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March 3rd, 2010
 Over the past nine seasons Last Tracks at Diamond Peak Ski Resort has grown into one of Lake Tahoe’s premiere winter happenings. Last Tracks is a wine tasting event for skiers and snowboarders at Diamond Peak’s Snowflake Lodge overlooking Lake Tahoe. You can take the last chair of the day up to Snowflake Lodge where you can enjoy a selection of wines from one of California’s top wineries like Rodney Strong, Clos du Bois and Simi and an array of hot and cold appetizers while enjoying the sunset over Lake Tahoe. At the end of the event you ski freshly groomed corduroy to the base area.
Diamond Peak is partnering with Yoshimi Sushi to up the wow factor on Last Tracks by offering a special sushi and sake tasting version of their signature event. This special Last Tracks will be held on March 21st to celebrate the first day of spring. Yoshimi, located in the Christmas Tree Village in Incline Village, has become one of the most popular dining spots on Tahoe’s North Shore.
Yoshimi will offer Last Tracks guests a sampling of nigiri including tuna, salmon, yellow tail and shrimp plus maki that will include spicy tuna and California rolls. They also will be serving some specialty items like octopus and fish roe. For the sake tasting Yoshimi is providing a variety of hot and cold sakes and will have an expert on hand to answer questions and provide advice on choosing the right sake.
Visit online or call 775.832.1177 for more information and reservations. You can also stop by the Diamond Peak Guest Services Window in the base lodge.
Posted in Diamond Peak, Events, Incline Village, Restaurants, ski | No Comments »
February 25th, 2010
 North Lake Tahoe’s annual SnowFest, a 10-day winter carnival and one of the region’s most popular family celebrations, commemorates its 29th anniversary with a bevy of new events March 5-14.
Squaw Valley’s Cornice Cantina kicks it off after the Opening Night Ceremonies with the inaugural 80’s Retro Dance Party, Friday, March 5, 9 p.m. Guests are encouraged to dress in the neon trends of yesteryear with prizes for the best outfits.
In Tahoe City, the completely renovated Fat Cat Café offers up the Frosty Kitty Snow Party Saturday, March 6 with “wet your whiskers” appetizers and entrees and live music starting at 4 p.m. and running until the wee hours of 2 a.m. Lakeside Pizza, also based in Tahoe City, has the grooving Snow Down Party with San Francisco’s Space Cowboys Saturday, March 6 at 9 p.m.
Are you smarter than a bottle cap? Prove it at the inaugural Tournament of Champions at The Slot in the Village at Squaw Valley Monday, March 8, 5 p.m., when participants are asked to solve the “Mickey’s” puzzle caps in a timed format.
Kings Beach hosts the first-ever Snowman Building Contest Friday, March 12, 3:30-4:30 p.m., at the North Tahoe Events Center. This event is open to all ages, and participants can compete solo or in teams.
Sure to be a favorite is the new North Lake Tahoe Historical Society’s Prohibition Pub Crawl Friday, March 12 from 4 p.m. to 9 p.m. The festivities begin at one of Lake Tahoe’s best burger joints, the Bridgetender Bar & Grill in Tahoe City, where guests pick up their speakeasy passwords and visit participating gin mills and speakeasies for old-time drink specials – all while learning about the Tahoe Basin’s lawless past and enjoying Tahoe City’s favorite watering holes.
Up on Donner Summit, Sugar Bowl Ski Resort hosts the Silver Belt Banzai Saturday, March 13, when ski-cross action meets downhill speed, with the first three down advancing to the next round. Participants get star struck as ski Olympians Daron Rahlves and Errol Kerr also plan to put the pedal to the mettle in this swift race.
Some of the best homemade tamales you’ll ever eat are being served up at the Food for Thought Tamale Dinner Saturday, March 13, 6-10 p.m., at the North Tahoe Boys and Girls Club in Kings Beach. The event will also highlight traditional Mexican fare with local youths’ photography, film and writing showcased as part of the dinner.
Located along North Lake Tahoe’s historical Crystal Bay casino corridor, the Cal-Neva Resort puts on the Snow Ball Saturday, March 13, a fun-filled dancing evening, with tunes from the 60s, 70s and 80s, in a winter wonderland setting.
For more information about SnowFest and a complete list of events, visit the organization’s official website.
Posted in Events, Family, Restaurants, Ski resorts, SnowFest, Squaw Valley USA, Sugar Bowl, Village at Squaw, ski | No Comments »
February 24th, 2010
 On February 28, Squaw Valley, USA hosts its second of six on-slope events with SkiDUCK, a new non-profit organization dedicated to enriching the lives of disabled and underprivileged children by sharing the joys of skiing and snowboarding. Nearly 60 children from Reno’s North Valley schools will visit Squaw Valley for the first time to learn to ski or snowboard free of charge.
SkiDUCK is partnering with youth service organizations like Big Brother Big Sisters and the Boys and Girls Clubs from western Nevada to the Bay Area to provide skiing and snowboarding for the rest of the season. Since many children don’t have mountain-weather attire, they’re seeking donations of youth ski or snowboard clothing and gear (including goggles, helmets, jackets, snow-pants, gloves and mittens).
Those interested in volunteering with SkiDUCK or learning more about the organization can visit online or call 775-287-6464.
Posted in Cool Deals | No Comments »
February 22nd, 2010
 Lake Tahoe is known for many things; it’s 400 inches of annual snowfall, 300 days of sunshine, and home to the largest alpine lake in the country. Add a new distinction to this list as the destination is now the largest flat-water stand-up paddleboard venue in the world hosting a series of five races starting May 29 and ending September 26.
Recently the Lake Tahoe Paddleboard Association and Ta-Hoe Nalu, both non-profit organizations, combined their stand-up and prone paddleboard events to create the 2010 Quiksilver Tahoe Stand-Up Paddleboard Race Series, with two of the five being elite races and offering a combined purse of $40,000 in cash and merchandise.
It all kicks off Saturday, May 29 with the 2nd Annual Donner Lake Memorial at the West End of Donner Lake in Truckee at 9 a.m. This is a five-mile race and free on-water stand-up paddleboard demos will be available to spectators after the contest.
Over on the scenic East Shore is the Thunderbird Run Lake Tahoe Saturday, June 5 with an eight-mile loop course that runs past Sand Harbor Beach State Recreation Area and turns around by the historic Thunderbird Lodge.
The 3rd Annual Jam to the Dam is Saturday, July 10, 8 a.m., when participants paddle the six miles from Patton Landing Beach in Carnelian Bay to the Tahoe City Dam located at the Gatekeeper’s Museum in Tahoe City. Spectators can also get in on the action as free on-water stand-up paddleboard demos will be available after the race.
The Ta-Hoe Nalu Stand-Up Festival runs the weekend of August 21-22 in Kings Beach with five races, including a 14-foot elite race class and OC-1 Outrigger Race.
The five races conclude with the Tahoe Fall Classic Sunday, September 26, 8 a.m. In its third year, there is also an additional 14-foot elite race class. This event has paddlers going 22 miles from Camp Richardson Marina in South Lake Tahoe, completely across Lake Tahoe, to Kings Beach on the North Shore. Visitors get wet with free on-water stand-up paddleboard demos.
Stand-up paddle boarding is an emerging sport with a Hawaiian heritage, and gave early surfers a higher viewpoint, increasing visibility of what was going on around them, such as incoming swells. Today boards are anywhere from nine to 18 feet with features such as padded decks, one to three surfboard-style fins for stability and equipped with a long paddle.
In Lake Tahoe, stand-up paddle boarding is popular with crossover athletes, especially skiers and snowboarders, along with mountain bikers and runners, as it helps develop a strong core, essential for succeeding in just about any outdoor sport.
Try stand-up paddle boarding with a rental from any of North Lake Tahoe’s equipment shops.
Tags: Lake Tahoe Paddleboard Association, paddle boarding, paddleboard, race, Ta-Hoe Nalu
Posted in Events, Kings Beach, Sand Harbor, Tahoe City, Thunderbird Lodge, paddleboard | No Comments »
February 17th, 2010
 Diamond Peak Ski Resort is offering a new travel option for skiers and snowboarders in the San Francisco Bay Area. Through a partnership with Reno Tahoe Ski Vacations online, skiers and snowboarders can build and book their own customized ski packages that include lift tickets, lodging and luxury motor coach transportation. Departures will be from several locations throughout the Bay Area. Reno Tahoe Ski Vacations online has also announced the launch of 3-day/2-night all inclusive ski packages with weekly departures. The all inclusive packages include lift tickets to Diamond Peak Ski Resort, your choice of lodging in the Reno/Tahoe area and transportation to and from the Bay Area, the lodging property and the ski resort.
Diamond Peak 3-day/2-night ski vacation packages start as low as $450 per person, $640 for a couple and $940 for a family of four. You can book online to make reservations or to customize your all inclusive ski and stay package at Diamond Peak Ski Resort.
Posted in Cool Deals, Deals, Diamond Peak, Family, Incline Village, Lodging, lift ticket, ski | No Comments »
February 9th, 2010
 The Sunchaser Challenge, a sporting event from sunrise to sunset that features orienteering, running, mountain biking, road biking and kayaking, is headed to North Lake Tahoe. The North Lake Tahoe Visitors Bureaus and Chamber of Commerce recently secured the multi-discipline adventure challenge set for May 22 at Northstar-at-Tahoe in Truckee.
The challenge will be held in four time zones across the United States, including Lake Saranac in New York, Lake Geneva in Wisconsin and Lake Havasu in Arizona in addition to North Lake Tahoe, as part of Endangered Species Day. According to race officials, approximately 1,000 competitors are expected to participate in each of the four event venues. Registration is now open for individuals and teams of 2 – 5 racers.
The North Lake Tahoe Visitors Bureaus and Chamber of Commerce are both currently working in partnership with Wild Ones Promotions at the local level to bring access to sites for competitors to undertake the competition disciplines, secure various permissions needed for facilities and logistics, as well as coordinate safety components associated with servicing the participating athletes.
Wild Ones Promotions is a media and events production company created to promote sports and adventure events, which support social responsibility campaigns and generate new fund-raising opportunities for charities. In partnership with the Endangered Species Coalition, Wild Ones is launching these unique adventure challenges across the country to encourage people to get closer to nature by exploring the parks and countryside in their backyards, as well as aim to put the plight of some of the world’s rarest animals in the minds of thousands of people across the United States.
Posted in Cool Deals | No Comments »
February 5th, 2010
 The three-time Olympian and 2006 Olympic Gold Medalist in Giant Slalom, Julia Mancuso, is turning on the heat just in time for the 2010 Vancouver Olympic Winter Games. Having scored some of her best finishes of the season in January, Julia will be training at Squaw Valley USA from Friday, February 5 through Monday, February 8. Winter Olympic enthusiasts are invited to Squaw Valley USA to watch Julia train as well as participate in Julia’s Olympic Send-Off Party hosted at Le Chamois. The party will begin at 3pm on Saturday, February 6.
Olympic Valley’s own Julia Mancuso went through the Squaw Valley Race Team Program, beginning with Mighty Mites when she was 3. Since then, Julia has been setting records and collecting medals at an impressive pace. The four-event athlete started World Cup racing and was a NorAm champion at the age 16, competed in the Olympics at 17, and started her twenties by capturing two World Championship medals and establishing a record for most consecutive U.S. Championships top-3s.
Watch Julia Mancuso get her best finish of the season
Posted in Cool Deals | No Comments »
January 27th, 2010
 Lake Tahoe has been pitted against Utah and it’s a battle of the ski destinations as part of Travelocity’s Roaming Gnome “Cabin Fever: Finding the Cure” campaign. Fans get into the action by voting between Lake Tahoe and Utah to decide where the roaming Gnome travels for his next great adventure. Voting starts today, Wednesday, January 27, and ends Wednesday, February 3 at 12 p.m. EST. Fans can vote as many times as they like. Vote now.
The current showdown is the second round of the campaign, with Banff beating Whistler in the first stop of the travel icon’s journey.
Once the winning destination is announced February 3, the resort region will be visited by the Travelocity Roaming Gnome, and all his entourage, who will be skiing, ice skating, dog sledding, snow tubing and, of course, après ski.
So why vote for Tahoe instead of Utah? As most skiers will agree, Tahoe has better snow conditions, more than 22 feet this winter alone; the largest alpine lake in the country and the second deepest; 300-plus days of sunshine each year; the largest concentration of ski resorts in the U.S. (more terrain, more lifts, more resorts); an outstanding culinary scene that has attracted Sir Paul McCartney, Robin Williams, Lisa Presley and Brad Pitt; home to past and future Olympic athletes; and host of the 1960 Winter Olympics (the first televised Winter Games in the history of the Olympics).
Last week, Lake Tahoe took home another accolade, remaining the most popular ski destination in the U.S. for air-and-hotel package bookings for travel in 2010 on the Orbitz Insider Index for the third consecutive year.
Get current ski resort conditions and hit Cool Deals, which is updated daily, for savings on North Lake Tahoe lodging, skiing, activities and special events.
Tags: cabin fever, gnome, roaming, ski, tahoe, travelocity
Posted in Ski resorts, ski | No Comments »
January 26th, 2010
 This January, treat yourself to a weekend of health and wellness at one of the country’s most breathtaking locations - Lake Tahoe. Hyatt Regency Lake Tahoe Resort, Casino and Spa is hosting the first Lake Tahoe Wellness Weekend, January 29-31, 2010. The weekend includes a wellness breakfast; yoga classes from San Francisco-based yoga instructor Rebecca Blake; skincare analysis and seminar with experts from Kerstin Florian Skincare; and a seminar on “Strategies for Healthy Living” by Dr. ‘Lily’ Kuehne of The Lake Tahoe Wellness Center; as well as a welcome bag that includes tools to help to continue down a healthy path – discounts at yoga studios, skincare products, healthy recipes, etc.
In addition to classes, a special Wellness Weekend spa treatment by Kerstin Florian will be available by reservation at a 50% discount Friday, Saturday and Sunday at the Stillwater Spa. Rates for the Lake Tahoe Wellness Weekend start at $175 per person for the weekend (based on double occupancy for two nights), and include all classes, daily wellness breakfast and spa discount.
Tahoe Wellness Weekend Schedule:
Friday, January 29, 2010
8pm: Wellness Weekend Welcome Reception with healthy bites, organic wine and juices created by Chef Alan Kubler.
Saturday, January 30, 2010
6-10:30am: Order a special ‘Wellness Weekend’ breakfast to be delivered to your room via room service
8am: Yoga class by San Francisco yoga instructor, Rebecca Blake
11am: Skincare analysis and seminar by experts from Kerstin Florian
3pm: “Strategies for Healthy Living” class with Dr. ‘Lily’ Kuehne of the Lake Tahoe Wellness Center
Sunday, January 31, 2010
6-10:30am: Order a special ‘Wellness Weekend’ breakfast to be delivered to your room via room service
8am: Yoga class with San Francisco yoga instructor, Rebecca Blake
About the classes:
Yoga by Rebecca Blake: Rebecca guides students through an uplifting, challenging and explorative class format, infusing each class with bits and pieces of many styles, including: Meditation, Pranayama, Restorative Yoga, Partner Yoga, AcroYoga, Kundalini, Ashtanga, Iyengar, Vinyasa, Jivamukti, and Anusara. She’s even been known to sprinkle in a bit of Tai Chi, Dance or Pilates during class. Rebecca teaches at many prominent Bay Area corporations and a number of San Francisco yoga studios, including The Mindful Body.
Skincare Recommendations and Seminar by Kerstin Florian:
Julie Andrews and Kate Buford, skincare experts from Kerstin Florian, will provide skin analysis, skincare recommendations and tips for keeping your skin healthy. Kerstin Florian results-oriented products are built around mineral-rich water and plant extracts, vitamins, antioxidants and natural and organic ingredients. Combining Eastern and Western philosophy, the seminar will also emphasize the brand philosophy: outer beauty and inner health go hand in hand.
“Strategies for Healthy Living” by Dr. ‘Lily’ Kuehne:
Dr. Lily will give one of her most popular seminars from her private practice at the Lake Tahoe Wellness Center. With more than 19 years of experience in wellness, health and chiropractic healing, Dr. Lily’s strong belief in natural health care has brought her focus to correction of cause, rather than the treatment, with emphasis in wellness care.
For additional information about the Wellness Weekend at Hyatt Regency Lake Tahoe Resort, Casino and Spa, visit online or by calling 775-832-1234.
Tags: Stillwater Spa, Tahoe Wellness Weekend
Posted in Events, Hyatt Lake Tahoe, Incline Village | No Comments »
January 19th, 2010
 El Nino has delivered in North Lake Tahoe, with more than 17 feet of snow falling in the region this winter. According to tourism officials, that’s already about half of the total snowfall of a typical winter season in just under two months with plenty more cold weather left to come.The storms in Lake Tahoe continue, with 2.5 feet of new snow falling this week at the ski resorts’ upper elevations, adding to a well-established, solid base. According to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) a federal agency that focuses on weather conditions, significant snow will continue to fall in the area through Friday with a slight chance of snow on Saturday and Sunday. After the letup over the weekend, NOAA is predicting more snow next week.
North Lake Tahoe has many special events that take place both on and off the slopes. Northstar-at-Tahoe’s top certified female instructors are hosting the Women’s Ski and Snowboard Camp this weekend, Friday, January 22 through Sunday, January 24. The camp includes instruction, demo equipment, lunch, video analysis, yoga classes, drinks and appetizers, and daily breakfast.
On Donner Summit, Sugar Bowl Ski Resort is hosting the Coldstream Terrain Park Competition Sunday, January 24 for youths ages 13-17. The contest begins at 1:30 p.m. and is dedicated to fun, while also promoting and educating kids and their parents about park etiquette. Join the discussion about living with wildlife in Tahoe Thursday, January 28 when the Tahoe Center for Environmental Sciences, located on the Sierra Nevada Campus in Incline Village, hosts the screening of “Bears of Sequoia” and “American Coyote – Still Wild at Heart.” The films, 6-9 p.m., will be followed by a panel discussion with wildlife experts, who work in the Tahoe region.
Stick to your New Year’s resolutions by taking part in the Lake Tahoe Wellness Weekend, scheduled for January 29-31 at the Hyatt Regency in Incline Village. The weekend includes welcome reception, daily in-room wellness breakfast, two yoga classes, skincare analysis, “Strategies for Healthy Living” seminar, wellness bag of goodies and 50% discount on a special spa treatment.
For current ski resort conditions, click to the North Lake Tahoe Visitors Bureaus’ website. While you’re there, hit Cool Deals, which is updated daily, for savings on North Lake Tahoe lodging, skiing, activities and special events.
Posted in Cool Deals, Deal, Deals, Events, Family, Hyatt Lake Tahoe, Incline Village, Lodging, Ski resorts, Snow Pack, Sugar Bowl, Tahoe Center for Environmental Sciences, The Village at Northstar, lift ticket | No Comments »
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