In summertime, ski resorts turn to a full range of warm weather adventure alternatives. Here’s a sampling of what's happening in the far western U.S and Canada.
Ski resorts used to morph into ghost towns in summer. Now, continent-wide, with skiing and snowboarding done for the season, ski resorts offer a full range of warm weather mountain, adventure sports and other activities. Nearly all offer golf. Here, we continue our look at the variety of mountain biking, hiking, bungee, alpine slides, arts, and other happenings in the far western U.S. and Canada.
As a ski destination, South Lake Tahoe mixes everything from backcountry adventure to casino shows and gambling. Summer? Just as much variety. Beyond the mountain biking, fishing, hiking, boating of all sorts, camping, theatre and other performing arts, an Art Walk is staged to ten prominent galleries in Heavenly Village and Raleys Village Center on Saturday and Sunday during the third weekend of every summer month. And, Harveys Outdoor Summer Concert Series featrures such performers as The Rascal Flatts, John Mellencamp, and Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young.
On the lake's north end, Squaw Valley how about indulging in ice-skating year round? Or bungee jumping, hiking, biking, and Squaw's swimming lagoon with magnificent Lake Tahoe views? Ride up the cable car and hike down for some panoramic vistas. Festivals abound, including the Kite & Music Festival, the Bluegrass & Blues Festival, and the Art, Wine & Music Festival. Organized activities include Sunset and Full Moon Hikes, Stargazing evenings and Ranger Hikes.
Southern California's Big Bear features The Bear Mountain Golf Course, driving range and Club House Grill, operating daily. The Snow Summit scenic chairlift ride operates weekends only, offering scenic rides, cross-country mountain biking, hiking and eats at the View Haus Barbecue.
Oregon's Mt. Hood Ski Bowl becomes an action center with its: dual alpine slide, scenic sky chairlift ride, mountain bike and hiking trails marked with interpretive signs, Indy karts, miniature golf, the Freefall 100- foot bungee tower, the Rapid Riser Reverse Bungee, the Bungee Trampoline, the Space Rotation machine and something called the Velcro Fly Trap in which one wears a velcro suit and jumps onto a 12-foot wall.
And, of course, across the valley, Timberline offers skiing and snowboarding nearly all summer long.
In Alberta, Banff/Lake Louise proudly possesses what I think is the most beautiful mountain scenery in North America. It can be explored in many ways. Among them: walking Banff National Park's nature trails, hiking into the backcountry, taking an airplane tours, visit a backcountry lodge, attending a barbecue at the Dance Barn, taking a boat tour of Lake Minnewanka, canoe, fishing the Bow River or numerous lakes and streams, golfing, heli-hiking/sightseeing, taking a nature tour, horseback riding or taking a horse-and-carriage ride around Lake Louise, splashing in the hot springs, visiting museums, going off-road touring, sightseeing by bus, sightseeing by gondola, taking a Snocoach Tour at the Columbia Icefields, indoor watersliding at the Douglas Fir Resort, going whitewater rafting, kayaking or taking a float trip.
Meanwhile, at Whistler in British Columbia, there aren't too many summer activities that can't be pursued. Consider: gondola rides, Adventure Zone fun challenges, hiking, Bear & Eco Tours, mountain biking, glacier skiing/riding, mountaineering, glacier tours, kids' programs, golf, guided fishing tours, ATV tours, jet boat adventures, Ziptrek Ecotours, 4x4 tours, Hummer tours, fishing, paragliding, flightseeing tours, river rafting and heli-picnic/hiking.
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