Lake Tahoe has been celebrated in Hollywood movies as the ultimate retreat for the rich and famous, or infamous, as in Michael Corleone in Godfather II. While maybe not for Fredo, but for the rest of its visitors, Tahoe is the idyllic setting for a memorable getaway.
The forested mountains with peaks climbing 10,000 feet above sea level and the pristine freshwater lake serve as a year-round outdoor playground of epic scale. Most notable of the attractions to the region are its world-class ski resorts.
Happy Trails
The recently improved Squaw Valley, which invested $24 million in a facelift for the 2012-13 season, offers an endless choices of trails. The terrain features plenty of options for all ski abilities, with access to easiest-way-down, intermediate and double diamond trails
all via one chair lift. Squaw also is famed for its 1960s Olympic skating rink at the top of the tram.
Diamond Peak is not as vast as some of its gargantuan neighbors, but sometimes smaller is better. The attitude at Diamond Peak is laid-back and family friendly, as is their excellent ski school instruction. Diamond Peak is owned by the Incline Village community, which also owns the nearby Incline Village Recreation Center, featuring a pool, sauna, basketball and a variety of other sport facilities. To get the kinks out after a full day of skiing, book an appointment with on-site massage therapist Lyubov Peterson.
The aptly named Heavenly sports an immense terrain for skiers and riders of every ability and preference, including the Roundabout trail that winds around the mountain and 
will get those thighs burning better than any Suzanne Somers contraption. To take home the memories, the resort partners with EpicMix, a photo service that snaps guests’ pics on the slopes that they can access and buy online. Heavenly also hosts tubing at the top of the gondola for $30 an hour.
Skis In, Skis Out
Black-Tie Rentals is the smart skiers way to rent skis in Tahoe. Their five-star service brings your skis to your hotel for fitting, and then picks them up at the bottom of the slopes when you are done. They offer high performance gear in tip-top shape, and if ever needed their technicians are just a phone call away for slope side service.
Going Sno-Mobile
Tahoe’s snow covered mountains also offer spectacular snowmobiling. Zephyr Cove Resort offers private and group tours on their ultra-powerful feature-loaded snowmobiles, outfitted with thumb and hand warmers for comfort. Besides the stunning mountain top views, riders also enjoy a warm-up break on the mountain with hot cocoa made with melted snow.
After Apres-Ski
Tahoe is a causal town, which is convenient for those coming off the mountains and heading straight to dinner. Even in a fine dining restaurant you will see patrons dressed in ski wear with mussed hair. As Tahoe is a terrific family destination, there are plenty of family friendly restaurants. The Lone Eagle Grille at the Hyatt Regency Lake Tahoe Resort, Spa and Casino is one of the area’s finest dining establishments, known for its blazing fireplaces and decadent Baked Tahoe dessert. Local favorite Azzarra’s at Incline Village serves up authentic Italian cuisine in a relaxed family friendly atmosphere. Austin’s, a tiny 13-table restaurant at Incline Village serves up great down-home Tahoe charm and mountain country cooking. South Lake Tahoe’s Riva Grill offers and exquisite menu of gourmet comfort foods and stunning views of the lake to watch the famous shiny wooden Riva boats go by.
The Other Side of Cal-Neva
North Lake Tahoe’s Cal-Neva Resort, Spa and Casino offers affordable and spacious rooms with breathtaking views of the lake, which inspired its former famous patron, Frank Sinatra, to nickname the hotel The Lady of the Lake. The historic Cal-Neva is also known for its network of underground tunnels used by its famous clientele to escape fan mobs.
Throughout the hotel guests cross state borders, as the structure is built on the stateline of California and Nevada, represented by a line painted on the floor and down the middle of the hotel’s swimming pool.
For Kids Only, and Their Parents, and Everyone Else
In nearby Reno, the Terry Lee Wells Nevada Discovery Museum features interactive exhibits themed around Nevada history and natural surroundings. Kids can climb, crawl and explore science, history, math, music and art for hours in its hands-on galleries.
While the majestic snowcapped mountain peaks around seem a world away from Los Angeles., the flight between LAX and RNO is only about an hour. Ski season often lasts through early summer, but even if the snow melts, the good news is that visitors can discover a whole different Tahoe in summer.
