Close to home getaways: Tahoe resorts blossom during summer months

Have you ever wondered what your favorite ski run looks like in the summer? Quite likely it's carpeted with an explosion of wildflowers that bloom during the spring and summer in the Sierra. As the snow melts, ski resorts magically switch gears from snowboards and skis to bikes and hiking boots.

The variety of summer activities offered at Heavenly Mountain Resort, Northstar California Resort and Squaw Valley Resort is enough to keep visitors of all ages and abilities entertained for the entire summer. Browse their websites to take advantage of the best package deals that would suit your group or family. In the meantime, here is a drone's eye view of the eclectic array of adventures that awaits you at these year-round destination resorts.

Northstar California Resort

Encompassing more than 3,000 acres of forested terrain 6 miles south of Truckee, Northstar California Resort has been a premier family resort for 44 years. The resort, which caters to all ages, boasts miniature golf, roller skating, gem panning, a spider climb, bungee trampoline, rock wall climbing, swimming and tennis in addition to golf, hiking, biking and fishing.

With more than 100 miles of scenic trails that embrace mountain bikers of all abilities, the Northstar Bike & Hike Park is Northern California's largest. Just jump on the lift to start your outing mid-mountain or hike/bike from the base. If golf is your game, you can try a round at the gorgeous 18-hole full-service course as it meanders along streams and through the tall pines.

If your mountain vacation needs fishing to be complete, you can try your luck with rainbow and brown trout at Sawmill Lake, a short 2.3-mile round-trip hike beginning at the top of the Big Springs gondola. And if you've always wanted to view the planets Saturn, Jupiter, Mars and Venus in a completely dark sky, you can book a star tour at Northstar's Dark Skies Cosmoarium or the Backyard at the Ritz-Carlton, Lake Tahoe, which is located mid-mountain.

Accommodations at Northstar include vacation rental homes and condos, along with the Ritz-Carlton, an AAA Five Diamond resort. You'll find a tantalizing variety of restaurants sprinkled on the mountain and at the base village. A favorite is the Martis Valley Grille at the golf course, which offers lovely views of the surrounding Martis Valley.

The Summer Fun Day Pass features a variety of activities along with a lift and lunch voucher for $59.

Heavenly Mountain Resort

Straddling the Nevada-California border at South Shore Lake Tahoe, Heavenly Mountain Resort offers a challenging on-mountain experience in both winter and summer. At Epic Discovery, you can zip, fly and tube your way to adventure amidst 4,800 acres of pristine forest high above Lake Tahoe.

The Ultimate Adventure Pass, $89, allows unlimited all-day access for those 8 and older to the Ridge Rider Mountain Coaster, summer tubing, Hot Shot Zip Line, ropes courses, Granite Peak Climbing Wall and the gondola ride. For kids younger than 8, the Little Explorer Pass ($49) allows access to the Red Tail Zip Line, Bear Cub Ropes Course, Granite Peak Climbing Wall and the gondola.

The Ridge Rider Mountain Coaster shoots riders down a 3,400-foot track, with a drop of 300 feet and views of Lake Tahoe far below. The Hot Shot Zip Line enables riders to glide at 40 mph for 1,000 feet along four parallel zip lines.

For summer tubing, take a thrilling ride down a 500-foot hill on a special surface devoid of water or snow. The three ropes courses are designed according to ability, with the advanced Discovery Forest Ropes Course providing an interactive experience with the natural environment in the surrounding forest.

Other attractions at Heavenly include the Blue Streak Zip Line, which allows riders to glide down 3,300 feet at speeds of up to 50 mph. The Skyway Canopy Tour permits participants to fly through and above the forest canopy on a variety of aerial bridges and zip lines. And don't forget the Heavenly Mountain Gondola, which whisks riders on a 2.4-mile ride, affording spectacular views along the way.

When it's time to slow down and catch your breath, explore the Tahoe Basin from an all-terrain vehicle on a Summit Expedition Tour.

Accommodations tucked in and around the base at Heavenly include the four-star Marriott Grand Residence Club, Lake Tahoe and five-star The Landing Resort and Spa. If you want to include casino action in your visit, book rooms at Harrah's Lake Tahoe, the Hard Rock Hotel & Casino Lake Tahoe or Harvey's Lake Tahoe.

For accommodations on the lake, try Aston Lakeland Village Resort, and for rooms with a view high above the lake, give The Ridge Tahoe a try. Choice Hotels' Rodeway Inn offers two-star rooms, and Tahoe Tyrol Vacation Homes provides homes and condos completely furnished.

Popular restaurants in South Shore include Café Fiore, Scusa Italian Ristorante and Evan's American Gourmet Café. The Tamarack Lodge at the top of the gondola is great for families, serving breakfast and lunch from 9 a.m. daily.

Squaw Valley Resort

Best known as the host of the 1960 Winter Olympics, Squaw Valley Resort has been rolling out a red carpet to summer visitors for decades. It's best to begin your Squaw adventure by riding the aerial tram up to High Camp, a scenic ear-popping elevation gain of 2,000 feet. In this exquisite alpine meadow surrounded by rugged peaks, you'll find activities for all ages that include roller skating, disc golf and geocaching. The High Camp pool and hot tub are especially popular as a singular activity or a relaxing break from skating, hiking and disc golf.

Hiking is one of the best ways to experience this unique environment. Grab a map at the base of the tram to get an idea of options that include routes in the open terrain near High Camp as well as more advanced jaunts to the top of Squaw Peak or down to Shirley Lake. If you're ambitious, you can hike rather than ride back to the base at the end of the day.

In the Village at Squaw Valley you'll find other activities such as biking, shopping, swimming, tennis, climbing walls, miniature golf, a sky jump, horseback riding, a ropes course and golf.