Skiing

There's plenty of powder in California, where the snow falls in feet, not inches, and where more than 50 downhill and cross-country ski areas beckon to winter-sports enthusiasts.

Whatever you choose for your snow-sliding gear - alpine skis, snowboard, Nordic skis, or even an inner tube - you'll find thousands of snow-covered acres.

California, which has produced its share of Olympic athletes, is chock-a-block with ski resorts.

The Sierra Nevada range hosts the largest number, many of international caliber, at locations such as Lake Tahoe, Mammoth Lakes, Bear Valley, Yosemite, Sonora Pass, and Huntington Lake. Lake Tahoe alone offers 15 alpine ski areas, including the site of the 1960 Winter Olympics at Squaw Valley. Together these areas total more than 130 ski lifts.

Vacationers can stay at one place and ski a different mountain every day, selecting from a list of heavy hitters that includes Heavenly Ski Resort, Kirkwood, Alpine Meadows, Northstar-at-Tahoe, Sierra-at-Tahoe, and Sugar Bowl.

But there also are smaller resorts that cater to families, beginners, and the budget-conscious traveler - places such as Boreal, Homewood, Donner Ski Ranch, Soda Springs, Tahoe Donner, and Granlibakken.

Several ski areas have spectacular views of Lake Tahoe, whose cobalt blue waters never freeze in winter.

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