Celebrating the Holidays in North Lake Tahoe
The holiday season is in full swing, and there's no better place to be than North Lake Tahoe. With snow-covered mountains that stretch into the sky, views like this are something you won't find anywhere else. There are countless activities for everyone during the holidays here, whether you're traveling with your family or looking for a romantic getaway with your significant other. I've listed some of my favorite winter events below!
The holidays in North Lake Tahoe can be an unforgettable time of year—book your stay today!
Seasonal Events
As the holiday season unfolds in North Lake Tahoe, local institutions begin to celebrate in unique and exciting ways. Across the region’s lakeside and mountain communities, you’ll encounter a slew of special events that inspire holiday cheer and remind you of the reason for the season.
Among the special activities coming this winter are:
Palisades Tahoe’s Merry Days and Holly Nights, a series of events including orchestral performances, farm-to-table dinners, ice gardens, and fun with Santa that spans from November 24 until December 31. Carolers will perform from 4-7 pm on December 20th-24th. (5-10 min away from the chalet)
Noel Nights at Northstar California, a family-friendly extravaganza that transforms Northstar’s Village into a winter wonderland, featuring horse-drawn sleigh rides, outdoor ice skating, pictures with Santa and s’mores, and hot cocoa by the fire pits. It's quite the spread and worth checking out, especially if you’re traveling as a family. (~30-45 min from the chalet)
The Northern Lights Festival brings a slew of musicians, parties, and the Tahoe Film Fest to the region. Local businesses adorn the town with a dazzling light display starting the weekend after Thanksgiving. Northern Lights got a jump start this year, and Tahoe City is already looking pretty festive, so be sure to come through town and take a look! (10 min away from the chalet)
Activities
Sleigh Rides
The Borges family has been offering sleigh rides in Tahoe since 1969. Sleigh rides are available throughout the winter in Sand Harbor Nevada State Park, six miles south of Incline Village. Sleighs glide along the shore of Lake Tahoe amid towering pines offering riders an experience that sparks the imagination and enlivens the senses. Reservations are available online. For information on sleigh rides quite a bit closer to the chalet, call the Resort at Squaw Creek at (530) 580-8439 to inquire about the Borges family’s availability for Olympic Valley sleigh rides.
Northstar also offers sleigh rides by the Borges as part of their Noel Nights events, every evening from November 30 through December 21.
Lake Tahoe Cruises
Many cruise vendors offer daytime and sunset cruises on the lake, and you can hardly go wrong: all have fantastic safety records and provide top-notch experiences on the lake.
Some of our favorites include:
The Tahoe Gal has been delighting visitors since 1977 and was the first cruise departing from North Lake Tahoe. Just a short trip from the chalet, the Tahoe Gal departs from Tahoe City and offers brunch cruises, popular lunch cruises to Emerald Bay, happy hour on the lake, and sunset dinner cruises, as well as private charters.
The Wild Goose IIis an elegant 36-foot luxury yacht handcrafted from Philippine mahogany that offers charter cruises from Tahoe Vista. The Wild Goose II can adapt its voyage precisely to your interests and needs, an excellent option for groups at the chalet.
M.S. Dixie II is an old-fashioned riverboat (a paddle-wheeler!) that cruises the lake year-round, with food and beverages available for purchase and a climate-controlled cabin for comfort. The Dixie is available for daytime cruises, dinner cruises, and private charters. Departures from South Lake Tahoe, ~45m-1h from the chalet.
The Tahoe Paradise is a two-story luxury yacht available for charters and their Sipping at Sundown Cruise. Departures from South Lake Tahoe, ~45m-1h from the chalet.
Ice skating
Glide around Palisades Tahoe’s outdoor ice rink with a view of the Olympic Valley's six peaks, then warm up with a mug of hot chocolate. They rent figure and hockey skates, as well as helmets. The ice rink is open daily and operates in two "sessions." It closes for five hours in between sessions to refresh and clean the ice. For questions and hours of operation, please call the resort Rec Center at 530.584.4024.
Snowshoeing
Enjoy Squaw Creek's beautiful meadow or head into the backcountry of the Olympic Valley. The Nordic Center offers snowshoe and boot rentals, as well as guided snowshoe tours.
Sledding
sq*** Creek Resort Sledding
Grab the family and enjoy a day of sledding on a designated hill just beyond the Sq*** Creek chairlift. You can rent sleds and snow boots at the Nordic Center.
Sledding & Benny the Bear Snowplay Area at Granlibakken
Less than ten minutes from the chalet, you’ll find a winter wonderland with sledding and fun for the whole family. They’ll provide the sleds and the hill, you simply provide the enthusiastic sledders, and you’re all set! Reservations are available online.
Disco Tubing
On December 18th and from the 26th to the 31st, adventurous folks can zip down the mountain at Palisades Tahoe on a snow tube amid LED lights, lasers, and live DJs. This evening activity is quite popular and is reserved for guests over 40 inches tall. Reservations are required but are not yet available online.
Guided Winter Tours
Resort at Sq*** Creek offers terrific guided tours for a variety of skill levels and ages. It’s a fantastic way to experience the winter landscape and learn what makes this dynamic mountain environment unique. Reservations are required 48 hours in advance.
Santa in your Chalet
There are quite a few people in the area who know Santa very well. Some can even convince Santa to stop by your chalet around Christmas time!
The following helpful elves might be able to accommodate requests for a visit, either in-person or virtual.
Santa Mikel from Sacramento
River City Santa from Sacramento
Battle Born Santa from Nevada.
Otherwise, try to keep an eye on the local media to find a time when Santa is out and about in town or at a resort!
Holiday Meals
What’s better than being cozied up in our mountain Bearadise this winter? Filling your belly with selections from the delicious local dining scene! From classic California cuisine to Mexican, French fare to barbecue bites, North Lake Tahoe has a little bit of everything and more.
For winter-specific dining events, you’ll want to catch:
The Christmas Eve Dinner at Palisades Tahoe features a grand buffet with carving stations, champagne, and tempting desserts. Be sure to reserve by Thursday, 12/16.
Chefs at The Ritz-Carlton, Lake Tahoe, will be creating exquisite holiday-inspired dishes to be featured in Christmas feasts Dec. 24-25. Guests can choose from an a la carte meal or holiday buffet. Call today to book reservations at 530-562-3051.
On Dec. 24 and Dec. 25, enjoy holiday banquets and buffets at Cascades Restaurant and Six Peaks Grille, located at the Resort at Squaw Creek. Call 530-581-6610 to make your reservations.
On December 19th and 21st, guests over 21 can attend a guided snowshoe tour followed by a chalet dinner at Alpine Meadows. For the menu, a four-course Bavarian-inspired meal with champagne and wine pairings. Book at least one week in advance.
For dessert, bite into Northstar’s sweetest tradition at S’moresapalooza on December 29.
If you’d prefer to stay home on Christmas eve, you can book a meal to-go from Rocker with honey-glazed ham, crab cakes, and cranberry apple pie. Don’t forget to save a couple of the cookies from their Christmas cookie selection to leave out for Santa! Place your order online by 12/21.
New Year’s Eve
Fireworks
Fireworks displays are held at Northstar and Palisades Tahoe, and a torchlight parade takes place at Kirkwood. If you’re looking for a more extravagant fireworks display, downtown Reno will not disappoint.
Dancing
Those looking to dance the night away and jump into the new year in the company of live musical performers and DJs won’t want to miss the happenings at the state line, where many casinos provide options for combined dining and entertainment, and nightclubs universally offer a champagne toast at midnight. Closer to home, Tahoe City bars tend to attract revelers with live music and special events for the holiday.
