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.The airport is 38 miles from Northstar-at-Tahoe.

By airport shuttle: The North Lake Tahoe Express has a 21-passenger daily shuttle that runs from the airport to Northstar (with other non-ski stops) for $35 one-way or $60 round-trip. Discounts for groups.It runs from 3:30am-12 midnitght. Reservations are required: phone 866-216-5222 or book online at www.northlaketahoeexpress.com.

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.

Northstar-at-Tahoe is on Hwy. 267 (runs between I-80 and Hwy. 28, which hugs the North Shore). 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: North Tahoe¹s free night transit service operates 7 p.m. to 12:30 a.m., with three routes connecting Squaw Valley to Tahoe City to the North Shore stateline, Squaw Valley to Tahoe City to Tahoma on the West Shore and Northstar Resort to Tahoe City to the stateline and back again. Squaw Valley, Alpine Meadows, Sugar Bowl, Diamond Peak, Northstar and Homewood all have shuttles from North Tahoe towns.