Winter in North Lake Tahoe means skiing and snowboarding at some of the premier resorts in the country. Home to twelve nationally acclaimed alpine ski resorts, skiers and boarders will want to look into Ski Tahoe North Interchangeable Lift Ticket, which allows them to ski at seven of the twelve ski areas including North Lake Tahoe’s premier ski resorts Diamond Peak, Homewood, Northstar-at-Tahoe Resort and Squaw Valley.

Read about the interchangeable lift ticket at Go Tahoe North. 

In the A.M.

Grab breakfast at the Blue Onion Restaurant. Take transportation from the resort to one of the area’s world-class ski resorts. North Lake Tahoe is home to twelve nationally acclaimed alpine ski resorts. Use your Ski Tahoe North Interchangeable Lift Ticket to access seven of the twelve ski areas whenever they like. North Lake Tahoe’s premier resorts include Alpine Meadows, Diamond Peak, Homewood, Mt. Rose , Northstar-at-Tahoe Resort, Squaw Valley and the Sugar Bowl.

Noon

Eat at the ski resort. Continue alpine skiing or try another Lake Tahoe winter activity, including cross-country skiing, snowshoeing, dog sledding, ice skating and more. For cross-country ski and snowshoeing trails, visit Go Tahoe North for more information. Wilderness Adventures offers daily, husky driven dogsled tours at the Resort at Squaw Creek and the Sugar Bowl resort. Several ice skating rinks are available in North Tahoe, including the Olympic Ice Pavilion atop Squaw Valley, the Truckee Ice Skating Rink in Truckee and the rink at the Village at Northstar.

In the P.M.

Head to Lake Tahoe’s Nevada side for dinner at one of the casinos. The Crystal Bay Club and Casino, the Biltmore Tahoe Lodge & Casino, the Hyatt Regency Lake Tahoe Resort Spa and the Cal-Neva Resort all have regular entertainment and great dining venues.

South Lake Tahoe Itinerary

The cool mountain air and emerald green conifers of the South Lake Tahoe area beckon outdoor explorers of all abilities for this season. Skiing, snowboarding and snowshoeing are some of the most popular winter sports to do in the Lake Tahoe-area, and the places to do these activities are nearly endless. Find great snow adventures at premier ski resorts including Sierra-at-Tahoe Resort in Lake Tahoe and Kirkwood Mountain Resort in Kirkwood – both offer family fun, difficult terrain, and plenty of other winter activities, including cross country skiing and snowshoeing. Check out Heavenly Mountain Resort, one of the premier ski resorts of Lake Tahoe, and the only ski resort in the country that straddles two states.

In the A.M.

Start with Sunday Brunch at the Riva Grill on the Lake featuring astounding South Lake Tahoe views. Then grab the skis, snowboard and winter gear and head to one of the premier slopes around town. To rent or purchase equipment, stop at Rainbow Mountain Ski and Board Rentals, the area’s premier ski and snowboard rental and service shop, or The Ski Renter at South Lake Tahoe for all your ski or snowboard needs.

Noon

Grab cocoa and sandwiches at the lodge, then head back out to the slopes. If you’re skiing Heavenly, be sure to bring your camera for the aerial tram ride up. The awe-inspiring mile-long flight affords beautiful views of Lake Tahoe and Stateline Village.

In the P.M.

After a long day on the slopes, you’ll want to grab dinner at The Cantina Bar and Grill on Emerald Bay Road, voted the best Mexican restaurant in the area for ten years. Then hit the casinos! Visitors at any of ResorTime.com’s resorts are only a short walk away from Harrah’s, Harvey’s and the Horizon Casino Resort, nightclubs, bars and lounges populate the town and live music can often be found at these venues.

Also Read: What To Do In Winter

Coronado Ice Skating

Coronado Ice Skating at Hotel Del

The ice-rink is next door to the Hotel Del and one block from the Coronado Beach Resort. 3-hour ice skating sessions cost $20 for adults and $15 for kids (10 & under). For more details, visit the Hotel Del’s holiday events page http://www.hoteldel.com/holidays.aspx

If Coronado is just a bit too far away for you, San Diego County has 6 other options. Visit SignOnSanDiego and read their “San Diego, On The Rocks” article for details on the closest ice skating rink near you.

Photo Sources

Top Photo: http://www.flickr.com/photos/concep007/ / CC BY-NC-ND 2.0

Below Photo: http://www.flickr.com/photos/sonnyandsandy/ / CC BY-NC-ND 2.0

Red Rock Fantasy XIX 2009

Sedona, Arizona: Celebrate with hundreds of locals and visitors at the annual Red Rock Fantasy in Sedona. Nestled within the world-renowned red rocks surrounding the beautiful area, Red Rock Fantasy is an exciting festival of more than a million lights highlighting the scenic sights of Sedona. In its nineteenth year and boasting nearly two dozen light displays created by the families from the Southwest, guests will experience never-before-seen marvels of light that will leave children and adults alike in amazement.

Red Rock Fantasy XIX Sedona, AZ

LOCATION:

Los Abrigados Resort & Spa
160 North Portal Lane
Sedona, AZ 86336

Red Rock Fantasy Lights Sedona

WHEN:

“Lights On” for the 19^th annual Red Rock Fantasy will take place 5:00 PM on Thursday, November 19, 2009 lasting through the New Year, ending with “Lights Out” on Saturday, January 2, 2010. The festival is open each evening from 5 p.m. to 10 p.m. on Fridays and Saturdays and 5 p.m. to 9 p.m. Sunday through Thursday.

Red Rock Fantasy Los Abrigados

ADMISSION:

Admission is $5 for adults, $4 for seniors, $3 for children aged 5-12 and is FREE for children 4 and under. Blocks of 20 tickets or more are sold at a discounted rate of $4 per person. Parking is limited at the resort. For more information, call 928-282-1777 or toll free 800-521-3131. http://www.redrockfantasy.com/

Not sure where to go? Take my advice by heading south to one of these four warm weather vacation destinations:

1. Orlando, Florida: It is not too late to hit the beach and Disneyworld. An average temparature of about 73 degrees in December will help you defrost and take in some last minute sunshine. Airfare is cheap and there are plenty of places to stay such as Sheraton Vistana Resort or Bahama BayResort… both 5 star quality for amazing prices.
   

   Sheraton Vistana Resort Pool in Orlando Florida

2. San Diego, California: America’s Finest City… for a reason. There isn’t a single month of the year where the average high for the day is lower than 66 degrees. Every day is a beach day and if the sun is shining you can be sunbathing for your Christmas vacation. Don’t miss the unique beach towns of Coronado , Carlsbad, and Del Mar.
   

   View of San Diego Bay from Coronado Island

3. San Antonio, Texas: The most visited city in Texas has great temperatures for travelling there between October through April. Plenty of fun activities such as Sea World, the Alamo, the River Walk, and more all make San Antonio a great warm winter vacation destination. I recommend staying at the Salado Creek Villas or the Wyndham Riverside Suites.
   

   San Antonio, Texas

   http://www.flickr.com/photos/wattsbw2004/
4. Scottsdale, Arizona: Right now is the best time of the year to visit Scottsdale. Be sure to pack accordingly because you won’t need three layers to walk around in 68 degrees this winter. Stroll through art galleries, visit museums, or hone in on your golf skills, Scottsdale has something for everyone during the winter. There are many great places to stay, here are two of my favorites: Sheraton Desert Oasis and Westin Kierland Villas
   

   Scottsdale Golf at Westin Kierland Villas

1. Skiing / Snowboarding – Try and get in at least one trip up the mountain this year to keep your legs fresh. A little extreme sports will make you feel young again (maybe skip the dangerous back flips and half pipes).
   

   What to do in Winter - Skiing

2. Ice Skating – In places like Southern California, we have to find an indoor ice-skating rink. But for you who live in the cold, ice skating on a lake could be a lot of fun. I hear in eastern Russia you can ice skate on the ocean for several miles out to sea!
3. Snowman – Challenge your friends to a snowman building competition and win the contest by painting your Frosty with water that is colored with food coloring. Be careful trying to make your snowman too big, I couldn’t lift his middle section last time so I had to make a laying down snowman.
4. Roast Marshmallows – Classic but just as fun as ever. Throw your winter coat on and start a fire with some friends then roast some marshmallows, add chocolate and graham crackers, and enjoy! Don’t be that guy that flings around a flaming mellow.
5. Sledding (Tobogganing) – Take a day trip up the mountain with the kids and some sleds, find a patch of snow on a hill, and you have your own amusement park with a free entrance.
   

   What to do in Winter - Sledding

http://www.flickr.com/photos/kptyson/
6. Snowmobiling – You might not be James Bond, but snowmobiling can be a lot of fun in the mountains. There are numerous tours you can join so you don’t get lost in the woods.
7. Dog Sled Rides – Although I haven’t personally done this yet, it is now on my bucket list. Almost every ski mountain has someone giving dog sled rides, jump on board and pretend you are in the movie “Iron Will“
8. Hot Springs – Are you sick of all the cold stuff to do? Well find yourself a hot springs that is bubbling and relax as if it were a warm summer night. Just watch out, it will be colder when you get out.
9. Learn to Knit – Knitting is a great past-time but that is not why you should do it this winter. You should learn to knit your own beanie to keep those ears warm in the snow and cold nights. It is so easy a caveman can do it (sorry for the Geico joke).
10. Snowball Fight - I saved the best for last. Either surprise an unsuspecting friend or gather your neighborhood around for a giant snowball fight. Either way, this is a great way to pass the time this winter. Please, do not through frozen snowballs… that is called ice and will hurt someone.
    

    What to do in Winter - Snowball Fight

http://www.flickr.com/photos/odalaigh/

So what are you waiting for? Now you know what to do this winter and since it hasn’t officially started, you have plenty of time to do all 10. Have fun, be safe and be sure to let me know if you are organizing any Guinness book of world record snow ball fights, I’m in.

PS. Oh and if you don’t live in the cold, ResorTime.com can help you plan your winter vacation so you can experience what the fuss is all about.