Family Vacation at Lake Tahoe

Lake Tahoe is a beautiful vacation spot on the border of Nevada and California. In fact, the lake is almost split down the middle between the two states, although the Nevada side is a bit less than half. Because of the elevation, a little over 6,000 feet, Tahoe receives a significant amount of snowfall each year, but the summers are delightfully warm and sunny. As a family location, Tahoe has a lot to offer. It was originally inhabited by the Washoe Indians, who lived at the lake in the summer time and harvested pine nuts in the area. They traveled over the mountains into nearby Reno and Carson City during the winter.

Tahoe is one of the deepest mountain lakes in America. The many pine and fir trees surrounding the lake were used in the mines at Virginia City during the silver mining era, depleting the natural populations severely. A special flume was constructed in the mountains from the lake to Carson City to carry the logs. From there, the logs were carried to Virginia City to shore up the mines. Trees were replanted around the lake to replace all of those that were cut down. One of the state parks, Spooner State Park, has a fabulous, relatively flat hiking trail around the lake which makes a wonderful place for children to explore plants, insects and even a Washoe Indian site at the northern edge of the lake that contains several grinding rocks (mortars are deep holes in the rocks) where the Indians ground nuts and seeds with a pestle.

Winter time has the usual cold weather activities; snow skiing, cross country and alpine, sledding, or snow shoeing, while summer provides ample opportunities for hiking in the mountains, mountain biking, horseback riding, swimming, picnicking and camping. Also during the summer, there is a Shakespeare festival at one of the local state parks on the Nevada side. Sand Harbor hosts a series of plays each year in an outdoor arena right on the beach. There are usually two plays presented at different times during the summer and guests can bring beach chairs or rent them at the festival. There are also concession stands with snacks or full, gourmet meals.

At South Lake Tahoe, on the Nevada side, there are quite a few casinos. Of course, this doesn't provide much of a family vacation, although there are usually amusement arcades inside the casinos. The casinos have excellent restaurants and rooms and make a great honeymoon, second honeymoon, or romantic getaway.

One of the most fun activities at the lake is the paddle wheel boat ride across the lake. The fares are reasonable and the trip takes several hours. There's an evening dinner cruise available also, but it tends to be more for romantic couples. The day trip leaves from the Nevada side and sails across the lake to Emerald Bay, which is on the California side.