Lake Tahoe
By Sherril Steele-Carlin
Lake Tahoe is even more beautiful than you might imagine! A resort destination in summer or winter, there is something for everyone to do at Lake Tahoe, from world-class skiing and boarding to hiking, camping, fishing, boating, biking, and much more.
Lake Tahoe is a sparkling jewel just a few hours from San Francisco, and less than an hour from Reno. So, on your next trip west, make sure you include a stop at Lake Tahoe, for some great relaxation, recreation, and impossibly beautiful vistas.
Lake Tahoe is located on the border between California and Nevada, about 5 hours from San Francisco. On the South Shore, visitors can find all the glittering casino action and shows that make Nevada famous, along with skiing, great dining and shopping, and resorts, hotels, and inns. On the West Shore and North Shore, visitors will find a slower pace, with some fine dining and resort options that you might not expect in the "wilderness."
Much of Lake Tahoe does still look like a wilderness, and there are enough open spaces to allow for a variety of outdoor activities, from hiking, biking, rock climbing, fishing, and camping in the summer, to skiing, boarding, snowshoeing, and sledding in the winter. Most of the Lake is accessible year round, and the ski resorts ringing the lake make it easy to find just the right run at the right cost.
Lake Tahoe is more than outdoor sports and beautiful scenery, however. Some of the resorts, such as the Resort at Squaw Creek and Heavenly Valley are known the world over, and there are restaurants worthy of five stars in the area. That's one of the great things about Tahoe. If you're looking for casual, you can find it, and if you're looking for formal, you can find that too.
Fine Dining
Some of the best restaurants in the US are located in Lake Tahoe. Many of them are grouped in the North Shore, or along the West Shore. One of our own favorites are the Swiss Lakewood Restaurant, on the West Shore near Homewood. It features a continental cuisine that is fabulous, you have to try the crab cakes and weinerschnitzel. Another is the award-winning Petit Pier on the North Shore, which has a an international reputation for fine dining. You can always find something wonderful to eat or drink in Lake Tahoe!
If you've never visited Lake Tahoe, you won't believe how beautiful it is. Take a drive around the perimeter of the lake to enjoy it from every angle, and give yourself time to stop and enjoy the views. It is 70-miles around the lake, and most of the road is a winding, two-lane highway, so give yourself at least a few hours for the drive.
Visit Lake Tahoe at any time of the year, and discover the beauty this mountain lake holds for visitors.