“Magical Memories” at Resort at Squaw Creek
LAKE TAHOE IS IDYLLIC DURING the holidays, offering experiences that are redolent of a Norman Rockwell painting: long walks in the forest, big Thanksgiving dinner gatherings, drinking hot chocolate by the fireplace, and winter sleigh rides.
Some of our fond memories include cutting our own Christmas tree (visit here for a permit), sledding or skiing near Tahoe City, and just “stopping by some woods on a snowy evening,” as the Robert Frost poem goes.
For the past decade, another family tradition has been admiring the giant gingerbread village at the Resort at Squaw Creek—a “big city” experience but in the Sierra. The resort, located at the base of Squaw Valley, home of the 1960 Winter Olympics, goes all out for the holidays.
We enjoy attending the unveiling of the gingerbread houses and tree lighting ceremony and gazing out the floor-to-ceiling windows in the resort’s lobby into Squaw Valley— often grabbing dinner along the way.
In more recent years, the resort’s holiday event has expanded to include all sorts of holiday activities, up to and including visits with Olympic and World Cup champion skiers such as Tamara McKinney and Jonny Moseley.
Now in its 10th year, Magical Memories spans from the long weekend after Thanksgiving until just past New Years. Whether it is caroling, fun on the resort’s ice rink, stories with Mrs. Claus, elf tuck-ins, snowshoe tours, breakfast with Santa or Hanukkah menorah lighting, the holiday spirit thrives.
Thanksgiving dinner at Six Peaks Grille includes a gourmet multi-course meal and wine pairing. The Cascades Restaurant offers a Thanksgiving dinner buffet. Both restaurants also serve special dinners on Christmas Eve and Christmas Day.
New Year’s Eve includes a “kid’s night out” bash, as well as a grand celebration for adults, celebrated with style and sophistication.
For a list of events, visit SquawCreek.com.
Ski-In, Ski-Out Lodging
Resort at Squaw Creek, a AAA Four-Diamond resort, includes 405 rooms and suites, complete with fireplaces, resort-style kitchens, and LCD flat-screen TVs.
Recreation enthusiasts enjoy the resort’s true ski-in, ski-out lodging, on-site cross-country ski center, ice-skating rink, heated swimming pools, and scenic hiking and biking trails, ideal for enjoying fall colors.