Ski Trip to Squaw Valley

This was a fantastic trip. We loved Squaw Valley skiing. I loved the Mountain Run. We took lessons and felt they were worth it since it had been a few years for each of us since we’d been skiing.

We did the Zepher Cove snowmobiling/lake cruise combo package and had a wonderful time. The food onboard the cruise was wonderful. Just the scenery itself was beautiful.

There was great dining everywhere. We didn't have one bad meal. This is a very well-run ski resort.

Quick Tips:

We went to Tahoe Dave's right down the road from the ski resort to rent our skis, poles, and boots. We saved about /day doing this. They have five locations around the lake, and you can return your equipment to any of them, no matter which resort you ski at.

Best Way To Get Around:

I loved staying right in the heart of Squaw Valley. We didn't need a car there, which was very convenient and well worth it. If you wanted to go anywhere else, though, you'll need a vehicle. If you go in the winter, don't get anything but an SUV/four-wheel-drive vehicle, as you never know what the weather will be like and you'll need it anyway for your equipment.

Best Things Nearby:
The Village is about 300 yards away from the timeshare (an easy walk) and is comprised of a variety of shops, a winery, a grocery, a deli, a pizza place, fine dining, a bakery, fudge shop, a Starbucks, ski stores, an outdoor fire pit, a kids' area, etc. It is very cool.

Best Things About the Resort:
Definitely the view from our balcony was the most impressive thing. We loved our suite, but the view was truly incredible. Also, the ability to walk to the Village and to Squaw Valley itself to ski was very nice.

Resort Experience:
Olympic Village Inn is nestled within Squaw Valley. It is far enough away (300 yards) from the hustle of the Village to appreciate the quietness of the mountain. The staff is very friendly and a shuttle bus runs to Squaw and Alpine Meadows every 15 minutes, which makes area skiing very convenient.

There are only five rooms at the resort with a fireplace, but almost no one gets those. Our suite was beautiful, and we quickly forgot about not having one. Our balcony view was of the cable car and the fontinel carrying the skiers up the mountain. We also saw many skiers coming down Mountain Run and the many lifts.

It was very convenient to the Village; you only need to put on your shoes to enjoy your evening out. Most evenings we were in bed early – we were too tired! We did enjoy wine and cigars and some local bars, and we even rented a DVD from the front desk.

• Unit Type: 1 Bedroom
• Activities: Excellent
• Amenities: Excellent
• Unit Satisfaction: Excellent
• Family Friendliness: Excellent
• Service: Excellent

This was a fantastic recommendation from the staff at our resort and one of two splurge dining experiences we had. It was fantastic food and well worth the money. My husband had rack of lamb--he said it was perfect. I had vegetarian enchiladas--I'm not a vegetarian, but the description on the menu just made it sound irresistible, and boy, was I glad I ordered it. It was delicious. Both entrees had sauces that just complemented the entire bite.

The atmosphere is cozy. There were probably only about 10 tables set up in the main room, which was very dimly lit, with lots of candles. Red and gold were the main colors. Apparently, in the summer, tables are also set up outside on their large patio. They have a very limited menu, but I think that's so that every dish can be prepared perfectly.

The restaurant is easy to miss unless you know where to look. Also, parking is in back.

It is in a fantastic location situated right at the south end of Lake Tahoe. There are great views. Located about 4 miles from the hustle and bustle of Heavenly and Stateline, the restaurant is an easy find right on Highway 50 around the lake. It is associated with the snowmobiling and steamboat cruise. It has a coffee shop and a gift shop attached. I liked the fireplace that was in the main dining room. We also had good service.

There was great food. We stopped in while on a drive around Lake Tahoe. I got a Rueben ($10), and my husband got the patty melt ($9). With soup and sodas, our bill was $28. There served us fantastic portions.

Situated right in the heart of the Squaw Valley Village, the Black Diamond Wine Exchange is a must-see if you are staying close by. Apparently owned by a renowned local wine expert, they've got a great selection and do wine tastings in the afternoons. We were glad that we stopped in on our second night of our trip. We went back two more times before we left and took a bottle back for my parents. The bottles that we bought ranged in price from $15 to $25.

They also have cigars, which was a fun thing to experience while sitting on our freezing balcony at night watching the skiers come down the mountain! Macanudos were $8 each.