South Lake Tahoe offers thousands of miles of skiable terrain, sightseeing cruises on its sparkling lake and relaxing spa treatments. And when the snow falls, it’s a magical place for travelers of any age.
Following are suggestions for families ready to dive into South Lake Tahoe’s winter landscape.
Places to Ski
Located 30 minutes from South Tahoe, Sierra at Tahoe Resort offers a good mix of beginner, intermediate and advanced trails across its 2,000 acres of terrain. Families can indulge in the mountain’s backcountry skiing or tree skiing for some exhilarating fun.
Heavenly Mountain Resort is also full of activity options for families. Take a break from the slopes for a meal or shopping at Heavenly Village, and carve out time for a group photos at the scenic overlook accessed via the Heavenly Mountain Gondola. The ride up provides some of the best views of the area’s surrounding mountains and lake, as well as the Nevada desert.
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www.sierraattahoe.com
www.skiheavenly.com
Where to Eat
For casual family dining, sit down for brunch and sweeping views of Lake Tahoe at Jimmy’s at The Landing Resort and Spa. The art deco restaurant serves classic breakfast items and condiments made in-house.
Cold Water Brewery & Grill is a new restaurant that brews its own beer and serves up good fare, too. Favorites on the menu include the kale Caesar salad, mussels and bacon-wrapped dates. The kids’ menu offers classic choices such as corn dogs and grilled cheese.
www.thelandingtahoe.com
www.tahoecoldwaterbrewery.com
Ways to Play
Another off-the-slopes, family-friendly activity is a cruise on MS Dixie II or Tahoe Queen. The boats operate out of different marinas (Ski Run Marina and Zephyr Cove, respectively) on the lake, but both show off the same scenic waters on 2.5-hour journeys.
Although these cruises are available year-round, they are particularly beautiful when the contiguous mountains are capped with snow.
www.zephyrcove.com
Kids might also want to swap their skies for snowshoes or inner tubes at Blizzard Mountain, located at Sierra at Tahoe. Horse-drawn sleigh rides are another activity that families can enjoy together, courtesy of local operator Borges Sleigh and Carriage Rides. The rides take place along the old Pony Express Trail and end at the South Shore area of Lake Tahoe.
www.sleighride.com
Places to Stay
Families can sprawl out in condo-style accommodations available at The Ridge Tahoe. The resort is located 7,600 feet in elevation on the Nevada side of Lake Tahoe and offers access to Heavenly’s Stagecoach Chairlift via the on-site Skier Express.
Late night meals after a long day of snow play are possible in each suite’s full kitchen. Adult and teen activities at The Ridge include tennis, movie nights, snowshoeing, scavenger hunts and yoga.
www.ridgetahoeresort.com
Families can also choose to stay at Lake Tahoe Resort Hotel, set near the Heavenly gondola. Transportation to the property from Reno airport is convenient — the South Tahoe Express airport shuttle ($29.75 per person) drops guests off at the front door.
Guests also benefit from complimentary hot breakfast buffet coupons upon check-in, which is served in the hotel’s atrium daily, and can also dine at the on-site restaurant, Echo, which services American fare and seafood.
www.tahoeresorthotel.com
