Winter Holiday Travel: The Ritz Carlton, Lake Tahoe

Après Ski, anyone?

Our favorite time of the year is around the corner! Also known as snow crab, champagne, and slope season! So, when this news hit our inbox we thought, ‘what better way to inspire others than to share these winter wonderland vibes? Sometimes we like to report on a town with a roundup, other times, we like to share property specific news because we’re a bunch of hotel hounds.

Enter: The Ritz-Carlton, Lake Tahoe. A luxe winter wonderland nestled mid-mountain at Northstar California Resort, they’re also presenting a veritable winter world of activities like après ski, gourmet dining, a Claus family meet and greet, Menorah Lighting ceremony, and traditional Christmas dinners.

The Ritz Carlton, Tahoe

As the only ski-in/ski-out destination in Lake Tahoe, the resort is also perfect for families because you can indulge with world-class ski valet services (yes, please!), award-winning dining and culinary offerings (let the diet start on Monday), and, of course, some of the finest hospitality in the world. Insider secret: they’re trained to always say hello to you in the hallways. It’s a small detail that pays off with kindness. The hotel will also host Holiday Days of Magic, special extravaganzas elevating the holiday vibes further. We just love the whole seasonal thing!

A room with a view of the mountains

In addition to deluxe guestrooms and suites, the resort’s two and three-bedroom Luxury Residences are available to book for the ultimate home-away-from-home winter getaway.

Check out this year’s winter and holiday amenities and events below:

Ski-in/ski-out

RESORT & DINING EXPERIENCES

Northstar California Resort

Guests of The Ritz-Carlton, Lake Tahoe have privileged access to Northstar California Resort for all their on-mountain plans with its ski-in/ski-out access and ski valet services. This year, Northstar will not require advanced reservations for on-mountain activities, but face masks are required for all indoor activities. Additionally, proof of vaccination and advanced reservations are required for indoor dining.

Après-Ski Experiences

A social and entertaining activity to enjoy after a day on the slopes, après ski in The Backyard is a guest favorite at The Ritz Carlton, Lake Tahoe. This year, beginning November 18 and running throughout the ski season, the hotel will host a Whiskey & Waffles Cabin where guests can savor premium, select whiskeys from around the world paired with warm, fresh waffles loaded with gourmet toppings. OMG!! For an even more elevated après ski experience, weekend guests can also check out the Champagne & Caviar Bar, serving a selection of champagne complemented with an exceptional collection of caviar (we are ALL about caviar these days with interesting flavors from Uruguay and California).

Spa Treatments surrounded by tree tops

Spa

The spa at The Ritz Carlton, Lake Tahoe will also be offering seasonal treatments like the Chocolate Decadence Facial.

Dining

The Ritz-Carlton, Lake Tahoe offers a great selection of exceptional dining spots on site, from the casual Café Blue and The Backyard Bar & BBQ to The Living Room and the resort’s upscale restaurant, Manzanita.

Beautiful 5 star fare at The Manzanita

The Manzanita menu serves up delicious California mountain cuisine like rustic “Woodlands” entrees such as branzino with Caponata, fennel and cucumber chimichurri, pork ossobuco, venison accompanied with sweet potato, blackberry demi and roasted heirloom carrots, braised lamb, and more.

With ski-in/ski-out access, The Backyard Bar & BBQ serves up Texas-style BBQ from Thursday through Sundays. Beef brisket, pulled pork and chicken, all smoked in-house with the resort’s onsite smoker and served with an array of traditional sides and house-made sauces. Yeehaw!

This lobby!

The Living Room, for when feeling like you’re at a posh hotel in the mountains and deserve fun posh fare. It will feature elevated, shareable dishes including cheese and chocolate fondue and creative seafood towers from 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. You can also sip delicious cocktails here.

Another fun idea they’ve added to the “make it special and easy” vibe: the little ones in the family can enjoy a daily dinner buffet curated just for them with their favorite foods in mind. Priced at $35 per child, the rotating kids’ menu will consist of one cold dish option, choice of two kids’ favorite meals, and two entrée selections.

Airstream Bar

If that’s not cool enough, located at the Fireside Terrace, the hotel will be featuring an outdoor airstream bar – open daily – where guests can stop by to enjoy a warm bowl of soup, while sipping on their favorite winter-inspired cocktail.

Magical Mountains

HOLIDAY DAYS OF MAGIC – December 18 – January 2

Full Holiday Days of Magic Schedule

Thanksgiving Dinners

Manzanita & The Ballroom | November 25

Advance reservations required

A pre-fixed five-course festive meal will be offered at Manzanita for resort guests only.  Menu items include roasted Brussel sprouts, heirloom roasted carrots, roasted turkey, porcini and coffee rubbed-roasted prime rib, and more.  The five-course menu is priced at $180 per person.

A holiday buffet with chef-action stations, harvested vegetable dishes, artisan pastries and kids’ selections will be offered in the resort’s ballroom.  Priced at $180 per guest adult; $50 per child the buffet option will be served from 11:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m.

Menorah Lighting Ceremony

The Living Room | December 5 at Sundown

Christmas Dinners

Manzanita & The Ballroom | December 25

Advance reservations required

Manzanita will be presenting a five-course Christmas menu. Dishes include baby beet salad, seafood duo – featuring scallops and sea bass, Piedmontese filet and more. Priced at $180 per person, guests can book dinner reservations from 4:00 – 9:30 p.m. Kids’ menu option available.

The holiday buffet will also be offered at Christmas and feature harvested vegetable dishes, artisan pastries and kids’ selections offered in the resort’s ballroom. Priced at $180 / per guest adult; $50 per child the buffet option will be served from 12:00 a.m. to 9:00 p.m.

New Year’s Eve Dinner

Manzanita | December 31 | 4:00 – 9:30 p.m.

$210 per person (bubbles included) | Advance reservations required

Pre-fixed, five-course meal in Manzanita. Kids menu option available.

New Year’s Day Brunch

Manzanita | January 1, 11:00 a.m. – 2:30 p.m.

$225 per person | Advance reservations required

Guests can start the new year off right and savor a special recovery brunch menu featuring unlimited bottomless drink selection.

Additionally, the resort will play host to special appearances from Mr. and Mrs. Claus, daily live music, and gingerbread house-making activities for families. The resort will also display a giant replica of the resort made entirely of gingerbread in the lobby, crafted by the resort’s talented pastry team.

www.ritzcarlton.com/LakeTahoe

Reservations: 800-241-3333

 

 

Winter Vacation Ideas

With temperatures already dipping below freezing in parts of the United States, it seems like an appropriate time to address the “winter blues” and how a safe vacation can often be the cure. Everyone has a different goal when it comes to a winter getaway – some want to embrace a snowy environment, while others prefer to follow the sun. For those who, like me, aren’t ready to fly until the vaccine is widely available, here are some top winter vacation ideas for destinations across the country.

Sonoran Desert Bike Tour, Tucson

1. Desert Cycling Getaway: Escape Adventures offers a five-day winter cycling retreat in America’s Southwestern prize – Tucson, Arizona. Rated as the country’s second most bike-friendly city, this velo dreamscape offers an ideal escape with seemingly endless backroads through vast expanses of desert and world-class ascents like Mount Lemmon. https://escapeadventures.com/tour/arizona-tucson-and-the-sonoran-desert-road-bike-tour

Red Reflet Ranch, Wyoming

2. Wintertime Cowboy Retreat: Venture to Wyoming’s Bighorn Mountains for a retreat at Red Reflet Ranch that combines limitless outdoor recreation and gourmet food with remote winter splendor. Step outside your luxurious accommodations to explore 30,000 stunning acres of wilderness by snowshoe, snowmobile or horseback. The local ski hill is only 45 minutes away and offers great skiing and snowboarding. https://red-reflet-ranch.net

The Wilson Hotel, Yellowstone

3. Ski Big Sky Country: On the edge of Yellowstone National Park in Big Sky, Montana, find one of the largest ski resorts in North America. With 5,850 acres of terrain descending from the 11,666-foot summit of Lone Peak, Big Sky Resort offers plenty of space to spread out. A stay at The Wilson Hotel in Town Center provides ample accommodations and easy access to the slopes, as well as to ice skating, Nordic skiing, snowshoeing, dogsledding and Yellowstone tours. https://thewilsonhotel.com

The Blacksford

4. Explore National Parks by RV: Each summer, millions travel to visit our national parks. Yet these warm-season sightseers are missing what might be the parks’ best-kept secret – winter. Once-crowded trails turn into tranquil getaways. Quiet winter wonderlands showcase nature’s calm beauty. Blacksford is a new RV rental business offering an all-inclusive pricing model that includes unlimited miles, 24-hour roadside assistance and a free annual pass to national parks. https://www.blacksford.com

Fireside Resort, Jackson Hole

5. Tiny House Ski Retreat: Just minutes from Jackson Hole, Fireside Resort capitalizes on the tiny house craze and the classic appeal of rustic cottages by offering 25 pint-size, luxuriously outfitted tiny house rental units designed by Wheelhaus. Each has its own outdoor fire pit and deck. And the resort is located just a stone’s throw from Jackson Hole’s ski slopes. https://www.firesidejacksonhole.com

6. Cycling the Sunshine State: Leave the winter riding gear at home and follow Adventure Cycling Association’s Florida Connector route for a loop around the Sunshine State by bike. Pedal south from St. Augustine past orange groves and sinkholes, skirt Orlando and arrive at the Gulf of Mexico at Fort Myers Beach. Turning east, watch for alligators on the way to Lake Okeechobee, then join the Atlantic Coast route in Fort Lauderdale and return north to the start. https://www.adventurecycling.org/routes-and-maps/adventure-cycling-route-network/florida-connector/

Devil’s Thumb Ranch

7. Cross-Country Ski Getaway: Ranked #1 Cross-Country Ski Resort in North America by USA Today, Devil’s Thumb Ranch offers 120 kilometers of classic and skate-ready cross-country ski trails. Only 75 miles west of Denver and 15 minutes from Winter Park, Devil’s Thumb recently unveiled a private enclave of 24 custom homesites for those who want to live on the award-winning guest ranch full-time. https://www.devilsthumbranch.com/ranches

Copyright © 2020 Sublime Public Relations, All rights reserved.

A Little Luxury at Les Deux Alpes

Les Deux Alpes

Ah, le superb resort of Les Deux Alpes, nestled in the French Isère département, is a village at the mouth of the largest skiable glacier in Europe, giving visitors access to all-year-round skiing. Since we’re all about winter right now (I even skied Central Park this weekend, fellas), we say… check out some online reputable agents to book ski deals, and you can see for yourself how fabulous this resort is while benefiting from great value for the money.

Les Deux Alpes offers around 137mi of pisted runs, perfect for the family (or you and your amour). Often termed ‘upside-down’ due to the steeper runs being nearer to the resort than the beginner slopes higher up the mountain, there are plenty of opportunity for everyone – no matter how proficient they are on a pair of skis. Don’t worry about the beginner and intermediate runs being further up the mountain though – there are gondola rides that can help you get there.

There is also believed to be the same amount of miles in off-piste track, particularly the area known as La Grave, giving plenty of opportunity for cross country adventure. If you’re a little more practiced skier, this could be a great way to hone your skills and escape the crowds on the groomed slopes.

Are you a boarder? Don’t worry – there’s an extensive snowpark boasting a half pipe, a multiple kicker and a handful of grinding rails, meaning you can grab and grind as much as you like. Since we do love a good grind.

While the groomed slopes and marked runs are fabulous for novices, if you want to really test yourself, the glacier is a perfect place to go. Offering skiing throughout the year, the glacier can be accessed by Jandri Express ski lift or a funicular railway that transports you through a tunnel beneath the ice.

The resort also provides an ideal spot for mountain biking during the summer months, both downhill and freeride options readily attainable.

So, take the plunge and head for the family friendly resort of Les Deux Alpes. Whatever you hope to achieve from your ski holiday, this resort will surely provide it!

The Hottest Apres Ski Party On the Slopes

Le Folie Douce Meribel Dance Floor

Who doesn’t like a good après ski party in the French Alps? I know I do. Well now, the LOV Hotel Collection debuts La Folie Douce in Meribel this December. More than six million euro have been poured into this exclusive nightlife Mecca offering skiers fine dining, multiple bars, boutiques, and a 360° stage and dance floor that can hold up to 2,000 partiers all set to pulsating electro beats from international DJs. Man, that’s chic. La Folie Douce is what you’d call “a unique concept.” Created over 30 years ago by Luc Reversade, well known as a pioneer of this scene with his success in ski havens like Val d’Isère and Val Thorens. This hip destination for snow sports enthusiasts, gourmands, and club music lovers, will open its doors mid-December 2012 and is the perfect après ski sojourn in the French Alps. The open-air club is the highest altitude cabaret in the world, and the bar serves plenty of libations, letting the après ski continue long after normal hours. For VIPs, an exclusive area allows guests to warm up with blankets on oversized cushions and beds. Additional amenities include ski valets and WiFi for those who need to stay connected. Also a foodie paradise, La Folie Douce boasts two gourmet restaurants, La Fruitière and Le Nuvo Self, featuring farm-to-table ingredients from local artisans thoughtfully prepared by Chef Franck Mischler. An exceptionally stocked wine cellar along with a young, attractive and friendly staff round out the experience.

So who’s taking me to the Alps?

www.lafoliedouce.com