By air: Reno-Tahoe International Airport has more than 100 nonstop flights a day from various parts of the country. Allegiant Air has non-stop service between Bellingham, WA and Reno-Tahoe for introductory each-way fares of $59. Fares will increase to $79 after their intro bargains.

By train: Amtrak (800-872-7245) serves Truckee and Reno on the California Zephyr line, running from Oakland to Chicago.

By bus: Shuttles run from almost every major hotel to each major ski resort. Check for schedules when you arrive.

Sierra Nevada Gray Lines (800-822-6009; 775-329-1147) operates a daily ski shuttle between Reno and Alpine Meadows as well as Northstar-at-Tahoe (except Saturdays). Squaw Valley USA (800-446-2928) operates a Reno/South Lake Tahoe Shuttle from mid-December through the end of March. Tahoe Casino Express (800-446-6128) runs between Reno airport and South Shore.

By car: Driving time from Reno is about an hour to any major North Shore resort. San Francisco is about four hours away via I-80 to the North Shore. During storms, the California Highway Patrol doesn't let drivers come up the mountains without chains or a four-wheel-drive vehicle, so be prepared.

Sugar Bowl is off I-80 just west of Donner Lake. Tip: If you are driving a rental car from Reno on I-80, headed west toward Northstar, Squaw or Alpine, you may pass through a California agricultural checkpoint. If you do, get off the freeway at the next stop and turn around. That checkpoint means you just missed the turnoff for Hwy. 89, just like one of our staffers did. The signs are dimly lit at night and tough to see a couple of hours before sunset.

Getting around: As much as we hate to recommend adding more auto pollution to this pristine location, rent a car. Public transportation is getting better, but not yet to the point where we can honestly recommend using it exclusively. If you stay near one of the ski resorts, your dining and evening options would be limited. Sugar Bowl, Diamond Peak, Squaw Valley, Alpine Meadows, Northstar and Homewood all have shuttles from North Tahoe towns.