Lake Tahoe - Best Travel Destination in the South West

I have traveled extensively to Europe, Asia, Hawaii, The Caribbean Islands and all around the United States and Canada. Taking into account every place I have been, I have selected the very best two places which I will produce articles about. They are both in North America and both very reasonably priced as well. This article is about my favorite destination in the South West of The U.S. It is South Lake Tahoe, California and Nevada.

I had gone to Las Vegas over 30 times before I first went to South Lake Tahoe, sometimes called Stateline, which is right on the southern border of the Lake right on the California and Nevada boundary line. Unless you want to go on a skiing trip, you do have to go in the warmer weather though, say June to September to enjoy it the most. I liked it so much I have been there times and never gotten bored.

Let's look at the facts about Lake Tahoe and the vicinity. To get to Lake Tahoe most people fly into Reno, Nevada and rent a car for the remaining 40 mile trip to the top of Lake Tahoe. Californians sometimes fly right into the small airport actually in Lake Tahoe. For most people it is an extravagant expense to fly nationally to Reno and then take a local airline for the balance of the forty miles to Lake Tahoe. Either way you will want to rent a car for part or all of your stay and the forty mile drive to the Lake is not a big inconvenience.

Lake Tahoe is one of the largest sources of fresh water in the west. The lake is crisp and clear and very deep. The surface of the lake is 6,000 feet above sea level and is fed by the melted snow run off from the 10,000 to 12,000 foot mountains that surround it. If you get a hotel room on one of the beaches that surround the lake you will not only have a breath-taking view and a beach to get a great tan on, but also be able to fish for 20 to 60 pound lake trout and rent a boat to explore the lake in. Remember to bring a good sun tan oil since at 6,000 feet closer to the sun, you will tan more rapidly that any Caribbean Island.

If you like to gamble there are over a dozen casinos in Stateline, all of which are very classy. My wife hit a $1,000 jackpot with a five quarter bet playing video poker. Harvey's Hotel and Casino is our personal favorite and we have the free comp cards which give you rewards as you play slots or any of the table games. We got enough points to be treated to the exclusive club at the trop of the Hotel where top shelf drinks and Hors Devours are free and they welcome you in the private members only elevators. It is a great break from gambling. It is also nice to be treated like a high roller.

There are dinner and dancing cruises on the Lake at night in what appear to be old paddle-wheelers. Other activities include para-sailing, horseback riding, sight seeing, or take the large skiing gondola trip up to the top of the mountain usually where the skiers go during the winter months.

While there don't miss Virginia City, an old fashioned small town with penny slots, gold panning and tons of crafts and souvenir stores. There is an underground tour there of the old Comstock Silver Mine.

I would also put aside several hours to visit Reno, "The Biggest Little City In The World".

I hope you get to see Lake Tahoe. Everyone should be treated to a vacation this nice at least once in their life. If you do get there maybe we will run into one another. I will be at the poker tables.