Lake Tahoe

Here’s the thing, Lake Tahoe is so freakin huge. Sure, one can go to an area of the lake, such as south Lake Tahoe (as we did) but even so, it’s huge. Anyway, my point is the available activities on Lake Tahoe depends on what area of the lake you end up.
For us, we were near «heavenly ski resort» which didn’t seem to offer a lot of lake amenities especially since it was the middle of December. However, we were able to rent snow shoes and walked around part of the lake. The official snow shoe-​ing part of the lake was pretty far from us, so we just went off on our own little trail. Part of the lake was frozen over, which was pretty cool, but be careful because it’s still very icy and can crack.
I found the view of the surrounding mountains from Lake Tahoe to be absolutely breath taking. On one side, all you see is snow over a lake, and then the other you see big mountains covered with snow. Makes you appreciate the beauty of nature.

#177
There is nothing more to say than this is one of the most beautiful lakes I have ever seen.
There was a solid ice portion that had frozen over with children playing, people trying to skate a little, some parents pulling along their kiddos on tiny, brightly colored circle things (sort of like sleds), a few early morning drunks sliding around and tons of other people just enjoying the view.
My best friend likened it to Lake Kinneret (some people call it Lake of Gennesaret and some people call it the Sea of Galilee). I could not agree as it was frozen, had snow and ice, and people playing on it – not in it. But, to each his or her own, huh?
The whole area is people friendly. I love it in the summer and in the winter.
Stephani Smiles for Lake Tahoe ;)

So, here I am at review 925 and, since 25 is 5 squared, let’s make this a review for a 5 star place. Lake Tahoe, straddling the border of California and Nevada in the High Sierra, is an easy slam dunk for 5 stars.
Lake Tahoe has been called «the jewel of the Sierra.» That is an incredibly accurate moniker. The lake sits in a bowl in the Sierra Nevada, and its surface is at an elevation of about 6,200 feet. The depth of the lake is said to be about 1,600 feet in its deepest spot, even though the beaches on the lake do not drop off very quickly. Approaches to Lake Tahoe are very dramatic and scenic, regardless of whether coming into the north shore or the south shore, and whether coming from California or Nevada. It does not matter.
Lake Tahoe usually has several postcard vistas associated with it: the panorama of it taken from Echo Summit when approaching from California, the casino strip at the Stateline, the vistas of Emerald Bay, and the vistas of the lake at about Incline Village NV and the mountains behind it. However, there are so many more vistas, and angles to them, given that the loop around the lake is about 71 miles.
Lake Tahoe is a year-​round playground. During the summer, people partake in swimming, boating, hiking, and gambling, seeing shows, and eating and drinking on the south shore, where California meets Nevada at about 4 to 5 pm on the clock’s diagram superimposed on the map of the lake. Granted, there is some tackiness there, with chain motels, chain supermarkets, various Starbucks, and souvenir shops. However, there is something stately about the compact Stateline area where one intersection puts a person over the Nevada state line and the stalwart that is Harrah’s Hotel and Casino presides over the area with its 18 stories and restaurant at the top floor. During the winter, Lake Tahoe is a winter wonderland, with ski areas all around the lake … some big and some small, some famous and some not so famous, and which can accommodate all levels of skiers and snowboarders. The most notable of these resorts would be Heavenly Valley, of which the base is right behind the Stateline area, and Squaw Valley, located on the north shore and the site of the 1960 Winter Olympics.
While most people tend to head for the Stateline area, there are a few casinos, such as the Hyatt and the Cal-​Neva on the north shore near Incline Village. Incline Village NV and Tahoe City CA provide «exits» from the lake, with routes taking visitors about 15 or so miles north to I-​80. Incline Village, previously the site of the Ponderosa Ranch venue from the «Bonanza» series, is an interesting area and possibly the lake’s most genteel. Here, affluent types who want Nevada’s tax benefits, yet want to live overlooking Lake Tahoe, have built mansions. Not only that, since they are most likely to be jet setters, they are geographically the closest to Reno-​Tahoe International Airport in nearby Reno. Tahoe City is also picturesque and there are a lot of beautiful inns and residences, both to its north at Carnelian Bay and to its south at Homewood. In closing this counterclockwise loop back to the south shore is Emerald Bay, located on the lake’s west shore on the California side. In looking at Emerald Bay, with its crystalline waters, its length, its narrow entrance, and tiny Fannette Island, it’s almost as if Mother Nature really overworked her imagination. The south shore «exits» from the lake utilize US 50, either over Echo Summit to Sacramento or down Spooner Summit into Carson City NV, in which pines give way to sagebrush in all of about 15 minutes. It’s all good. It’s all breathtaking. Be sure to see it.
Just like some people may leave a piece of their heart, or all of it, in San Francisco, some people may do the same with Lake Tahoe. Most people probably wouldn’t forget their «first time» with regard to Lake Tahoe. With my teenage friends, it was a part of «the triangle,» a rite of passage and emancipation for Southern California high school graduates armed with drivers’ licenses who venture to make the triangular trip between the L.A. area, Lake Tahoe, and the Bay Area, surveying the Central Coast in the process. My first view of Lake Tahoe was from a pullout on US 50 as it descended from Echo Summit toward the lake’s south shore. It’s as if that image is indelibly etched into my head!

Breathtakingly gorgeous. Many outdoor activities to do regardless of the season. People are very relaxed and embrace holistic culture with yoga and fresh organic foods. I particularly love the fall bc its less crowded and theres good hiking. I would just say try to drive or come at off peak times unless you love big crowds…

This is one of my favorite places. The lake is gorgeous and the vibes are great! There is a lot to do here with picnics, kayaking, taking a boat cruise or just hanging out. There is a lot of shopping and even more great food. There is always something to do here.

The Perfect Weekend Getaway For A Sacramentan!
SITREP
Lake Tahoe is a wonderful «get-​out-​of-​town» (Sacramento) weekend excursion.
THE SETUP
Whether planning a day-​long hiking trip from the trailhead up to the summit of Mt. Tallac, brunching along the lakeshore at Artemis, dancing the night away until 3am at Xhale, and THEN heading on over just two (2) doors down to the 24-​hour restaurant «Lucky Beaver» for early morning munchies, there is sooooo much to do in and around Lake Tahoe.
SKIING TO WATER SPORTS
The lake is it’s own iconic beautiful landmark, and during the summer, expect there to be a lot of water skiing. Likewise, during the winter months, you have some great ski resorts to enjoy, with a whole array of other winter sports, almost obviating the need to travel further to the Colorado, Idaho or Utah slopes.
CASINOS
If gambling is your thing, there is also the casinos like Harvey’s and Hard Rock on the South Lake Tahoe /​Stateline side of the lake. You have your choices.
BRUNCHING, MUNCHIES & DINING!
As alluded above, there are some fantastic dining options right on the lakeshore. However, don’t let that dissuade you from the fantastic buffets and elegant dining options also available.
And perhaps you just want something quicker and less expensive? You have got Base Camp Pizza, California Pizza, McP’s TapHouse, Sno Yogurt and many other options to satisfy whatever your yen my be!
HOTELS, MOTELS, RVs, OH MY!
There are so many lodging options you can avail yourself from the reasonably costed Rodeway Inn to the mid-​level Basecamp, and to the pricier Lake Tahoe Resort. And with most lodging options, parking & WiFi are free.
THE LOWDOWN
The perfect weekend getway!

Lake Tahoe is one of the few places not yet destroyed by humanity. It is beautiful year round! It is also home to some great eats and beer. I loved snowboarding the mountains when I was younger and I enjoy Lake Tahoe even better with my family!

Such a wonderful place to relax. Enjoy the nice weather and the lake is by far the most enjoyable place you can go. Reno is outdated.

You are breathtaking. I had the best time of my life coming up here to celebrate the 4^th of July.
Super super super busy with traffic and all the craziness but there was so much to see and do that it made up for all that! Would love to come back and experience more of you, Tahoe! Especially during the winter (:

Scenic, joyful, peaceful! Enjoying family, fabulous weather, and calm water. June is a perfect time of year to visit. Grwat place to escape the city life for short period of time!

Wow! I can’t believe the beauty. I will have to return soon. So much to do and see. Already planning for the next trip. Weather was perfect compared to the valley. Miss it already. ADD TO YOUR BUCKET LIST!

My karma demands that I must be near water. And karma brought me to live here in Tahoe. For the past 13 years, I’ve worshipped the beauty of this pristine lake, surrounded by sugar-​coated snowy mountains. Its frigid glacial waters keep it from being overrun like the Bahamas. Its secret coves harbor minuscule beaches where you can privately enjoy life au natural. Dogs can splash off-​leash on many of the beaches. And if you are willing to go a bit farther and hike 30 minutes more beyond what is in the guidebooks, you will find your own slice of paradise.

Overall, I love Lake Tahoe. Love, love, love! Its just beautiful pretty much anywhere you go (its a huge lake really so there are many places along the shore to visit). I have been here many times both as a young kid, a teen, and as an adult.
As a kid, I mostly visited the North shore of Lake Tahoe. Its cool up there really. In summer, you can attempt to swim in the lake but just be aware that the water is pretty much freezing cold. As an adult, I have mostly just visited the South shore of the lake. The South area has casinos and the North area does not. There are various campgrounds too, but you definitely need to reserve those as Lake Tahoe is very popular. And one time I did camp up there on a weekend and I’ll say that driving home was basically Hell due to massive traffic. The camping part was fun and cool though so overall it was worth it.
I highly recommend visiting Lake Tahoe if you have not done so already.

Having lived within a few hours of Lake Tahoe my entire life, I have spent my fair share of vacations here. Most recently last weekend after being absent for a little over a year.
Fortunately a lot has changed over the course of that year to make Lake Tahoe more enjoyable. I must preface by saying that I don’t snowboard and ski so I only come here in non snow months which admittedly, takes half the fun out of Tahoe, but I digress.
I noticed that have added more new stores and restaurants to make Heavenly Village more of a destination which was a welcome sight, though still about half the stores remain empty. What gives? They are also remodeling one of the casinos to turn it into a Hard Rock.
The Embassy Suites has changed hands, and a few new hotels have gone up like Basecamp Hotel and The Landing which we had the pleasure of staying at. There is also more than five Starbucks now where before there was one.
Other than that, everything else has seemed to retain it’s small town charm. The lake is beautiful and viewed from most places in town, there are plenty of outdoor activities, and it’s a a short drive from the bigger city of Carson City. There is still only really one main road running through town (which can get crowded during peak times) but it’s ok because there is plenty to look at.
I would recommend coming to Lake Tahoe during the Summer for the weekend to relax and hangout. The Winter months when there’s snow can be twice as expensive and twice as hard to get around.

You really cannot rate Lake Tahoe less than 5 stars.
It’s probably one of the most romantic destinations in the United States.
You have everything here – and it’s a place for everyone. I could write a book about this place but others already have.
It’s the best lake and one of the gems of California and Nevada. That’s it.
I posted a picture of me cycling around lake which I have done a number of times before. If that does not get you excited to come here – I don’t know what to tell you… It’s 72 miles around the lake – a great and exciting workout.
If I could, I would love to have a home here and I would visit more often.
In the past I have rented boats on the lake – a ton of fun.
The water is clean enough to swim in and I have done that too.
What else have I done here:
Romantic sunsets over the lake – Yup!
Relax on the beach – Yup!
Water-​ski — Yup!
Jet-​ski – Yup!
Kayak – Yup!
Snow ski – Nope! Too cold!
If you have never been – just go… And leave your troubles far behind…

I think Lake Tahoe is a must see for anyone near the Nevada/​California border. I’m not sure what it is like in the winter, but in the summer it was beautiful. The temperature was just right, and the lake was beautiful on both sides.
I visited Sand Beach and Cave Rock on the Nevada side, and Emerald Bay on the California side. I really thought Cave Rock was very peaceful. It had a boat launch, and benches to sit on to just relax. A perfect place for quiet time, or to read a book. There were also a bunch of people sitting on the rocks fishing. Just a warning though, if you are not a Nevada resident, they will charge you $ 10 to get in.
Emerald Bay was absolutely beautiful. It has a lookout point to get great photos. There is a restroom (outhouse kind), a little food truck and some parking spaces. Parking can be totally packed and people start parking all over the sides of the street, etc.
I was kind of tired from driving so I didn’t go much further, but the windy small road near Emerald Bay is very scenic and I’m sure there were more photo opportunities along the way.
The actually town of Lake Tahoe is like a contradiction — sleepy, yet kind of «happening.» It’s got numerous restaurants from Mexican to Thai. There are some hotels like Harrah’s and the like around the area, yet everyone is laid back and mellow.
One day I’d like to come back in the winter and snowboard their slopes.

You know that movie Bedazzled, where Elizabeth Hurley played the super hot Devil? Well, if you’re super cool and awesome, you would remember the scene where Elliot cried and cried about how beautiful the world was? Remember that scene? The dolphin song? The intense sunset cries?
I ask, because, well… I was basically sensitive Elliott on my trip to Lake Tahoe.
Everything was just so beautiful and majestic! I could write songs about the icy cool water, the pine-​filled forests, and the oh so fresh air! SO BEAUTIFUL! Oh no… here comes the tears again. *sobbing* Whyyy?! Why are you so beautiful, America? I don’t understand why it was so beautiful! *sobbing continues*
Ugh, in all seriousness, I just want to go back already. Everything was such an eye-​gasm, and I wish we had spent more than a day there. Lake Tahoe is ginormous, and there are lots of trails, boating, swimming, and hiking to be done in the summer. Emerald bay is such a gem, and the whole lake area is just an all-​around nature-​lovers heaven.
No doubt about it: Lake Tahoe is definitely one of America’s finest!

Many associate going to Lake Tahoe to partake in the winter sports of skiing, snowboarding, sledding and snowmobiling. But many people don’t realize the great activities that one can do during the non-​snow months of the year, such as hiking, biking, fishing, water sports/​activities, picnicking, sun-​tanning on the beach, and visiting many of the historical sites and visitor centers in the area.
Lake Tahoe is the second deepest lake in the US and is 191 square miles and has some of the most beautiful scenery around. After spending a week in Tahoe to hike, explore, and relax and to take in all the natural beauty, I will be making more visits during the non-​winter months to take advantage of this all this area, which is so close to the Bay Area, has to offer.

Fun place to get away from it all. I went with my family in Thanksgiving week and didn’t try to ski because of my back problems. I still had a great time going up to Heavenly Mountain and enjoying the peaceful views and surroundings. I love how a lot of the local businesses shut down after dark because it gives you a really small town feeling. The lake is always beautiful and and so are the surrounding mountains and hills with hiking trails. Whenever you are bored with all of that serenity, there are casinos available ²⁴⁄₇ — So, you always have something to do — or not. Best of both worlds!

Lake Tahoe is the largest alpine lake in North America. and with a depth of 1,645 ft, that’s the USA’s second-​deepest behind Crater Lake. Crater Lake is actually more stunning, but there’s nothing like seeing Lake Tahoe for the first time on US 50 as you come down the «hill». When Gayle and I travel to Nevada, it’s our marker that her Mom’s house in Genoa is close at hand.
Other Lake Tahoe views that I’ve enjoyed include skiing at Homewood, having Lunch at the Beacon Café at Camp Richardson, strolling along King’s Beach (North Shore), and driving West over the Spooner Summit. Tahoe is also the word that comes up in the Winter, when Internet searches are conducted to check on chain requirements and travel plans are made or broken. In whatever weather, Lake Tahoe is a special place that this Californian shouldn’t so often take fro granted.