Offslope Fun for Families at Lake Tahoe, USA
Don't Ski? Try Skating, Sledding, Mushing or Ski-Doo-ing Instead
Feb 18, 2009
With 17 ski resorts, a cluster of casinos and scenery that stuns the senses, Lake Tahoe is hands-down California's favorite winter playground. But it's not all about skiing. Visitors who don't know a black-diamond run from the bunny hill come here from around the world with other diversions in mind. Among them:
Go Sledding, Visit an Ice Rink or Ride Up to the Views at Tahoe
Scenic cruises: Family members of all ages will enjoy a cruise aboard the replica paddle-wheeler Tahoe Queen or its sister vessel, the M.S. Dixie II. Narrated cruises on both boats cover Tahoe history and take in exquisite vistas.
Slide down a hill: Sledding and tubing parks provide a safe way for kids to get their sliding thrills without running into a tree. Several venues at Tahoe feature machine-carved flumes served by conveyor belt-style, "moving carpet" lifts that make getting to the top easy. The biggest venue is Boreal Mountain Playground on Interstate 80, where two-hour sessions including tubes cost $20.
Scenic lift rides: If your family members ski but you don't, don't let it get you down: Ride up and witness the action instead. Three Tahoe resorts - Northstar-at-Tahoe, Heavenly Mountain Resort and Squaw Valley USA - offer scenic lift rides in enclosed gondolas or cable cars. Once up top you can enjoy a meal, watch a televised sports event or pretend to read a book while you people-watch out of the corner of your eyes.
Skate away: Six ice rinks are available to Lake Tahoe visitors. They include a 9,000-square-foot outdoor sheet at the Northstar-at-Tahoe ski resort; the indoor Lake Tahoe Ice Arena in South Lake Tahoe; the covered Olympic Ice Pavilion at Squaw Valley USA and the outdoor rink at Heavenly Village in South Lake Tahoe.
Rent a Snowmobile, Ride a Dogsled or Snowshoe Through Silence
Can you Ski-Doo? With more than 100 machines in its rental fleet, Zephyr Cove Snowmobile Center, on Tahoe's Nevada side, is the largest snowmobile operator in the United States. Guided rides lead to 9,000-foot ridge tops with knockout views of the azure lake below, while kids as young as 5 can cruise (with parents) on tandem machines in less challenging meadow terrain. Prices start at $149 on a tandem.
Leave only footprints: The sound of your own breath or the howl of a distant coyote might be all you hear on a snowshoe walk. Most Tahoe ski shops rent equipment; expect to pay $15-$20 per day. Favorite venues for novices include Camp Richardson on the south shore, Spooner Lake Cross Country on the east shore and Royal Gorge Cross Country northwest of the lake..
Mushing through the snow: The sensation of riding a sled behind a team of hard-driving dogs is a thrill that relatively few people know. Try it out at the Resort at Squaw Creek, where Wilderness Adventure Dog Sled Tours operates hour-long excursions.
More information: Details on most activities mentioned above are available from the Official Lake Tahoe Visitor Websites.
