Feel the SoCal Vibe on Tahoe’s North Shore

1. Where to Stay

Soak in two outdoor pools and hot tubs at The Ritz.Photo: Courtesy of The Ritz

Warm up at the

Watch the sunset from one of 24 lakeside cottages at the

Take advantage of ski-and-stay package deals at Reno’s casinos: Kids under 12 ski for free at Northstar under

2. Where to Eat

Listen to jazz bands on weekend nights in the lounge at Baxter's.Photo: Court Leve

Embrace NoCal’s locavore mentality at

Taste Napa and Sonoma wines (from $2 each) at the candlelit wraparound bar at

Catch Tahoe’s best après-ski deal at

3. What to Do

Ride the Summit Six chair for unobstructed views of the lake.Photo: Courtesy of Alpine Meadows

The North Shore’s three big ski resorts have their own personalities, each catering to a certain type of rider. Coast with families at

Test your mettle at

Join the bearded powderheads and California longboard surfers at

4. Insider’s Tip

Take advantage of open slopes and free wine at Diamond Peak.Photo: Jeff Engerbretson

Score midday deals at

5. Oddball Day

Stroll Virginia City's C Street, once the setting for the sixties TV Western Bonanza.Photo: Courtesy of Virginia City Convention and Tourism Authority

Play drunken cowboy around the saloons in Virginia City, Nevada, a preserved gold-rush town just east of Lake Tahoe. Don a hard hat for a tour of the old Best & Belcher gold and silver mine, which departs on weekends from an opening behind the bar at the Ponderosa Saloon (adults $5.50; 106 S. C Street; 775-847-0540). Next, stroll down the wooden sidewalks along C Street — once a part of the Bonanza set — to the Delta Saloon (18 S C St 775-847-0789), a slot machine filled bar that’s been around since the 1863. Finally, order a whiskey at the

6. Links

Find resort info, statistics, and deals at

North Lake Tahoe is a fairly spread-out place, with several towns that offer different levels of accommodation, atmospheres, and food options. Sort it out at

Get a local’s perspective on what the lake’s fickle weather’s doing, which restaurants are worth checking out, and any cool events at the blog

Find the cheapest beds, buffets, and blackjack tables in Reno at

Feel the SoCal Vibe on Tahoe’s North Shore