[vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]Lake Tahoe ski resorts will be welcoming skiers and snowboarders over the upcoming Thanksgiving holiday weekend with powdery slopes and spinning chairlifts thanks to recent storms that dropped more than a foot of fresh snow at summit elevations. With all major Lake Tahoe resorts planning to be open by Saturday, November 26, destination travelers can take advantage of early season deals and new nonstop air service to enjoy Lake Tahoe’s endless variety of winter vacation itineraries including 24/7 Vegas-style entertainment and non-stop fun for the entire family.

Coming off the wettest October on record, Lake Tahoe ski resorts have shifted into full winter mode supplementing last weekend’s plentiful snowfall with around-the-clock snowmaking. Powder-hungry skiers and snowboarders can get their fill of fresh snow over the upcoming Thanksgiving holiday weekend as three more snow-laden storms are on track to blanket the Lake Tahoe slopes with an additional one to two feet of snowfall starting tonight.

“Old man winter has arrived right on time,” said Mike Pierce, President of Ski Lake Tahoe. “The recent storms coupled with ideal temperatures for snowmaking have the slopes in prime condition for the upcoming Thanksgiving holiday weekend. Lake Tahoe will be boasting some of the best conditions in the entire country along with an unmatched variety of winter vacation experiences.”[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_media_grid initial_loading_animation=”none” grid_id=”vc_gid:1479886497223-0646d58d-6693-7″ include=”10278,10279,10280″][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]Mt. Rose-Ski Tahoe officially kicked off the 2016-17 season by being the first Lake Tahoe ski resort to open last Friday, November 18. The resort received an additional 16 inches of snowfall over the past weekend enabling Mt. Rose to offer top-to-bottom skiing and riding over the upcoming Thanksgiving holiday weekend with the scheduled opening of additional chairlifts and terrain. Value-minded skiers and snowboarders can take advantage of $69 early season lift ticket rates, as well as season-long lift ticket deals such as Two ‘Fer Tuesdays and Ladies Day Thursdays.

Home to the largest snowmaking systems on the West Coast, Heavenly Mountain Resort and Northstar California both plan to open this Wednesday, November 23 with miles of groomed corduroy and breathtaking lake-views serving as the perfect outdoor setting to burn off that second helping of turkey. Heavenly will be kicking off the season with its Winter Ignite series on December 2 featuring on-mountain Unbuckle at Tamarack parties, a mobile DJ snowcat and culminating with a free concert by the Cold War Kids on December 10. Northstar California will hold its annual Christmas tree lighting on November 26, where guests can celebrate with family, s’mores and live music around the festively-decorated ice rink and fire pits. It will also be embracing the holiday spirit during its annual Noel Nights celebrations on the first three Thursdays in December as the resort is transformed into a winter wonderland complete with ice skating, sleigh rides, holiday carolers and countless twinkling lights.

Host mountain for the World Cup this season, Squaw Valley Alpine Meadows will have numerous resort athletes and ambassadors on hand for their opening day scheduled for Wednesday, November 23. Coming off an impressive 2015-16 winter with chairlifts turning from early November to late May, Squaw Valley Alpine Meadows will be celebrating the start of this season with a traditional Thanksgiving Dinner at the Olympic Village Lodge on Thursday, November 24 followed by an action-packed weekend including a showing of Warren Miller’s Here There & Everywhere on Friday, November 25 and a Women of Ski Patrol Calendar Reception and Welcome to Winter Party on Saturday, November 26.

Given its prime locations atop the Pacific Crest, Kirkwood Mountain Resort is aiming to open this Saturday, November 26 (weather and conditions permitting). Kirkwood tends to be one of the first Lake Tahoe resorts to open its advanced/expert terrain and its next-level Expedition: Kirkwood instructional programs are the ideal fit for hard chargers hoping to elevate their riding this season.

Sierra-at-Tahoe is ready to flip the switch and open its slopes as soon as conditions permit, ideally as early as this weekend if Mother Nature cooperates. The resort will be continuing its long-standing partnership with Snow Park Technologies, the brains behind the Winter X Games and Winter Dew Tour park features. Guests should keep an eye open for its trio of “Golden Girl” Olympians, Jamie Anderson, Hannah Teter and Maddie Bowman, while sessioning the resort’s award-winning terrain parks this season.[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_media_grid grid_id=”vc_gid:1479886497238-9afc2f3d-1b29-6″ include=”10262,10181,10201″][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]Destination travelers can take advantage of early season stay-and-ski packages starting under $100 for both lift ticket and lodging at regional slope-side lodging properties and casino resorts. Many of the ski resorts are also offering unbeatable learn to ski or snowboard offers to start newcomers off on the right track this season; these all-inclusive packages start as low as $49 including group lesson, lift ticket and equipment rental.

The Reno-Tahoe International Airport will be debuting new nonstop flights this winter from major gateway markets such as New York, Atlanta, Dallas and Los Angeles. Sample fares for December start as low as $180 roundtrip from JFK to RTIA and $39 one way from Southern California to Reno with service from Los Angeles, Long Beach and Orange County. Skiers and snowboarders can take advantage of “Ski Free the Same Day You Fly” promotions; simply present a same day boarding pass at participating resorts to receive a complimentary lift ticket.

Lake Tahoe continues to best other winter destinations both on and off the slopes in terms of the endless variety of resort amenities and attractions that deliver an unparalleled winter vacation experience. Skiers and snowboarders looking to plan the ultimate Lake Tahoe winter getaway can visit www.skilaketahoe.com to take the new “Vacation Like a Local” interactive quiz that determines which mountain lifestyle best fits their personality and provides insider travel planning tips from like-minded locals. To experience everything Lake Tahoe has to offer, destination guests can purchase a Ski Lake Tahoe Six-Pack Lift Ticket offering six days of skiing or riding at Lake Tahoe’s top-rated resorts for only $479, less than $80 per day.[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_single_image image=”10208″ img_size=”large”][/vc_column][/vc_row]