Resort Villages

by Alison Gray

Although the snow may be nearly gone, don't expect Tahoe's ski resorts to roll up their sidewalks. In fact, with plenty of shopping, dining, activities and events, summer is one of the most exciting times to visit.

Heavenly Village

While surrounded by upscale boutiques, sporting goods stores, galleries and eateries, this village hotspot is just minutes from mountaintop fun. After a scenic gondola ride to 9,000-plus feet, hike along ridgetop trails or hop a chairlift to the Heavenly Flyer, which, at a length of 3,300 feet, is the longest zip line in the continental United States. Once clipped in, thrill-seekers can zoom past treetops at up to 50 miles per hour, while dropping 525 vertical feet.

Back down at the Village, enjoy more urban entertainment by shopping the gems at Rock Your World or the lingerie and clothing at Sealed with a Kiss. Chic styles to hit South Shore's clubs are at Rain Urbana and Gary Angelica, or you can don the western look at Cowboys & Indians. Find outdoor apparel at Quiksilver, Helly Hansen and Tahoe Boot 'n' Bike Works.

Beyond shopping, you can practice your putting with the Village's mini golf and browse fine art at Oh My Godard and Wyland Gallery. For a midday snack, try the Rocky Mountain Chocolate Factory or the Nestle Toll House Café, and when it's time for an adult beverage, have a seat outdoors at FiRE + iCE and relax with a 48- ounce cocktail. Be sure to visit the Village Saturdays and Sundays, when there's live music outdoors. 1-877-LKTAHOE or www.theshopsatheavenlyvillage.com

The Village at Squaw

From Soaring Kites to the Alpen Wine Festival, the celebrations at Squaw Valley never seem to cease. In addition to special events and festivals, stop by for a round of mini golf, play a giant game of chess, tackle the Headwall Climbing Wall, jump on the bungee trampoline or go even-more daredevil with circus school Trapeze Arts. High Camp is only a cable car ride away, where you can find the Swimming Lagoon and Spa, ice rink, tennis courts and high-elevation hiking.

Squaw is also home to great shopping and dining. Gear up at Granite Chief and Tait's Boardshop, or find trendy clothing at Blue Sky, PlumpJack Sport and Edin Boutique. Buy a bracelet at Rainbow Bridge, make a candle at Waxen Moon, peruse contemporary art at Gallery Keoki, find bubble bath supplies at Lather & Fizz or get some head-to-toe pampering at Trilogy Spa.

Afterwards, grab a Guinness at Auld Dubliner, a chardonnay from Uncorked or bring your pooch for a "beer" during Yappy Hours at the specialty pet store Tails by the Lake. Then hit up Mamasake for sushi, Blue Coyote for burgers or Fireside for pizza. Before you leave, pick up a board game for later from Mind Play. (530) 584- 6266 or www.thevillageatsquaw.com

The Village at Northstar

From mountaintop to base, Northstar has something for everyone. Don't miss the resort's mountain bike park, with 100-plus miles of trails and a jump park. Free chairlift rides for hikers and sightseers provide easy access to many ridgetop routes.

Back at the Village below, watch the kids roller skating or sip a rink-side martini from the cabana lounges. For more adventure, bounce on the bungee trampolines or schedule a horseback ride at the stable—even beginners can enjoy a trot through the woods.

After all that activity, it's time to shop! Dress kids in fun finds from Mine and Freckles, or let them run wild at Northstar's latest offering, Ambassador Toys. Older kids can fashion jewelry at Farrah Ralé Bead Design Studio, craft candles at Village Candle Shop or spin yarns at Loopy. Be sure to browse the fine art at Bolam Gallery, the sculptures at Spirits in Stone and the American contemporary offerings at Ethos Gallery.

Find more great shopping at Double Diamond Jewelry, the store for the gourmand, Olivier Napa Valley, and the apparel stores Butterbox, Helly Hansen and North Face. Dining options include Mikuni Japanese Restaurant & Sushi Bar (try the Marilyn Monroll!), Big Wave Burritos and Wraps, Rubicon Pizza, Earthly Delights and Timbercreek Restaurant.

Visit the Village for one of the season's many festivals: the Tour de Nez bike race in June, Beerfest in July and the Autumn Food & Wine Festival in September. And don't miss live entertainment Thursdays through Sundays, and movie nights Fridays through Sundays at dusk. 1-800- GO-NORTH or www.northstarattahoe.com

Kirkwood Village

Far from the chic boutiques of the other villages, Kirkwood leans into all-things outdoors. Check out the clinics offered this summer—mountain biking, climbing and fly-fishing—as well as events like the Wildflower Festival and the Thin Air Chili Cook-Off.

Adventure addicts will love the variety at Kirkwood. Take a chairlift to a summit for a thrilling mountain bike descent, saddle up at the Kirkwood Corral, take a dip in Caples Lake or watch kids race through the ropes course and zoom down the zip line. Kirkwood also boasts geocaching—high-tech GPS treasure hunting—as well as the Disc Wood course for disc golf.

The Kirkwood Village is a one-stop shop for all adventure gear and rentals. Mountain bikes, kayaks and even GPS geocaching gadgets are available for rent at the Adventure Center. Find bait, fishing licenses and snacks at both the General Store & Post Office and the Kirkwood Station, just down the street. Once you build up an appetite, check out the local restaurants. Built in 1864, Kirkwood Inn offers rustic hospitality (not to mention killer barbeque ribs!) while Bub's Sports Bar serves up casual dinners. (209) 258-7360 or www.kirkwood.com