Lake Tahoe Visitors Guide

Lake Tahoe is a picturesque lake located on the border of California and Nevada in the Sierra Nevada mountains. One of the largest and highest lakes in the United States, its location and beauty make Lake Tahoe special. Surrounded by snow-capped mountains, the scenery is spectacular and the air is fresh and crisp. Lake Tahoe offers many different things, depending on which side you choose to visit. The most populated side, on the south shore, is filled with restaurants, casinos, hotels, and tourist attractions. The north shore, however, is a rustic getaway where you can stay in a cabin and be one with nature. Both shores have their own distinct appeal. Whether you prefer to get away from it all or to be in the heart of all the action, Lake Tahoe is a great vacation destination.

Stateline, Nevada is located on the south shore of Lake Tahoe and is home to a number of casinos. Some of the casinos include Harrah's, the Horizon, Harvey's, and the MontBleu Resort. The MontBleu Resort Casino and Spa is a new destination that replaced the old Caesars Tahoe. It is a high end property that is supposed to take Lake Tahoe dining and entertainment to a whole new level. South Lake Tahoe is located next to Stateline, but on the California side of the border. South Lake Tahoe is the lake's largest city and the main hub of tourist activity on the lake. Many of the lake's most popular cruises leave from the marinas in South Lake Tahoe.

On the north shore, Tahoe City and Kings Beach are popular, but smaller, tourist destinations. If you want to stay on the north shore, but prefer to stay in a resort, there are a few casino-hotels to choose from. The Cal Neva Resort Hotel and Casino, Hyatt Regency Lake Tahoe, and Tahoe Biltmore Hotel and Casino are all very nice options. You can get more information on the north shore at www.visitinglaketahoe.com.

Summer and winter are the busiest times for visitors, so you may find better prices if you visit in the spring or the fall. Summertime in Tahoe means play time on the lake. Whether it's boating, fishing, or sunbathing, visitors like to be near the water in the summer months. There are also numerous lakefront restaurants, so you can dine right by the water and take in the magnificent view. Mark Twain once said that Lake Tahoe is "the fairest picture the whole earth affords." One good way to get out onto the lake is to take a guided tour cruise. As you cruise the lake, you can see how the water changes color in different areas. Depending on where you are on the lake, the water can appear to be blue, emerald green or even purple. Aside from water activities, golfing, biking, and hiking are also popular in the summer. If you like camping, the western shore of the lake offers the most camping sites.

When winter arrives and the snow begins falling, ski season kicks into high gear around Lake Tahoe. Lake Tahoe is one of the premier ski destinations in the United States and there are numerous ski resorts to choose from. Some of the most popular are Squaw Valley USA, Heavenly, Alpine Meadows, Kirkwood, and Northstar-at-Tahoe. A good website to get more information on skiing in Tahoe is www.skilaketahoe.com. Even if you are not a skier, you can enjoy the mountain views by taking a gondola ride at Heavenly near the state line. The gondola is open during both summer and winter.

Some good websites to get more information on Lake Tahoe or to help plan a trip are
www.tahoesbest.com, www.bluelaketahoe.com, and www.tahoeinfo.com. Whether you are going to ski in the winter or boat in the summer, Lake Tahoe is a destination that has something to offer everyone. Just remember not to litter and to keep Tahoe blue.