Want a week"s worth of ski vacation fun? Lake Tahoe, both the North and South sides, is so large that there are 14 different ski resorts ringed around this high elevation lake. Skiing and snowboarding enthusiast from California, Texas, Arizona, Nevada and Oregon come here because of this wide variety of quality resorts, world-class entertainment and breathtaking landscapes. With so many ski venues and fun places to pick from, how do you choose between them all? Why not try skiing several and taking in "The Lake of the Sky" in a week. Sort of like a "skiathon." It really is doable for you on an extended vacation without feeling rushed, leaving plenty of time to spend outside. There are two ways for you to do it: 1) stay on either the North or the South ends, and then travel to the different resorts around the lake on different days, or (our preferred way) 2) split your stays between both ends, enjoying each for half the vacation with less driving. Both ways will work.

So whether you choose to stay at North Lake Tahoe or on the South Shore, or split your stay between both, your first choice is making the right Lake Tahoe reservations. Vacation rental houses, whether posh South Lake Tahoe luxury rentals, convenient North Lake Tahoe condos, or cozy, rustic Lake Tahoe cabins, make the best "Base Camps" for a ski resort adventure. Both families and friends traveling find that vacation home rentals are actually far less expensive than individual hotel rooms "" better for shrinking budgets and more features such as full kitchens for cooking meals, living rooms for hanging out, and plenty of space for spreading out. This more personalized form of travel offers each property"s unique features for you to look forward to enjoying. Like hotels, most short-term lodging in Lake Tahoe is fair traded and appears on multiple sites, but is not necessarily serviced in the same way. Working with a quality Lake Tahoe reservations and full-service concierge company will make a huge difference in your vacation experience.

"We"re not in the travel business, we"re in the customer service business" commented City Concierge CEO, Jefferson Lanz, one such local company that builds relationships with its customers who return over and over again because of it. "When all things are equal, customer service continues to win out. By making it easier for people to plan vacations and get Lake Tahoe rentals easy, we"re hoping we"ll see less churn in the customer base and more repeat visits."

So, once you"ve settled in, one place to start resort hopping is at the winter wonderland north end of the lake, near Tahoe City"s California side. The area hosts Squaw Valley, home of the 1960 Olympic Games, and Northstar, which are the most popular places to ski. If you chose a North Lake Tahoe condo, cabin or home, you will want to be close enough to walk to the lifts. Both Northstar and Squaw have world-class ski slopes and ride parks, along with their own village shopping, dining and clubs, so stay close to both so you can alternate where you go as they are only 15 minutes apart. The other ski resorts near Tahoe City are Alpine Meadows, Boreal and Sugar Bowl, and on the east side is Incline Village Tahoe home of Diamond Peak, all midsized and will give you the skiing entertainment without the price of the big guys.

Other north end activities include the famous Royal Gorge Cross-country ski resort, along with a multitude of snowshoeing, ice skating, snowmobiling and sleigh riding opportunities. And for the more adventurous, winter kayaking is popular on Lake Tahoe, North American"s 26th largest lake, which is 17 miles long and 12 mile wide. All along the quieter unique and cozy north end you will find Lake Tahoe condos right on the lake, in the small neighborhoods and very close to quaint shops. Many places will have private beaches. The smaller towns have meandering paths along the coastline and are filled with memorable restaurants and cute shops full of hand crafted goods and original merchandise. The Cal Neva Resort in Crystal Bay, once a secret haven for Frank Sinatra and his Rat Pack and San Francisco"s upper crust, has gambling and music action for those wanting to turn up the heat. There is also a wonderful spa and casino at the Lake Tahoe Hyatt in Incline Village.

Continuing your ski tour south along the lake"s breathtaking eastern edge brings you to South Lake Tahoe"s Nevada side. A winter vacation on the South Shore means you can visit three different ski resorts all within 30 minutes of each other. You will want to stay in a South Tahoe luxury home rental when you are skiing at Heavenly Valley, Kirkwood or Sierra-at-Tahoe. There are homes and cabins all over for all budgets, but treat yourself to one of the more posh places that are either on the lake front, have a lake view or are close to the slopes. Many are big enough for two or more families to share, which means you can share the cost and get something more elaborate.

As far as the southern ski resorts go, the massive Heavenly Valley spans both California and Nevada making it the largest skiing and snowboarding in Lake Tahoe with incredible lake views. Kirkwood Mountain Resort is one of the California"s top year round family destination resorts, recognized by winter purists for the quality of its snow and terrain variety. Sierra-at-Tahoe is the last of the South shore resorts. Much quieter than the larger Kirkwood and Heavenly Valley, Sierra is a medium size resort geared for families. They have a wonderful tubing park called Blizzard Mountain perfect for the young ones, and young at heart.

The renowned rocking nightlife of South Lake Tahoe is filled with fun for high rollers and non-gamblers alike. The hotel showrooms feature great headline entertainment along with casinos "" comedians, bands, magicians, shops and exotic restaurants make it a very active place to vacation. Some of the top bands that have played Tahoe recently include Elton John, Chicago, The Doobie Brothers, Lady Antebellum and The Steve Miller Band. Ski all day, and then play all night. Winter fun at South Shore also includes sledding, cross country skiing, snow shoeing, dogsled tours, gondola rides and sleigh rides.

Seven days will seem hardly enough time with all the ski resorts and activities to choose from, but it"s a great start to experiencing all that Lake Tahoe has to offer all year long, not just in the winter. Whether you stay in lodging in Lake Tahoe in one place and venture out from there, or would rather move locations and hang out on both ends of the lake, your week will offer relaxation, memories, excitement, adventure and a taste of Tahoe that will leave you wanting more "" maybe even thoughts of a return to experience the summer side of The Lake of the Sky.