Travel in Lake Tahoe
Home - Travel in Europe - European union - Travel in North America - Travel Central America - Travel South America - Travel in Africa - Travel in Middle East - Travel in Asia - Travel Australasia - List of countries
Informations on Lake Tahoe: history, politics, economy, culture, Did you mean: Lake Tahoe
For an other version of this travel guide, please visit Ooaj.com: Travel in Lake Tahoe + Hotels
Lake Tahoe is a popular vacation and recreation region straddling the border between California and Nevada. The closest large city is Reno, Nevada.
| Table of contents |
Cities
- Tahoe_City - A touristy, hippy, town situated on the northwest shore of Lake Tahoe.
- Truckee - Historic western town on Route 89 northwest of the lake.
- South Lake Tahoe - Located on the border between California and Nevada, you can sleep in Cali and gamble in Nevada.
- Stateline is just north of South Lake Tahoe and also spans both states.
- Tahoe Vista- A beautiful Lake Tahoe city on the North Shore.
Understand
Lake Tahoe is a beautiful, crystal-clear blue lake nestled among mountain peaks. During the summer, boating, camping, and hiking are popular activities. Winter sports are popular during the colder months (December-April).
Lake Tahoe has been a tourist destination since the turn of the 20th century, when steam trains and improving roads made it possible to visit with ease. The 1960 Winter Olympics, held at Squaw Valley, popularized winter sports at Tahoe.
Get in
By plane
Fly to Reno airport, about an hour drive to Tahoe on highway 80 West. Major airports are also located in the San Francisco Bay Area, about 4 hours away, and Sacramento, about 2 hours away.
By car
From the Bay Area or Sacramento, take highway 80 East.
By train
Amtrak operates the California Zephyr Train (http://www.amtrak.com/trains/californiazephyr.html), which goes from Emeryville, CA in the San Francisco Bay Area to Chicago, IL and makes a stop in Truckee.
Get around
See
Do
Ski Resorts
North Shore
- Alpine - Although small, Alpine hosts enough veriety in its terrain to satisfy any level of skier. Alpine also features ticket prices significantly lower than its competitors.
- Homewood - Small resort located directly on the lake south of Tahoe City.
- Northstar
- Squaw Valley - Skier's paradise, a former Olympic village. It's oversized reputation also presents a downside: overbearing crowds that even a mountain the size of Squaw can't handle.
South Shore
- Heavenly - Located on the state line (so half casinos, half not). Beginner-friendly.
- Kirkwood
- Sierra at Tahoe
Nevada
- Diamond Peak - Family-friendly resort with slopes for all ski levels.
- Mount Rose - Highest base elevation in the Tahoe Basin.
Beyond Donner Pass
If you are heading east from the Bay Area, you have some skiing choices. These resorts are all on Highway 80 going East, before you hit Donner Pass.
- Boreal
- Royal Gorge
- Sugar Bowl
Hiking
There are several parks along the shore and nearby, including Bliss State Park and Emerald_Bay.
There are many trail in the nearby Desolation Wilderness including Mount Tallac Trail.
Beaches
Sand Harbor (http://www.boattahoe.com/sandharbor.htm), northeast shore.
Boat trips
Several charter services offer boat tours to the mansions that dot the lake shore.
Year-Round Activities
Gambling is a popular activity year-round. There are also bicycle and boat rentals (both canoes and power boats) available in South Lake Tahoe.
Buy
You can rent skiing or snowboarding equipment directly at the mountain. However, to save money and increase your available choices, you might want to rent from one of the many Ski Shops in the Tahoe Area. You can also rent from REI, Any Mountain, and Marmot Mountain Works in the Bay Area (and probably other places too).
Eat
In South Lake Tahoe:
- Cafe Fiore
- Bert's
- Carina's
- Blue Angel
- Heidi's Restaurant, 3485 Lake Tahoe Boulevard
Drink
Sleep
Hotels are, of course, an option. Book in advance, especially in the winter or summer seasons. You can get a room for as cheap as $30/night in South Lake Tahoe, or spend several hundred dollars a night for a large cabin that can hold a dozen people.
Homeowners in the area do a brisk business renting/leasing out their cabins for the winter and summer seasons. They vary in price from $800/mo for a 1-room condo, to $3,000/mo and up for 4 bedroom houses with hot tubs and other amenities. Leases are advertised with real estate agencies as well as in the local papers.
- Packard Realty Resorts, 1 (http://www.packardrealty.com), Three resorts to choose from right on Lake Tahoe
External links
- http://ceres.ca.gov/tcsf/tahoe-local/ - All-purpose index page maintained by the Tahoe Center for a Sustainable Future
- http://www.gotahoe.com/ - Incline Village/North Shore Chamber of Commerce