Lots of shopping opportunities cluster in South Shore. If you’re in need of basic necessities or discount factory outlet stores, head for the Stores at the Y (Intersection of Hwy. 89 and Hwy. 50, South Lake Tahoe). For athletic equipment and apparel, check out Adidas (daily 10 a.m.–6 p.m.) and the Great Outdoor Clothing Company (daily 10 a.m.–6 p.m.). For après-ski apparel for the ladies, Blue Willow (daily 10 a.m.–6 p.m.) offers silky, sexy lingerie.

If it’s ski equipment or apparel you need, the upscale Shops at Heavenly Village (1001 Heavenly Village Way) can hook you up. Guess what Powder House Ski & Snowboard (530/541-6422, www.tahoepowderhouse.com, Sat.–Thurs. 7 a.m.–10 p.m., Fri. 7 a.m.–midnight) sells? Granted, you’ll pay a premium for equipment here. For the summertime sportsters, Tahoe Boot ’n’ Bike Works (530/542-1388, www.tahoebootnbike.com) specializes in hiking and biking gear.

Snowboarders are one of the major communities served in Tahoe. And if you know snowboarding culture at all, you know what that means: head shops! Head shops are easy to find in South Lake strip malls. Redundantly named Tahoe Hemp Company (THC) (3117 Harrison Ave., South Lake Tahoe, 530/544-4367, daily 10 a.m.–5 p.m.) sits next to Sprouts and Rude Brothers, selling all the usual pipes and glassware, stickers and T-shirts. You can also get yourself a stylin’ hemp tuk and a couple of local alternative newspapers with semi-underground entertainment information.