Can you answer Ness’s question about Lake Tahoe?:

My husband and I are going to South Lake Tahoe for our 1st anniversary and the only night we could go is on a sunday night. I just found out that all the night clubs are closed. I thought that the town never shut down. So my question is does, anyone know of some fun things to do in South Lake besides some gambling? (we’ll already do that )

Heavenly Valley Ski Area

Can you answer Mista U’s question about Lake Tahoe?:

if so, how were the snow conditions and is it worth making a 4 hour drive down there?

Lake Tahoe Vacation Rentals

Upon retiring fourteen years ago, we spent a great deal of time traveling the world in search for the perfect retirement haven. Eleven years ago we selected Puerto Vallarta, Mexico as the location for our main retirement residence.

Vallarta, located on the Mexican Riviera and only two to four hours from most major cities in the US, offers all of the modern day conveniences, numerous activities for retirees, fine dining and social life, and perfect weather for almost eight months of the year, from October through May. During those months, the average daily temperature is 73*F with an average monthly rainfall of less than 0.4 inches of rain; in other words, more than 97% of the days are absolutely ideal for golfing, tennis, fishing, or what ever outdoor activity interests you.

The weather in Vallarta during the summer months of June through September is similar to that of Houston, Texas with high temperatures during the daytime and evening showers almost every other night. Due to the oppressive tropical summers, most of the retirees use this time period for travel or visiting their friends and families back in the States or Canada.

We have selected the Lake Tahoe area as our summer residence for those months where the average daily temperature is 68*F with an average monthly rainfall of less than 0.3 inches of rain; resulting in sunny days more than 93% of the summer time period and absolutely ideal for all outdoor activities.

By combining Vallarta with Tahoe, we are pretty much assured of perfect weather year round with a better than 95% probability of a sunny day tomorrow. In fact, the annual rainfall in our world averages about four inches which is comparable to a single thunder storm in most other regions of the world!

Aside from perfect weather for eight months in Vallarta and four months in Tahoe, there are a number of other similarities to be found between these two beautiful areas. Both have magnificent mountainside and water views. Tahoe is nestled along the southern shore of the 22 mile long Lake Tahoe, the second deepest lake in the US and eighth deepest in the world, measuring 1,645 feet at its deepest point. Vallarta is nestled on the south shore of the 25 mile diameter Banderas Bay, one of the deepest bays in the world, measuring 3,000 feet at its deepest point.

Pines are abundant in Tahoe whereas palms are abundant in Vallarta. Many of the colorful birds in Tahoe are blue jays and red cardinals whereas many of Vallarta’s are yellow and black orioles and green parrots. While brown bears roam the mountainsides around Lake Tahoe scavenging for scraps of food, crocodiles are doing the same around Vallarta’s ponds; beware of both!

The mountain views are simply majestic with 3,000 foot elevation changes in every direction, providing spectacular horseback riding and hiking trails around both areas. Golf, tennis, fishing, and boating are just a few of the many daytime activities available in both cities. The rolling hills and shorelines provide the perfect terrain for some of the most beautiful golf courses found anywhere. Very active nightlife in both cities can be enjoyed in the wonderful restaurants and nightclubs. Of course, South Lake Tahoe, Nevada is famous for its world class casinos but few know that Vallarta also has a new casino with slot machines; more are sure to come if and when gambling is fully legalized in the area.

Although both of these clean, safe, and visitor friendly areas host millions of tourists annually, Puerto Vallarta, with its 350,000 inhabitants is substantially more populated than the Greater Lake Tahoe Basin which has only 55,000 permanent residents. In order to serve the residents and tourists, each area has at least three modern hospitals, a number of schools and university branches, modern shopping centers, and all the services required to support the people in the area. Both areas have high speed internet service and satellite TV, however mail delivery in Vallarta is terribly slow and it’s virtually non-existent in many communities around Lake Tahoe.

Puerto Vallarta has a huge modern airport, whereas Lake Tahoe is accessed from the Reno Airport which is approximately 40 miles away. There are three huge modern marinas with moorage for 1,200 large yachts in the Puerto Vallarta area and there are a number of small marinas scattered around Lake Tahoe for docking smaller boats used on the lake. Vallarta has a huge modern Maritime Terminal serving the passenger cruise ships that arrive daily; obviously, there is no such Maritime Terminal in the Tahoe area! On the other hand, Tahoe has a number of beautiful ski lodges and again quite obviously, Vallarta has no such lodges!

In summarizing, for those of you fortunate baby boomers wondering what to do with the rest of your life and where to do it, we suggest that you seriously consider this combination of retirement areas; living in Puerto Vallarta during the winter months and Lake Tahoe during the summer months represents the very best of both worlds.



Thanks to Jim Scherrer for contributing this article to our Lake Tahoe blog:

Bed And Breakfast Lake Tahoe

With more than 100 lifts, 500 runs and 17,000 skiable acres, few places on earth can compete with the overwhelming skiing and snowboarding experiences at Lake Tahoe. Indeed, Lake Tahoe boasts the greatest concentration of ski areas in North America. For serious winter enthusiasts, the dilemma isn’t whether or not to make a trip to Lake Tahoe – it’s where to ski or board once they get there!

Heavenly Resort

South Lake Tahoe, California

If you’re looking for superior scenic beauty, jaw-dropping views of Lake Tahoe, and world-class ski runs, you need look no further than Heavenly, located in atmospheric Lake Tahoe. At 4,800 acres, Heavenly is the largest resort in California and boasts the state’s longest vertical drop at 3,500 feet. With nearly 300 days of California sunshine and over 350 inches of average yearly snowfall, Heavenly offers its skiers and snowboarders an experience unlike any other resort. And on those rare occasions when snow is scarce, Heavenly relies on its snowmaking system, the West Coast’s largest and most powerful – in fact, it’s powerful enough to cover 70 percent of its trails in machine-made now. This winter playground offers visitors 95 trails ranging from wide-open cruisers to plunging 1,200 foot chutes and 30 ski lifts, 9 of which are high-speed. And snowboarders feel right at home on this mountain; the entire resort is open to boarders and both sides of the mountain have a terrain park and halfpipes positioned near lifts for easy access with complete snowboard service stations located nearby.

This year’s improvements to the resort are significant; Heavenly has invested nearly $15 million in upgrades, making it no surprise that Heavenly was recently named among the top 15 ski resorts in SKI Magazine’s “Top 60 Resort Guide.” Olympic Express, the resort’s newest ski lift, shuttles skiers and snowboarders to four new runs. Beginners are in for as much excitement as experienced skiers and snowboarders. Heavenly has created a new Ski School Sales & Adventure center in the heart of Heavenly Village. Guests take advantage of a private learning area in a secluded meadow, an area dedicated solely to beginners. Skiers and boarders of all experience levels can also take advantage of Heavenly Ski School’s internationally known professional instructional staff by participating in group or private lessons, specialty clinics, or adventure packages. And for those visitors opting for a different type of adrenaline rush, the Heavenly Sky Flyer at Adventure Peak offers a thrilling view and spine-tingling excitement. The elevated zip cable ride drops riders from the top of Tamarack Express to the top of the gondola – a vertical drop of 525 feet at nearly 50 miles an hour.

Guests at Heavenly can choose from a multitude of ski and stay packages and lodging options in the area, including hotels, motels, condos and bed & breakfasts. Heavenly has partnered with many of these properties to offer special rates to skiers and snowboarders. The Lake Tahoe area offers lodging for every type of visitor. Casino enthusiasts can stay at the Horizon Casino Resort located on Lake Tahoe’s south shore and just minutes from Heavenly. For those looking for suites with countless amenities and a “home-away-from-home” can choose Tahoe Season Resort, which offers one-bedroom suites with private spas, refrigerators, microwaves, fireside lounges and game rooms. Numerous condominiums and bed and breakfasts offer an alternative to hotels and casinos for those looking for a more home-like experience.

Heavenly’s 2007-2008 season runs from November 16 – April 23. Heavenly offers a wide variety of ticket prices and options to fit your needs. Pre-purchasing tickets can save you money and allow you to earn points with ticket, ski school and dining purchases. Adult two-passes begin at $128 early in the season and vary in price depending upon the time and length of your visit.

Alpine Meadows

North Lake Tahoe, California

Rated one of North America’s top resorts by Skiing, SKI, and Transworld Snowboarding magazines, Alpine Meadows towers over North Lake Tahoe with a summit of 8,637 feet and a base of 6,835 feet. Skiers and snowboarders are whisked up the majestic mountain on one of 13 lifts, including one high-speed detachable six-passenger chair, two high-speed express quads. The resort’s terrain serves beginners through experts and over 100 designated runs. The mountain’s snowmaking machines cover a network of runs served by 11 of the resort’s lifts. The skiing and snowboarding options at this resort are endless, sprawling across a diverse terrain on two mountains covered by winding trails through alpine trees, deep powder bowls, and unmarked runs.

Snowshoers and hikers enjoy Alpine Meadows alongside snowboarders and skiers. Alpine offers marked trails that meander through old-growth forests near the base of the mountain, and Alpine’s Adventure Zones provide an experience similar to hiking in the backcountry. Alpine Meadows takes its responsibility to the environment seriously and participates in several proactive environmental projects, including biodiesel fuel usage, native plant revegetation projects and extensive recycling. The Resort also sells SkiGreen tags for $2 each throughout the resort. Each purchase is a contribution which equates to 150 miles of not driving a car or of preventing 140 pounds of greenhouse gas emissions from entering the atmosphere.

Skiers and snowboarders of all skill levels take advantage of the Alpine Meadow’s special interest clinics including the Early Season Warm-Up, Women’s Clinics and Men’s Clinics. Alpine’s High Adventure Tours, new for the 2008 season, offers advanced skiers and boarders the unique opportunity to experience off-boundary trails and runs and includes lunch and shuttle transportation from the main lodge to the remote areas. For visitors interested in testing the newest in winter sports equipment, Alpine Meadows offers a high-performance demonstrative equipment program. Children aren’t left out of the fun at this resort; an entire terrain park is dedicated to kids, as well as an indoor play area, a parent’s lounge and specialized instruction for the mountain’s youngest visitors. The mountain’s Family Ski Zone offers visitors a place to ski at a slower pace than other runs, allowing beginning skiers and boarders a place to develop confidence and skills before hitting the open trails.

Alpine Meadows partners with over 150 lodging partners in the Tahoe and Reno area in order to offer unbeatable ski and stay packages that allow visitors to choose from participating lodges, inns, hotels and motels. Packages at the Hilton, for instance start at just $240, while the Granlibakken Resort and Conference Center offers hotel-style rooms, studios, suites and townhouses starting at just $109. Customized packages are also available.

Alpine Meadow’s typical season runs from mid-November to late May, weather and snow conditions permitting. Ticket prices range from daily rates of $58 for an adult to $63 during holiday dates. For skiers and snowboarders planning more than one day of skiing, the Resort offers multi-day passes to save visitors money.

Diamond Peak

North Lake Tahoe, Nevada

Diamond Peak’s focus on intermediate trails and its breathtaking scenery set it apart from other Tahoe resorts. Its elevation tops out at an awe-inspiring 8,540 feet and it boasts over 650 acres of skiable terrain. The mountains have 30 named trails, plus open bowls and tree skiing areas. The longest run is approximately 2.5 miles. Diamond Peak’s gentle slopes and high proportion of beginner and intermediate trails makes for the perfect location for new skiers and snowboarders to perfect their skills. The resort offers several packages that include multiple lessons for guests to take advantage of; and expert skiers aren’t left out of the loop. Private and group lessons are available for those skiers and snowboarders looking to brush up on their technique and ski/board with some of the best instructors in the industry. The Resort has kept up with industry leaders by replacing its 30-year-old lifts with high-speed quads chairs; upgrading its snowmaking machines; and renovating its buildings and lodges. After a full day of skiing or snowboarding, guests take in the panoramic view of the Sierras at the recently remodeled Snowflake mid-mountain lodge.

Similar to other resorts in the area, Diamond Peak partners with area properties to offer great savings on Ski & Stay packages that meet every budget. These range from $65 to $1,500 per person per night. Popular locations include Parkside Inn at Incline Village, one of the closest hotels to Diamond Peak, and Goldfish Properties at Incline Village, a resort that offers lakeview rooms and discounted lift tickets.

Lift tickets for adults are $48. Diamond Peak offers money-saving values with the Family & Friends Lift Ticket Packages and the Mini Pass, an alternative to a full-season pass.

Kirkwood

South Lake Tahoe, California

Avid skiers and the top ski magazine in the industry can’t be wrong. Ski Magazine ranked Kirkwood the 8th best resort for snow quality among all North American resorts and put the resort on the cover of the October 2007 issue. With over 2,300 skiable acres, half of which are intermediate runs, skiers and snowboarders of all levels will feel welcome and challenged. Twelve lifts whisk guests up the mountain’s elevation of 9,800 feet and over 65 groomed run lead skiers and snowboarders back down the mountain. Private and group lessons are available for children and adults, as well as guided adventure tours that introduce guests to the mountain’s more untamed areas. One of the resort’s more unique offerings is its three-and four-day ski training courses through the North American Ski Training Center. These courses combine ski instruction with backcountry skills.

A number of lodging options are available in the Kirkwood Valley, including Meadowstone Lodge, The Lodge at Kirkwood, Lost Cabin, Snowcrest Lodge, Base Camp, The Meadows and many, many more. All offer a variety of rooms and suites to meet every budget. Dining options also abound at Kirkwood; guests enjoy everything from a quick and affordable lunch at Red Cliffs Lodge to fine dining at Off the Wall Bar & Grill in The Lodge at Kirkwood.

For non-skiers, Kirkwood offers an array of activities including ice skating, tubing, snowshoeing, dog sled rides, ice fishing and snowmobile tours, just to name a few. Families interested in child care programs need look no further than Kirkwood’s Mini Mountain, a fully licensed child care center with professional supervision and indoor and outdoor activities. Another option is Children’s Ski & Snowboard School, a program that combines fun with skill development in a dedicated terrain park with its own lift. With every amenity and luxury you would expect from a world-class ski resort, Kirkwood is truly a self-contained paradise.



Thanks to Eric Morgan for contributing this article to our Lake Tahoe blog:

Making Money Online

I have many wonderful memories of childhood, but none that quite compare with my family’s summer visits to Lake Tahoe. I believe that the family tradition began not with my parents but with my grandparents. They used to take my mother and her sisters to Lake Tahoe for one month in the summer and for two weeks at Christmastime.

My first memories of summers at Lake Tahoe are refreshed by the albums of photos my mother made for each of us kids. In the albums, I am wandering around by the shore of Lake Tahoe in cute little bathing suits. My siblings and I are busy making sand castles and trying to skip rocks. I have nothing but fondness for those summers at Lake Tahoe. It was the only time of the year that my dad took off from work just to be with the family. All day he played anything we wanted to play. When the sun was going down he would grill any kind of meat that we wanted. We would eat out by the edge of the water as the sun set over Lake Tahoe.

We continued to go to Lake Tahoe all the way through my high school years. Two years I was convincing enough that my parents allowed me to bring a friend on our family vacation. I loved it at the time, but looking back I regret having brought a friend into our special family time. I realize now, after the death of both of my parents, how sacred and special family time really is. Our Lake Tahoe vacations should have been kept just for us. So now, when one of my own four children beg us to allow a friend to come on our summer vacations to Lake Tahoe, we quickly say no. We try to teach our own children the sacred value of family time.

We have begun family traditions that our children have started looking forward to. They know that at Lake Tahoe they will get to play outside as long as they want each day, and they know at the end of the day we will enjoy a bonfire as the sun sets over the water. They know we will watch great movies and play great family games. We sometimes even allow our kids to stay up way past their bed times at Lake Tahoe.

There is something magical for children about family vacations. If you haven’t taken your children on a vacation recently, it is time to plan a trip. It doesn’t have to be to Europe or even to Lake Tahoe. Taking your kids on a camping trip or even to a cabin and begin establishing great family memories.



Thanks to Analeese Burnabaker for contributing this article to our Lake Tahoe blog:

Lake Tahoe Vacation Rentals