Winter Activities - What To Do At Lake Tahoe

Although South Shore Lake Tahoe has long been loved for skiing and boarding, there are a host of other indoor and outdoor winter activities that win praise for the area from national reporters.

On top of that is the most recent: a top rating from Orbitz.com for 2007 based on bookings for hotels and holiday packages.

Recently SKI Magazine’s 2007 Resort Guide rated Heavenly Mountain Resort as the third best for scenery, off-hill activities and after ski. In the same issue of the magazine Kirkwood Mountain Resort was featured on the cover and given a number eight rating for best "snow" in North America.

Transworld Snowboarding’s winter 2006 issue rated Sierra-at-Tahoe number four for terrain park, and number seven for top pipes and total snowboading resort.

Given these recent awards along with recent snows covering the Tahoe area are just more reminders that the fun has just begun at the United State’s number one winter resorts.

Skiing is still the top draw but many other winter activities provide fun for all ages and interests.

Other Winter Activities at Lake Tahoe

Heavenly’s Gondola – This ride will take your breath away. Be prepared to take photos of the endless vistas of Lake Tahoe visible from the gondola. The resort has numberous snowshoe and hiking trails from one and a half to four miles round-trip. You can spend the day wandering through the Sierra forests. www.skiheavenly.com.
Get on the Lake on the M.S. Dixie or Tahoe Queen Paddlewheel boats. You’ll be surrounded by 10,000 foot mountains crowned with snow and reflected in the pristine waters of North America’s largest mountain lake. Learn lake history and enjoy good food in warm comfort on the two to three hour trips. They depart from Zephyr Cove or Ski Run Boulevard and include a tour of Emerald Bay. www.laketahoecruises.com.
For outdoor ice skating fun try the rink at Heavenly Village nestled in among the galleries, stores, Movie Theater and fine restaurants. The City of South Lake Tahoe has an NHL standard-sized ice rink in the Recreation Complex a little more than a mile from the Village. www.theshopsatheavenly.com and www.recreationintahoe.com.
Put some real excitement in your life with a helicopter ride from HeliTahoe Helicopter over the lake. Even try a full moon tour over the shimmering waters. Other options include the Nevada shore, Secret Harbor and other coves of interest. And, for the ultimate wedding, how about tying the knot while hovering over the lake. HeliTahoe has joined up with Simple Tahoe Weddings so you can ‘take a plunge’ over Tahoe. Call 530-544-2211 or visit www.helitahoe.com.
Try shopping at The Shops at Heavenly Village, The Village Center or the Factory Stores at the Y. Top quality clothing, sporting goods and apparel as well as fine jewelry are featured.
The Village Center nearby has even more options with 29 retail stores. The Factory Stores at the Y offer great bargains and you’ll find them at the intersection of Highway 50 and 89 with 18 more stores of name brand clothes, shoes, training apparel and winter ski wear. Art and photo galleries located throughout the South Shore offer fine creative works. Over 20 galleries offer jewelry, art glass, sculpture, prints and oil and acrylic paintings. www.theshopsatheavenly.com, www.shopthe-y.com and www.tahoeartleague.org.
Ever dream of coming home a millionaire? Nevada gaming establishments offer 7,000 slot machines and 400 gaming tables at the six, 24-hour casinos including Harrah’s, Harveys, MontBleu, Horizon, Bill’s and Lakeside Inn. www.tia.org/Travel/traveltrends.asp.
Like fine dining? South Shore offers every choice from Ciera Steak + Chophouse’s award winning food at the MontBleu Resort Casino & Spa or The Summit at Harrah’s, to a varied collection of local ethnic options, steakhouses, burger shops and cute local restaurants hiding on the side streets. Tahoe’s reputation for fine dining grows every year. www.montbleuresort.com, www.harrahstahoe.com.
Book lovers will find a great read at one of the many area bookstores including Neighbors in the Village Center.
When you’re ready to completely unwind and relax there are a selection of quiet spas throughout the town at the major hotels and casinos as well as small independent shops.