Ice Skating

Ice rinks proliferate all year, though wintertime is the most popular for visiting skaters.

It ain’t cheap, but on a clear day skating at High Camp at Squaw Valley (1960 Squaw Valley Rd., Olympic Valley, 530/452-7246, www.squaw.com [1], adults $26, youth $22, children under 13 $14) can be a beautiful thing. You’ll take the big cable car ride up to High Camp. At the Ice Pavilion, lace up your skates and enjoy the Olympic-sized rink with its panoramic views out over the Sierra forests and peaks.

At the South Shore, Heavenly Gardens (1021 Heavenly Village Way, South Lake Tahoe, 530/542-4230, www.theshopsatheavenly.com/skating [2], daily 10 a.m.–close) turns part of its landscape each year into a winter wonderland. This outdoor, winter-only rink appeals more to tourists and kids than serious skaters, but it definitely offers fun and a partylike atmosphere.

For more hardcore skaters and hockey players who want to indulge their obsession while vacationing in Tahoe, the South Lake Tahoe Ice Arena (1176 Rufus Allen Blvd., S. Lake Tahoe, 530/542-6262, www.recreationintahoe.com [3], adults $9, youth $8, children $6) can hook you up. This year-round ice center offers drop-in hockey, public skating hours, and even an “Adult Coffee Club” skating hour.