New ski runs, backcountry programs, and chairlifts—plus where to go afterward for warming s’mores, hot chocolate, and spirits.

By Laura Read  Shared from ViaMagazine.com

Lake Tahoe‘s ski resorts kick it up this winter, offering thrills from enchanting family adventures to world-class competition. Après-ski, the excitement rolls on with world flavors and local beers enjoyed in the spectacular mountain setting.

CHILL OUT: WATCH THE PROS
Test your mettle on Red Dog Run at Squaw Valley USA ahead of the planet’s best skiers as the resort readies to host Mikaela Shiffrin and Julia Mancuso at the Audi FIS Ski World Cup in March 2017. Tickets and schedule here.
WARM UP
On select Thursdays from November through March, the Alpenglow Winter Film Series features maverick climbers and other adventurers sharing their tales at Squaw Valley’s Olympic Village Lodge.

CHILL OUT: EXPLORE THE BACKCOUNTRY
Powder hounds find bliss at Homewood Mountain Resort, where a new snowcat-accessed backcountry program opens 750 acres of un-groomed terrain beneath Ellis Peak. It is scheduled to open in early December 2016.
WARM UP
Around a fire pit at the West Shore Café, across the street from Homewood, you can trade stories over s’mores under a sky sparkling with stars.

CHILL OUT: FLY ACROSS ICE
Near the lake in Tahoe City, slide across a new 4,000-square-foot ice rink with a picturesque view at the Tahoe City Winter Sports Park.
WARM UP
Just a few blocks away, follow up with flavors from around the world in the stylish lounge of Basecamp Hotel, which serves Venezuelan spiced chocolate and alpine-hearty Swiss raclette along with craft beers.

CHILL OUT: GROOVE AND SKI
Ramp up the groove at Heavenly Mountain Resorts as you share the slopes with a mobile DJ station custom-built on a retrofitted grooming machine, blasting rock, blues, and hip-hop from 52 high-output speakers.
WARM UP
Downslope, on the Big Blue, Lake Tahoe Cruises’ Pints & Paddles spotlights the acoustic vibes of Ike & Martin through the winter on jaunts from Zephyr Cove Resort.

CHILL OUT: FUN WITH FAMILY
Mt. Rose offers charming diversions at the Enchanted Forest Family Zone, where fun runs lace the woods near the newly moved (and renamed) Wizard chairlift.
WARM UP
Parents get their own lift above the fantastical panorama of Nevada’s mountain ranges at the Sky Bar, serving the signature RoseMary—its take on the Bloody Mary.