The focal point of a vacation to South Lake Tahoe is usually (very understandably!) Heavenly Ski Resort and everything its ski slopes have to offer. But the action doesn't stop once the slopes close for the day. With Heavenly Village, California (home to the Heavenly Mountain Gondola and one of the ski resort’s two base camps) as your starting point, the possibilities for enjoying Heavenly off of your skis or board are endless.

In addition to plenty of restaurants, quirky shops and multiple ice cream parlors (The Baked Bear, with its giant, custom-made ice cream sandwiches, is not to be missed, no matter how cold it is or how much snow is on the ground), Heavenly Village has activities for every member of your family. Here are two of my favorite things to do in Heavenly Village that everyone is guaranteed to love and continue talking about long after your trip ends.

A Full Day of Fun and Exploring Via the Heavenly Mountain Gondola

No matter the season, a trip up the 2.4 mile-long Heavenly Mountain Gondola without your skis or board is a must-do. At the center of Heavenly Village you’ll find the loading dock for the gondola. The ride boasts stunning views of Lake Tahoe, both on your way up as well as from two magical stops where you can get off of the gondola and explore on foot.

The first stop is about halfway up the ride, where you’ll find the Observation Deck. Hop off here and spend some time savoring the view (don’t worry, the gondola slows down to almost a complete stop and you have plenty of time to comfortably exit before it continues back up the mountain).

Aside from the lake views that you can’t get anywhere else, you can enjoy snacks and a latte or hot cocoa at Café Blue or bring your own lunch to munch on at one of the outdoor picnic tables. (Note that if you want to stop at the Observation Deck, you have to get out at this midpoint on the way up, as the gondola doesn’t stop here on the way back down.) When you’re ready to keep climbing, get back on the gondola and continue on to see what awaits you at the top.

Once there, you’ll be treated to more fun at the top. In addition to more beautiful views, in the summer, there’s a mountain coaster, tubing, zip line, ropes course, hiking trails and more. In the winter, try out snow tubing or meet your friends for après ski drinks and snacks at Tamarack Lodge, which is open year-round.

There are two distinct seasons in Heavenly: winter and summer. Winter runs from late November to late April (the exact date varies by season) and the gondola is open daily. The gondola closes for a month or so and re-opens in June for the summer season, during which it runs only on Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays, through the last weekend in September.

If you’ve purchased a lift ticket for the week or the season, the price of the gondola ride is included in that ticket. Otherwise, Heavenly sells tickets ($58 for adults, $37 for children ages 5-12 and free for children under 5) for non-skiers/snowboarders. The price might sound steep, but if you start your ride early in the day and spend the whole day exploring the mountain you really get your money’s worth.

Evening Magic Fusion Show at The Loft

Tucked away in a corner of Heavenly Village, you have to look hard to find The Loft, an intimate theater that hosts the Magic Fusion Show, but the show is absolutely worth the search and the price of admission. The show is open seven days a week, year-round.

A new magician rotates through the show every two weeks, so the show is constantly changing. Aside from the fact that this means I couldn’t give away the show’s current secrets even if I wanted to, there’s no way I’m going to go into any details about the show because what’s the fun in that? Trust me that even the skeptics in your group will be dazzled!

The magician we saw was engaging and super interactive with the audience (he called for lots of volunteers of all ages). We left scratching our heads in the best way possible trying to figure out what it was we just saw (“how did he do that?” was repeated amongst our group often for the rest of the trip).

Before or after the show you can eat at the theater’s restaurant or have a drink at the bar. Our group sat down for a few beers and glasses of wine before our 9pm show. Tickets range in price from $24-$44 and can be purchased in advance online on The Loft’s website to get the best seats.

The Magic of Heavenly Is All Around

It might be best known for world-class skiing and snowboarding, but Heavenly is more than that. It’s a place where your whole family, no matter your ages, can enjoy a bit of wonder and magic. From the sparkling waters of Lake Tahoe to the shows in town, a little magic really can be found everywhere you look at Heavenly.