 Poster: A snowHead
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I have searched and found several posts on the benefits of resorts around this area.
Lake Tahoe seems to be a good choice but have a couple of questions that I would like answers to...maybe someone that has been there can offer advice ??
- We will have a car but would like to stay somewhere close to the lifts...idea being that we just get up in the morning and Ski. Is that possible?
- Where is the best place to stay in this area for a nice setting? Have read that a lot of the hotels mean driving for 10 mins just to find a different restuarant?
- People mention that you can drive to the different resorts in the Tahoe area. Is that true? If so how far apart are they and what are the best ones?
- Any hotel / location recommendations would be great. Am planning the trip for Jan 06 so have time to change my mind !!!
Thanks so much for your help.
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Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
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rooney, I'm impressed at posting in between taking potshots at the Arsenal goal!
Great resorts that I've been to are Squaw Valley and Alpine Meadows. They're really close, and to a number of others.
The Lodge at Squaw is right by the lifts, but if you're near the lifts, you will have to drive to restaurants. If you want a choice of restaurants, try Tahoe City (picturesque) or Truckee (not so).
Got to go - as must you - extra time in Cardiff!
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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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You can now stay ski in/out in South Lake Tahoe as a gondola has been built close to the town. You will able to walk to the restaurants in the evenings and choose from eating in California or Nevada. I have skied Heavenly/Alpine Meadows/Sierra at Tahoe/Squaw/Northstar. Most resorts seemed to be about an hours drive from South Lake Tahoe, regardless of actual distance. Spectacular driving round the lake, or for a really different experience, a paddle steamer runs from S/L Tahoe taking skiers to Squaw for the day 
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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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you may have found this thread, if not it may help
http://snowheads.com/phpbb/viewtopic.php?p=109764&highlight=tahoe#109764 As regards your points
- We will have a car but would like to stay somewhere close to the lifts...idea being that we just get up in the morning and Ski. Is that possible? ........yes it is possible at Squaw Valley and to an extent Heavenly
But if you want to go anywhere else you have to drive there. Bear in mind there is no interlinking between the resorts so you go to one, ski it and come away again. So you can only be close to one resorts lifts if you carry through this plan.
- Where is the best place to stay in this area for a nice setting? Have read that a lot of the hotels mean driving for 10 mins just to find a different restuarant? ...........this is California (or Nevada). Nobody walks anywhere. South Lake Tahoe is the only place where you might think about walking. Personally I would not stay there. Too glitzy (tacky) with all the casinos etc. We have been 3 times and each time stayed in Incline Village which was fine for us (with kids). If you want to party dont go there. We were less than an hours drive from maybe 7 ski areas
- People mention that you can drive to the different resorts in the Tahoe area. Is that true? If so how far apart are they and what are the best ones? ............see above. Squaw Valley/ Alpine Meadows/Mount rose we enjoyed. Northstar is ok (if you have intermediates and below in your group they will like it, not much for experts there). Heavenly was the busiest when we went (mostly UK school trips over Easter. A lot of terrain though and some great views. We also tried Sugar Bowl which had some nice terrain.
- Any hotel / location recommendations would be great. Am planning the trip for Jan 06 so have time to change my mind !!!................where you stay really depends on the composition of your group and what you want to do. Personally we stayed at the North end of the Lake and drove to Heavenly to ski it (in good weather an easy 30-40 min drive round the east side of the Lake). Squaw and Alpine were at most 30 mins away -Sugar Bowl is a bit farther. Northstar and Mount Rose are maybe 15-20 mins drive. Also how many in your group and do you want an hotel or a condo and how much do you want to spend?
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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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You'll need to Register first of course.
You'll need to Register first of course.
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This year we went to Squaw Valley staying at the Squaw Valley Lodge which is right next to the lifts but only 50 - 100yrds from the main village centre with at least 5 or 6 good /reasonable resturants / bars.
While we were there we did visit Heavenly (45mins), and Northstar(20 mins) (great place for poor visablity days). We thought the North end of the lake is a lot nicer than the south side. But some may prefer the south side as probably more to do if you don't want to ski all the time.
In terms of sking I found Squaw better than Heavenly due to quite a few flats around heavenly and a better variety and quieter runs in Squaw
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also adding tostuarth, comments the I89 which is the road down the west side of the lake is quite often closed at Emerald bay due to avalanche danger, therefore have to take the east side which takes slightly longer extra 30mins or so
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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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4 of us in our group. All around the 30 age but not really into partying (2 boys 2 girls). Prefer nice food, nice beer and great skiing
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Oh - and thanks for your replies !
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snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
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If you go to South Lake Tahoe you have reasonably ready access to Heavenly ski area, loads of hotels/restaurants, access to other resorts such as Kirkwood but a fairly tacky ambience brought on by the casinos and the traffic they engender.
If you go North then it is quieter, nicer (in my view but maybe not yours), great access to a number of resorts, OK access to Heavenly but poor access to say Kirkwood.
I have not skied Kirkwood so I can pass no view on it. Squaw and Alpine Meadows were good, there are a number of others worth a day, maybe 2.
Wherever you go the likelihood is you will have to drive, either to ski or to eat. The only way round that would be to stay in South Lake Tahoe, ski at Heavenly and walk in town or stay at the Squaw Valley base, ski only at Squaw and eat only there. Neither seems a good idea to me.
We have always stayed in condos, of which there are many. Generally you can expect 2 bedrooms, 2 bathrooms,kitchen, living room, TV (probably 2 or 3),DVD,stereo, washing machine, dishwasher etc. They are kitted out way beyond what you would get in Europe, but the decor can be a bit "woodsy".
The following place seems well recommended in American guide books and is very handy for Squaw/Alpine (but you will not be walking anywhere from here as it is a car drive from anywhere)
http://www.riverranchlodge.com/tahoe/SITE/top/listing.cfm/lodging/58/144.43537.57911057/direct?c=1
Alternatively there are the places at the Squaw base (usually expensive) or various places on the North end of the Lake
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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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OK, so it's now my turn.
Kirkwood is a great place to ski, BUT it is difficult to get to and was snowed in a couple of times this season.
Heavenly is OK - stay in the South Lake and feel like you're in Blackpool!
Route 89 on the West Shore is often closed at Emerald Bay because of the snow.
In my very biased opinion Squaw is the best place to ski, although expensive to stay at, but there are 5 places to stay within walking distance of the lifts - and a couple more less than a mile away. There are currently 8 restaurants in the village that serve dinner, and you can eat at High Camp until 9pm, and then ski down!
The thing to do in Tahoe is to rent a cabin, and drive to where you want to ski - everyone drives everywhere!
As for access to resorts - Tahoe City is closer to Diamond Peak, Homewood, Alpine, and Squaw. South Lake is closest to Heavenly, Sierra-at-Tahoe, and Kirkwood. Truckee is closest to Northstar, Boreal, and Sugar Bowl. Mt Rose is best accessed from Reno, depending on the road conditions.
Expect the drive from San Francisco to take 4 hours, unless it is snowing, and they close the road! Longest time it has taken me this season was 9 hours! Do not rent any vehicle that doesnot have 4 wheel drive, and make sure it has chains - even with 4 wheel drive you can be required to use chains in California (unlikely, but you never know!).
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