Though better known as a ski area, Northstar-at-Tahoe in the Sierra Nevada Mountains, 6 miles from Lake Tahoe, has quietly emerged as quintessential summer retreat and tennis haven for families, partly for the abundant recreation and partly for the gentle prices. At its heart is lively Swim & Racquet Club, which combines indoor and outdoor swimming pools, a fitness center, game rooms, and snack bar with 10 hard tennis courts tucked in among the evergreens.

Most families stay in the homes and condominiums that have been built in the forest-covered hills and along the golf course. At the resort core stands a tiny village of shops, stores and restaurants—with lodge rooms above them—fronting a cobblestone pedestrian mall. The tennis courts benefit from their strategic location at the recreation center no more than 100 yards from the village hub. On any sunny day, the large swimming pool at the center becomes a meeting place for seemingly everyone not out playing golf, hiking, horseback riding, or exploring some 100 miles of mountain-bike trails.

At the moment, Northstar is in the throes of a major construction project that will dramatically alter the character and vitality of its core village. In Phase 1, which is now complete, they razed the old Clocktower building and have begun construction of several new lodges and condominium complexes. Plans call for a new Main Street lined with shops, several restaurants, a bookstore, brew pub, coffee shop, and bakery and enhanced by a new fitness center and year-round outdoor ice rink.

Tennis Features

Pro Shop: 530-562-0321

The calendar of weekly tennis activities reflects the social and very friendly atmosphere. Besides midweek and weekend clinics for adults and juniors, there is some kind of themed tennis event almost daily, whether it's a pro exhibition with ice cream, a men's or ladies' day, a Brickyard classic with car races, or the popular margarita mixer, when the club supplies the tequila-laced drinks and appetizers. The resort also hosts the largest tournament on the lake, the Northstar Open, which takes place the weekend after Labor Day and typically gets 400-plus entries in its 12 divisions.

Tennis Staff. Tennis director Zeke Straw grew up in New Hampshire, played his junior tennis there, and spent his summers at a junior tennis camp, where he later became instructor and director. He originally came to Northstar to teach skiing, taking over as tennis director in 1990. He heads a staff of five pros, all of whom are USPTA certified.
Tennis Programs. Apart from private lessons and a few clinics, the major tennis draw at Northstar is its adult and junior camps. Adults have a choice of two-day weekend packages or five-day midweek packages, each with 3 hours of group instruction each morning. Student:pro ratios may go as high as 6:1, but the instruction is solid and the altitude—6,000 feet above sea level—makes even half a day of drills more demanding than it would be at sea level.
Afternoons are then left free for more tennis (court time is free for those on packages) or for other recreation in the area. There are also several different programs for various age groups of children, including camps (which typically last 1½-2 hours each day), drill sessions, peewee clinics, and a 4-hour-a-day advanced camp for intermediate/advanced players. Then to further encourage tennis-playing families, Northstar adds twice weekly social round robins, several parent-child events each summer, and occasional junior mixers. For a complete list and prices, check out the Northstar Tennis web site.
Courts & Fees. Northstar has 10 hard courts on several terraces in the forest above the swim club. It smells of pine and you can hear the sound of a creek which runs along one side when it is not being drowned out by the excited cries of kids playing in and around the pool. The 1998 expansion of the swim club also added a $120,000 tennis pavilion with a pro shop (which carries a limited supply of clothing and gear), a large shaded deck, and some umbrella tables.

Your Call

Here's what others have had to say about Northstar-at-Tahoe and Northstar-at-Tahoe Tennis Camps.

• "Our family has been going to Northstar every summer for the past 16 years so that are kids can participate in the tennis camps that Zeke offers. Both are kids learned how to play there and it is always the highlight of their year. Zeke and all the pros offer clinics for all levels and ages and they do it with such skill and enthusiasm that it keeps you coming back. You are guaranteed to improve your game and have a great time!!"—N.B., Adv. Int., April 2008

• "Northstar was a great tennis vacation. We were grouped by ability (I'm 4.0) and rotated instructors through the week. The daily class ran for 3 hours including a snack break. After class I usually got lunch at the food stand and then hit the courts again...ball machine (free), serving radar gun or practice with a classmate. The pros were extremly friendly and encouraging."—W.I., Adv. Int., April 2008

• "Northstar is a great tennis resort. The day clinics and the weekly clinics are action packed and very helpful. Zeke is one of the best teachers I have had. Dirk is very fun and gives great tips as well. The resort is beautiful and there is so much else to do to round out your tennis vacation. They will even put together a tennis tournament for your group ."—J.Z., Adv. Int., April 2008

Other Recreation

Golf Courses. Robert Muir Graves designed Northstar's 18-hole golf course. Its front nine is wide open and lulls golfers into complacency only to devastate them on the back nine with a target courts riddled with water and ravines. "People usually hate all of the holes on the back nine," said one of the pros. Par: 72. Length: 5,470-6,897 yards.

Fitness Center. The Swim & Racquet Club also houses a workout room outfitted with half a dozen cardiovascular machines and perhaps 10 Paramount and Boy Master strength trainers. That room has windows on the pool area. There is also a lap pool immediately behind. Massages can be arranged.

And ... Northstar also has a full mountain bike park, with some 100 miles of trail for every level of cyclist. Rentals are available in the village. Add to that an Adventure Park (with an outdoor climbing wall, challenge course, junior ropes course, map and compass class and more), fly fishing on 10-acre Sawmill Lake, and horseback and pony rides.

Children's Programs

Many of the same staff who take excellent care of children in winter remain through the summer to run Northstar's licensed Minors' Camp. Available Monday-Saturday, from early June through Labor Day, this program takes children ages 2-10 for full-day and half-day sessions of organized adventure, arts and crafts, field trips, and lunch.

Lodging

Lodging at Northstar, which is individually owned, varies in quality and size. Choices range from functional but uninspired rooms and lofts in the village to five-bedroom homes.

Restaurants

Timbercreek in the Village has a good local reputation for its eclectic menu that ranges from salads and pastas to pancetta-wrapped filet mignon, Muscovy duck breast, Mediterranean paella, or fresh grilled salmon.

See Also

If Northstar's family-friendly atmosphere, setting, and multiple dimensions appeal to you, also check out:

• The Balsams, New Hampshire
• Callaway, Georgia
• Grand View Lodge, Minnesota
• Sunriver, Oregon
• Waterville Valley Resort, New Hampshire

Travel Essentials

Seasons. The tennis season runs from early June into September.

Northstar-at-Tahoe
P.O. Box 129
Truckee, CA 96160
530-562-1010
Toll-free: 800-466-6784
Web Link: Northstar-at-Tahoe

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Travel Instructions. By Air: The closest commercial airport is Reno, 40 miles to the east. By Car: Northstar is 40 miles from Reno and 196 miles from San Francisco. Take I-80 to the Truckee exit and then follow Hwy. 267 south 6 miles. The resort entrance is on the right.

General Tourist Information. Visit the North Lake Tahoe Resort Association web site or contact them at P.O. Box 1757, Tahoe City, CA 96145 or phone them toll-free at 888-434-1262.

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