Rosy cheeks and rich hot chocolate; skiing and sledding and skating and more. These are some of our favorite things in winter. Families in Reno are so close to the action, there’s every reason to book a ski-cation at a resort near you. Here are some of our favorite winter destinations for fun in the snow and the best après-skiing, too.
Hyatt Lake Tahoe Resort, Spa and Casino - Incline Village, NV
Just 35 miles from Reno and perfectly positioned for skiing at Mt. Rose and Diamond Peak, this lakeside retreat gives you good value for your room rate with lots of indoor and outdoor activities.
On the Snow
For skiing, there’s a free Diamond Peak shuttle to take you the short distance to this family-friendly resort. You’ll feel the neighborhood vibe almost immediately at Diamond Peak, with its cozy lodges where guests can meet up for lunch and an end-of-the-day beverage. Almost every bowl, glade, and trail funnels down to the base lodge, so even the kids can’t get lost. The stunning vistas and challenging terrain don’t disappoint, either. There are over 600 acres and 1,840 vertical feet of runs at this community-owned ski resort.
Another family-focused resort, a short drive up the Mount Rose Highway, is a familiar site for folks from Reno. Much like Diamond Peak, Mount Rose feels like a nod to more gracious times, with stand-out customer service, from the rental staff to the lift operators. Black diamond shredders will appreciate the terrain parks and more challenging terrain in The Chutes, with plenty of groomers for skiers and boarders who just want to chill. Deals at Mount Rose include two-for-one lift tickets on Tuesdays.
Après Activities
After a day of rushing adrenaline, families can splash and soak in the Hyatt Lake Tahoe Resort, Spa and Casino’s outdoor pool and jetted whirlpools, with a backdrop of snow-capped mountains and lighted pines. Three chef-driven restaurants are on-site, including the lauded Lone Eagle Grille, with its stone fireplace and large windows looking out on Lake Tahoe.
Daily activities include snowshoe treks, arts and crafts, and hikes through the forest to Chickadee Ridge where birds flutter from the pines to eat from your hands, your hair, or wherever you sprinkle birdseed (but don’t offer them human food).
The award-winning Stillwater Spa at the Hyatt is known for its innovation, and the newest wellness offering is its “Touchless Trio” package, which incorporates hot and cold therapy. Guests start with an exhilarating visit to the freezing cold Cryo Chamber, which boosts the immune system in a variety of ways. Then, a warm, dreamy rest between two biomats that generate infrared heat, negative ions, and vibro-acoustic sound and aromatherapy. The final touchless treatment is a 30-minute float in an oyster-like orb called Pearl, that generates even more wellbeing and relaxation.
“It’s a full body wellness immersion experience,” says the Hyatt’s Spa and Wellness director Julie Orblych. Plus, she says the touchless treatments are priced so that “people can enjoy them more often, making wellness part of a lifestyle – not just a luxury treatment.”
Everline Resort & Spa – Olympic Valley, CA.
Another of Hyatt’s outstanding offerings, this ski-in/ski-out resort at the base of Palisades Tahoe boasts a “mountain meets modern” vibe in the scenic Olympic Valley. Only 44 miles from Reno, this 405-room luxury resort has something for everyone.
On the Snow
The largest ski resort in California and often touted as the best in the West, Palisades Tahoe has 6,000 acres of terrain, thanks to the 2023 opening of the Base to Base Gondola that connects to the adjacent Alpine Resort. Palisades Tahoe is known for its annual snowfall averaging 400 inches or more thanks to its elevation and geographical location. It’s also the only ski resort in North America with three enclosed lifts that take you to its highest elevations.
Après Activities
Everline Resort & Spa is the epitome of a year-round resort, thanks to its championship golf course and renowned fly-fishing, along with its heated swimming pools, water slide, and hiking and biking trails.
In winter, skaters glide across the ice on the resort’s own rink and enjoy activities like winter stargazing and cross-country skiing. Everline has its own sports shop for ski and snowboard rentals, and offers discounted lift tickets to Palisades Tahoe for guests.
Ritz-Carlton, Lake Tahoe – Truckee, Ca.
Newly-renovated with amped-up après offerings, the Ritz-Carlton, Lake Tahoe is the only luxury ski-in/ski-out hotel on the Northstar Mountain. It’s distinction as a AAA Five Diamond destination resort means guests can expect a memorable, full-service experience in a picturesque mountain location.
On the Snow
Northstar is known as a family resort with its long, lazy groomers and forested trails. In fact, Logger’s Loop clocks in at 14 miles from top to bottom. With 20 lifts and just over 3100 acres, Northstar gets about 300 inches of snow a year and is often recognized as one of the most beautiful self-contained resorts in North America. This Vail Resorts property has panoramic views of Lake Tahoe and the Martis Valley and is the only place where you can ski on an extinct volcano, Mt. Pluto.
Après Activities
The Ritz-Carlton, Lake Tahoe has all the amenities you’d expect from a slope-side, luxury property. Just 39 miles from Reno, this celebrated mountain retreat even has heated cabanas “chalets” – new this winter – for a magical alpine experience. Each Clicquot winter cabana chalet comes with a private firepit, seating for eight (complete with furs), and the option to order champagne and caviar.
Other renovations include a new bar and dining space called the Living Room Lodge, meant to be the premier gathering place. Resort guests will be drawn to seductive views of the surrounding peaks, the silhouettes of towering pines, and a menu that celebrates locally sourced ingredients. With the signature Ritz Kids activities, a top-of-the-line fitness center, a 17,000 square foot spa and world-class restaurants, guests have everything at their fingertips.
The Ritz-Carlton, Lake Tahoe is the only luxury ski-in/ski-out hotel on the Northstar Mountain
The award-winning Stillwater Spa at the Hyatt is known for its innovation, and the newest wellness offering is its “Touchless Trio” package, which incorporates hot and cold therapy.