It’s officially ski season in Lake Tahoe with a record number of ski resorts opening before Thanksgiving this year after an early snowfall and cold temperatures. Travelers looking to get in a couple runs to kick off the season should venture to the urban basecamp that is Reno Tahoe. A hub for some of the best skiing in the west, skiers and snowboarders can spend the day on the slopes before a night out at in Downtown or Midtown Reno enjoying some brews at a local craft brewery or admiring the mural art throughout the city streets. See below for which resorts in are open and will be opening this upcoming weekend in North Lake Tahoe and for some dynamic activities for a fun ski weekend in the Biggest Little City.
Ski Resorts
- Mt. Rose Ski Resort, located on the Nevada side of Lake Tahoe opened early on Nov. 11. The resort was open all of Veteran’s Day weekend and will be opened again on Nov. 18 for the rest of the ski season.
- Northstar, Heavenly and Kirkwood also opened a week early on Nov. 11 and 12. Northstar and Kirkwood are both celebrating their 50th seasons.
- Palisades Tahoe will open on Nov. 18 a week early from their original Nov. 25 date. The ski resort’s new Base to Base Gondola connecting the Village at Palisades Tahoe to Alpine Meadows is set to open on Dec. 17.
Things To Do in Reno:
- Explore New Heights: Kick-off the post skiing excitement with another extreme sport at Whitney Peak Hotel. Climbers of all levels can test their skills and fear of heights at Basecamp’s outdoor climbing wall along the side of the hotel right above the iconic Reno Arch; named one of the tallest in the world.
- Bites and Brews: What’s après ski without a few cocktails and snacks? The booming culinary and brew scene in Reno Tahoe is not to miss. Stroll down the streets of the colorful Riverwalk District and check out the range of restaurants offering tasty bites and drinks; like award-winning chef Mark Estee’s Liberty Food & Wine Exchange; where comfort food and a large wine bar make for a great post-mountain meal. Cozy up by the outdoor firepits on the rooftop patio The Shore Room for beautiful views of the Truckee River with a cider in hand.
- Vintage Treasures: Visitors looking for unique souvenirs from their trip can venture into Sundance Books and Music—a cozy place in Midtown to get lost in the faraway world of a book. Continue to immerse in decades old and new at Bad Apple Vintage where vintage clothes and handmade goods can take visitors to another time and place.
- The Art of Discovery: Throughout the city of Reno, visitors can find vibrant murals decorating the streets from internationally recognized and local muralists. Check out the city’s interactive mural map to discover all of the art, and to see some of the larger-than-life Burning Man sculptures such as the BELIEVE statue and the Space Whale. Shelter from the cold indoors at the Nevada Museum of Art, the only nationally accredited museum in the state.
