Skiing

Homewood Mountain Resort. Schuss down these slopes for fantastic views—the mountain rises across the road from the Tahoe shoreline. This small, usually uncrowded resort is the favorite area of locals on a snowy day, because you can find lots of untracked powder. It's also the most protected and least windy Tahoe ski area during a storm; when every other resort's lifts are on wind hold, you can almost always count on Homewood's to be open. There's only one high-speed chairlift, but there are rarely any lines. The resort may look small as you drive by, but most of it isn't visible from the road. Facilities: 67 trails; 1,260 acres; 1,650-foot vertical drop; 8 lifts. 5145 W. Lake Blvd., Homewood, California, 96141. 530/525–2992; 530/525–2900; www.skihomewood.com. Lift ticket $129.