This February 2008 photo shows a view from the M.S. Dixie II and the surrounding sights around Lake... 
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Heavenly bridged that gap for me about ten years ago. One minute, white-knuckle terror and the next, bliss.
At 4,800 acres, Heavenly is California's largest ski resort. It straddles the Nevada-California border at the south end of Lake Tahoe. You can ski either in Nevada or California (or both in the same day).
The Nevada side is my favorite. Depending on conditions, you can cruise through giant snow-covered pines while the brown desert lies thousands of feet below. The contrast of wintry alpine and harsh desert make for lasting memories.
On the California side, the deep blue of Lake Tahoe is surrounded by snow-capped peaks, extending off into the distance. On a sunny day, the view is glorious.
Some quick stats: average of 360 inches of snow per year; 3,500-foot vertical rise; 10,067-foot summit elevation; more than 300 days of sunshine per year. The sheer size of the place makes boredom impossible. We skied four days without running out of places to explore.
We did find a few favorite spots — most notably, the tree run by the Olympic Express lift, which we worked all day during the blizzard. And, we really enjoyed the blue runs around the old two-man Galaxy lift. Most people avoid the runs leading to the slow Galaxy lift — so even on a crowded weekend, the trails are quiet.
Now, when I go skiing, I generally am too bushed to take much advantage of more than a pint or two at apres ski. But, if you have more stamina than I, there's plenty to do at Lake Tahoe.
Heavenly is right at the state line. So, cross into Nevada if you like to gamble or see casino-type shows. The high-rise casinos crowd right up to the border. You can dance until dawn, gamble, drink and carouse at Harrah's, Harveys or Horizon casino.
Or, if your tastes run closer to mine, check out the Lake Tahoe cruises. We took a two-hour cruise on the MS Dixie II paddlewheeler across the pristine water ( http://www.zephyrcove.com/ or 775-589-4906). Blue sky and water sandwiched the snow-covered mountains. Be sure to take the camera!
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