Apr. 25, 2011 (Tahoe City, Calif.) – Ever see a Viking on a sled? How about a bike? Or perhaps a pair of skis? As Tahoe area resorts celebrate the arrival of spring with pond skimming, live music and snow volleyball, Granlibakken (www.Granlibakken.com) is tapping into its Norwegian roots to unleash a series of events and offers with their Vikings leading the charge.

Local Granlibakken spokes-Viking, Bjorn t’Party will rile up the masses as a special guest at a variety of spring events from Amgen Tour of California, the largest cycling race in North America, to the official West Shore Summer Opening party. But before Bjorn can usher in the warmer months of summer, skiers and snowboarders will have a chance to sneak in springtime turns on the slopes of several North Shore resorts that have extended the season beyond April into May.

At Squaw Valley USA, snow sport enthusiasts will carve and slide all the way into Memorial Weekend. In celebration of the longer season, Granlibakken has a two day Squaw Package at $97 per person, per night including lift tickets to the nearby resort, lodging and breakfast valid anytime through the resort’s closing day. A two day package is also available for Alpine Meadows for $102 per person, per night through May 15. The Granlibakken one-day interchangeable ticket is $114 per person and is valid at Squaw Valley, Alpine Meadows and Mt. Rose through May.

In anticipation of the Amgen Tour of California Stage 1 Start, Finish and Stage 2 Start at Lake Tahoe, cycling enthusiasts and spectators gain easy access to race-related events during the week of May 6 – 16 with lodging rates at Granlibakken from $99 per night including breakfast.

Also during the cycling extravaganza, the resort will partner with Tahoe Tree Company to host an Amgen Street Fair, May 15. The event will feature live music, food from Uncommon Kitchen and Granlibakken, bike demonstrations by CyclePaths, a climbing wall, face painting, beer, wine, hot drinks, ice cream, games and more. Spectators at the intersection of Highway 89 and Granlibakken Road will have a front row seat to cheer the peloton as riders whiz by at approximately 11:45 a.m. and 2:25 p.m. en route to the Stage 1 finish at Northstar-at-Tahoe (www.TahoeAmgenTourofCalifornia).

Memorial Weekend, May 27 – 29, is the official Summer Opening for West Shore Lake Tahoe and is jam packed with entertainment for the entire family. Visitors can take advantage of an exclusive lodging package: stay one night, get the second night free, starting at $143 per night. Details: www.Granlibakken.com.

Obexer’s Marina will serve as host venue for the Fly-In Splash Down on Monday, May 30, where spectators can watch as seaplanes from Northern Nevada and California execute impressive water landings and glide into marina slips for the afternoon. Annual deck and pier opening parties at several West Shore restaurants include Sunnyside, Chambers Landing, the West Shore Café and The Bridgetender.

Additional options at Granlibakken during the spring and summer months include hiking or mountain biking along resort accessible trails, as well as tennis, swimming, ropes course, stand up paddleboarding, sailing, river rafting and shopping in nearby Tahoe City

Located just one half mile from the shores of Lake Tahoe, Granlibakken serves as a central home base for a long list of warm weather activities. For information about Granlibakken’s resort amenities, events, nearby activities and more, visit www.Granlibakken.com, or get updates and the latest deals on Facebook and Twitter.