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Check out where northern Nevada meets northern California for surprising summer and winter vacations.

Reno-Tahoe, is known as America's Adventure Place, and it offers family fun all year round. Although Northstar in the Lake Tahoe region may be the best known family resort due to its excellent snowsports programs and attractive pedestrian village, Reno, Nevada has its own appeal. Before or after a sojourn at scenic Lake Tahoe, your family can enjoy a stay in what is called "The Biggest Little City in the World." Don’t let the gambling fool you -- there are plenty of family-friendly activities and attractions, ranging from kayaking to museums to cooking classes.

A Family Resort in Tahoe

Let's start with the very appealing Northstar Resort in Lake Tahoe, California, which is a 40-mile scenic drive from the Reno Airport in Nevada and 114 miles from the Sacramento Airport in California.

During the summer months, Northstar Resort (Truckee, CA 96160, 530/562-2470) activities include horseback riding, golf, and downhill mountain bike riding (families take their bikes up on the lift and ride down what in the winter are the ski runs). Also in summer, the village's crowded ice rink becomes a roller-skating rink. Hiking down the hills is popular -- the resort is both family and animal friendly -- and during summer, dogs are permitted on the gondola. Other recreation for the active family with older children include tennis, swimming, fly fishing and cultural events such as live music, free outdoor movies and weekly festivities.

Visitors to Lake Tahoe can also enjoy the Bard at the summertime Lake Tahoe Shakespeare Festival (775/832-1616) whose venue is an amphitheater situated on a white sandy beach. In 2007, the company's 35th season will run from July 12 to August 19 and include productions of "The Taming of the Shrew," "Romeo & Juliet" and a non-Shakespeare offering called "Greater Tuna."

Tiny Skiers Accommodated With Ease

"Northstar has quite a lot to offer in winter," states Jessica Van Pernis, the resort’s communications director. "We have alpine and country skiing and telemark skiing where your front toe clicks into the binding of your boot and your heel is loose. We also have tubing, snowboarding and ice skating."

In winter, cabana sitting areas with firepits are located around the rink, where skate rentals are available. At surrounding bars and Mine (a children’s store) parents can purchase a s’mores kit to roast while sipping hot drinks from the bar. Every Sunday afternoon, Mine offers free activities such as crafts for young kids.

In winter, the golf club house becomes the Minors' Camp accepting kids from ages 2 to 6-years-old who are non-skiers. There's a snow play yard and lots of indoor activities including crafts and dress up. Parents are outfitted with a pager in case of emergency, and can buy their lift tickets right at the camp, and take a shuttle bus to the village to begin their day of skiing. The resort offers a special "Parent Predicament Lift Ticket" -- parents purchase one ticket and share it, so they can take turns skiing while the other watches the children.

"In the village we have our new Children's Center ski school facility," adds Ms. Van Pernis. "We offer full day and afternoon half-day lessons. It is one location where parents can drop off and pick up their kids."

Accommodations range from budget hotel rooms to ski-in/ski-out family-friendly condominiums to five-bedroom homes. The Stay & Ski Free Package allows you to ski free when you sleep at one of the select accommodations. In the summer Northstar offers a Stay and Play package. By 2009, Ritz-Carlton will have luxurious mid-mountain accommodations and a top-notch spa for mom and dad to partake in while the kids are at Minor’s Camp.

There are a number of restaurants up on the hill in the Day Lodge, and in the village dining outlets include The Big Wave Burritos, Earthly Delights, Timbercreek Restaurant a Bar and Starbucks. Later in 2007, a Japanese sushi restaurant will open.