In Lake Tahoe, Calif., nestled among the slopes of the Sierra Mountains, Aston Lakeland Village Resort offers tour groups in Lake Tahoe the perfect spot to enjoy world-class skiing, as well as exciting outdoor recreation, live entertainment, gourmet dining and the natural wonders of the region.
Slope to Slope
Located about a mile from Heavenly Mountain, Aston gives ski groups easy access to some of the best skiing in Lake Tahoe. The resort offers a free shuttle that will take groups straight to the base of the mountain. Here, skiers and boarders will revel in the varied terrain that spans the mountain, including 97 trails that range from open cruisers to plunging chutes. And if that doesn’t impress you, perhaps these facts will–Heavenly has 4,800 acres of skiable terrain, a summit of 10,067 feet and the longest vertical drop in California at 3,500 feet.
Heavenly certainly provides plenty of entertainment for ski groups. But there are a few other great locations sprinkled nearby Aston Lakeland Village Resort, including Sierra-at-Tahoe (about 20 minutes away) and Kirkwood, (about a 45-minute drive). Sierra-at-Tahoe, home to two Olympic gold medal champions, is located atop the Sierra Crest, and offers ski groups even more unique slopes to explore, with 2,000 acres of terrain, 2,212-foot vertical and 46 trails that range from easy to extreme. Kirkwood provides skiers and riders with some of the most diverse and challenging terrain around. It has a 2,000-foot vertical drop and over 2,300 acres of skiable terrain from calm beginner runs to advanced cornices.
If groups are interested, Aston can arrange for a special shuttle to take them to the North Shore of the lake, where there are even more mountains. Squaw Mountain averages 450 inches of snowfall every winter and boasts 3,600 skiable acres spread across six peaks. Northstar delivers a great balance of comfortable beginner slopes and intense elite runs, while also providing seven terrain parks for those daredevils. Alpine Meadows is another great ski resort, with 2,400 acres of terrain, 100-plus trails and plenty of on-mountain amenities. There really is no end to how much skiing and boarding can be done when you stay at Aston.
Accommodations
The property extends 19 acres and features 200 luxury rooms that are ideal for ski groups of any size.
“We’ve got a wonderful selection of small, medium and super large units,” says Jerry Bindel, general manager at Aston Lakeland Village Resort.
Aston offers large townhome-style accommodations, with four- to five- bedroom units that come equipped with fireplaces, large living rooms, full kitchens and plenty of places to sleep. Smaller groups can opt to stay in studio or one-bedroom units in the Lodge, and these also feature kitchens and fireplaces, as well as balconies.
Aston makes groups feel right at home by offering a welcome reception at the Lakeshore Pavilion, located right on the lake, Bindel says. And every morning, the hotel offers an expanded continental breakfast with lots of great options to fuel visitors before they head out on the slopes.
Activities and Entertainment
If you want to take a break from skiing, the resort offers free snowshoes for you to borrow and explore the environment around the lake. You can also enjoy an afternoon of ice-skating, tubing, snowmobiling, ice fishing or just relax in the resort’s indoor pool and sauna. The resort also holds s’more nights at the fire pits next to the lake, allowing your group to mingle and relax after a long day on the slopes.
At night, your group can venture into Tahoe, where entertainment abounds. In the Nevada side of the South Shore, you will find plenty of casinos including, Harrah’s, Harvey’s, Mont Bleu and Lakeside casinos. Many feature high-end restaurants, hip nightclubs and action-packed table games. If casinos aren’t for you, the area offers dozens of world-class dining options, great shopping and wonderful spas.
Aston is a year-round resort, so if you want to visit in the summer, too, there’s plenty to keep you busy. Go mountain biking or hiking along the Tahoe trails, try parasailing or windsurfing on the lake, or take a scenic lake cruise or horseback ride.
Getting Here
Aston Lakeland Village is conveniently located and easy to get to. The Reno Tahoe International Airport is served by most major airlines and is only 75 minutes away from the resort. The Sacramento International Airport, also an option, is about two hours away.
If you’re planning a ski trip to Lake Tahoe, Aston Lakeland Village Resort is a superb option for tour groups.
It’s only a short distance from some of the best skiing in the region and just a quick shuttle ride from the exciting downtown area. The resort also offers plenty of special amenities for groups, including an onsite ski shop with group discounts on equipment and rentals. Depending on the time of year, the resort can also provide discounted room rates for large groups.
“This place has a great family, group environment,” says Bindel. The resort offers a truly unique and intimate experience for groups that they won’t find anywhere else.
By Vanessa Day
