Did you read The Perrin Post today about Brook Wilkinson’s Lake Tahoe Sailing Cruise (and a Bike Ride)? How fun! While she was sipping chardonnay in the sun, I was cozying up to my computer to plan our winter family getaway there. You gotta love Lake Tahoe. It’s one of those amazing places that is equally fun in the Spring, Summer, Winter and Fall.

If you’re planning a family getaway there this winter, here are some things our local City Host and I recommend:

North or South Shore? You won’t be disappointed no matter which side of the Lake you choose. The North Shore offers a little more low-key atmosphere with smaller towns and a slower pace of life. For example, Tahoe City has a walkable downtown. The South Shore is the more populated side of the Lake. Though still providing a small town atmosphere, it is definitely a bit faster pace, and if you’re going for the gaming, go South Shore.

Affordable accommodations? Lots of travelers, particularly families, prefer to stay in Lake Tahoe-area vacation rental homes. Many offer all the comforts of home, including a kitchen, wireless Internet, cable TV and more. Plus, they’re often more affordable than renting multiple hotel rooms if you need more space.

Ski schools for kids? Most of Tahoe’s mountains offer family programs and ski schools for kids, but these are some standouts: (North Shore) NorthStar at Tahoe’s family ski program consistently gets rated well by Ski Magazine and others. The tiny Diamond Peak in Incline is also extremely family friendly and perfect for first-timers. (South Shore) Heavenly’s ski program is great. It offers tons of instruction and a special ski school area away from crowds. If you want to travel a little off the beaten path, try Sierra at Tahoe, which also has a good program.

Activities beyond skiing? The Tahoe Vacation Guide provides a lot of information for activities with kids, including:

• Snowshoeing. You can pretty much snowshoe anywhere you can hike—it’s great exercise and a beautiful way to spend the day. Bike trails are a great place to snowshoe around Tahoe, and many local ski shops and resorts rent snowshoes.
• Ice Skating. On the North Shore, Squaw Valley has two rinks: The Olympic Ice Pavilion, Olympic Valley, and the Resort at Squaw Creek, Olympic Valley. On the South Shore, The Heavenly Village at Stateline has a small outdoor ice skating rink in the new Heavenly Village shopping center. There is also the NHL-sized South Lake Tahoe Ice Arena and a smaller Village Ice Rink located at the Kirkwood Ski Resort Village.
• Sledding/Tubing. There are many snow parks around the Lake to enjoy this activity. Beware, however, every year there are sledding accidents.
• Shopping. Go shopping in Truckee, a cute little town with great shopping and eating; or at the Heavenly Center at Stateline, a brand new center with some cool shops and eateries; or visit the Squaw Valley Village another great venue for wandering.
• Shows: Experience some great entertainment at the casinos. The showrooms offer a wonderful small venue to see some big name acts.
• Spas: The Resort at Squaw Creek, The Hyatt in Incline, The Reflections Spa at Harrah’s, and Trilogy Spa at the Village in Squaw Valley are all good options.
• Dogsled rides. From the North Shore, try Dog Sled Adventure. From South Shore, check the Tahoe Vacation Guide for more information.

Where’s your favorite getaway destination and what’s there to do there? Let us know!