For the past 6 months or so, there have been several reports of a big El Nino winter. While we are still on the fence, Mother Nature has given us 3 good storms. Enough that for the first time in a long time, our local ski resorts were able to open early. If you are new to Lake Tahoe and aren’t quite sure what to do during the cold winter months, here are 5 must do’s that locals love during this time of year.

1.) Go play outside. You don’t have to ski or snowboard to enjoy the outdoors. There are plenty of other snowy activities like snow shoeing, sledding or snowmobiling. That favorite trail you came to love this summer? Perfect for snowshoeing. That hill around the corner? Grab the crew and some sleds, and go have some fun. There are plenty of snow mobile tours as well. Whatever you do, find something outside that you love, otherwise you could be in for a long winter.

2.) Enjoy the holidays. Heavenly Village and a lot of the businesses around town decorate with lights for the holidays and have plenty of festivities and events. The town can feel like a scene from a Christmas movie during late November and December. In fact, Heavenly Village the last couple weeks of December has something going on everyday from music to ice skating.

3.) Play board games. Really, when was the last time with today’s hectic schedule that you played board games with your friends? This is a guaranteed way to stay warm and have fun inside. Just add hot chocolate (and some peppermint schnapps for the adults), build a fire and watch the snow fall from inside with your closest friends.

4.) Walk to the beach. Yes-this sounds cold. Throw on the snow clothes and warm boots and walk to the nearest beach. Driving by the lake and seeing the snow capped mountains surround the blue waters just doesn’t quite do it justice. When you are on the shores, you get a perspective you can’t get from your car. Snap some photos and upload to social media to make family members and friends jealous enough that they want to come visit.

5.) Cruise the lake. This is not just a summer activity. There are plenty of cruises you can take through Zephyr Cove that you can take all year around. Standing on the shores of the lake is stunning during the winter time, yes. Being on the water and taking it all in? Absolutely breath taking.

Stay tuned for more activities to enjoy in Lake Tahoe during the winter!