THINGS TO SEE AND DO AT LAKE TAHOE
There's Something For Everyone at Lake Tahoe
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Winter Sports At Lake Tahoe
We count at least a dozen major ski resorts near Lake Tahoe, so if you are a skier or enjoy other winter sports such as snowmobiling, cross country skiing or snowshoeing, planning a winter vacation here may be just what you're interested in. Most of the ski resorts are at the north end of the lake, closest to Reno, Nevada or Truckee, California. These include Squaw Valley, Alpine Meadows, and Sugar Bowl Ski Resort. There are at least three well-known ski resorts on the south end of the lake, including Heavenly Mountain Resort (largest California/Nevada ski resort), Kirkwood Mountain Resort (gets more snow than any other California/Nevada ski resort), and Sierra-At-Tahoe. Also in the area there are many private and public sled parks, such as Granlibakken for those who enjoy sledding. You can participate in snow tubing at Squaw Valley; and there are many trails in the area for snowmobile riding, cross country skiing, and snow shoeing. You'll find plenty of places to enjoy winter sports here.
Water Sports, Hiking and Mountain Biking
If you prefer warmer weather sports such as boating, water skiing, jet skiing, hiking or mountain biking, you'll want to come in the later spring to early fall months to enjoy these sports. Since Lake Tahoe is located in the mountains, you'll enjoy more moderate temperatures in the summer here than in other parts of the country. Average summer temperatures hover right around 78 to 79 degrees, and rarely does it get into the 90's. Warm enough to enjoy water sports, yet not too warm--especially early in the day--to enjoy hiking or mountain biking. There are lakefront restaurants with docks all around the lake; and other boating activities such as guided cruises, sailboat races, and fireworks displays over the lake, can be enjoyed as well. You can swim, water ski, jet ski, parasail, and just enjoy the beaches of Lake Tahoe, too.
Lake Tahoe Casinos, Dining, Hotels and Entertainment
No matter what time of the year you come, you will find the entertainment, dining, casinos (Nevada side only) and hotels to be tops. Major casinos in Stateline (Nevada) include Harrah's Lake Tahoe, Harvey's Lake Tahoe Casino and Resort, Lake Tahoe Horizon Casino Resort, Mountbleu Resort Casino and Spa, and Lakeside Inn and Casino. You'll find a variety of table games and slot machines in these casinos. For entertainment, stars such as Bryan Adams, Don Rickles, Joan Jett, Eric Burden, Three Dog Night, and Huey Lewis and the News were upcoming scheduled performers at the time this article was written.
Here's a brief listing of some of the hotels in the area. Get your best rates through an online booking service like Orbitz or Travelocity
Park Tahoe Inn located in South Lake Tahoe, CA
Harrah's Lake Tahoe in Lake Tahoe, NV
Montbleu Resort Casino and Spa in Stateline, NV
Inn By the Lake in South Lake Tahoe, CA
Lakeland Village Resort in South Lake Tahoe, CA
Harvey's Lake Tahoe Casino and Resort in Stateline, NV
For your dining pleasure, you'll find everything from fast food to gourmet restaurants in the Lake Tahoe area. The major hotels and casinos house anywhere from two (Lakeside Inn and Casino) to eight (Montbleu and Harvey's) separate restaurants. For dining in the Nevada towns of Stateline and vicinity, enjoy steak and seafood at the Chart House and Hungry Bear Restaurant; French cuisine at the Mirabelle, hamburgers and sandwiches at Mott Canyon Grill or Bear Cub Pub/Deli; pizza from New York Pizza or Straw Hat pizza. If you're staying in one of the California towns like South Lake Tahoe, good restaurants include Tep's Villa Roma or Cafe Fiore for Italian cuisine; Pizza at Goodfella's Pizza, Grand Central Pizza, or Lake Tahoe Pizza Company. For good old American dining, try Hoss Hogg's, Pub Tahoe's (also features Irish cuisine), or Beacon Bar and Grill.
Final Thoughts
"America's All-Year Playground. That's what people call Lake Tahoe." (quoted from virtualtahoe.com). And it's true! You can enjoy typical winter sports, summer sports and recreational activities, and just plain relaxing, entertainment and gaming, all in one easy-to-access location. Whether you want to enjoy just a day or two as a side trip from Reno, or to spend several days or a week or more, you'll find plenty to do in Lake Tahoe.