DESTINATIONS THE US |CALIFORNIA


DID YOU KNOW?


E Since 1963, a permit has been required to wear high heels above two inches in downtown Carmel – pop into City Hall to pick this up free of charge.


CLOCKWISE FROM LEFT: Heavenly Mountain; après-ski by the firepit; Heavenly Village; view of


Lake Tahoe from the sightseeing deck PICTURES: Rachid Dahnoun/Lake Tahoe Visitors Authority; Paul McLaughlin; Shutterstock/Sundry Photography


County and the Eldorado National Forest, where the snow line came into view and the scenery took on an astonishing beauty. Our visit coincided with one of the heaviest winter storms in recent history, creating huge snow drifts along the highway and coating the trees in a bright white veil. We were feeling both smug


and relieved at having taken the precaution of hiring a sturdy 4x4 as we passed countless stranded vehicles less equipped for the challenging conditions. South Lake Tahoe is a resort


city on the southern end of the lake that straddles the state border with Nevada. It sits deep in the Sierra Nevada mountains with spectacular alpine views and a relaxed vibe. Year-round outdoor activities include skiing, snowmobiling, snowshoeing, sleigh rides and sledding in winter plus hiking, biking, kayaking, boating, fishing, swimming and golf in the warmer months. Snow enthusiasts are spoilt for choice with 23 ski areas around Lake Tahoe’s perimeter, among them North Lake, Palisades, Northstar,


38 19 SEPTEMBER 2024


Sugar Bowl, Diamond Peak, Kirkwood and Heavenly, our base to explore this winter playground. The California side of large, pedestrian-friendly Heavenly Village is filled with restaurants, shops, bars and live music, but if casinos and noisy slot machines are your thing, a walk across Stateline Avenue takes you into Nevada’s distinctly different proposition.


VIEW TO A THRILL


A journey on the Heavenly Gondola, which rises 2.4 miles up the mountain from the centre of the resort, revealed panoramic views over vast Lake Tahoe. It has a huge 72 miles of shoreline and depths of up to 500 metres – deeper than Loch Ness or the North Sea. Countless European ski resorts offer stunning alpine views but looking down on Lake Tahoe from nearly two miles above sea level is something else. The largest and tallest mountain in Lake Tahoe, at 3,068 metres, Heavenly seamlessly straddles the two states and offers skiers and snowboarders plenty to keep themselves amused. With one of the largest snowmaking


operations in the world – Heavenly makes more than three metres of the white stuff each year – the snow passes are far from cheap, but clients won’t be disappointed. There is something here for all levels of ability: a mix of on-piste skiing and fun intermediate runs, superb tree skiing and plenty of opportunities to pop in and out of side-country terrain. The ski season runs from late November to mid- April; January and February are the prime months, but March or April mean fewer crowds and a more relaxed atmosphere.


Back down in the village, close to the base of the gondola, a wealth


BOOK IT


Aer Lingus offers six flights a week in winter from eight UK airports to San Francisco, via Dublin, where customers can clear US immigration before their transatlantic flight. Return economy fares start from £538 and business class from £1,299 including taxes, charges and 23kg luggage. aerlingus.com


Purely America offers a five-night sea and ski trip pairing three nights in an Inland View Room at Monterey Plaza and two nights in a Standard Fireplace Room at The Landing Tahoe Resort & Spa, both room-only, from £1,549 including Aer Lingus flights via Dublin to San Francisco and compact car hire with insurance, based on two sharing and departing on October 24. purelyamerica.co.uk


travelweekly.co.uk


E The water in Lake Tahoe is enough to cover an area the size of California to a depth of 14 inches.


E Almost all artichokes grown commercially in the United States come from California.


of après-ski options have firepits to help ward off the chill. Menus range from American and Italian to Chinese, Japanese, Vietnamese and Thai – a change from the cheese- heavy offerings of the French Alps, and with a welcome assortment of ales from the many local breweries. South Lake Tahoe shines as a destination that combines strikingly different worlds: the spectacular beauty of a national park and all the amenities of a world-class resort. With 300 days of sunshine a


year, it’s a popular playground come summer too – proving California more than lives up to its enduring appeal year-round.


TW


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