Apples blossoming in the winter on a lit tree in downtown Truckee.

Last weekend, we took a break to head up to Tahoe for some skiing.  Having grown up in San Francisco, I’ve been going up to Tahoe as long as I can remember.  Now that I’m constantly multi-tasking at home, I really appreciate the time to relax and unwind, especially before our official hosting activities begin.  After years of little snow, we were excited to see that #hellastorm brought some powder to the mountains.  It was indeed a winter wonderland (at least for a little while).

Heading up to Tahoe this winter?  Here are some suggestions:

Play at Northstar.  Northstar is very family-friendly and has a wonderful village with a central ice-skating rink, surrounded by cozy lounge areas for enjoying hot chocolate or cocktails.  We even saw sleigh rides over the weekend.  The mountain is big enough to be challenging but small enough for my kids to know well.

Indulge at the Ritz-Carlton.  One of the biggest perks of skiing at Northstar is the Ritz.  Even if you don’t stay there, you can enjoy a meal at Manzanita or lounge at the outdoor fire pits or the indoor lounge area (where I am currently writing this, enjoying hot artichoke dip and a latte) with live music to boot.  Located at mid-mountain, you can ski in and ski out right from their deck (and ski instructors will even meet your kids there too).  Finally, treat yourself to the spa to unwind after a day on the slopes.

Stroll Downtown Truckee.  Downtown historic Truckee is beautiful at night during the holidays.  The trees are lit-up and the sounds of the passing trains give it a cozy, small town feeling.  Try Trokay Restaurant for fine dining or Jax at the Tracks for an old-school diner.  Peruse the unique handmade goods at Bespoke and Riverside Studios.

Have any other recommendations to share?  We’d love to hear them.