North Lake Tahoe
Lake Tahoe Area: A complete all-seasons travel destination, this remarkable area offers boating, water skiing, fishing, camping, hiking, mountain biking, and Snow Requests as well as fine dining and resorts with headliner entertainment.
Lake Tahoe itself–the largest and deepest alpine lake in North America–is ringed by mountains and resorts. At North Lake Tahoe, paddlewheelers depart from Tahoe City on the north shore and South Lake Tahoe on the south shore in summer.
In Tahoe City, see the Gatekeeper’s Museum, an authentic 19th-century log cabin formerly used by the lake dam’s gatekeepers. Also, bend over and view gigantic trout in the Truckee River from the appropriately named Fanny Bridge.
Along the western shore, Emerald Bay, D. L. Bliss, and Sugar Pine Point Park offer campsites and picnic areas.
North of the stately Ehrman Mansion, in Sugar Pine Point State Park, a trail winds through the forest to Sugar Pine Point Lighthouse.
On the shore of Emerald Bay is Vikingsholm, a 1929 replica of an enchanting Scandinavian castle.
South Lake Tahoe ffers abundant opportunities for lodging, dining, recreation, and entertainment. Stop at the Lake Tahoe Historical Museum Complex for more history on the area.
West of Lake Tahoe is Eldorado National Forest, with its Desolation Wilderness Area that encompasses 80 lakes and streams.
Within the Tahoe National Forest, pan for gold, explore historic towns, hike, bike, and cross-country ski. You’ll also find Squaw Valley, U.S.A., the site of the 1960 Winter Olympics.
To the north, in Truckee, an old rail and logging center, enjoy quaint shops and restaurants. Restored 19th-century buildings reflect the town’s Old West character.
At nearby Donner Memorial Park, the Emigrant Trail Museum describes the tragic ordeal of a group of emigrants who were trapped at this spot in the winter of 1846. Hike the nature trail along Donner Creek, and swim, fish, and boat in Donner Lake.
Lake Tahoe is a world famous winter destination. It’s combination of 22 resorts, ideal winter weather, stunning scenery and variety of restaurants and lodging is unmatched in the U.S. It’s possible to stay on either the North or South Shores and take free transport to most all of Tahoe’s largest resorts.
Heavenly’s 1998-99 capital improvement plan is the single largest year expenditure since the resort’s opening 43 years ago! Highlights include two new high-speed detachable quad chairs- the Gunbarrel Express and Stagecoach Express. These lifts serve main transportation arteries on the resort’s California and Nevada sides and will make it even more convenient to ski or ride the entire mountain. Heavenly’s also building a new Perfect Turn triple chairlift, the resort’s first-ever daycare center and creating two new terrain parks and half-pipes.
Squaw Valley USA is setting a new standard in lift technology with the installation of North America’s first Funitel- a revolutionary high-speed, high-capacity aerial transport system that will practically make weather and wind closures a thing of the past. The 15 seat passenger cabins travel from the base village to the mid-mountain Gold Coast complex. Squaw is also unveiling a new Pulse gondola lift connecting Coast Coast to the resort’s second on mountain-complex- High Camp. Topping off an incredible summer of improvements, Squaw’s Cable Car has been overhauled with a new electrical system and two new state-of-the-art cabins. Intrawest, North America’s most respected mountain resort developer, hopes to break ground in 1999 on a $250 million alpine village to be built at the base of Squaw Valley.
The Northstar Club, a recently completed four-story building at the base of Northstar-at-Tahoe’s gondola, features 14 condominium units offered on a 1/7 ownership plan. It’s lower floors house a new high-tech rental shop and a parking garage. Northstar’s also remodeled the mid-mountain, Big Springs Day Lodge, enclosing the upper deck and adding a new bar and bakery.
Alpine Meadows is saying goodbye to its oldest chairlift, Weasel, and hello to it’s new replacement- a larger capacity triple chair. The new lift will unload skiers higher on the mountain than the old lift- at Contemplation Point below Arts Knob. The resort has also upgraded the popular Scott lift to a triple chairlift. Ski storage and lockers have been added to the Base Lodge and the Boardroom (snowboard shop) greatly expanded.
Kirkwood is replacing their popular Sunrise chairlift with a new fixed-grip quad, increasing capacity by over 60 percent. The Mountain Village development continues to move forward with the opening of a new five-star hotel- the Mountain Club- and ground-breaking on a number of private homes and condominium lodges.
Sierra-at-Tahoe is adding a new tubing area (with lift) and a new barbecue deck in the West Bowl area. The resort’s put addition seating into the base lodge and expanded the snowboard rental shop. All these improvements were suggested in a poll taken of Sierra customers last winter.
Diamond Peak’s Child Ski Center is installing a conveyor-type surface lift to gently carry its youngest students back up the hill. Snowmaking is being added to popular intermediate runs on the upper mountain. The rental shop’s increased it’s supply of snowboards 100 percent. Over at Diamond Peak Cross-Country they’ve purchased additional snowshoes and metal-edge skis.
Sugar Bowl opens a new Day Lodge at their Mt. Judah entry. The Lodge is 20,000 square feet with indoor/outdoor dining, retail and rental shops. Sundecks total another 19,000 square feet. In addition, the Christmas Tree lift (a link between the rest of the resort and Mt. Judah) has been upgraded to a quad chairlift.
Boreal is expanding their already impressive snowmaking capacity to further guarantee an early opening date. They’ve also replaced their Mineshaft lift with a new triple chairlift, increasing service to the freestyle park and the resort’s best advanced terrain.
Royal Gorge Cross Country is inviting all children under 12 to ski free this year. They have also created a Frequent Skier card which gives a free day on the trails after every four days of skiing. The resort is also offering guests of Wilderness Lodge the option of staying in new private cabins (in addition to rooms inside the Lodge). The cabins are log construction and feature a fireplace and jacuzzi tub.
Mt. Rose has completed their main lodge renovations with a new entrance and walkway. The resort has increased its rental inventory with the newest snowboards and skis.
Tahoe Donner is giving free ski or snowboard lessons to children ages 7-12 when they purchase an all day lift ticket (good mid-week, non-holiday).
Soda Springs is adding a second tow to their snow tubing area for younger children and their families.
Use can always use our California vacation planner and you will be contacted by our renowned Virtuoso Travel Agents at the time you prefer, or just call: Travelwizard.com: Phone: 1 415 827 4981 or 1-415-446-5252 between 8:00 am and 5:00 Pacific Standard Time.
