The Lowdown

A short walk from all the South Lake Tahoe action, five minutes from the slopes of Heavenly Resort and a 10-minute walk from the casinos, 968 Park Hotel is within striking distance of something for everybody. Despite its central location, the 58-room hotel has an off-the-beaten-path vibe, perhaps thanks to its focus on eco-responsibility (the walls are insulated with recycled denim, ceiling fans cool the rooms, and the lobby couch is backed by decorations made from a fence that once surrounded the old inn’s pool). The guestrooms are low-key and intimate, with flat-screen TVs, iPod hookups and cable with HBO, so you can have your weekend away but not feel too guilty about your carbon footprint.

In the Area

Catch the Heavenly Gondola up for pristine pistes and stunning Tahoe vistas. Whether you’re snowshoeing, cross-country skiing or snowmobiling, there’s plenty of winter sporting fun to be had off-property in the surrounding Sierra Nevada mountains. When ski season ends, Adventure Peak (9,100 feet) picks up the action with a rock-climbing wall, restaurant and hiking trails galore. South Lake Tahoe is right by the Nevada border, where all the casinos are located. Harrah’s, 10 minutes down the road, is the largest, and it frequently hosts big name entertainers in its South Shore Room.