The lake and its surrounding area, which is commonly referred to as Tahoe, has an elevation of 6,225 feet. Lake Tahoe is twenty-two miles long and 12 miles wide and has a shoreline that stretches for 71 miles. This beautiful lake is shared by two US states, namely California, which has 42 miles of Lake Tahoe shoreline at stake, and the state of Nevada, which is 29 miles. Lake Tahoe offers many vacation homes on the north and south shore which, by the way, is the largest alpine lake in North America and is famous for its nearly translucent waters that are known to evoke feelings of awe and wonder. In fact, when famous American author Mark Twain first set his eyes on the lake during his visit to the area in the late 1860s, he described it as “the most beautiful image the whole earth has to offer.”
A place of incomparable beauty
The lake, which was created by volcanic activity, was first discovered by an American named John C Fremont in 1844, but before that, the lake and its surrounding wooded area was home to the indigenous Washo tribe who called the lake ‘great lake of the sky’ in honor of its crystalline, blue and clear waters. It has an average depth of 989 feet and at its deepest point the lake reaches a depth of 1,645 feet. However, the lake is not very conducive to swimming, as the lake’s waters are often very cold even during peak summer months. Furthermore, it is also known to have extremely strong and treacherous currents. Another interesting fact about the lake is that this lake does not flow into an ocean even though almost sixty-three streams flow into it, but instead flows into Pyramid Lake located in the Nevada desert via the Truckee River. Aside from the beauty of the lake, the area around it is also characterized by fresh and clear air, dense forests and a lot of tranquility.
Favorable climate
The entire area is blessed with a pleasant climate, which is why it has now become an immensely popular destination for Americans throughout the year. The lake enjoys an average of 250 to 300 days of sunny weather during the year. During the winter months, it tends to receive almost 300-500 inches of snowfall and this has allowed it to become one of the top ski destinations in the country. The Lake Tahoe area has a multitude of ski resorts that offer a host of activities such as snowboarding, ice skating, snowshoeing, snowmobiling, sledding in addition to skiing and cross-country skiing. During the warmer months, people flock to Lake Tahoe to enjoy various recreational activities such as boating and water sports, hiking, tennis, camping, hot air ballooning, golf, horseback riding, parasailing, bungee jumping, and much more. .
Get there
By car
North and South Lake Tahoe are easily accessible by various modes of transportation. Lake Tahoe is located on the border between California and Nevada. This popular tourist destination is located 200 miles east of the Californian city of San Francisco, while it is only 30 miles west of Reno in Nevada. North Lake Tahoe, known for its ski resorts, is accessible by car via I-80 from San Francisco. South Lake Tahoe, which is populated by many hotels, restaurants, and casinos, is located primarily in Nevada and can be reached from Reno by taking US 395 South and then US 50 West.
By air
The closest commercial airports are Reno Tahoe International Airport in Nevada, accessible via a 40-minute drive from this popular destination year-round. Another large commercial airport serving the region is California’s Sacramento International Airport, which is two hours away. Smaller airports like South Lake Tahoe Airport and Truckee-Tahoe Airport offer additional air connections to Lake Tahoe.
By bus
During the winter ski months, several bus services operate to various ski resorts such as the Bay Area Ski Bus and the NAC Ski.
By train
Lake Tahoe is also accessible by train on the Amtrak California Zephyr route that stops in Truckee.
Towns and villages on the coast
The Lake Town shoreline has several cities and towns, each of which is known for its own distinctive character and a myriad of attractions. Lake Tahoe is divided into two distinct parts North Lake Tahoe, which is home to ski resorts and cities like Incline Village, which is a wealthy enclave that is dotted with million dollar homes, shops and restaurants. Other cities in North Lake Tahoe include the old railroad town of Truckee, Tahoe City, the ski resort towns of Alpine Meadows, and Squaw Valley, which was the site of the 1960 Winter Olympics, among others.
South Lake Tahoe is a large area that is essentially tourism oriented and is located primarily in the state of Nevada. This busy tourist area is home to several renowned casinos such as Harrah’s, Harveys, Mont Bleu and Horzion, all located in the city of Stateline in Nevada. These casinos are not only known as gambling destinations, but are considered resorts that provide plenty of entertainment for the whole family.
In addition to these towns and villages, the area surrounding Lake Tahoe north and south also has a number of state parks such as Lake Tahoe Nevada State Park, offering various recreation options for tourists and locals alike. Sand Harbor with its sandy beaches is a favorite spot in the park. It is located three miles west of Incline Village and has boating and picnic facilities. Sand Harbor hosts the popular Lake Tahoe Shakespeare Festival each July. Other popular spots in the park include Memorial Point and Hidden Beach, Cave Rock, Spooner Lake, Zephyr Cover, all of which have facilities for picnicking, hiking, mountain biking, fishing, camping, hiking, etc.
Some state parks located on the Californian side include the Bodie State Historic Park, which is a well-preserved ghost town, and the Donner Memorial State Park.
Attractions
Take a ride in a historic pallet truck
You can go out and ride around the lake itself riding aboard a historic three-deck wheeled tractor called the MS Dixie II. This paddle wheel replaced the original MS Dixie in 1994. This paddle wheel sets sail from the town of Zephyr Cove. The Tahoe Queen also offers similar cruises, departing from the town of Emerald Bay in South Lake Tahoe.
Visit Vikingsholm
This Scandinavian-style vacation home was built in 1929 at a cost of $ 500,000. Vikingsholm is an exponent of Nordic architecture that was built with local materials. A part of this house is even covered with grass roofs. Tours of Vikingsholm are available from mid-June through Labor Day. This attraction at the head of Emerald Bay is accessible via a scenic hike from Eagle Point State Park, although it is also accessible by car.
Olympic Valley
This all-weather destination is accessed via a cable car that traverses more than 2,000 vertical feet and transports you to a town that features an Olympic Museum, ice skating rink, pool, spa, and restaurants.
Bars and restaurants.
Lake Tahoe is a premier American destination with a wide variety of bars and restaurants that aim to cater for all tastes. Bars and restaurants populate both North Lake Tahoe and South Lake Tahoe. Some popular restaurants located here include Rosie’s and Old Post Café, both located in California and are favorite spots for brunch and breakfast. Other good-looking establishments include Char Pit, which is a small restaurant located in the town of Kings Beach that is famous for its hearty burgers and ribs. River Ranch Lodge and Restaurant, Le Bistro, Dragonfly, Fiamma are other dining spots that are favored by both locals and out-of-towners alike who come to Lake Tahoe on vacation.
Accommodations
If you’re planning a Lake Tahoe vacation soon, you’ll be happy to know that you have a wide range of lodging options available here ranging from conventional hotels and resorts to charming lodges and cabins and convenient, reasonable, family-friendly vacations. rentals. You will usually find a better deal when it comes to vacation rentals that are offered directly from the owners.
Vacation rentals make economic sense
Vacation rentals or sometimes called vacation homes are indeed a popular lodging option in Lake Tahoe, which is a fairly family-focused destination. Hiring a Lake Tahoe vacation rental often makes financial sense for a family or large group looking to vacation together, as it reduces the expenses associated with reserving individual hotel rooms.
Several websites, as well as well-known classified sites, offer listings for a large number of Lake Tahoe vacation rentals.
What makes the booking experience the best when booking Tahoe Vacation Rentals?
One of the last ways to reserve North or South Lake Tahoe vacation homes is to simply reserve a home online similar to reserving a room at a good hotel.
