California Ski Resorts Gear Up for Winter, Offer Savings

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. November 30, 2010

SACRAMENTO, CA - November 30, 2010 - According to the National Ski Area Association, last year marked the second best ski season ever for U.S. ski resorts with 59.7 million skier visits. California ski resorts played host to over 7.5 million of these snow enthusiasts and, according to the California Ski Industry Association (CSIA), California's ski resorts generate $700 million in direct visitor spending annually, with a total economic impact of nearly $3 billion. So California is gearing up this season with enhanced improvements and savings direct to the consumer.

"California has a reputation for big winters," said President and CEO Caroline Beteta of the California Travel and Tourism Commission (CTTC). "And this year is shaping up to be another stellar season. As our seasoned skiers and riders may know, the snow is already starting to fly, and resorts are open for business."

But before heading to the Golden State's snowy terrain, take advantage of the many deals offered up at ski destinations across the state by visiting CTTC's Winter Deals page, www.visitcalifornia.com/winterdeals, which went live November 12. Visitors can choose from 33 specials and packages at ski resorts and lodging properties throughout Northern, Central and Southern California.

The deals are substantial and feature a Mammoth Mountain Lift & Lodging Package, starting at $99 per person, per night based on double occupancy (and a two-night minimum stay). Kirkwood Mountain Resort has a Cash Back Bonus Package starting at $85 per person, per night. Guests book two nights of lodging and receive a $75 Kirkwood Cash Card to use anywhere in the resort. On the West Shore of Lake Tahoe, Homewood Mountain Resort offers free lift tickets for active military and 50 percent off for immediate family members.

In South Lake Tahoe, Heavenly Mountain Resort has a 4th Night & 3rd Day Free Package, which starts at $315 per person and includes four nights' lodging, three days of lift at Heavenly and a special Heavenly gift. Beginners can head to Mt. Rose - Ski Tahoe on scenic Highway 431, where the First Timer Package starts at $69 and includes a 90-minute lesson, beginner lift ticket, and ski or snowboard rental. Squaw Valley USA is also poised for beginners with Learn to Ski & Ride Days, a $35 package that includes equipment rental, beginner lift ticket and two-hour lesson.

Also on CTTC's Winter Deals page is Sierra-at-Tahoe's Stay, Ski & Save Green package, which starts at $99 per person, per night, based on double occupancy, and includes lodging at the luxurious and eco-friendly 968 Park Spa, a bottle of regional wine and one adult lift ticket. Northstar-at-Tahoe's Stay & Ski Free Package starts at $115 per person, per night (based on double occupancy and a two-night minimum), which includes two lift tickets per room, per night. The Lodge at Sugar Bowl has a Midweek Package December through March with 50 percent off non-holiday dates.

In addition to the many deals offered, California ski resorts have implemented a variety of improvements to enhance the skier and rider experience.

"California ski resorts continue to upgrade and renovate their products, as well as add new programs," said Executive Director Bob Roberts of the California Ski Industry Association (CSIA). "Getting visitors on the snow faster makes for an easier learning experience and more memorable visit to the Golden State's snow country."

Following is a snapshot of what's new this winter, but for a complete list head to CTTC's official media page at tourism.visitcalifornia.com/press-room/whats-new. And, for those who don't ski, California has many new offerings throughout its 12 distinct regions that don't involve the white stuff.

High Sierra Region : Squaw Valley USA is the best place to be a kid, and it's only getting better for the 2010-11 winter season. Squaw Valley has transformed the Belmont Park into a kids' terrain park complete with a snowfort and kid-friendly jumps, bumps and whoopty-doos. Beginning skiers and riders will be able to ride to the top of Broadway, Sierra Resort's easiest slope, this winter on two new carpet conveyor lifts. The carpets, which are a total of 700 feet long, will make getting up the beginner hill a breeze, so skiers and riders can focus their energy on learning to come down the mountain. Pacific Crest Heli-Guides, in partnership with HeliTahoe, is offering helicopter skiing and snowboarding in the Truckee/Lake Tahoe area for the upcoming 2010-11 winter season. This will be the first full-fledged helicopter skiing operation launched in the Lake Tahoe region. For the first time, Northstar-at-Tahoe Resort will serve as host to a Nordic SuperTour event, the premier cross-country race series in North America. Scheduled to take place at Northstar Resort on March 18, 2011, the cross-country race will be spectator-friendly, starting and finishing in the Village at Northstar, with participants striding or skating up the mountain in between. Heavenly Mountain Resort broke ground on a new on-mountain restaurant this summer and anticipates an opening in February 2011. The 14,980-square-foot restaurant, located at the top of Heavenly's Gondola, will offer 500 indoor seats and 250 outdoor patio seats. Kirkwood Mountain Resort zips into the new season with the ZipTahoe Treetop Canopy Tour, featuring eight lines with speeds up to 35 miles per hour. Also new is the High Alpine Adventure Center, where guests can add old-fashioned, horse-drawn sleigh rides, throttle-twisting snowmobile tours and evening snow cat tours to the list of outdoor adventure options available at the resort. New this season, Dodge Ridge will host the Senior Winter Challenge & Festival, benefiting the Habitat for Humanity of Tuolumne County, Inc. This event is replacing the California Senior Winter Games held at Dodge Ridge in 2010.

Central Coast Region : Carmel Valley Ranch debuts following a $35 million revamp by Hyatt scion John Pritzker. Call it country camp for adults with a wealth of podcast-ready assets set on nearly 500 acres of lush green. The 139 revamped guestrooms (sporting iPod stations, wood-burning fireplaces and decks) and 18-hole golf course, designed by Pete Dye, anchor a new 11,000-square-foot spa, hilltop yoga program, 2-acre organic garden, 5-acre lavender farm, cooking class venue and beekeeping facility - yes, honey! Take in sweeping ocean views while strolling along Pismo Beach's newly upgraded and expanded promenade. The wooden boardwalk now stretches from the end of Main Street to Pomeroy Avenue, and includes new improvements to the Pier Plaza area, including public restrooms, additional parking spaces, showers and a new drop-off area. Ventura County continues to emerge as a wine tasting region with the new Ojai Vineyard Tasting Room, which opened during the summer in a historic firehouse. The Ojai Vineyard, which has produced handmade wines since 1983, offers more than 20 different varieties of wines at the new tasting room for the visiting public to sample.

Shasta Cascade Region : In an effort to preserve and bring the forest around Brandy Creek back to its original and natural beauty, Whiskeytown National Recreation Area is undergoing the Brandy Creek Forest Restoration project. Earlier this year, the Chico area welcomed the Gateway Science Museum, located in a chic modern-style building, which also has an interesting and unique landscape surrounding it. Outside, visitors will find five separate eco-regions, including a paleo flora area, riparian zone, buffer zone, delta and northern lower mountain region. The Tule Lake National Wildlife Refuge recently added the David Shampine Memorial Canoe Trail, a new seasonal canoe trail, which offers visitors a unique way to view the various bird species and wildlife in their natural habitat.

San Diego County Region : The Carlsbad Inn Beach Resort in North San Diego County is celebrating its 25-year anniversary with a $6 million renovation of the resort's 61 hotel guest rooms, 132 vacation ownership condo units, event spaces, common areas and fitness center. Kid City, the specially designed exhibition for preschool children ages 3 to 5 years at the Reuben Fleet Science Center, has undergone the final phase of a custom two-part renovation to completely make over the exhibition. Improvements to Kid City support additional opportunities for hands-on and parent-guided learning for preschoolers throughout the exhibition. Park Hyatt Aviara Resort in Carlsbad joins a growing portfolio of luxurious Park Hyatt properties around the world, known for their rich local culture, elegant sense of design and outstanding culinary programs. On the sun-drenched Pacific coast, Park Hyatt Aviara Resort lies on the north shore of Batiquitos Lagoon - a vast protected wildlife sanctuary and an enclave of natural beauty.

Gold Country Region : Mark Twain's short story, "The Celebrated Jumping Frog of Calaveras County," leaped Twain and Calaveras County into fame. Today, Mark Twain is especially celebrated in Angels Camp, where there are numerous sculptures, statues and events honoring the author. The most recent tribute to Twain is a new permanent, core exhibit at the Angels Camp Museum. The exhibit highlights how the author came to stay in Angels Camp, the 88 days of his stay here and how his famous short story came about. There's no better way to tour the vineyards near the charming town of Murphys than from the seat of a bicycle. As guests pedal past the gently rolling hills and pastoral vineyards of Calaveras County, they enjoy a refreshing sensory experience that simply cannot be achieved from a car. The group is led by GetOnYourMARK owner and cycling coach Shelley Marenka, and provides the chance to visit wineries you otherwise might miss, and talk directly with the winemakers.

Los Angeles County Region : Bloomingdale's, Nordstrom, Hugo Boss, Burberry and Kitson have moved to the beach. These famous retailers and others have a new home at the brand new Santa Monica Place Mall, which opened this summer. Chamberlain West Hollywood, a contemporary boutique oasis in the heart of Los Angeles, has announced the completion of its new room renovation and redesign, the first since its opening in 2005. The 114-room property, part of the Viceroy Hotel Group's premier Urban Retreats portfolio, has become a favorite of international travelers with its metropolitan design sensibility, boutique-style amenities and service. The LEED-silver certified Miyako Hybrid Hotel, located just minutes from Los Angeles International Airport, Southland beaches and downtown Los Angeles, and equal distance between Disneyland and Universal Studios, opened last year. With stunning meeting and event space, and uniquely appointed guest rooms with the best of Eastern and Western amenities, a visit to the Miyako feels like a true getaway.

North Coast Region : The new Wines over Watusi Program launched in October to coincide with the grape harvest in Sonoma and Napa Valley. This unique offer includes a private safari for 10 people with one of Safari West's knowledgeable guides to tour Sonoma County's Safari West 400-acre preserve, with the addition of a private wine tasting somewhere along the trail. Humboldt State University's Natural History Museum will re-open to the public in late 2010 with a broader educational mission. The museum, which closed last year due to state budget cuts, is expanding its mission to help children explore math and science. The so-called "Ski Lounge" is opening on the Northern California coast in November. Located at the Far North Climbing Gym in Arcata, it will host a cafe, lounge and micropub at a hub of the North Coast's outdoor adventure community. Besides serving healthy snacks, cold teas and juices, at night it will offer local microbrews in an industrial/modern lounge.

Inland Empire Region : Lake Arrowhead Resort and Spa has received AAA Four Diamond Designation for 2011. With this distinction, awarded to less than four percent of the 32,000 properties evaluated by AAA, the Lake Arrowhead Resort and Spa joins an elite class of hotels. In the eight months since Robert Olson purchased Filsinger Vineyard and Winery in Temecula Valley, he and his management team have worked steadily to create the beautiful old-world winery that is now Danza Del Sol. With a newly revamped Spanish-style tasting room that is nearly four times the size of its predecessor and beautiful yet comfortable new patio area, the new changes have created a simple yet enchanting home for the exceptional new Danza Del Sol wines. The winery's new direction has been made clear with the addition of veteran winemaker Mike Tingley.

San Francisco Bay Area Region : A new visitor outreach program to provide insight into the boisterous world of the hundreds of California sea lions that reside at Pier 39 launched this summer. Educators from The Marine Mammal Center and Aquarium of the Bay have begun a new visitor outreach program. Speaking above the barks of the animals, naturalists lead daily discussions from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. on the important role the animals play in the Northern California Coast ecosystem, explain their crowd-pleasing habits and answer questions. Grab your pith helmet and head to the San Francisco Zoo for a tropical rainforest journey. The San Francisco Zoological Society celebrated the opening of its Rainforest Adventure Maze exhibit September 19, which runs through January 15, 2011. The new interactive exhibit is located in the zoo's historic South American Aviary, which had been closed for construction. Ripley's Believe It or Not!, the San Francisco Odditorium and a popular Fisherman's Wharf attraction since 1967, has reopened after undergoing a mega-makeover in 2010 with more than 70 new interactive and hands-on exhibits.

Deserts Region : Death Valley National Park is preparing for a visitor center remodeling project. The Mission 66 structure at Furnace Creek will close in November after the Death Valley 49er Encampment. The project is expected to last up to 18 months. During the remodel, a temporary visitor center will be set close to the current center and adjacent to the Furnace Creek Ranch and Resort property. The Living Desert opened the Miriam U. Hoover Discovery Center on November 6. The 6,000-square-foot play and education center has interactive exhibits focusing on the effects of sun, wind, sand and a little water in the desert environment over geologic time. Highlights include everything from a giant ground sloth skeleton to a fossil wall and a seismograph to interpretation of the sustainable design practices employed in the building. The Pool House is a mid-century boutique hotel that opened last summer in Palm Spring. The intimate six-room property is embraced by stunning mountain views and rooms that open onto the pool deck, complete with plush cabanas.

Central Valley Region : The University Park Inn & Suites in Davis has recently been renovated. The updated facility features 43 rooms and 27 suites to choose from. Visitors will enjoy new paint, carpets, furniture and mattresses. In addition, rooms now have flat-screen televisions with cable and HBO. Guests can also enjoy the pool after a long day gallivanting around Davis and surrounding Yolo County. Stockton Yacht Charters, a family-owned business, has expanded operations to include the City of Stockton. The newly acquired vessel, Island Girl, is a luxurious 149-passenger motor yacht, now based out of the Stockton Marina. Public and private cruises include a delicious champagne brunch, scenic lunch and sunset dinner cruises. The Davis Farmers Market has a new vendor cooking up gourmet pizzas from locally sourced suppliers. The new Artisan Baking on Wheels project is a wood-fired pizza oven on wheels that sells pizza as a fundraiser for the Davis Farm to School Connection.

Orange County Region : The newest craze in water sports hits Huntington Beach - stand-up paddle boarding. This sport, which involves paddling a large surfboard with an extended paddle to propel forward movement, actually first began in the 1940s when famed Hawaiian surfer Duke Kahanamoku wanted to try something other than traditional surfing or outrigger canoe racing. Joie de Vivre, California's largest boutique hotel collection, is adding a fifth southern California property to its collection with the newly renovated Pacific Edge Hotel, a boutique property situated in the heart of the famed downtown district of Laguna Beach. Set on a pristine white sand beach, the 132-room property is in the final stages of renovations. The Huntington Beach Marketing and Visitors Bureau developed a fun new way to discover Surf City USA by using your smart phone. Surf City SCVNGR is all about going places, completing challenges and earning points to unlock special badges and features, in addition to monthly prizes, offered by Huntington Beach merchants.

California's special events are also many and run the gamut from art and film to outdoors, performances, sports, and wine and dine opportunities. California Tourism's events Web site also makes it easy to pinpoint special events during the time and location of your trip. Head to www.visitcalifornia.com/events to get started.

The California Travel and Tourism Commission is a non-profit organization with a mission to develop and maintain marketing programs - in partnership with the state's travel industry - that keep California top-of-mind as a premier travel destination. According to CTTC, travel and tourism expenditures total $87.7 billion annually in California, $15.6 billion of which is international; support jobs for 881,000 Californians; and generate $ 5.3 billion in state and local tax revenues. For more information about CTTC and for a free California vacation packet, visit www.visitcalifornia.com.