Granlibakken Tahoe

Granlibakken is the North Shore stay for families and groups who want space, a forest setting and the lake within reach, without the price of a lakefront resort. The resort sits in its own wooded valley at the end of Granlibakken Road, just outside Tahoe City, so guests are a few minutes from Fanny Bridge, Commons Beach and the shops of town, and about 15 to 20 minutes from Palisades Tahoe. The site is one of the oldest ski areas at the lake, and the resort still has a small ski and sled hill on the property, which makes it a favorite for families with young children who want snow play without driving to a big mountain. The lodging comes in many sizes. There are studios, standard and lodge bedrooms, standard and lodge suites (the suites have full kitchens, fireplaces and private decks), and one-, two- and three-bedroom townhomes. For larger groups, whole lodges can be booked, including Big Pine Lodge with seven bedrooms and Forest Lodge with eight. A complimentary buffet breakfast is included, the pool is open year-round, and parking and wireless internet are free. There is a bar and restaurant on site, and the resort also runs a large conference center, so weekdays can bring business groups. The style is comfortable and rustic rather than polished luxury, some units are dated, and the resort is in the forest rather than on the water, so there are no lake views from most rooms. Families, groups, skiers heading to Palisades Tahoe and anyone who wants a quiet North Shore base near Tahoe City will find it a good value.

The history goes back to the early days of Tahoe skiing, when the valley held a ski jump and ski hill that drew competitions in the early twentieth century. The resort that grew up around it kept the small slope, and it remains one of the few Tahoe hotels with snow play right outside the door. In summer the valley becomes a quiet forest retreat, with trails nearby and Tahoe City's beaches and bike paths a short drive or ride away.