We just got back from our short Lake Tahoe trip last night…and what a blast, people. Ski towns in the Spring (before the Summer season has kicked off) are quiet, sleepy, relaxing places. They have all the infrastructure needed to provide a good time, without any of the crowds or traffic or excess. Just peaceful hikes, hospitality workers in chatty repose, and all the lake-front dining you could possibly want without any waits.
Oh, and it’s dirt cheap. Hotels and resorts in Lake Tahoe are empty come spring time, so we got more than half off the usual hotel rate (if not more), and so we ended up in a posh one bedroom suite, with full kitchen and small dining area. We settled in, turned on the fireplace, and watched the snow drift between redwoods outside. Not bad for less than $200/night.
So, if you’re on the hunt for a quick, easy, and inexpensive trip in the coming weeks: Lake Tahoe. (I found deals in Truckee, Squaw Valley, and South Lake Tahoe.)
We might be doing this every year.