Just when you thought humanity had turned its back on you, when smiles and joy and pleasantness had become the stuff only read about in ancient tales and folklore, suddenly you discover Northstar Resort (tm) Enhancing the North Shore's people-friendly vibe, Northstar-at -Tahoe Resort^TM is built on thoughtfulness and social interaction.

Some background: George Schaffer was a logger baron back when Virginia City required timber to literally keep the silver mines propped up and open. Much has transpired since the late 1800s. If you’re a teen, the Butterbox, in the Village at Northstar, will put the shake in your booty, courtesy of two limited edition 24k turntables. If you’re a snowboarder, Jake Burton has built a 100% organic through-the-trees terrain park. If you’re a kid, say ranging in age from 0 to 120 years, be sure to feast on custom-made s’mores, created from kits assembled by a mom in Minnesota (no lie).

Themed outdoor movies and resort mountain biking color the summer. In the winter, ice skating and delicious Lake Tahoe skiing – even on windy days because the resort is on the lee side of the breeze – will brighten your days. And soon, very soon, Ritz Carlton will have its first Lake Tahoe address.