Lake Tahoe, CA

a guide to The perfect weekend escape , anytime of year!

---

Lake Tahoe is one of the most popular destinations on the West Coast, and for good reason! This bi-state city is located on the California-Nevada Stateline, less than an hour outside of Reno, Nevada.

The Lake is stunning with crystal clear, bright blue water surrounded by forest trails and the highest granite peaks, making the magical nature of this city live on as the perfect destination for every season, year-round. Regardless of who its audience is, this gem will serve all of your needs right.

With a shoreline stretching over 70 miles, this alpine lake is the largest not on the Sierra Nevada mountains but also in North America. It also sits at the top of the list of the world's deepest lakes. As a result of its size, it should come as no surprise that the state line between California and Nevada splits the body of water.

If you’re wondering what is there to do while visiting, here is a sample list of some of the most popular activities:

Summer Time:

• Swimming in the lake

• Canoeing

• Boating (boat tours, personal boats & boat rentals)

• Fishing

• Hiking

• Shopping

• Gambling at the casinos (only over the in Nevada Stateline)

• Biking

• Golfing

• Spas

• Nightlife

• Entertainment Shows

• Live music concerts

Winter Time:

• Skiing

• Snowboarding

• Snowshoeing

• Snowmobiling

• Snow tubing

• Sledding

• Cross-Country skiing (pros)

• Recreational snow play

• Ice - Skating Rink

• Gambling at the casinos (only over the Nevada Stateline)

• Shopping

• Nightlife

• Entertainment Shows

Regardless of the time of year, you decided to head here, do know that the restaurants typically have a 45 min - an hour and a half wait. Plan out where you want to eat ahead of time so you can be sure and call ahead to put your name on their lists. There are a few places that do not take call aheads. They want you to physically come to talk to a host to have your name added to the list. In this case, I recommend making this stop before heading back to your room to change (out of your snow clothes or your bathing suit). This will also provide you a better timeline so you can quickly change your clothes to head back to the village.

Sipping morning tae after a hot bath, in the cool crisp morning air. This is vacation!

Anytime we head to Tahoe, it is always an amazing time partly due to the resorts and timeshares we stay at. I wanted to give you guys a list of some of the top-rated places in the area as well as provide you guys with some budget-friendly accommodations.

This is what we are going to call “Save v Splurge”

SAVE

1. Border House at Crystal Bay

2. Hard Rock Hotel & Casino (believe it or not you can usually find deals around $100 per night)

3. Granlibakkeen Tahoe (great for large groups up to 8)

4. Tahoma Meadows Cottages

5. Blue Lake Inn at Tahoe

SPLURGE

1. Harrah’s Lake Tahoe

2. Lakeland Village Resort at Heavenly

3. Basecamp South Lake Tahoe

4. Harvey’s Resort

5. MontBleu Resort

For those who love winter sports, these mountains will be heaven to you. There are several ski resorts in the immediate area, ranging from having just a few lifts to having over 20 lifts. Below is a list of some of the most popular resorts:

• Heavenly Mountain Resort & Palisades Tahoe (24 lifts each)

• Northstar California Resort & Sugar Bowl (14 lifts each)

• Kirkwood (13 lifts)

• Alpine Meadows (11 lifts)

• Sierra at Tahoe (10 lifts)

• Homewood Mountain Resort & Mount Rose (6 lifts)

I recommend planning your trip, especially during the winter months, to give yourself the most optimal dates and prices for lodging and ski lifts. If you are interested in trying out the slopes as a beginner, paying the full price may be a hard pill to swallow. Be sure to check Groupon for some discounts, throughout the year for discounted lift tickets. For frequent flyers, you can usually invest in the purchasing of a season pass. This usually provides a better rate per lift. Again, as always, do your research to conclude what is best for you.

If you are not interested in going up the slopes to take part in the snow sports, there are lift tickets that you can purchase as a viewer which allow you to enjoy the two vista points. One of these vista points is about a third of the way up the mountain, providing you with an unbelievably phenomenal view of the snowy mountains sitting behind the contrasting blue lake. (Images of this are on the Lake Tahoe Destinations page) The other drop-off is at the same drop the skiers and snowboarders take. This allows people to go up the mountain to hang out at the lodge while their loved ones play in the snow!