For the nostalgic among us, North Tahoe is the site of the 1960 Winter Olympic Games when the US defeated the USSR to win the gold medal in Men’s ice hockey – the prelude to the “Miracle on Ice” at the Lake Placid games 20 years later. Tahoe is a treasure trove of activity no matter what season it is. It’s a short 4-hour drive from San Francisco and about 2 from Sacramento; take I-80 east to Sacramento, and then I-80 east to Highway 89 or Highway 267 to the North Shore. Be prepared for snow in the winter. During heavy storms, you won’t be permitted to pass the CHP (California Highway Patrol) checkpoints without four-wheel-drive or chains.

On the north side of Lake Tahoe in Tahoe City is the popular Fanny Bridge (at the intersection of Hwy 28 and Hwy 89). While everybody’s at the railing admiring the huge trout that congregate below the bridge, take a step back and you’ll see how the bridge got its name. From world class skiing to crystal clear water for fishing and boating, Tahoe has it all. If your base camp is on the northern shore, there are a number of activities and adventures nearby. (Of course, South Tahoe is really only a 72 mile drive away, so no adventure is truly out of reach here.) For the skiers, remember that the resorts offer instruction for adults and children, equipment rental, special courses for snowboarding, and restaurants, so you can typically spend an entire day at a single location.