PALISADES TAHOE

The 1960 Winter Games are still part of Olympic Valley life. The Olympic Museum at High Camp displays memorabilia from the Games when the museum and tram are operating. For a day around the lake, Truckee and Tahoe City offer nearby town bases.

Reno is a gateway from the east. From Sacramento or the Bay Area, the usual approach follows I-80 toward Truckee and then Highway 89 toward the resort. Check road and chain controls during storms. On designated winter dates, reserve parking for the base you intend to use. TART, resort park-and-ride services and Mountaineer in the two valleys offer alternatives. Check the service area and timetable for your dates.

Midwinter brings the chance of Pacific storms, which can also delay highway access and wind-exposed lifts. Spring can offer longer days and softer afternoon snow. Check the lift schedule for each mountain, especially late in the season.

Olympic Valley puts you close to village dining and the lifts. Compare the Village’s compact Standard Room with its larger suites, Red Wolf’s kitchen-equipped residences, or PlumpJack’s boutique rooms. Everline offers slopeside hotel rooms and spa facilities. Tahoe City gives you a lakeside base and Truckee has a walkable historic downtown; from either town, allow for a winter-road journey to the base you plan to ski.

At High Camp, the Terrace serves lunch with views of the Sierra and Lake Tahoe when mountain service is running. In the Village, Fireside Pizza is a family option and PlumpJack pairs a seasonal menu with a wine list. River Ranch offers a different setting for dinner along the Truckee River near Alpine Meadows Road.

Finish in Olympic Valley for the Auld Dubliner’s Irish pub atmosphere or a quieter drink at PlumpJack. If your group finishes at Alpine, arrange the transfer first or meet at River Ranch near the turnoff to Alpine Meadows.