California

A French restaurant with 10 tables, lake views, and delicious wild blueberry tarts.

The closest hotel to Mammoth Mountain.

So much going on you won't want to stay inside.

Book a ski-and-stay package at Mammoth's Westin, which is walking distance to the gondola, and get a $20 tab for après ski drinks.

Going on a romantic weekend to Mammoth? The Cinnamon Bear Inn is as cute and cozy as it sounds.

Delicious all year round.

Built with sustainable cedar wood siding and energy-efficient heating and lighting

The first from-scratch hotel in the Tahoe Basin in decades.

If you need a quick latte or bagel sandwich on your way to the ski hill, stop by the Dam Café.

South Lake Tahoe's best sushi? The Naked Fish.

Partiers often start their nights out in South Lake Tahoe at Fire + Ice,

Located stumbling distance from the bars, casinos, and the Heavenly gondola.

The boutique 968 Park Hotel is one of Tahoe’s greenest.

Ask any Spanish speaker in Truckee where the best tacos in town are and they’ll point you straight to Tacos Jalisco.

Wild Cherries, located on Donner Pass Road, is where Truckee locals go for morning coffee en route to the mountains.

With two locations: On the north shore of Lake Tahoe or at the base of Squaw Valley.

Thanks to a recent renovation, the Resort at Squaw Creek is one of Tahoe's nicest hotels.

Innovative seasonal menus with farm-to-table recipes that fuse California and Mediterranean cuisines.

Feels more like summer camp than a winter palace.

Headed to Lake Tahoe for a summer vacation? Check out Squaw Valley for paintballing, disco ice skating, and more.

The professional freeskier died Friday morning after a fall in Peru.

Squaw Valley-based skier dead at 29 after a big-mountain fall.

Squaw officially closed for the season a few weeks ago. But for Memorial Day weekend, the resort will reopen for skiing.

Looking for something to do this Memorial Day Weekend? Head for the hills! Sunshine, live music, parties... and even some skiing.

Powder skiing on May 22? Cooler temperatures and frequent storms rolling through the area make skiing at several resorts in the west, including Mammoth, still possible. More snow is still predicted.

Mammoth's rowdiest spot for happy hour also serves good steak and potatoes.

Enjoy Mexican food on a sunny patio.

A French restaurant with 10 tables, lake views, and delicious wild blueberry tarts.

The best breakfast spot in town.

A BBQ place in downtown Mammoth.

The best food you'll ever find inside a gas station.

An adorable bed and breakfast that your girlfriend will love.

Book a ski-and-stay package at Mammoth's Westin, which is walking distance to the gondola, and get a $20 tab for après ski drinks.

Located at June Mountain, 20 miles north of Mammoth.

The closest hotel to the ski area.

Pro skier Jeremey Benson offers tips on where to find good backcountry spring skiing in California's Sierra Nevada—from Tioga Pass to Mt. Whitney—as well as insider knowledge on the best local BBQ, hot springs, bike rides, gear shops, and more.

Northstar-at-Tahoe's newest hotel.

Kirkwood is off the grid—literally. Go strictly for the skiing.

A new green hotel in South Lake Tahoe.

Located stumbling distance from the bars, casinos, and the Heavenly gondola.

The closest lodging to Alpine Meadows Ski Area.

Thanks to a recent renovation, the Resort at Squaw Creek is one of Tahoe's nicest hotels.

With two locations: On the north shore of Lake Tahoe or at the base of Squaw Valley.

Going to South Lake Tahoe to ski and party? Start your night at Fire + Ice.

South Lake Tahoe's best sushi? The Naked Fish.

Located at the base of Squaw Valley, Plump Jack serves local, gourmet, and organic foods.

Find the best breakfast burrito in Tahoe City here.

For steak, lake views, and fruity cocktails, head to Garwoods on Tahoe's north shore, or Riva Grill, on the south shore.

Need a coffee fix in Truckee? Head to Wild Cherries, which is owned by a former Olympic skier.

Find Truckee's best tacos in a hole-in-the-wall behind 7-11.

Want to practice hucking jumps safely, and without the icy landing? Mammoth Mountain, California, has teamed with Katal Innovations to bring a Katal Landing Pad—a massive, inflatable airbag—to Mammoth from May 22-31.

North America's original pond crossing competition, Cushing Crossing, coming Sunday, May 9 in Squaw Valley. by Sam DeWitt

California Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger hit the slopes at Mammoth this week to participate in an after-school event for children. If we could spend a day skiing with the Austrian Governator, here's what we'd ask him.

In 2006, Roy Tuscany suffered a life-altering spinal injury in a fall on Mammoth Mountain. Four years later, he’s back on skis and helping others return to the slopes through his nonprofit and a partnership with CR Johnson’s family. By Olivia Dwyer

Tim Dobbins, a guide with Alpine Skills International in Truckee, California, shares pointers for efficient travel in the backcountry. By Olivia Dwyer

The Freeskiing World Tour has traveled to its second-to-last stop for this winter: Kirkwood, California. The big-mountain competition is taking place on the permanently closed Cirque terrain. Here is video from day one of the event.

There have been whole books (like Squallywood, by Robb Gaffney) written about how to ski the gnarliest lines at Squaw Valley, California. So there aren't a lot of secrets left. But we uncovered a few insider tips (with help from local pro skier Elyse Saugstad) that might help anyone planning a visit to Squaw.

A South Shore locals’ favorite drops the ropes on Huckleberry Canyon—Lake Tahoe’s newest sidecountry adventure.

Errol Kerr still laughs at jokes about lucky eggs, but he is all business when it comes to being the best in the world at skiercross. This week, he’s heading to Vancouver for his first visit to the Winter Olympic Games. By Olivia Dwyer

The French skiercross team likes bright colors and shiny things. We asked their coach why they’ll be wearing pink and silver uniforms for the 2010 Winter Olympic Games. By Olivia Dwyer

According to our powder forecaster, much anticipated storms might be heading toward the Sierra, the Wasatch, and the Rockies by this weekend.

Tucker is your typical golden retriever who likes to roll in the snow and chase balls. He and his owner, Pete York of the Squaw Valley Ski Patrol, also work together on avalanche rescue operations and will travel to the 2010 Vancouver Olympics to assist with security. By Olivia Dwyer

Indulge your simple pleasures at this quiet North Shore sleeper.

Taking your mom to the volcano is easier than it sounds. We've got a story—and video—of a backcountry tour (with my mom!) with Sierra Mountain Guides near Mammoth.

Pro skiers Ingrid Backstrom and Jessica Sobolowski share tips during their recent freeskiing camp at Squaw Valley to teach women how to tackle big-mountain skiing, from scouting lines to self-arrests. By Olivia Dwyer

Bear Valley Ski Resort, located in the Central Sierra Nevada Range in California, hopes to remain quaint despite plans for major renovations this spring, including village developments, a new lift, and the addition of 400 skiable acres.

A single-day lesson always helps, but to truly transform your skiing takes a commitment of time and energy. Here are our favorite multi-day immersion clinics that will finally take you to the next level. From Vail to Vermont, the list includes a resort near you.

Northstar’s new Chocolate Bar is, well, sweet.

It’s easy to understand why you’d be obsessed with Nevada. The more than 24,000 acres of skiable terrain, 33 feet of annual snowfall and 18 incredible ski resorts at legendary Lake Tahoe would thrill anyone.

Squaw Valley will crank the lifts on November 21, with opening ceremonies that include skier and BASE jumper, J.T Holmes, leaping from the Cable Car and a champagne toast with Johnny Moseley.

Sierra-at-Tahoe opens backcountry terrain to the masses.

Locals have a mantra for the Palisades: “When in doubt, air it out.” This granite block has cameoed so many times in ski-porn that its 60-footers and vise-grip couloirs are as familiar as Glen Plake’s mohawk.

Our winner’s friends call 911 after getting lost inbounds at June Mountain. At least the ski patrol got a kick out of it.

In response to the second earliest season on record, Mammoth Mountain offers free skiing this Friday for opening day. If you live on the other coast, Sunday River, the first resort in the East opened today.

While technically inbounds, Estelle Bowl feels as close to backcountry as you can get at a ski resort. Ride the Summit Six chair, then take the ridgeline traverse to the north past two other bowls to reach Estelle, which offers sheltered north-facing trees, wide-open powder shots, and 45-degree spines.

Planning to spend the weekend gambling in Vegas or Reno? Pack your skis and visit the poker table after a few laps at Las Vegas Ski and Snowboard Resort or Boreal. Both will be open this weekend.

It’s the secret of southern California: Less than 50 miles from downtown Los Angeles sits legitimate, steep, big-mountain skiing. It should be busy. Only Mount Waterman got on the wrong side of the Forest Service, took the life of one of its owners, changed hands, and locked out the public. Can a former surf bum rescue it?

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Best meat-infused cocktail, shortest lift lines, cheapest digs, and more. The rest of the awards from our 2010 Resort Awards.

The proper way to review a bottle of wine that’s made by a company that makes goo packets is…hell, I have no idea. Me? I cracked my bottle open and shared it with an underage kid.