When I married my husband, I signed on to a life in the great outdoors! Not that I don't like the outdoors, but my husband has a deep love for the outdoors -- more specifically, a love for the mountains. We used to ski several times throughout the ski season, but once we had one, two, then three kids, that pattern quickly changed. It became too much work to pack up everything, lug our gear from the parking lot to the mountain, and endure the cumbersome process of getting each kid dressed alongside hundreds of other parents struggling to do the same. It's such a daunting task!
That's where the beauty of staying at the Ritz-Carlton Lake Tahoe comes in. Nestled in a tucked away location along the slopes of Northstar Resort, we found a gem. After staying here, we now understand how skiing as a family of five CAN be easy and relaxing. The Ritz-Carlton offers a variety of rooms for families including deluxe rooms with a bit more space to spread out, luxury suites and residences. My family of five fit comfortably in a deluxe room and we had a spot-on view of the slopes which was amazing. The Ritz even set up a tent for one of our kids for a mini-campout experience. Our room was also equipped with a cozy fireplace which was perfect to sit by after a full day of skiing.
The highlight of our stay was definitely the VIP service that is second-to-none at the Ritz-Carlton, but we can't rave enough about the Mountain Concierge available to all guests at the Ritz. A friendly staff greeted us upon arrival and they stored all of our family's gear during our entire stay. Each day, our boots were laid out for us and they even took the time to dry out and warm our gloves each morning. As parents, we were extremely relaxed as our kids got ready for a day on the slopes. Complimentary cold water, sunscreen, and granola bars were also available just in case. We then walked out slope side and our skis would be waiting for us to just pop them on and go! In my opinion, the Mountain Concierge service alone is worth a stay at the Ritz-Carlton Tahoe for the ease and convenience offered to families looking for an epic ski vacation.
The resort has all the amenities you come to expect at Ritz-Carlton including a full service spa (which I have yet to try!), 2 outdoor swimming pools, and some fantastic on-site eateries and restaurants. The resort also has the Ritz Kids program which offers educational and recreational activities for kids ages 5 to 12. This is a nice option for parents who need some couple time or perhaps a few hours at the spa.
During our stay, we had the chance to experience an amazing dinner at the Manzanita. The Manzanita offers California cuisine with a mountain flair and most entrees are prepared with organic or locally grown produce and meats. I enjoyed fresh Mount Lassen trout and my husband raved about the braised short ribs. Our kids loved that they offered a kids menu which included everything they love including a mini filet mignon for my youngest. For some yummy eats after a morning of skiing, we had lunch at the Backyard Bar & BBQ located just off the slopes with ski in and ski out access, making it convenient for a quick bite. We enjoyed everything from the pulled pork sandwiches to the BBQ baby back ribs. My kids especially loved their gourmet Mac & Cheese! There's also a quick grab & go cafe called Cafe Blue which offers breakfast sandwiches, fresh pastries, oatmeal, and Blue Bottle Coffee. We ate breakfast there each morning since our priority was to get out on the slopes!
As always, the skiing at the Northstar Resort was awesome! We arrived early in the ski season so not all of the ski lifts were in operation, but since my kids are still beginner/intermediate skiers, the terrain was perfect for us. It will continue to be one of our favorite ski resorts to visit as a family!
So if you've been thinking about a ski trip with the kids, but are afraid to attempt it, a ski getaway at the Ritz-Carlton Lake Tahoe is the perfect destination! Our family enjoyed a ski getaway of a lifetime.
13031 Ritz-Carlton Highlands Court
Truckee, CA
530-562-3000
Click HERE for lift tickets and specials
The writer and her family were guests of Ritz-Carlton at Lake Tahoe for the purpose of facilitating this article. No other compensation was received and all opinions are her own.
