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	Getting air at Kirkwood Photo by Alex West

Going Out
If you're staying on the north shore the best bets for going out are Tahoe City and Truckee although there are good places in King's Beach and Crystal Bay, too.

First off, since there's really only one road around the lake, the favorite pastime for our boys in blue is the D.U.I. Do yourself a favor and call the locals' favorite Fast Taxi for all of your apres-transpo. The 'new' hang for locals and San Fran folks on Friday's has become the Blue Agave which has 100 kinds of tequila, a big screen TV and good juke box. You've probably read about Tahoe City's Naughty Dawg in a ski mag so get a few friends in there for uber-strong Dawg Bowls then get that number out for Fast Taxi.

Pete'N'Peter's and the Bridgetender have cult-like local followings. Pierce Street is the only place where you can kick up your heels without being the biggest drunk in the bar. And Rosie's is a good mid-point for 'quick' pop-ins if you're walking from one side of town to the other. Tahoe City is in a minor live-music-funk these days. Since the closure of a real venue the only wintertime live music is at a restaurant called Sierra Vista. The 'room' is pretty weak, but the crowd is usually good and the bartenders will crack you up.

The Naughty Dawg Baja Grill in King's Beach is brought to you by the original owner of the Dawg in Tahoe City. The north shore's best dive bar is in KB as well, but you'll have to ask around for it. Trade plans for anything if the winds of action say there's something good at the Frank Sinatra ballroom in the Cal-Neva. The building itself is worth a look, especially the lodge-style namesake room where the two state lines run across the floor. The other mini-casinos in Crystal Bay, NV are fun for itching your gambling problems, too, and they are open 24 hours. The newly re-opened Crystal Bay Club has many huge flatscreens and a great Sports Book.

In Truckee, the Bar of America is a perfect place to see a band with little to no cover charge. The Tourist Club and Pastime Club are local joints that are good for a pop-in and maybe a quick fight. Moody's and the Cottonwood are fairly swanky places and frequented by locals. The Blue Coyote is a fun place that gets live music as well.

If you're out at Squaw there a few easy access stools right at the base: Bar 1, Plaza Bar and Le Chamois. Mamasake in the new Intrawest village has a full sake bar and interesting A/V set up. Also in the village, Balboa has an uppity San Fran feel. Spiritually opposite of that is the locals' favorite move of getting the $1 Beer du Jour from Dave's Deli and drinking it right outside. You'll find the last rays of sun shining in the middle of the parking lot at the Red Dog. They also have Tuesday night raves.

South shore, is a busier, bigger strip than the three and a half small towns on the northern end of the lake. It offers more bars and almost-life-sized casinos. Nero's nightclub in Caeser's is the liveliest hip hop/dance hall. McP's is the classic pub. Rojo's is good for live music and boogying. Altitudes in Harrah's will let you pay to suck oxygen through a tube. If you want to see some local flavor, Turn 3 is a tiny NASCAR bar. For any groups looking for a huge night out, have a limo take you down to Reno. Check for a good show at the Hilton (note: Reno sees a lot of has-been Õ80Õs rockers), but otherwise just ask the driver to find you some trouble-filled spots and get those wallets and next-day-excuses ready.

Hotels
This is where you get bitten a little by the classic California stereotype, "everyone loves their car." For a quality vacation in Tahoe you must have wheels because the area you're going to cover has a 72 mile radius (the lake) and you'll drive on spurs to get to the resorts. You need to have a loose game plan as far as where you think you'll ski. The overall recommendation here is to spend most of your time on the north shore and take a couple day trips to south shore. Tahoe City is the northwest corner of the lake and makes for the most central point. Options here start with the Travelodge - beware of the camera posted near the outdoor hot tub. The Pepper Tree Inn is another inexpensive one right in town (indoor tub).

For a central condo, call the Tahoe Marina Lodge. About six miles east of Tahoe City is a small 'town' called Tahoe Vista, which has a row of lakefront places. The Tahoe Sands is the most affordable and has kitchenettes and a nice tub. The Red Wolf is a nicer all-around hotel. Just across the street is the Firelite Lodge which was recently remodeled - ask for a lakeview room. Then just over the northern state line, there's the Tahoe Biltmore - affectionately known as Uncle Bilty. This small casino usually has ski/stay deals and it was remodeled a couple years ago so the rooms are nice. For couples who want that cozy little lodge feel, stay at either Sunnyside on the west shore, or the River Ranch near Alpine Meadow's access road.

Contact Info
Alpine Meadows: Adult lift ticket $39; 800-441-4423; snowphone: 530-581-8374.
Boreal: Adult lift ticket $36; 530-429-3666; snowphone same.
Heavenly: Adult lift ticket $59; 775-586-7000; snowphone same.
Homewood: Adult lift ticket $44; 530-525-2992; snowphone 530-525-2900.
Kirkwood: Adult lift ticket $58; 209-258-6000; snowphone 877-547-5966.
Mt. Rose: Adult lift ticket $48; 800-754-7673; snowphone same.
Northstar-at-Tahoe: Adult lift ticket $58; 800-466-6784; snowphone 530-562-1330.
Sierra-at-Tahoe: Adult lift ticket $49 ($59 during holidays) ; 530-659-7453; snowphone 530-659-7475.
Squaw Valley: Adult lift ticket $59; 530-583-6985; snowphone 530-583-6955.
Sugar Bowl: Adult lift ticket $57; 530-426-9000; 530-426-1111.

Be sure to check the local papers and resort websites for higher holiday rates, special-rate days and discounts.

North shore bars
Fast Taxi: 530-583-6699 - program this into your phone before you arrive!
Naughty Dawg: 530-581-DAWG
Blue Agave: 530-583-8113
Pete'N'Peter's: 530-583-2400
Bridgetender: 530-583-3342
Pierce Street Annex: 530-583-5800
Rosie's: 530-583-8504
Sierra Vista: 530-583-0233
Naughty Dawg Baja Grill: 530-546-7297
Cal-Neva: 775-832-4000
Crystal Bay Club: 775-831-0512

Truckee Bars
Bar of America: 530-587-3110
Tourist Club: 530-587-7775
Pastime Club: 530-582-9219
Moody's: 530-587-4444
Cottonwood: 530-587-5711
Blue Coyote: 530-587-7777

Squaw bars
Bar 1 / Plaza Bar: 530-583-6985
Le Chamois: 530-583-4505
Mamasake: 530-584-0110
Balboa: 530-583-5850
Dave's Deli: 530-581-1085
Red Dog: 530-581-7261

South Shore bars
Nero's: 775-588-3515
McP's: 530-542-4435
Rojo's: 530-541-4960
Altitudes: 775-588-6611
Turn 3: 530-542-3199

Hotels
Reno Hilton: 800-501-2651

Tahoe City
Pepper Tree Inn:530-583-3711
Travelodge: 530-583-3766
Tahoe Marina Lodge: 800-748-5650

Tahoe Vista
Firelite Lodge: 800-934-7222
Tahoe Sands: 530-546-2592
Red Wolf Lakeside Lodge: 530-546-3952
Biltmore: 775-831-0660

Dates!
Sunnyside: 530-583-7200
River Ranch: 530-583-4264

By Alex West