For a winter vacation that is one part adrenaline rush, one part high-energy fun and entertainment, and three parts powder, consider heading south Tahoe South. Perched on the shore of beautiful Lake Tahoe, with big-name entertainers and all-night casinos, this is not your cookie-cutter ski town. Quiet nights playing board games and dipping fondue by the fire's side give way to 24-hour, high-octane adventure, both on-mountain and off. Claiming three of Tahoe's top resorts (Heavenly Mountain Resort, Kirkwood Mountain Resort and Sierra-at-Tahoe), this is one destination to put on your must-ski list.
Tahoe South offers big energy and big adventure, but along with it goes big risk. The siren's song blares loudly in this town famous for leading the world in first chairs missed. So to navigate the pitfalls, and to shed some light on the hidden treasures, we've created this guide for the ultimate Tahoe winter vacation.
Powder
Lake Tahoe is one of the snowiest destinations on the planet commonly measuring its snowfall in feet rather than inches. Receiving over 600 inches (50 feet) of Mother Nature's finest annually, Kirkwood is the undisputed king in this category, but all of Tahoe South's resorts receive better-than-average snowfall.
Insider Tip: The key is knowing your way around. Notorious for their plethora of hidden powder stashes pockets of the good stuff that hang around for days after a storm local knowledge can make the difference. Consider hiring a guide at one of the resorts. Expedition: Kirkwood even runs a cat skiing operation and backcountry certification, and women-specific classes.
Adrenaline and adventure
Tahoe South is an adrenaline junkie's dream, with more than its share of steep lines, huge terrain parks and some of the best tree skiing found in any region. From world-famous runs like Gunbarrel at Heavenly, to panic-inducing ridgelines and couloirs at Kirkwood, to the newly opened Huckleberry Canyon at Sierra, there is plenty challenging terrain to raise the pulse of even the most advanced skiers and riders.
Insider tip: Tahoe is known for its backcountry and "sidecountry" (unpatrolled, uncontrolled terrain adjacent to resort boundaries) terrain, but if you go, slide with a friend, have a shovel, beacon and probe and know how to use them and alert someone to what you're planning. It's very easy to get in over your head in this environment.
Parties
No other ski destination offers casino resorts at the base of the mountains, so it stands to reason that this place can really rock. It's not uncommon to see headline entertainers on the slopes, and then see them play the showrooms that night. Tahoe South also features the biggest New Year's Eve celebration west of Times Square, with up to 30,000 people packing the state line.
Insider Tip: The party isn't just for the mid-20s set. Heavenly Holidays in the Heavenly Village culminates with a big concert at a family-friendly New Year's Eve celebration, featuring a concert, ice carvers and a gondola drop at 9 p.m. Pacific Time.
Families
Just because this destination has a reputation for going big, it doesn't mean it's not a great fit for families. On the contrary, Tahoe South has some of the best beginner terrain and programs around. Kirkwood's Timber Creek may be one of the most underrated beginner areas in all of snowsports. Completely contained, you'll never see an expert in this network of low-angle trails, gullies and whoop-de-dos, which is all accessed by a detachable express chairlift. Sierra-at-Tahoe features the Burton Star Wars Riglet Terrain Park, one of the coolest concepts to get kids interested in skiing and snowboarding, featuring wooden likenesses of Chewbacca, Ewoks and R2D2. And Heavenly, just a few yards away from where they throw the industry's wildest apres parties, has added a 2,022-square-foot kids' ski and ride school facility that is styled after the stunning Tamarack Lodge and will serve fresh, wholesome food on site that kids will really enjoy.
Insider Tip: Each Saturday during the ski season, Heavenly's loveable mascot, Ripperoo, will give children the chance to star in their own parade, as they play music, sing songs, and march through Heavenly Village. The Ripperoo Parade ends with hot chocolate, cookies and photos with Ripperoo.
Affordability
Mark Twain cited Lake Tahoe as providing one of the finest views the world affords. Lake Tahoe can also provide those views affordably. With over 5,000 hotel rooms and a healthy vacation rental market in the region, lodging deals are out there.
The South Shore offers an array of lodging options, from rooms that are steps away from the gambling tables at Harrah's, Harveys and MontBleu to rooms that are steps from the Gondola seats at the Marriott and Embassy Suites.
Insider Tip: There are also plenty of deals on lift tickets to be had, but the best value is clearly the season pass. For example, the Tahoe Local Pass gives seven-day-per-week access to Heavenly, Kirkwood and Northstar (on Tahoe's North Shore) for the price of fewer than five lift tickets.
Access
With the completion of the I-580 freeway extension project connecting Reno to Carson City, getting to Tahoe South for the 2012-13 ski season will be faster, safer and more convenient than ever before.
Insider Tip: When factoring in the convenience of Reno Tahoe International Airport, voted the top airport for skiers by SKI Magazine, and Tahoe South making it OnTheSnow.com's list for "no car needed" resorts, getting to Tahoe South is as easy as any other snowsports destination.
Vibe
Tahoe South is a place that is vibrant, edgy, fun-loving and doesn't take itself too seriously. There are a lot of amazing ski towns, but the locals here will tell you that Lake Tahoe is unique. Different. Special. There is a lot of pride in this destination, and one look at the stunning lake from the top of Heavenly will give you an indication why.
Pete Sonntag is Heavenly's vice president and general manager. He has been involved in the ski industry for the past 26 years.
