10 Things to Do in Lake Tahoe in Winter

Heavenly Mountain Resort is one of the premier ski fields overlooking the waters of Lake Tahoe. It actually straddles the California-Nevada border on the far southern end of the lake. That's where it rolls between the pine forests and peaks of the Sierra Nevada to offer nearly 1,200 meters of vertical drop and a total of 97 groomed runs.

More than anything, Heavenly Mountain Resort is famed among West Coast skiers for its stunning views. You'll be whizzing down double-black-diamond slopes while gazing north to the cobalt shimmer of the lake. Panoramas shouldn't be too hard to come by, either – the resort is one of the sunniest in the USA, with over 300 days of cloudless skies to enjoy as you ride.

The Palisades Tahoe Ski Resort is hallowed ground for avid skiers all over the USA. Encompassing a whopping 6 peaks of the Sierra Nevada just to the west of Lake Tahoe on the California side, it rose to fame as the host of the 1960 Winter Olympics, when it was known as Squaw Valley. It's also been a practice ground for some of the world's very best skiers – the freestyle maestro Shane McConkey, for example.

Head over and you'll find a massive 3,600 acres of skiable terrain, which extends to over 6,200 acres thanks to a link with Alpine Meadows Ski Resort. The area has loads of groomed runs, but it really excels on the freestyle front, with open bowls and powdered off-piste by the bucket load.

Hard Rock Casino beckons punters just a stone's throw over the California-Nevada border. In fact, it's in the small town of Stateline itself, where oodles of other gaming halls just like it shimmer with their neon lights within sight of the border.

But the Hard Rock Casino isn't just one of the bunch. It's also one of the biggest in the area, spreading over a mind-boggling 22,000 sq ft of space with upwards of 530 rooms and suites. Betters will find plenty. Blackjack tables? Check. Sportsbooks? Check. Poker showdowns? Check. Oh, and there's a great mix of steakhouses and sports bars on site to boot.

Emerald Bay is considered by many to be the single most picturesque spot on the shores of Lake Tahoe. You can be the judge of that by cruising along the Emerald Bay Road that zigzags through the forested hills on the south side of the lake. Pull up at the Emerald Bay State Park and get ready for a stonker of a view.

In a horseshoe shape fringed by the low hills of the Sierra Nevada, the bay shines an impossibly clear blue color. It's dotted with little Fannette Island at its heart and hosts the curious gothic folly of the Vikingsholm mansion at its base. In the colder months, there's only a fraction of the crowds, not to mention a charming dusting of snow and ice.

The Brewery at Lake Tahoe shows it's not all about the great outdoors in this mountainous corner of the Golden State. Huddled with all the other cafes and après ski bars in the buzzy heart of South Lake Tahoe, the venue sits right alongside Lake Tahoe Boulevard.

Drop in to find arguably the town's top range of craft brews. The taps pour all sorts, from the acclaimed homebrew of Alpine Amber Ale to the light and easy Palisades Pilsner. The interior is warm and cozy with its own log fire and festive decorations come December. Food-wise, you've gotten comfort pub grub like pizzas, burgers, and hotdogs.

Sugar Bowl is one of the more moderately sized ski fields in this corner of the Sierra Nevada. It occupies the ridges that unfold around Interstate 80, approximately 40 minutes' drive out of Tahoe City. The skiing is great, with 103 runs and 1,650 acres of accessible terrain, much of which lends itself to confident intermediates.

However, there's more than just snow runs at the Sugar Bowl. This resort creeps up to the tops of Mount Judah and Mount Lincoln, which were once an important pass in the journeys of the first pioneers back in the 1800s. You'll be able to see them as you ski, along with portions of the legendary Pacific Crest Trail.