For the second year in a row, Grand Sierra Resort and Casino (GSR) is offering its all-inclusive Winter Break Package starting at $399 for Jan. 14 – 17, 2011. GSR kicks off the snowy season with a four-day offer of skiing/boarding along with complimentary cocktails, deluxe accommodations, decadent dining and more

Winter Break Package includes:

• 72-hour open bar in Xtreme Sports Bar + Lounge featuring select  draft beer, shots and well drinks 
• Three daily meals at The Lodge Buffet
• Three-night stay in standard accommodations with luxury suite upgrades 
• One two-day ski or snowboard lift pass and shuttle transportation to Northstar and Alpine Meadows
• A 200,000 gallon midnight hot pool party with a Beanies and Bikinis Contest at The Beach pool club
•  Daily poker tournaments, late night bowling and beer pong tournaments  

The largest and most luxurious hotel in the greater Lake Tahoe and Reno area, GSR is 145-acre resort featuring wide selections of amenities from food and drink to entertainment and nightlife. With its nearly 2,000 guest rooms and suites, The Beach pool club, Xtreme Sports Bar + Lounge, winter breakers also have access to additional GSR attractions including its Sierra Bay Aqua Range, Fun Quest, an arcade filled with laser tag and other virtual reality games, the Ultimate Rush thrill park, Grand Sierra Cinema and Grand Sierra Bowl. Exclusive winter break deals are also available at Charlie Palmer Steak, Fin Fish, Briscola and the Health Club & Spa at Grand Sierra.

Reservations can be made by calling 1.800.648.5080 or by visiting www.grandsierraresort.com or www.collegewinterbreak.com.     

Restrictions may apply. The $399 package price is per person based on quad occupancy in standard rooms.  Guests must be age 21 or over at time of check-in to participate in casino games or be served alcoholic drinks.

Not everyone can gracefully schuss down black diamond slopes, so North Lake Tahoe ski resorts are giving novice skiers and snowboarders the opportunity to learn at bargain prices. The 11th Annual Learn to Ski and Board Weekend, scheduled for December 11-12, costs $25 and includes an all-day beginner lift ticket, group lesson and gear rental.

First-timers have their choice of seven resorts to learn at including Alpine Meadows, Boreal Mountain Resort, Granlibakken, Homewood Mountain Resort, Northstar-at-Tahoe, Squaw Valley USA and Sugar Bowl. 

Reservations are not required, but participants should arrive early. 

Lesson packages can be purchased at each individual resort the day of lessons. Students should contact resorts directly for resort-specific information.

Some restrictions apply. Resorts not open December 11-12 due to early conditions may offer a Learn to Ski Weekend later in the season when weather permits.

For more information about Learn to Ski, click to www.GoTahoeNorth.com.

North Lake Tahoe is a 45-minute drive from the Reno Tahoe International Airport, two hours from Sacramento International Airport and just over three hours from San Francisco International Airport. For lodging reservations, recreation and event details, call North Lake Tahoe at 1-877-949-3296 or visit www.GoTahoeNorth.com. 

Visitor information centers are located at 380 North Lake Boulevard in Tahoe City and 969 Tahoe Boulevard in Incline Village. The North Lake Tahoe Visitors Bureaus, Incline Village Crystal Bay Visitors Bureau and the North Lake Tahoe Resort Association, work together to promote North Lake Tahoe as a premier, year-round destination.

-Pettit Gilwee

Everyone in Reno Tahoe is gearing up for the first big storm of the season! The National Weather Service in Reno is forecasting an 80% chance of snow for the lower valleys, and is expecting to measure the snowfall in the higher elevations in FEET this weekend!

Yahoo! The snow dances have paid off!

Whether you’re planning on snowshoeing the beautiful Tahoe Meadows, sipping hot cocoa with a loved one on your couch or shredding the gnar – it’s starting to feel (and look) like the holiday season around here! We’re currently charging our camera battery, anxious to photograph the first major snowfall of the 2010-2011 ski season.

For those of you itching to get on the lifts, below is information you’ll find handy of ski resorts opening this weekend, joining the already operating Boreal Mountain Resort.

Mt. Rose Ski Tahoe is opening this Friday, November 19th from 9:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. with the Ponderosa life and Flying Jenny. Mt. Rose is the closest ski resor to Reno, a mere 25 minutes from downtown. Mt. Rose is offering a killer first timer package for only $39 and is available Novemeber 20-24. It includes a 90-minute lesson,  beginner lift ticket and rental equipment (ages 11+). The Rosebud Kid’s Camp is also starting on November 25th (Thanksgiving Day) for only $59. Kids 4-10 receive a 2-hour lesson, lift ticket, helmet and rental equipment.

Northstar-at-Tahoe is also opening this weekend, with the following lifts open for shredding: Big Springs Gondola, Arrow Express, Vista Express, and Big Easy.

Squaw Valley USA is also opening its Olympic doors on Saturday, November 20.

For tips on navigating Reno Tahoe during one of our glorious storms, check out our Winter Driving Tips Blog.

If you’re joining us for the Thanksgiving Holiday, check out our Reno Tahoe blog on Giving Thanks with us.

Cheers to a gnarly storm this weekend!

Opening day in Lake Tahoe is now officially only DAYS away! Snow lovers throughout Reno Tahoe are perfecting their snow dances. For those of us who live here, we already know why our destination is THE winter destination. For those who have yet to experience an awesome snow season in Reno Tahoe, we’d like to introduce you to Orbitz.

Orbitz unveiled its top 10 early  ski destinations, providing the best insight for those preparing to book their winter getaway. And no surprise Lake Tahoe is rated number one! As Jay Pierce of Orbitz Worldwide wrote, “The once and current king of the early ski season is Lake Tahoe, which also topped last year’s in-season list of top ski destinations. Lake Tahoe is one of the top annual ski destinations for good reason – it’s beautiful, the air is crisp and clear, and the sun shines most of the time.  During winter, with an average snowfall topping 400 inches, Lake Tahoe is one of the nation’s premier ski destinations, offering 15 downhill resorts and 10 cross-country ski centers. ”

 What are you waiting for? Book your trip to Reno Tahoe TODAY!