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Other Outdoor Activities
Scenic Drive
If the roads and weather are clear, take a scenic drive around the lake, featur- ing stunning Emerald Bay, Tahoe’s most photographed natural wonder.
Cruise
Relax on a two-hour cruise to the bay on the M.S. Dixie tradi- tional paddlewheel- er boat (www. laketahoecruises. com), available
year-round.
Snow Rides & Hike
Exhilarating
snowmobile tours, moonlight snow- shoe hikes and old-fashioned horse- drawn sleigh rides are also favorites
throughout the area.
Excursions
Virginia City (www. virginiacity-nv.org),
a well-preserved,
19th-century “wild
west” ghost town,
makes a fun half-
day excursion,
65km east. If
cross-country ski-
ing is more your
speed, spend a
day at Royal Gorge (www.royalgorge.com). This largest and perhaps best cross-country ski area in the US, 48km west of Tahoe City, offers over 90 trails, including “Sesame Street” for children, a ski school, 10 warming huts and moon- light tours.
Events
The North Lake Tahoe Snow Festival brings 10 days of parades, ski races
and music events in early March (www.tahoesnowfesti- val.com). On the “First Friday” of every month, Tahoe City’s shops and galleries stay open late andcelebratewithartists’recep- tions, wine tastings and music (www.visittahoecity.com). Check with individual ski areas for lat- est scheduled ski races, Christ- mas torchlight parades and other
special events.
RCI Resorts Around The Tahoe Area
Lake Tahoe
• Paradise
• The Ridge Sierra
South Lake Tahoe
• Americana Village
• Heavenly Valley Townhouse • Stardust – Tahoe
• Lake Tahoe Vacation Resort
Incline Village
• Club Tahoe
• Tahoe Chaparral
Tahoe Vista
• Edgelake Beach Club
• Redwolf Lakeside Lodge • Tahoe Sands Resort
Olympic Valley
• Olympic Village Inn • Squaw Valley Lodge
Stateline
• Perennial Vacation Club at Tahoe • Royal Aloha Tahoe
• Tahoe Summit Village
• Tahoe Village Condominiums
• Taranova Tahoe Summit • The Ridge Tahoe
• Worldmark Tahoe I/II/III • Worldwide at Kingsbury
Reno
• Club Lakeridge
• Plaza Resort Club
EnDLEss VACATIon 1
Ski Season
The core ski season runs from December through March, though most ski areas are open through late April. Given winter driving conditions and distances, plan your accommodations as close as possible to the ski area best suited to your needs. All the major areas include ski schools, ski shops and rentals, high-speed lifts, children’s programmes and a variety of restaurants.
Ski Programmes
If you are new to the slopes, nothing will get you started faster than a few days of in- struction. Most ski areas offer package deals for beginners that include group lessons, equipment rentals and lift tickets. Most have tailored learn-to-ski programmes for children or snowboarders. Helmets are recommended, especially for children and less experienced skiers, and can be rented. Reduced rates for seniors (aged 60 and above) and youth are standard, plus kids aged 5 and below usually ski free. Look for money-saving multi-day passes, family and group packages, and early
season discounts. Mid-size and smaller ski areas can be significantly less expensive.
Winter Packing
Layers of water-wicking syn- thetics, like polypropylene and capilene (never cotton) work best for changing temperatures and can be shed easily during winter activities. Jackets, ski pants and gloves should all be of waterproof material with an interior lining for warmth.
Ski goggles and sunglasses provide much needed eye protection. Sunscreen is a must, given the 1,980 to 3,048m altitudes at ski areas.
When To Visit
To avoid big crowds, plan your holiday around mid- week, early season (Decem- ber) or late season (April). Christmas, New Year and March can be busy, as many American students and fami- lies are on “spring break” from school.
Weather
On average, the sun shines 300 days a year. The average daytime temperature in win- ter is 8oC; –1oC at night.
Getting There
Renoe/Tahoe International Airport is the closest interna- tional airport and is about 45 minutes’ drive away. There
is a shuttle to South Lake Tahoe from the airport (www. southtahoeexpress.com). If you’re driving from San Fran- cisco (about 322km), it takes about four hours, depend- ing on traffic. World famous Yosemite National Park is a four-hour drive to the south.
Getting Around
Most visitors prefer to rent cars, although the local public bus systems (www. bluego.org and www.lake- tahoetransit.com), taxis and low-cost trolleys are widely available around the lake in winter. Many ski areas offer free shuttle services around town.
Tourist Information
Visit www.skitahoe.com and www.laketahoeskiing.com for an overview of ski areas and links to their websites. For general planning and transportation information, visit www.visitinglaketahoe. com.
Need To Know
Photos: Tom Zikas/
North Lake Tahoe Resort Association