The following content is created in consultation with Heavenly Mountain Resort. It does not reflect the work or opinions of NBC Los Angeles' editorial staff. To learn more about Heavenly Mountain Resort, visit skiheavenly.com.
Any seasoned skier or snowboarder will tell you that a good day on the slopes doesn't end when the lifts close. The day's heroics must be toasted over après-ski drinks, calories replenished with a delicious meal and muscles eased by plush accommodations.
Luckily, Heavenly Mountain Resort takes this 24/7 approach to the modern ski vacation very seriously. With the most expansive terrain in Lake Tahoe, the best après-ski party in North America and a fleet of revamped luxury hotels (replete with dining and nightlife options), Heavenly delivers a bell-to-bell winter vacation that allows guests to play as hard as they ski and ride.
Terrain
With 97 ski runs, from intermediate cruisers to 1,600-foot chutes, laid out over 4,800 acres spanning two states (California and Nevada), Heavenly offers the most expansive terrain in Lake Tahoe, complete with glades and three gates opening up to out-of-bounds skiing. Did we mention that Heavenly also serves up California's biggest vertical drop at 3,500 feet? A network of 28 lifts ensure skiers and boarders can maximize on-snow time, while terrain parks like Groove, Ante Up and High Roller cater to every ability level.
Add tasty on-mountain food like Booyah's Exotic Burgers and Brews, where you can choose from 97 craft beers and 250,000 mouth-watering burger combinations, and it's no surprise why skiers and boarders return to Heavenly year after year.
Après-ski
Ready to toast your efforts on the hill with a few drinks and maybe a DJ'd dance party? Look no further than Unbuckle, a high-altitude dance party rated the number one après-ski scene in North America by Forbes and CNN Travel. Located at the beautiful Tamarack Lodge, Unbuckle brings you half-priced drinks, guest DJ sets and the world-famous Heavenly Angels -- ripping ski bunnies by day and go-go dancers when the sun dips behind the Sierra. The party rages every Thursday--Saturday from 3:30--5:30 p.m.
Don't want to wait that long to get your dance party on? Then be on the lookout for the DJ Cat, a grooming machine turned custom-built mobile DJ station. With 52 high-output Kicker speakers and 1,200 watts of power, this open air DJ cat brings the party with lights, speakers and a 52” LCD screen. Look for it on the slopes every Thursday through Saturday all season long.
South Lake Tahoe
The fun doesn't end once you get off the mountain. Thanks to $150 million in improvements, South Lake Tahoe is now one of the best resort towns in North America with everything from revitalized hotels and casinos to a vibrant village brimming with shops, restaurants and bars. Just a short walk from Heavenly's gondola is the new Hard Rock Hotel & Casino Lake Tahoe at Heavenly Village, which offers a 25,000-square-foot casino, 539 renovated hotel rooms, new restaurants and bars, the largest outdoor pool experience in South Lake Tahoe, and an assortment of live entertainment venues. Or head over to the Château in South Lake Tahoe, which completed a $15 million renovation and offers 27,868 square feet of shops and restaurants.
High Roller Hold 'Em
Given all its amenities and boundless terrain, it's no surprise that the world's best athletes flock to Heavenly as well. Join the likes of snowboard Olympic Gold Medalist Sage Kotsenburg as he competes against fellow Olympians Billy Morgan and Chas Guldemond for a $50,000 grand prize in the High Roller Hold 'Em Big Air event. Combining the high-stakes of poker with the athleticism of world-class snowboarding, the April 4 event will serve as automatic selection to the 2016 X Games Big Air Event.
For more information on Heavenly Mountain Resort, from vacation packages to EpicDay Lift Tickets offering up to 25 percent in savings, visit skiheavenly.com.
