California isn't just beaches and surfing. 4,000 acres of ski runs awaits the skier at the Squaw Valley Ski Resort. It's situated on the Sierra Nevada mountain range and is near to Tahoe City. The resort is one of the biggest in America and gained prestige when it was chosen as the venue for the 1960 Winter Olympics. In fact, the entire US ski industry enjoyed a boost and began to attract as much respect as the older European resorts. The 1960 Games were the first to be broadcast on live television and professional skiers continue to train here.
It's a good location for beginners too, who have their own area at the base of the mountain and can receive tuition for skiing and snowboarding. There is an overnight locker room and a fully staffed medical facility at the foot of the mountain. A photographer will take a souvenir snapshot for the family album.
The resort is fortunate in having plenty snowfall each year. Squaw Valley Ski Resort is also helped in its success by its state of the art lift systems, including high speed quads and six packs types of chairlift. There is also a Funitel aerial lift and a cable car that goes up to High Camp Bath and Tennis Club. There are 33 lifts in total and the longest run is The Mountain Run, which stretches over three miles. The highest point is at Granite Chief, at 2,760 meters.
The resort is open for all of the year and skiing isn't the only activity. There are also horseback riding facilities, an ice rink, a spa and swimming lagoon and an indoor climbing wall. There is a Nordic Center at the Squaw Valley Ski Resort, where cross-country skiers can do their sport on various trails. Children love to go sledding and snowtubing and there are rides in open, horse drawn sleighs through very pretty scenery. Alaskan Huskies also take passengers on thrilling dog sled tours.
Après ski is excellent here with plenty of bars and restaurants on offer. There are amenities for fine dining or to grab a burger, burrito or bagel. Variety is the key and there is an Irish pub, a Tapas Bar and an outlet for Belgian waffles. At the end of a fun packed day, it's time to retire to comfortable accommodation in Squaw Valley Ski Resort. This includes a range of hotels, motels, cozy cabins, bread and breakfast guesthouses or condos.
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