1. Where to Stay
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
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
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
Score midday deals at
5. Oddball Day
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