PHOTO COURTESY OF THE RITZ-CARLTON, LAKE TAHOE
A trip to Lake Tahoe “opened my eyes to the … exhilaration of winter activities,” Stacey Marcus says.
By STACEY MARCUS
Attention snow bunnies who welcomed our recent blizzard with arms wide open for ski poles, I have good news. Out West the skiing is even better. Thanks to the largest snowpack in 22 years, the Best of Tahoe Resorts has extended its ski season through April 23.
As someone who just visited Lake Tahoe, Calif., I promise that if you are a fan of snow-filled wonderlands, this is the spring of your dreams. Let me preface this with a candid confession that on most winter days you can find me in my office, with my dog under my desk, wearing layers of clothes and counting down the days until the posies pop in my backyard.
A recent trip to Lake Tahoe opened my eyes to the sheer beauty of snow-laced mountains and exhilaration of winter activities. With a snowstorm slated to hit upon my arrival, I was worried about traveling across the country. An upbeat staffer at Northstar California Ski Resort told me they were accustomed to safely transporting guests from the Reno airport. She was right. The ride to the resort from the airport was a great orientation to the wonders of winter weather. The driver calmly took us on back roads, because the highways were closed. I felt safe as I marveled at the glistening landscape of white while we headed to The Ritz-Carlton, Lake Tahoe.
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The hotel is situated mid-mountain in the Northstar California Ski Resort. North Lake Tahoe’s first luxury resort features ski-in, ski-out access, ski valet services and an inter-mountain gondola connecting guests between the nearby Village at Northstar and the slope-side hotel. Within a 15-minute drive of Lake Tahoe and the historic town of Truckee, the year-round destination resort includes 170 guest rooms and suites.
Highlights of the resort’s proximity to Northstar included:
- Steps away from the mid-mountain Northstar chair lifts for ski-in ski-out access.
- More than 2,900 acres of beginner to advanced ski/snowboard terrain on Northstar-at-Tahoe ski area.
- World-class children’s and adults’ ski and snowboard school.
- Access to the only Burton Snowboard Academy in the United States.
- Access to the Northstar Cross Country Center for snowshoeing and nordic skiing.
My favorite experiences included learning the fine art of making the perfect s’more at Marshmology, lazing around the fire pit and snowshoeing at Northstar while viewing the most breathtaking vistas of snow-covered trees. I also loved hanging out in the Living Room, an open circular area where one can dine, toast toes fireside and watch families revel in the warmth after a day spent outdoors.
Lake Tahoe has much to offer this spring.
- To learn more about Northstar, Calif., visit northstarcalifornia.com.
- To explore accommodations at The Ritz-Carlton, Lake Tahoe, visit ritzcarlton.com/en/hotels/california/lake-tahoe.
- To check the weather go to opensnow.com/dailysnow/tahoe.
- If you want to get a good deal on a pass for next season, check out snow.com/epic-pass/passes/tahoe-local-pass.aspx.