 Poster: A snowHead
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Sorry about the redundancy, there are probably thousands of posts about that although I was not able to find them in a fast search.
Anyways, I will be in San Francisco with my husband for 9 days or so and we really want to snowboard, but the fact is that we´ve never been to that side of USA.... we are used only to Colorado (Vail, breck, keystone, beaver, aspen etc area).
It is our 10 year anniversary so we really would like very nice tips to enjoy these days.
Can someone help us?
- Which resort shoud we stay?
- what are the best snowboard places? he is super off piste guy... i'm more in the safe/piste side... not to say slow, also...  We both loved beaver creek (as an example);
- what are the best place to stay/hotels?
- and finally a MUST GO restaurant, if there's any.
AH! Does anyone have an update of snow conditions? We should arrive in mid march!
THANKS A LOOOOT!
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Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
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Heading up to Heavenly for a couple of days tomorrow. Will let you know how it goes. Biggest issue right now seems to be the lack of decent snow...
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Well, the person's real but it's just a made up name, see?
Well, the person's real but it's just a made up name, see?
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Oh No! Really? Thought conditions were good...
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You need to Login to know who's really who.
You need to Login to know who's really who.
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@JF, conditions have generally been poor in CA resorts because of the drought they've been having
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Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
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Thanks for the info!
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You'll need to Register first of course.
You'll need to Register first of course.
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Thanks a lot Bisonator!!! 
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Best skiing is Kirkwood, Heavenly is spectacular scenery wise, probably my favorite. If you want to shorten your drive, Sugar Bowl is always good for a few days. Northstar is good, Mount Rose is another that would have cheaper accommodations.
Alternatively, it wouldn't be a bad idea to get a cheap flight on Southwest out of Oakland or SFO and fly to SLC. You wouldn't spend that much more time. Driving to Tahoe will take you 4,5 hours. Flight to SLC is 90 minutes, and a 45 min drive to about 9 different major resorts... including Snowbird and Alta.
Tahoe is definitely better on the scenery though.
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You'll get to see more forums and be part of the best ski club on the net.
You'll get to see more forums and be part of the best ski club on the net.
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JF............ Inasmuch as it's not been a good year (again) for California, the northern Sierra's have finally gotten just enough, and I mean JUST enough to cover their derriere.......... If temperatures hold up, as well some more snow the conditions will be adequately good. Please understand that I lived in Tahoe for two years (Alpine), and not just at that time, but over two decades via friends have spent many hours in the Sierras and am used to 10 to fifteen feet of base by now. I've seen four years where over thirty to forty feet took place so I am a bit jaded. Here's hoping to more snow.
That said. No one place is best. There is variety. In the greater Tahoe region Sugar Bowl is often overlooked. May I suggest you shine some light on that lovely place. Twenty minutes away down at the lake my favorite overall place is Alpine (Meadows), right next to Squaw. Both are phenomenal. One should also not overlook Northstar nor, most certainly Homewood which, while "small" (in comparison to an Alpine or Squaw or Heavenly) is remarkably lovely to say the least. If your husband wants to ski more rogue, he'll be happiest at an Alpine or Squaw and you can find lovely milder terrain at both, Heavely, too.
Depending upon your preferences your stay can range in the north from luxurious to simple. The accomodations specifically within Squaw are going to be your most lavish. Sunnyside Resort, right on the lake on the west side might also curry your favor, so too, River Ranch. Investigate both. There's also Granlibakken in Tahoe City.
Foodwise...., the old Cal-Neva "Lodge" just inside Nevada by mere feet - a fifteen minute drive on the north shore from Tahoe City offers good cuisine and you can stay there too. Tahoe City has some decent places to eat, let your nose be the judge. At Alpine's entrance is River Ranch, a great lodge and restaurant on the river.
Heavely - South Lake Tahoe is its own animal. The skiing is beautiful and foodwise........., the gambling establishments hold all the aces. Bottom line, you have a multitude of choice and you will have fun. My preference is up north................ One thing............... When you leave San Francisco on your way to Tahoe be certain to be on the road right around 10:00 a.m., 11:00 a.m. at the latest and watch your speed. The CHP (highway patrol) have an uncanny habit of being everywhere. They're very good at doing their job.
So........., San Francisco......... Lived there for six years. What a high wire act of a town. I would hope that by the time you get back on the bus to Brasil, you will have not failed to do the following..............
Explore Golden Gate Park - from midway on to the west - the interesting spots such as the Tea Garden, the De Young Museum, even the casting pools. Ocean Beach (more on that in a minute).
While having a car is important here and there when within San Francisco or obviously outside, given the city's notorious plus penchant for ticketing and towing - it's BIG and deadly serious business, over $300M per year as a matter of fact, impossible parking..........., rent your car when and if you need to per diem and from within the city, never from the aeropuerto unless you get a superior rate and your hotel does not eat you alive on parking charges. Take a shuttle from the airport into the city wherever it is you are staying and let your feet get a workout aided and abetted by public transportation. SFO is such a great town to walk around. Remember that when you pay to ask for a transfer which gives you unlimited travel for at least two to three hours in all directions. But do watch out for Obama's people..., the beggars and scam artists, especially downtown!
You owe it to yourself to visit the Palace of Legion of Honor (Art) Museum which is way out west by the ocean, just off Clement Street. The facility and location - the Spreckles mansion - is is a league of its own with the greatest art collection in the USA West, period.
Taking the Sausalito ferry from SFO over to Sausalito, preferably in the early a.m., having breakfast over there - or in the early evening and having dinner, walking around afterward and then hop back on the ferry into the city is honestly a must. To not do that would be a real loss. Really bundle up!
Ocean Beach. It's that part of the ocean immediately west of Golden Gate Park. A large promenade. Bundle up! Enjoy it. A nice, offbeat quiet place anytime, most certainly sundown............ Between the Beach Chalet restaurant and up at Seal Rocks to the north you have the Cliff House for food and drink.
I am always still up for Chinatown. Great place to walk around and get a dim sum breakfast. Lunch and dinner, too. Some of the shops are great. And really................, you two were in San Francisco and did not go to Tadich Grill on California, as well Sam's on Bush? You have to be kidding? Eat at both assuming you love seafood which, of course, you do. I'll put in a nice word for North Beach and Mario's at Union. Fun place, good, easy food. And oh yes, Tommaso's on Kearny, just below Columbus. Memorable these all are. Many other places, too.
Do have a formal drink at the (formal) Top of the Mark at the Mark Hopkins in the late afternoon around 4:30 on, on a weekday. When you're there you two will understand.
Of course you'll take a walk upon the Golden Gate Bridge. Possibly all the way over to Sausalito. And you'll possibly hop into your car, cross the GG bridge, take the first exit - Sausalito exit, immediately curve off to the left, stop, take the left turn through the tunnel, take the first right - before getting back on the highway/bridge!!! - go UP the road to the famous Marin headlands overlook of San Francisco that you've seen many times in photos. Day or night it's a must before you leave.
I'll leave it at that.
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snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
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@JF, Have been skiing with folks form CA here in Utah as conditions arent good. As mentioned above easier to fly to SLC, get a 4X4 if you can  and ski the Cottonwoods. Much more fun and over 12 "of powder last night really has helped.
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And love to help out and answer questions and of course, read each other's snow reports.
And love to help out and answer questions and of course, read each other's snow reports.
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@bones and @HeidiAmsterdam Thanks for the help and inputs.
@equinoxranch fantastic post and really really helpful - will follow 100%. Thanks a lot!!!!!!!!
Hope I can give you all good tips about Brasil some day! 
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Was at Heavenly last weekend. Drive up from SF took 6 hours which after an 11 hour flight wasn't the best! We hit the SF rush hour and then when we hit the Sierra Nevada hills it snowed quite heavily. The hire company "forgot" to provide a 4x4 or indeed winter tyres so I solidered on. The snow chain control waved me through and to be fair I've driven on much, much worse here in Scotland.
So Heavenly was great. We had fresh snow all weekend and around 5" fell in an hour at lunch on the Saturday. The quality of snow is much lauded and indeed it was fantastic soft powdery stuff - excellent! A shame there wasn't much base at low levels. The blacks back to the California base station were out of action which was a shame as they looked great fun. Spent most of Saturday on the California side and Sunday in Nevada. Sunday was poor for visibility but a good opportunity to spend time playing in the trees!
Biggest surprise was the lack of more challenging runs. Motts canyon was closed (Avalanche control) and as noted a lot of the blacks are on the lower mountain and need more snow. To be fair I'd say the runs are generally graded easier than Europe. Lots of fun blues and easy reds by European standards.
The town was pretty large and by US standards not too much of the chain restaurant/store blight.
Would love to go back to Tahoe in better snow depths and spend more time. I believe the epic ticket gives you access to all vail resorts which would make sense if you have a car - which in the U.S. is really required.
Final point is that at $96 a day for a lift pass it isn't cheap!
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You know it makes sense.
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The hire company "forgot" to provide a 4x4 or indeed winter tyres so I solidered on.
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How could they "forgot" to provide the car of your choice? So do they forgot to charge you the higher prices too?
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The snow chain control waved me through and to be fair I've driven on much, much worse here in Scotland.
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The chain control let you through is probably because it's not in "control" state yet (or after it's been lifted). Those guys aren't known for standing in the snow as a greeter...
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