with the ride’s two 900-foot climbs and to take advantage of its advertised “crush meets plush” combination of comfort and speed. Plus, it looks cool. The Launch: Appropriately, I begin my scenic ride in Tahoe Vista, with a stunning view of Lake Tahoe from the north. It’s the end of September, but the weather remains a summer-like 75 degrees and sunny. Just one couple sits on the beach, and I’m tempted to join them, but I realize I’ll be back at this same spot at the end of my loop and can rest then. I walk the bike out onto the beach for a photo, probably getting some sand in my gears and demonstrating even before my start that despite my professional ride, I’m a decidedly amateur rider. Bear Aware: Cruising through the town of Kings Beach, I see that the trash cans are bear-proofed with latches. I also pass a half-dozen shops selling giant wooden bear statues that were carved using chainsaws. Most of the wooden bears wave a hearty welcome. I hope the real bears are this nice.
These wooden bears are cheerier than the real-life variety. Elevating: Climbing from the base lake level of 6,200 feet elevation, I’m already gassed on the first uphill approaching the Nevada border. I tell myself it’s just the amazing view that is taking my breath away, and I stop for a few extra minutes to snap some photos. Border Crossing: Casinos spring up like mushrooms as soon as I cross the border into Nevada. The CalNeva Resort and Casino straddling the state line was once owned by Frank Sinatra, who used secret tunnels underneath it to try to hide his mobster pals from the gambling board. The casino is closed for remodeling, promising a big bang for its summer 2015 reopening.
Billionaires’ Row: I pedal through Incline Village, noted California tax haven and home to some staggeringly expensive homes along the lakeshore, including Larry Ellison’s recently built vacation pad, an upgrade from his other lakeside estate that he recently sold for nearly $30 million. I grab a forsale flier for a more modest three-bedroom beachfront house. The price? $12 million. For a peek into the lifestyles of the rich and eccentric, I could have peeled off the road south of Incline to tourThunderbird Lodge, the former home (which included underground cages for lions) of an eccentric millionaire from the 1930s. I absently wonder what we’ll see 80 years from now touring Ellison’s home. Staggering Views, Staggering Biker: I begin a 9-mile, 900-foot climb after Incline Village. Around each corner, the view is even more amazing. I distract myself from my huffing and puffing by trying to think of additional adjectives to try to describe the blueness of the lake: azure, sapphire, cobalt, steel blue; depending on how the sun is shining, they all apply to Lake Tahoe. The bike performs great on my climb; gears shift smoothly, and the crank transfers my pedaling power to help me pass people I have no business passing, serious-looking cyclists wearing the full Lance Armstrong spandex kit, looking at me and my baggy shorts with annoyance. I stop near 7,150foot high Spooner Summit for a celebratory swig of water and an energy bar. Tunnel Thrill: As the road winds its way along a mountainside hundreds of feet above the lake, it thins, leaving just two feet between my bike, traffic, and a rock retaining wall to my right. It narrows further to traverse the aptly named Cave Rock Tunnel, a 150-foot passage carved through raw mountain rock. I press a roadside button at bike level to initiate flashing lights to warn drivers of my presence. Despite the lights, my pedal through the tunnel is a little nerve-racking — my hands still shaking along with my light bike frame on the long downhill after the tunnel. Here’s how a trip through the tunnel looked from my handlebars: Downhill, Looking Up: Zephyr Cove is one of the many little attractions around Lake Tahoe you might miss while cruising on a car road trip. I curl off the road to find a whole resort community and agiant paddleboat, which looked like it was lifted from the Mississippi River circa 1880. My legs are a little too tired to join the nearby beach volleyball game, so I hit the beachside café for an icy drink.
South Lake Tahoe: Biking into the city of South Lake Tahoe, I’m confronted with the odd juxtaposition of high-rise casinos built at the base of high-rise mountains and Heavenly Ski Resort. To maintain the outdoorsy theme of my trip, I stay the night at Basecamp Hotel, where my room features a canvas tent, a picnic bench, and a woodsy theme. After dinner and celebratory margaritas at Azul Latin Kitchen (“azul,” another adjective for the lake!), I poach a sunset view from the top-floor casino bar, and then I hit the blackjack tables. Since I’m visiting during the autumn off-season, there aren’t a ton of gamblers around, so the dealers and players are friendly and chatty, giving the place more of a small-town feel. I gamble for a while next to a crazy old guy with a head wound who goes by the name of Mad Dog. Mr. Dog has a fat bankroll of hundred dollar bills and peels one off to give me after I run out of chips. I promptly gamble that away as well but appreciate the kindness. Return to the North: Apparently when long-distance biking, it’s best not to pound drinks until 2 a.m. in a dry, high-elevation environment. I stagger forward in the morning, thankfully on a quiet bike path away from the road through a peaceful forest panorama. I pedal through the homey Camp Richardson recreation area, the Tallac Historic Site, and even a Forest Service station, where they have a glass viewing area to provide a profile of the Taylor Creek, complete with salmon. You know who else likes salmon? Lake Tahoe’s large bear population. I pedal out of the forest quicker. Because It’s There: After my slow start to the day, I’m rested for the ride over Emerald Bay. The steep, 700-foot climb follows narrow road switchbacks that I can’t help notice have no guardrails. One wrong turn, or bump by a car, and I’d find myself plunging into one of the deepest lakes in the world. Strapped into my pedals, they’d need James Cameron’s submersible to find my body 1,600 feet below the surface. I’m thankful for the light traffic in the autumn off-season. As I stand panting and sweating at the viewpoint overlooking Emerald Bay, an older Swedish couple on their own road trip looks at me like I’m crazy. “But why?” he asks, gesturing at the steep hill behind me. “Because it is there?” Yup, pretty much. All Downhill: I enjoy a fun roller coaster ride coasting down mountain curves from the road’s summit back to lake level. Because this is Lake Tahoe, yet another stunning beach awaits at the bottom of the hill at Meeks Bay, where I grab a drink and lean against a tree to appreciate an absolutely perfect fall day.
Ride to the Finish: The bike path north of the west shore of Lake Tahoe takes little bends into the woods and through a few neighborhoods with gingerbread-house-style, little vacation homes built in the early 1960s. Small shops, markets, and little hotels line the path, enticing me to stop, among them the Fire Sign Café with some breakfast egg scrambles and an even more tempting cherry cobbler pie. Fueled up, I navigate my way through Tahoe City, checking out the many shops that are changing over their offerings as Tahoe’s boating and river-rafting season comes to an end and ski season approaches. My approach back to Tahoe Vista sends me on one last uphill climb, and I happily coast to a finish at the Cedar Glen Lodge,where a newly remodeled cabin awaits with a mini-fireplace and a much-needed shower. My bike odometer reads 80 miles for the trip, including my detours from the regular lake route. I figure my two days of pedaling have burned enough calories to merit a large dinner of barbecue ribs, chicken wings, and beer at Moe’s along the lakefront. A fine reward for an even finer ride.
Seeking science at the Lake Tahoe Environmental Research Center Published: October 14, 2014, 12:50 pm
An early harbinger for the effects of climate change straddles the border between Nevada and California. We recently had a chance to visit the UC Davis Tahoe Environmental Research Center (TERC) on the shores of Lake Tahoe. TERC operates a science laboratory and the public Tahoe Science Center on the campus of Sierra Nevada College located in the small town of Incline Village, Nevada. UC Davis research at Lake Tahoebegan 1959, and the center has conducted regular monitoring of the ecological health and condition of the lake stretching back into the 1968. The largest alpine lake in North America, Lake Tahoe is world-renowned for its exceptional clarity. Measurements of the lake’s pristine underwater visibility are carried out by researchers by use of what is known as a secchi disk, a small white disk that is lowered overboard from a small vessel. Researchers note when the disk vanishes to the observer, and make the measurements at local solar noon to assure consistency. The clarity of the lake has been steadily reducing since the 1960s, largely due to pollutants and algal growth entering its waters. Strict measures have been taken to combat this, largely thanks to the research efforts led by the center.
That natural clarity is also the result of the granite basin the lake sits in, which resists erosion and break up into smaller sediments. The center’s specialty is limnology, or the study and science of lakes. This is a multi-disciplinary effort, involving biology, ecology, physics, geology and more. The region also hosts great dark skies for astronomy enthusiasts, as the Sierra Nevada mountians block out a majority of the light pollution from Reno and Carson City to the east. The center also uses light pollution-battling fixtures found throughout the campus. The lake also enjoys what’s known as the rainshadow effect, which shields its eastern shores from the massive amounts of snowfall seen annually in the mountain passes to the west. NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory is also in on the act, maintaining a set of buoys on Lake Tahoe that measure, verify and validate changes that earth-observing satellites passing overhead are seeing. Lake Tahoe was selected by NASA for this project in 1999, and this 15 year effort has also documented changes in the lake as the world warms around it. One key factor often seen in lakes is that their temperature layers tend to stratify during the warmer time of the year. In the case of Lake Tahoe, this stratification now occurs 5 days earlier and 17 later since the center started taking measurements in 1968 as per their 2014 report. Projections show that this effect will increase by an additional 38 days by 2100, a troubling result for the future ecology of the lake. But Lake Tahoe has endured near catastrophe before, and rebounded back. We thought it was fascinating that studies show that the lake was the site of a massive tsunami and seiche wave that traversed it about 30,000 to 50,000 years ago, and its position along a fault line suggests that such a cataclysm could occur again. Visiting the center is easy and free: docent guided tours are available from 1 to 5 p.m. Tuesday through Friday, and the center is also open during peak summer months on Saturday from 1 to 5 p.m. The center features inactive exhibits, a virtual research vessel, and a unique and recently upgraded 3-D theater. The center is also a working scientific hub, and hosts researchers from all over the world. And don’t miss their monthly evening lecture series, open to the public. -Be sure to also check out http://terc.ucdavis.edu, http://www.TahoeScienceCenter.org or emailtercinfo@ucdavis.ed or call 775-881-7566 to learn more.
The Ritz-Carlton, Lake Tahoe A Grand Chalet with Seasonal Sports
Sunday, October 12, 2014 By Ray Navis
grand chalet halfway between Truckee and the North Shore of Lake Tahoe sits in an ideally secluded location featuring great golf in the summer and ski-in/ski-out convenience in the winter. The common areas, rooms and restaurants are first class and ultimately relaxing. Who has all this? The Ritz-Carlton, Lake Tahoe. The Hotel Similar to the feel of the grand old hotels — like the Ahwahnee in Yosemite or the Timberline Lodge in Oregon — the Ritz-Carlton, Lake Tahoe has presence, with modern touches and a AAA Five Diamond rating, the only mountain resort in California to possess that distinction. Set on top of a forested knoll, the hotel offers sweeping mountain panoramas stretching all the way to Truckee. The lobby and common areas are very comfortable, with a fireplace never far off. We noticed many guests spending free time here reading or catching up on computer work. The rooms are everything you might expect from Ritz-Carlton, with the most comfortable down bedding, stateof-the-art electronics and oversized bathrooms with all the modern conveniences. All the rooms have mountain views, and you will be just steps to a chairlift. The signature restaurant at the Ritz is Manzanita which features indoor and outdoor dining. We sat right by the fireplace that separates the dining room. Our king salmon and pan-seared branzino entrées were very tasty, as was the heirloom tomato salad we started with. Manzanita is open for breakfast, lunch, and dinner. I noticed a lot of local residents dining with us, which is always a good sign. Out back the hotel has a large, elegant pool area surrounded by trees with lift chairs passing above. The spa is also top of the line with something for everyone on the menu. One could easily have a very pleasant day here without ever leaving the hotel. For further details visit RitzCarlton.com.
The Slopes The Ritz is located mid-mountain at Northstar. The resort’s ski valet will take care of all your mountain equipment upon arrival and have it to you at a moment’s notice so that you can take advantage of the nearby slopes. Northstar has one decided advantage over other Tahoe ski areas. It faces east and is just over the mountains from the lake. This location means a lot less wind and the eventual weather shutdowns for chairlifts. The Northstar resort offers 97 trails and over 3,000 skiable acres. The new chairlifts offer easier access, especially to beginner level areas. Northstar has multiple run options for every level of skier and snowboarder. More experienced skiers may want to venture to the very challenging runs at Squaw Valley, former site of the 1960 Winter Olympics and no more than a 20-minute drive away. Trails for hikers and mountain bikers start right outside, with the Sawmill Lake Trail the most popular. This 2.3-mile trek is moderate and accessible for most all guests. The Golf From the North Shore to Truckee, several great courses have opened in the past 10 years. Old Greenwood is a Jack Nicklaus creation set on 600 acres of towering pines and rolling terrain. Wildlife is abundant here, and the playing conditions are near perfect. The Old Greenwood Golf Academy services all levels of golfer, and the course is about 15 minutes from the hotel. Another fairly new option is The Golf Club at Gray’s Crossing. The courses in this area offer rolling fairways, and combined with the high altitude, you will be hitting it farther than ever. The Lake There is so much going on at the hotel, I almost forgot the biggest draw. Lake Tahoe and all its splendor is about 15 minutes away. You can rent motorboats, kayaks, or paddleboats at several spots along the North Shore, but Tahoe City just south is perhaps the most convenient place to launch. We spent the better part of an afternoon at Emerald Bay State Park toward the south shore. The views here are spectacular as is the hike down to the beach. The walk back up will give you your daily workout, especially if you are not adjusted to the altitude.
Ready for Winter in Reno-Tahoe by Fly Reno Tahoe October 2, 2014
From Dec. 5-13, Heavenly Mountain Resort in South Lake Tahoe, CA will ramp up the excitement with a series of events to jumpstart the 2014-2015 winter ski and ride season, including pop-up DJ Cat parties, ski film screenings, Unbuckle après kick-off parties, casino sponsored shows and a headliner to play the free Winter Ignite concert in Heavenly Village Dec. 13. Celebrate the start of winter and bring on the snow! Sierra-at-Tahoe Offers Great Deals for Skiing and Riding All Winter Grab your 2014-15 Sierra-at-Tahoe Unlimited Season Pass and score the Powder Alliance. Ski or ride 36 free days at twelve other resorts, now including Silver Star Resort in B.C., Canada. Also, enjoy the world’s only Burton Star Wars™ Experience, now expanded with the Burton Star Wars™ Echo Base, nationally ranked terrain parks and 320 acres of backcountry heaven in Huckleberry Canyon. Not sure a season pass is for you? Check out our 3-PAK lift tickets. These discounted Sierra lift tickets are valid any day with no blackout dates all season. 3-PAKs are non-transferrable and prices go up after Dec. 15th. Sierra Resort delivers an authentic California ski and snowboard experience that is not to be missed. See you on the mountain! Leaf Peeping in North Lake Tahoe Each fall, North Lake Tahoe puts on a show of yellow, red and orange before the aspens shed their leaves for the winter months. Whether by foot, pedal or sky, there are many ways for visitors to take in the changing colors. Take a family-friendly hike in Page Meadows or explore the expansive meadows of Tahoe Meadows near Mt. Rose. For more extreme adventure, take the 72-mile ride around the lake or find a new favorite mountain biking trail. From downhill trails at Northstar California to the former Olympic crosscountry trails of Sugar Pine Point State Park, there are countless miles of pedaling adventure. Take in the sights in a unique way with a glider ride from Soar Truckee. Make your secret season getaway to North Lake Tahoe an unforgettable one with the many cool deals available. The Lake Tahoe Six-Pack is back! Miss winter? We do too.
If you’re already counting down the days until the lifts turn, you’ll be happy to hear that the Ski Lake Tahoe Six-Pack is back for 2014/15. Tahoe’s best lift ticket deal includes six days of skiing or snowboarding at seven world class Lake Tahoe resorts for only $359 – under $60 a day. Learn more about this unbeatable deal, and start planning that Lake Tahoe ski/snowboard vacation. After all, winter’s not that far off.
Turns Ahead Misty Milioto October 1, 2014 You've waited all year: our annual roundup of the latest and luxest at top ski resorts nationwide. It’s all downhill from here. This year, the top U.S. ski resorts are offering striking upgrades to further elevate your winter getaways to even higher levels of mountain luxury. We’ve vetted the finest offerings on or near the slopes in six buzzing ski states to curate this exclusive register of all that’s new and noteworthy where the powder is most posh. Along with superb lodging options and VIP-level packages come new-arrival restos, lively après-ski spots, can’t-miss events and hot nightlife. Even better? Uberlocal intel, off-the-grid ski runs and tips from local ski celebs. Enjoy the ride. CALIFORNIA | NEVADA The legendary skiing at Lake Tahoe and Mammoth Lakes is reason enough to book the first flight to the Golden State. Located within the Sierra Nevada range (the most popular ski destination in California), Lake Tahoe boasts nine premier ski resorts situated around the lake. And with a variety of terrain and snow conditions, combined with sophisticated amenities and nonstop nightlife on the Nevada side of the lake, this is one area where you can have it all. Meanwhile, Mammoth Mountain Ski Resort, located in the Eastern Sierras, boasts the highest summit of any California resort (at 11,053 feet), 3,500 skiable acres, 400 inches of annual snowfall, and steeps and bowls for a variety of skill levels. North Lake Tahoe: Sugar Bowl Resort MOUNTAIN MAKEOVERS This season, Sugar Bowl Resort is celebrating its 75th anniversary with top-notch regional bands at the Mt. Judah Lodge and new signature events. Silver Belt Banzai (a modern reincarnation of a classic ski race at Sugar Bowl) will now feature finish-line Jumbotrons, more festive pre- and post-race parties and a historical element that pays homage to the original Silver Belt races from the 1940s. Meanwhile, B4BC’s Shred the Love (an annual rail jam event), will feature music by a national act, a larger auction program and an even bigger competition venue. And special guest-appreciation days offer discounted throwback pricing on lift tickets. Coinciding with the anniversary is the new $3 million Crow’s Peak chairlift—a fixed-grip Doppelmayr triple—that offers lift-served access to the previously hike-to advanced and expert terrain on the Strawberry Fields area of the mountain. Accompanying enhancements include two new groomed runs; tree skiing through glades, chutes and cliffs; and a wind-protected area on inclement-weather days.
ALL-IN APRÈS Mellow Fellow GastroPub just opened a new location in Kings Beach in North Lake Tahoe. Stop by for the selection of American craft beers and locally made sausages. If you’re looking for some additional exercise after hitting the mountain—or if you just need some R&R—be sure to check out the new $4.5 million Sport Haus Fitness and Aquatic Center, available for use to lodge guests. Centrally located between Sugar Bowl’s lifts, the resort’s lodge and the snowbound village, it includes two lap lanes, outdoor hot tubs, fitness facilities, a yoga studio, spa treatment rooms and an athletic training space. LOCAL LORE John Monson, director of sales and marketing for Sugar Bowl Resort and Royal Gorge Cross Country Resort, picks his top five must-do’s: 1. Take the hike to Lunch Rock, across the Judah Ridge from Summit Chair. It’s perhaps the most remote and peaceful spot on the entire mountain, where you can choose to leave the resort for a fantastic backcountry run down to Donner Lake, or drop in to the Judah Bowl and back into Sugar Bowl. 2. Take the Elevator Shaft into the Silver Belt Gully. It’s a unique spot in ski country, complete with huge walls and a narrow entrance into a classic descent. 3. The new Crow’s Peak chairlift provides access to steeps, chutes and powder in classic oldgrowth groves. 4. The Mt. Disney Sun Deck is a great place to take a mountaintop break and enjoy the panoramic vistas of Donner Summit. 5. The Belt Room Bar captures the classic vibe of Sugar Bowl, with great beers on tap and, of course, Tahoe’s best Bloody Mary. RUN OF YOUR LIFE It’s tough to beat the Lake Run. And although Sugar Bowl’s four peaks with 100-plus trails across nearly 1,700 acres offer plenty of action, it’s sometimes nice to enjoy backcountry powder with the professional guides at Backcountry Adventure Center’s Alpine Skills International. North Lake Tahoe: Northstar ALL-IN APRÈS The Ritz-Carlton, Lake Tahoe, located midmountain at Northstar, has two new dining options: Backyard Bar & BBQ, offering ski-in/ski-out outdoor dining and salooninspired cocktails, and Café Blue (offering fresh-pressed juices and smoothies, paninis and Blue Bottle Coffee). Other après offerings at the hotel include Marshmology (roast s’mores with handcrafted marshmallow flavors at the fire pit at 4pm) and The Après Experience, featuring nightly culinary events (such as Barrel-Aged Cocktails) at the Manzanita restaurant. Guest rooms from $499 per night RUN OF YOUR LIFE East Ridge, located along the ridge line of Northstar’s Mount Pluto, is a great place to take in the views of Tahoe’s Crystal Bay. Cruise the entire length of East Ridge’s intermediate groomed trail, or try the advanced options of Powder Bowl, The Chute or Tonini’s.
South Lake Tahoe: Heavenly SUITE STAY The Landing Resort & Spa—Lake Tahoe’s only five-star luxury lakeside property—opened last December with 88 lavish guest rooms just three blocks from Heavenly Village. Amenities include marble bathrooms with heated floors, 55-inch wall-mounted TVs, plush terry robes, fireplaces and private decks with stunning views. Grab a seat in one of the private alcoves (each with its own fireplace) at Jimmy’s Restaurant, located within the resort. Be sure to check out the backlit, onyx-walled bar with a 250-label wine cellar. And don’t miss the 3,600-square-foot rooftop deck or the full-service spa and hair salon. Guest rooms from $290 per night Also set in the heart of South Lake Tahoe is the newly renovated Lake Tahoe Resort Hotel. The $5 million face-lift includes upgrades to all 400 rooms in the nine-story, all-suite hotel, including new decor and 42-inch flat-screen TVs. Presidential/patio suites from $549 per night Keep an eye open: The former Horizon Casino is currently under a $60 million renovation to become a Hard Rock Hotel, scheduled to open this winter season. It will offer upbeat gaming action, multiple restaurants, an upscale bar, lounges, and both indoor and outdoor concerts. ALL-IN APRÈS Thanks to a $15 million investment, a stunning new shopping area—dubbed The Chateau—mirrors the popular Heavenly Village shopping area with 27,868 square feet of vendors, boutique shops and restaurants near the California-Nevada state line. Also new is the Cold Water Brewery & Grill in the midtown area, and Mexican food restaurant Azul Latin Kitchen in the Village. Heavenly Mountain Resort is also having a new midday beach party at East Peak Lodge on Fridays and Saturdays from noon to 3PM. Located at Harrah’s Lake Tahoe casino, and featuring more than 6,700 square feet of hoppin’ nightlife and live-entertainment space, PEEK Nightclub’s new footprint includes 40 intimate VIP sections. Look for big-name DJs this season from Las Vegas, Miami, New York and Los Angeles. Opal Ultra Lounge located at Montbleu Resort Casino & Spa, offers a sensual nightclub vibe. Significant improvements to the Pinnacle Room VIP area include soft lighting, oversize couches, marble tables and a glass-rail balcony area that overlooks the dance floor. Regional and national DJs get the blood pumping and the dance floor packed. LOCAL LORE Johnny “Tahoe” Norman, snowboard instructor at Heavenly and nightlife ambassador for visiting VIPs, gives you his picks for an unforgettable stay: 1. Take Orion’s Run to Comet chair to dip into the trees, then take the Dipper chair to Mott Canyon. 2. A stop-off at Booyah’s Exotic Burgers and Brews for limitless burger combos and microbrews. 3. For sunny afternoon cruising, Dipper Run on the Nevada side is always well-groomed and offers compelling challenges.
4. For powder days, Pinnacles on the California side has plenty of trees, stashes and open runs. 5. To finish off the day, Unbuckle at Tamarack has half-priced drinks, live DJs, dancing, great appetizers and the the Heavenly Angels. RUN OF YOUR LIFE Ridge Run, featuring amazing views of Lake Tahoe, will take your breath away. Lesser-known areas include the tree-skiing pod areas of Aries Woods, Ridge Bowl and Dipper Bowl. The perfectly spaced trees allow you to make your own path and forge ahead off-piste. Mammoth Lakes ALL-IN APRÈS A new 2,500-square-foot day spa at the Sierra Nevada Resort features a juice bar and sauna, and treatments and wraps that highlight locally sourced ingredients. Try the Skiers and Hikers Sports Massage ($125 for 80 minutes). For a sumptuous meal after hitting the slopes, try the new Mammoth Tavern. Enjoy dishes like shrimp ceviche and braised short-rib grilled cheese, paired with artfully crafted cocktails. For something a little different, head over to Mammoth Rock ’n’ Bowl. Featuring two restaurants, 12 bowling lanes, three golf simulators and games galore, this is the spot to show off your après-ski skills. LOCAL LORE Professional snowboarder Kimmy Fasani chimes in on her favorite Mammoth must-do’s and tips: 1. Dave’s Run off the top of the mountain is one of my favorite runs. It’s long, wide open and has a great view. I love starting my day off with a few leg-burner runs, and this does the job. 2. Chair 5 gets you to the top of some of the best powder riding and/or groomers on the mountain. Smack in the middle of the mountain, this chair makes it easy to get plenty of laps in on a variety of different terrain. 3. Roberto’s Cafe, a Mexican-food restaurant, offers a great upstairs hangout, bar area and a full menu. It’s a perfect spot to unwind. 4. After a fun day on the slopes, I love heading to the hot springs off Benton Crossing Road for a nice soak in the natural pools, or I head to Snowcreek Athletic Club for a mellow yoga class. 5. Stellar Brew is my go-to for a grab-and-go breakfast because they have a great variety of healthy breakfast burritos, and their drink selections are top-notch. If you’re looking for a sitdown breakfast, my favorite is Good Life Café.
E
ver enjoyed an afternoon in the sun at Meech Lake? Maybe you have ridden there by bike, hit the slopes at nearby Camp Fortune, ziplined at the aerial park or visited Chelsea for a meal or to meander through art galleries. Now, imagine if Meech Lake was the largest alpine lake in America, as in 22 miles across, crystal clear for 75-plus feet down and surrounded by some of the best and most skiable terrain in the world. This is Tahoe. The ancient summering ground for the Washoe Indians, Tahoe was stumbled upon during the gold rush. It became the summer retreat for western America’s elite, who built elaborate estates and enjoyed their private retreats until roads opened access to everyone. In 1960, local ski hill, Squaw Valley hosted the Winter Olympics and the area became known to the world. Today, standing at the water’s edge looking at the snow capped peaks that fill the landscape, Tahoe is a beautiful, peaceful, soulful place. However, turn around and there is a bevy of the most thrilling activities that beckon you to join in.
South Tahoe is a little busier and borders the Nevada state line. A town of 20,000 plus, the South is part back to nature, eco-friendly with a glitzy neighbour right next door. Ski all day at Heavenly in California and when the lifts close, take in a show at a casino in Nevada or head to one of the many great restaurants in South Tahoe. Hit the Après Wine Company for wine by the glass and tapas. Dinner at The Boathouse On the Pier is the perfect place for a great meal and to enjoy the sunset. There is also Jimmy’s Restaurant at the Landing Resort. British expat, Maria Elia, runs the kitchen. Recently renovated, it is a stunning location and the food is fabulous. A little more laid back, The Beacon Bar and Grill at historic Camp Richardson also has great lake views and no worries if you have your back to the window. There is an enormous mirror that serves as a trompe-l’oeil. Enjoy that and one of their signature Rum Runner drinks and you’ll never know you weren’t facing the beautiful lake view.
Tahoe is shared by two states, California and Nevada, and divided into 2 areas, North and South. Both are spectacular and offer great skiing and off-slope adventure opportunities. The locals all seem to have their favourite spot. PHOTOS:JORIK BLOM 60 OTTAWALIFE SEPTEMBER/OCTOBER 2014
NEVADA
Lake Tahoe America’s Backyard Wants You to Come Play
CALIFORNIA
travel by Karen Temple
North Tahoe offers equally great dining. It is a little more spread out than the South but if all goes as planned, 2015 will see a trans-lake ferry service that will move guests back and forth across the lake. So, you can stay in South Tahoe but have easy access to North Tahoe. Family friendly is the way they roll in Tahoe. The Ritz-Carleton at NorthStar even sets up tents in your room for your kids to have an “indoor campout.” They also have a great kids’ program, Ritz Kids designed by Jean-Michel Cousteau’s Ocean Future Society. Why not split your trip between North and South? The drive alone will make it worthwhile. You will pass the beautiful Emerald Bay and see spectacular granite cliffs drop away to the lake below. You will see the long driveway that leads to the waterfront mansions of Rubicon Bay. Try to spot the driveway leading to the estate of the Corleone family from the Godfather II. You will love the drive through thick forest where the pine trees seem to touch the sky.
Tahoe is a year-round destination but surprisingly it sees more visitors in the summer than in the winter. However, if you are a skier, take your first trip to Tahoe in the winter. With Alpine Meadows, Kirkwood, Heavenly, Sierra at Tahoe, NorthStar, Squaw Valley, Homewood and Sugar Bowl, the Tahoe Basin has more lifts than the entire state of Colorado. It’s no wonder the area fielded more athletes for the Sochi 2014 Winter Olympics than anywhere else in the U.S. All the hills are great. Combined with the average annual snowfall, at hill level, of 350 inches, Tahoe is hard to beat. The two big ones are Heavenly with 97 trails and 4,700 acres and Squaw in the North which has 177 trails and 3600 skiable acres. That is a lot of terrain. (To offer a comparison in terms of size, local Ottawa fav Camp Fortune has 95 acres.) Both Heavenly and Squaw are fantastic destinations and both offer multi-day and multihill ticket options. Don’t forget the sunscreen as the region gets on average 307 days of sun a year. Most ski areas offer activities including rope courses, snowmobiling, dogsledding, snowshoeing, skating, spas and more. Heavenly has the high-energy zip line called the Blue Streak that will knock your socks off. NorthStar, a true ski-in ski-out resort, has a craft workshop/store called Villager Candle Shop, Pottery Painting & More where you can do mosaics, make candles or paint. If you enjoy curling, South Tahoe’s only indoor hockey rink has a dual purpose: hockey, of course, but it is also home to Lake Tahoe Epic Curling. The club offers drop-in curling (currently on Sundays) for existing curlers of varying levels. Stand-up paddle boarding (SUP) is amazing. Almost anyone can do it — no special talent is required. The board is wider than a surf board and rounded on the edges to ensure smooth gliding through the water. Summer or winter, Tahoers believe that it is always the perfect condition to SUP. It is incredible to see fully clothed, barefoot people stand-up
ABOVE: (CLOCKWISE FROM TOP LEFT) Zipping from tree to tree at Tahoe Treetop Adventures, Granlibakken Resort. (northtahoeadventures.com). Duly named, Après Ski is the place to go for a light meal or for a post-activity glass of wine. Stand-up Paddleboarding with southtahoesup.com. Taking a break from the outdoors at Villager Candle Shop, Pottery Painting & More, NorthStar Village.
paddle boarding with snow-capped peaks behind. You can hire a guide and head out for a day tour or just go on your own for an hour or two. Most resorts have rope courses but we headed to the woods in North Tahoe and harnessed our inner monkey at Tahoe Treetop Adventure Park at Granlibakken Resort This adventure park is open winter or summer and has 3 kid and 5 adult courses. With 120 suspension bridges and 13 zip lines it has something for everyone. The course is marked just like a ski hill with green, blue and black markers so you can get a sense of the level before attempting a course. Adrenaline junkies and beginners will both be satisfied and it is safe too. The smart belay system only allows for one carabiner to be unhooked from the safety cable at a time. Make sure to book ahead. If snowshoeing, cross-country or back-country are your thing, local stores rent the gear and offer guide
services. Gear rental is inexpensive, about $22 a day for snowshoes, poles and boots or $15 a day for x-country equipment. Depending on the level of experience you are looking for, you might need to take an introductory course as winter survival, avalanche knowledge and mapping skills are key and don’t forget to check the weather before heading out. (www. tahoeweatherblog.com) There is so much to do in Tahoe — both North and South Tahoe have fantastic tourism bureaus with very helpful web sites to help you plan any type of trip, including lodging. Airport transfers are easy as both North and South Tahoe are a short 40-minute drive to the Reno Airport. There are both shuttles and car rentals available. With Olympic-caliber hills, great dining, seemingly limitless activities, some of the most amazing views, it is a great time to head to Tahoe n gotahoenorth.com tahoesouth.com 61 OTTAWALIFE SEPTEMBER/OCTOBER 2014