The Lodge at Sugar Bowl — Local services in Truckee

FANTASIA is a word that comes to mind when reminiscing about this exquisite lodge. It is a dream world. I understand that Walt Disney was an early investor of The Sugar Bowl and Fantasia was one of his early films. Waking up in the morning to the sight of those magnificent slopes shimmering bluish-white in the dawn is absolutely magnificent. And in the evening, if you are lucky and the sunset is colorful, the slopes shine with a pinkish glow...I have heard it is called alpenglow. Quite unforgettable. The in-room coffee is so delicious that we frankly had difficulty leaving the room to go down for breakfast!

We very much enjoyed our comfortable room. The large windows embraced the view beautifully. We particularly enjoyed the door opening to the third floor deck. It was like stepping out into the action of the slopes. Also, the in-room gift toiletries we found to be of unusually fine quality... Bulgari, made in Italy... a nice touch!

The very spacious lounge which is reserved for hotel guests is one of the best in California. The stone fire place is huge and the staff keeps it roaring in cold weather. The leather furniture is beautiful and comfortable and there is ample seating for those who want to relax and gaze out of the wall of windows into the dreamy view. There are plenty of tables for drinks, or cards or food. Hotel guests may order food and drinks from the bar but enjoy them in the lounge away from the general public if desired.

Drinks from the Belt Room Bar are expertly prepared. The bartenders cater to individual desires and specifications. That's how I am always served an excellent Bloody Mary.

Service is spectacular. From the moment you arrive at the parking garage you are attended. Your luggage and sport equipment is all handled for you. The ride into the resort on the gondola is breathtaking. The gondola, by the way, was formerly called the Magic Carpet, again a reference to Mr. Disney.

The dining room, with its amazing view serves first class meals. There is a real chef in that kitchen! In the 45 years we have been visiting this resort we have never had a bad meal. And good to know, the same chef prepares the small plates served in the Belt Room. This room is newly remodeled and is now quite spacious.Two dining favorites of ours include the lamb shank dish and the French onion soup.

The massive deck is a fun place to sit outdoors. There you can enjoy your carried -in food or food from the coffee shop, bar,or barbecue. Last visit we noticed quite a few laptops open as skiers rested, ate and caught up on their office work. The quietness of the bowl, because of the absence of cars, lends itself to a special peacefulness.

The lodge and resort is perfect for children. Our kids, and now grand-kids, are well cared for in the ski-school. It is well organized for day visitors as well as for hotel guests.

There is a special air of loveliness about this old, elegant hotel. The photographic artwork on the walls throughout the building tell its history and adds to its charm. We stayed in a newly renovated room, number 306. We...

Great weekend getaway on the slopes, and super convenient hotel at the base of the Disney Chair. A little tricky since you have to take the gondola to get to the hotel, so that means planning/packing well since you can't really just run to the car - but the gondola does run 24/7, in case you forgot something. Plus they have bell hop service that helps you load your stuff, if you need the help. The staff at the hotel is super nice and accommodating, we ate at the lobby bar/restaurant, brought food for my picky kids and they were very nice letting us eat there.

Hotel is older but very quaint, small rooms, but just enough space for getting rest before your day of skiing. The best part is the Sporthaus club, that has an awesome gym, 2 hot tubs & pool. The only downside is that you have to walk outside to get there, as it's not connected to the hotel, and we were surprised by that ( had to walk in the snow in our swimsuits/shorts). But the new gym, with super nice showers, made it worth the trek, as the locker room is nicer than the showers in the hotel room. We also liked the locker room downstairs for storing your ski stuff, so you don't have to lug it to your room at night. Our room on the north side didn't have a view, since the windows were all covered in snow! But I imagine the Mountain side is much prettier.

My kids had a great time, and can't wait to go back again soon! The boardgames were also a hit with them, while hanging out in the lobby (since the WIFI didn't work in the rooms, only...

The last of the old-school Tahoe resorts with excellent runs, friendly care from a great staff, and European charm. I stayed here every year as a kid with my family and I was so pleased to see that the charm I remember so well is still there. We could not have been happier to be there even though the weather did not quite cooperate: a sign of a great place to stay!

The mountain crews, the hotel staff, and the servers are all so friendly and genuinely helpful, it is such a breath of fresh air - no doubt a sign of great management with a heart to preserve SB's legacy. And all the resort food - the fine dining restaurant, the sports bar, and the lunch cafe - is fantastic!

One last thing: the whole experience of riding in on the gondola and having a couple days just to yourselves and the mountain, along with being able to leave your room, get a first-class breakfast buffet, then walk literally steps to the slopes, is phenomenal. We could not have...