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»CA.SPORTS & OUTDOORS WINTER California's Winter Wonderland by bill fink While some flock to Southern California to escape the snow, others thrill to the chill and head to California's hills for world-class skiing, snowboarding and winter adventure LAKE TAHOE is a favorite place for skiers to get some air, and it comes with quite a view. Southern California has long been known as a year-round winter playground, with sports and outdoor activities centered in San Diego and Los Angeles. But the mountains of Lake Tahoe, Mammoth Lakes and Yosemite beckon winter visitors who want to embrace snow-based sports and recreation. Sports In winter, Southern California is still an oasis for outdoor sports and adventure, from golfing to tennis, hiking and horseback riding, whether in the stillbaking desert around Palm Springs or the perpetually pleasant vacationland of San Diego or Los Angeles. Just be aware that the nights can get chilly. But for those seeking winter sports, there may be no better place on earth than the mountains surrounding Lake Tahoe. The area hosted the 1964 Winter Olympics at Squaw Valley and continues to be home base for many U.S. Winter Olympians who bang moguls, rip the half-pipes and bomb down downhill runs at more than a dozen area ski resorts. For the nonextreme, plenty of beginner runs, group lessons and smaller hills offer a safe introduction to the sport. Tahoe resorts including Squaw Valley, Northstar and Heavenly feature ice skating rinks for those content to skip the heights. Also on the flatlands, cross-country skiing and snowshoeing courses dot the Tahoe area, offering a brisk aerobic workout amidst pine 2 0 1 3 t r av e l gu i d e to c a lif o rnia 5 1