Archive for the 'Lake Tahoe & Eastern Sierra' Category
In Tahoe, learn gingerbread secrets and snow tricks
November 19, 2009 12:01pm
Sorensen’s is one of those little Tahoe resorts that seems right out of a snow globe. The historic cottages, just east of Kirkwood Mountain Resort on Highway 88, are a perfect backdrop for a two-day workshop on gingerbread houses.
The workshop, Dec. 5 and 6, offers step-by-step instructions on how to bake, build and decorate the creations. This is intended for children 12 and older and adults. The cost is $65 for guests and $90 for non-lodging guests. Winter weekend rates start at $140 (ask about an extra free night). The workshop also includes all materials, plus complimentary cocoa, cider and treats. Read the rest of this entry »
Monterey-Lake Tahoe Sea & Ski package deal
November 12, 2009 5:58am
I have two problems when trying to plan a weekender. The first: a weekend is just not long enough. The second: Choosing a destination can be difficult if the traveling parties want to do different things. I love being in the mountains during winter and my husband could spend every vacation at the beach. This Sea & Ski Package includes the best of both worlds (skiing at Lake Tahoe and a choice of Monterey seaside activities such as kayaking, a sailing cruise, bicycling or a whale-watching tour). Plus, the package saves you at least 30%.
Deal: Spend two nights in Monterey at the Portola Hotel & Spa, then hop in the car for a half-day road trip and continue your getaway in Lake Tahoe, where you will stay at Northstar-at-Tahoe. The package includes four nights’ accommodations, breakfast for two in Monterey, and activities for two, including ski lift tickets at Northstar and your choice of marine sanctuary or sailing cruise, whale watching, bicycling or kayaking in Monterey. The package price starts at $970, pre-tax for two people. ( A la carte, the package comes to $1,426, pre-tax).
Peaking alert: Head to the eastern Sierra to see fall colors
October 1, 2009 5:54pm
A lot can change in a week. That statement applies to life in general, but today I’m talking about the colors of autumn. Fall colors are peaking right now at higher elevations in the eastern Sierra. California Fall Color is a terrific website that is monitoring the progress of the leaves and has spotters on the ground reporting on the best locations to see the colors turn, even specific details as to whether or not the leaves survived a windy night.
“Right now, the color is at peak above 9,000 feet in the eastern Sierra (Inyo County),” said John Poimiroo, founder of the California Fall Color website. “Presently, that’s the closest area of fall color to L.A. Nowhere else in California is it peaking in massive display, as is seen there, for the moment. There’s also good color at McGee Creek near Mammoth Lakes, which will peak in a week.”
Look at how much can change in just one week:
Willow Camp Sept. 29, 2009
Willow Camp Sept. 22, 2009
California forest and park roads, campsites shut by wildfires: Where to find updates
August 31, 2009 7:56am
Wildfires, which have been destroying and threatening homes in the Los Angeles area, are burning in forests and parks in various regions of California. Among the parks battling blazes is Yosemite National Park, which has closed at least two campgrounds and a section of Big Oak Flat Road and planned to restrict access starting today to Tioga Road.
Here are some sources for updates on fires that affect public lands:
>The Incident Information System, or InciWeb, which combines data from various public agencies, posts news, maps and a list of active fires in the state. Besides an overview, it provides links to affected sites, with more details. (You may find the website slow to load, possibly because of high traffic.)
>The websites of individual forests and parks provide news on road closures, air quality and other issues that affect visitors. Among the forests being impacted by fires are Angeles National Forest and San Bernardino National Forest. For national parks, go the main website’s “Find a Park” page to link to the one you want to know about.
Lake Tahoe: Late summer wine festival, pet-friendly events, package condo deals at Squaw Valley
August 1, 2009 8:17am
You might be counting the days until the kids go back to school, but Lake Tahoe will be stretching their summer fun as long as possible. The Village at Squaw Valley is putting its deals on the front burner and drawing attention to some fun-loving annual end of summer events in the Sierras. While you can find a river raft full of travel deals on the “Packages” page — the deal we are mentioning is the Village Events package with condo suites starting at $89 per person, per night based on double-occupancy.
Deal: Use the “Village Events Package” to get 20% off condo-suite lodging at the Village at Squaw Valley, through Oct. 3. I found a one-bedroom suite for Aug. 15-17 for $87 per person, per night, based on double occupancy. But the pricing won’t show that when you book. It shows the price of the first night, an average price per night (not the price of the second night) and then the final price ($346), pre-tax. This includes resort fee, copy of USA Today, Internet access, use of fitness centers and spas.
Note: Added value can be found in this package because it includes the cost of entry into the events (which vary).
> Aug. 15 and 16 - 8th Annual Brews, Jazz & Funk Fest: Featuring music from Ivan Neville’s Dumpstaphunk, Karl Denson’s Tiny Universe, Eric Krasno’s Chapter 2, just to name a few, plus more than 20 handcrafted brews. The package includes eight beer tickets (other beer tickets can be bought the day of the event for $4 each).
> Sept. 6 - 21st Annual Alpen Wine Festival: Where wine connoisseurs toast each other with vintages from more than 40 California vineyards, served in a Spiegalau crystal souvenir wine glass, or peruse the incredible Silent Auction room for great deals on wine and art. With this package you receive entry ($40) and two commemorative glasses with sampling from 2-5 p.m. on Sunday, Sept. 6. Additional glasses for sampling can be purchased the day of event.
Lake Tahoe: Half-off rooms and 24 other discounts at Zephyr Cove Resort
May 8, 2009 7:54am
Now that the snow has melted, Zephyr Cove Resort — one of the nation’s largest snowmobile-tour venues — has a phenomenal accommodations deal for late-spring and early summer visitors. The lakeside resort is in South Lake Tahoe on Highway 50, four miles from the casinos in Stateline, Nevada.
Deal: Take 50% off the regular rate on rooms, suites, cabins and chalets for stays Sundays through Thursdays. In addition to the low rate, under the venue’s “25 Reasons” promotion, you can get 24 other discounts, such as the following: 20% off breakfast, lunch and dinner at the resort; 20% off gift shop purchases; $25 off per hour when renting a power boat or jet ski before 11 a.m.; $5 off beach chair rentals; $50 off of a glider-soaring adventure. Read the rest of this entry »
Roundup: Ski season almost over – Lake Tahoe closing dates; Wyndham 72-hour sale; Obama and Hawaii tourism
April 8, 2009 9:36am
Lake Tahoe | Are you trying to get in just a couple more ski days before the season ends? Oh, and by the way, when does the season end? Here are the resort-by-resort closing dates for ski resorts in Lake Tahoe:
Last days of operations:
Alpine Meadows - April 19
Heavenly – April 19
Kirkwood – April 26
Mt. Rose – Ski Tahoe – April 11
Northstar-at-Tahoe - April 19
Sierra-at-Tahoe - April 20
Squaw Valley USA – May 10
Lake Tahoe got fresh snow, flight and 3-night vacation package from $338 per person
March 4, 2009 6:03pm
Three to 4 feet of fresh powder dumped on South Lake Tahoe in the last 24 hours –- adding to the 7 to 8 feet it got from the last storm. If you want to ski, board, or just cozy up in a lakeside retreat and sit by the fire, Orbitz has a vacation package for you at the Tahoe Lakeshore Lodge & Spa.
Deal: Fly from Los Angeles (LAX) to Reno and stay three nights at the Tahoe Lakeshore Lodge & Spa for $338 per person, round trip. All rooms are lakefront with full views of the lake. Use the promo code “DEALOVACA” to save an additional $75 off select three-night hotel stay and flight packages. Or, use the promo code “DEALOHOTEL” to get these rooms for $89 per night (down from $129) without the flight option.
Lake Tahoe snowmobiling package for two at Zephyr Cove
February 25, 2009 12:03pm
Zephyr Cove Resort is offering a “Stay, Cruise and Snowmobile” package that offers Tahoe tourists a multi-surface taste of what’s on offer in and around Lake Tahoe. Starting at $319, visitors can stay two nights in a one-bedroom lakeside cabin, embark on a double-rider snowmobile tour, cruise to Emerald Bay on the M.S. Dixie II and enjoy a breakfast and lunch for two in the Zephyr Cove Restaurant.
Furloughed state employees get a break in Reno-Tahoe
February 25, 2009 10:03am
It’s probably not what Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger had in mind when he called for a mandatory furlough program for state employees to help ease the budget crisis in the Golden State.
But a handful of hotels and resorts in Reno and Tahoe are taking advantage of the crisis by offering state employees a free night’s stay when they book a room at a participating hotel. So, say you are a DMV worker who has been furloughed for a Friday. Now you can pay for Friday and Saturday nights and get Thursday or Sunday night free. (Fridays and Saturdays are not offered free on this deal.)
But it’s not the only furlough deal out there. Squaw Valley is also offering bargains to state employees.
To get the deal, call (800) FOR-RENO (367-7366). You first have to show your state employee identification. The participating hotels and casinos are not forgetting that the furlough program means you are not getting paid for those days off. To help ease the financial pain, they are offering such breaks as a two-for-one dining voucher, two-for-one show tickets, 25% discounts on spa treatments and $25 in free casino play.
To see the list of participating hotels and to get more information, go to the furlough program website.
— Hugo Martín, Los Angeles Times staff writer
[Photo of the Reno Arch. Credit: Los Angeles Times]
