The only drawback to planning a summer vacation to Lake Tahoe is narrowing down your choices for fun and entertainment. Lake Tahoe is simply the name for an all encompassing mountain, lake, and gambling experience. South Lake Tahoe is actually a city on the California side of Lake Tahoe on the border Nevada. Perhaps because of its close proximity to casinos, gambling, and nightlife, South Lake Tahoe is very much a tourist destination. The residential population on the south side is greater, and it is a city more widely known for its tourist attractions than the north side. If one were to travel to Tahoe without a car, the entertainment and lodging of the south side are within walking distance of one another. In addition, the south side offers an abundance of public transportation to get around if you don’t have a car. Both the north and south sides of Lake Tahoe offer such a vast array of summer activities including: entertainment, shopping, and outdoor activities that the only problem you will encounter is enough time to do them all.

The first order of business when planning a vacation to Lake Tahoe is finding lodging. There are a variety of options ranging form a $32/per night motel room to a luxury suite for $400+/per night. In addition to hotels and casinos, there are plenty of campgrounds available whether you are tent camping, or hauling an RV. The south and north sides of Tahoe each offer different entertainment and recreational options, so be sure to choose lodging based on the activities you want to partake in, as the north and south sides are separated by a lake and are fairly far apart from one another. It is possible to go from one side to another, but it isn’t as convenient as choosing one side and its activities and remaining there.

If you want to stay in Lake Tahoe, but away from the glitz and glam of the downtown casinos, campgrounds can be the perfect alternative. There are so many to choose from, it’s only a matter of narrowing down the amenities and location of your choice. As with any other accommodations, book early if possible as Lake Tahoe is a popular summer destination and the campgrounds and RV parks fill up fast.

While at Lake Tahoe in the summer season, (July-September) enjoy a number of summer outdoor events and activities. Over the week of the 4th of July Lake Tahoe boasts three straight nights of firework celebrations. The city is also host to the Lake Tahoe Shakespeare Festival, the Concours d’Elegance Wooden Boat Show, and the Lake Tahoe Summer Music Festival.

If you are athletically inclined, Lake Tahoe offers an entire week of marathons in late September. The city offers a three day triple marathon, 72 mile Tahoe Ultra marathon, a triathlon, marathon, marathon relays, Susan G. Komen Race for the cure 5K and 10K.

As Lake Tahoe is such a popular summer destination, it offers huge headlining musical concerts featuring such acts as the Eagles, Alabama, Sammy Haagar, and the Wallflowers for the summer concert series.

If you are an outdoor enthusiast, enjoy an entire mountain full of hiking, fishing, and boating. The mountain offers literally hundreds of trails for mountain biking and hiking on the mountain and around the diameter of the lake. The Tahoe Rim Trail is one of the more popular trails at Lake Tahoe, a 165-mile long trail that circles the lake. The trail ranges in elevation changes from 6,240 feet to 10,338 feet. The Tahoe Rim trail is not for the faint of heart, but for the die-hard hiker and mountain biker, the panoramic views at Relay Peak make the journey well worth the effort.

For those seeking a fishing experience at Lake Tahoe, there are fishing experiences for the novice and expert alike. Several chartered and guided fishing tours are available all summer long on both the California and Nevada sides of Lake Tahoe. Some of the most popular fishing charters include: Blue Ribbon chartered fishing trips, Don Sheetz Fishing Charters, and Tahoe Sport Fishing Co. Day trips on a chartered fishing boat range in price from $85 to $100, for a day trip ranging from four to five hours in length. Most charters guarantee that you will catch a fish, and some offer drinks and lunches as part of the price. In addition, if you are not inclined to fish, but want to tag along on a boat ride with friends or family, some charters will accommodate you for ½ the price of a regular fare. Be sure to book early, as summertime is a very busy season and most fishing charters fill up early. If you are looking for a more serene, private experience there are several anglers offering private backcountry fishing lessons. These are obviously more expensive than group chartered fishing boats on the lake, but can offer just the right amount of instruction and relaxation. A private lesson in local lakes and rivers, or remote backcountry streams ranges from $185/per person or $250/per person for five to six hours of instruction. For those of you who have always wanted to fish, but just don’t know how, this private instruction is priceless.

An outdoor enthusiast with a desire for any time on the water at all can enjoy sailing, parasailing, kayaking, canoeing and paddle boating. Several rental facilities offer access to kayaks, boats, canoes, parasail, and sailboats for a reasonable hourly rates. If you have a yen for a faster pace of outdoor entertainment, enjoy the variety of motorized sports on the lake. Bring your own boat and jet skis, or rent one while at the lake. Several campgrounds offer boating docks for you to house your boat, as well as boat launches when you’re ready to play.

If you’ve come to Lake Tahoe to gamble, there are dozens of casinos on the south side of Lake Tahoe (the Nevada side). While Reno, Nevada is a much smaller gambling city than Las Vegas, it offers a charm only possible in a bustling mountain community. Although much smaller in size than Las Vegas, the abundant amount of casinos will keep even the most seasoned gamblers happy. While various smaller establishments will keep any gambler happy, Harrah’s and Harveys are the two most popular casinos offering the most variety of entertainment. Harrah’s offers amenities such as a full service spa and salon, a pool, and golfing packages, as well as a variety of luxury accommodations for your stay. In addition, Harrah’s continually hosts a vast assortment of events and entertainment. Concerts are hosted almost every night in the summer with musical acts ranging from the Smother’s Brothers to Kevin Costner and his band. Harveys Casino offers plenty of gaming such as: slots, table games, poker, and race and Sportsbook. During the summer months, Harveys outdoor arena hosts a wide assortment of concerts all summer long including: Beyonce, Sammy Haagar, and Rascal Flatts.

While some in your vacation party may want to spend time hiking, biking, fishing, or jet skiing, there is plenty of shopping for those who are less inclined for outdoor play. Whether searching for the perfect vacation souvenir or a new outfit, you can find it while shopping at Lake Tahoe. There are 6 featured shopping areas at Tahoe that are not to be missed: Carnelian Bay/Tahoe Vista/Kings Beach, Incline Village, Northstar-at-Tahoe, Tahoe City, The Resort at Squaw Creek, Truckee, and the Village at Squaw Valley. Whether you are looking for mall type stores such as The GAP, MAC cosmetics, Coach, and Banana Republic, or more local boutique type stores, Tahoe offers them all.

One of the absolute can’t miss opportunities available at Lake Tahoe is the Heavenly Aerial Tram. This is a gondola type tram that traverses the mountain, climbing up to 2000 feet above the lake, with a final elevation level of 8000 feet. Be sure to wear your sunscreen for this high altitude summer ride, and enjoy the majestic views of the basin of Tahoe once at the top. If you are outdoorsy and want a hiking adventure, there are several trails available to you once you reach the top. For those interested in the breathtaking scenery and a mountain top meal, enjoy the Top of the Tram restaurant.

When the days are short and snow hides the dirt and makes the water of Lake Tahoe WAY to cold for swimming, you do the only thing you can do: Go SKIING!!! There are fourteen ski resorts in and around Lake Tahoe in both California and Nevada. There are thousands of hotel and motel rooms, you can’t swing a dead cat without hitting a gourmet, or deliciously funky restaurant, and there’s more music, theater, shows, gambling and amenities than you could possibly know what to do with.

But relax. It’s simple. Follow these two steps for the best winter vacation you’ve ever had: 1) go to Lake Tahoe. 2) go skiing! Everything else will come naturally.

Getting to Tahoe

Lake Tahoe is easy to find. If you’re flying (and you don’t have your own helicopter), the closest airport with good service is Reno Tahoe International Airport. All the major carriers fly in there including the beloved Southwest Airlines. From Reno the closest Tahoe ski resort are only 30 minutes away (Mt. Rose and Diamond Peak), and the farthest are barely over an hour. Flying in to Reno also puts you at an advantage as most of the traffic comes in from Sacramento and San Francisco, so tourist congestion is minimal.

From Sacramento or San Francisco take US Hwy 50 East to South Lake Tahoe, California and the casinos at Stateline, Nevada and Heavenly, Kirkwood or Sierra at Tahoe; or take Interstate 80 through Truckee to Squaw Valley, Alpine Meadows, Donner Ski Ranch, Sugar bowl, Northstar or Homewood. Good weather info can be found at weather.com (http://www.weather.com/weather/local/USCA0584?from=search_city), NOAA.gov (http://www.wrh.noaa.gov/forecast/MapClick.php?site=rev&smap=1&textField1=39.25139&textField2=-119.97194), and snotel (http://www.wcc.nrcs.usda.gov/snotel/California/california.html).

Check traffic and snow conditions before you go at CalTrans(http://www.dot.ca.gov/hq/roadinfo/), NDOT (http://www.nevadadot.com/traveler/roads/) and Magnifeye(http://www.magnifeye.com/).

Tahoe Terrain and Snow

Lake Tahoe is big: 22 miles long and 12 miles wide. Along its 72 miles of shoreline ski conditions can vary from north (Northstar at Tahoe) to south (Kirkwood), so it helps to keep track of the weather and snowfall rates. If you’re into groomers and perfect corduroy, or neck deep powder in the trees, check the snow reports on each resort’s website and hit the one with the most new snow.

Most of the resorts have terrain parks, and usually more than one. Heavenly has several including beginner, intermediate and advanced jumps, rails and boxes for all skiers and snowboarders.

Which resort should you go to? Well that’s complicated. Since everything at Tahoe is totally awesome, it can be challenging to find the right resort for you. The huge resorts, Heavenly, Squaw, and Kirkwood, offer fancy dining, big vertical relief, and incredible on-mountain amenities. The small ones, Homewood, Diamond Peak and Mt. Rose, offer a more low key experience that might be great for beginners or people who want to experience everything Tahoe. Every mountain has its specialties, secret powder stashes and amazing views of the lake.

Backcountry Skiing

Though there are some of the best ski and snowboard resorts in the world, there are FAR more mountains to be skied around Tahoe than you can reach at the end of a chair lift ride. Any of the peaks around the Tahoe Basin, however, can be reached at the end of a hike.

Whether by snowshoe, crampon and ice axe or ski tour you can reach endless untracked ridges and couloirs from the Pacific Crest in the Desolation Wilderness on the West shore to the Carson Range above Reno on the east. Many resorts also have hikeable backcountry terrain, like the Milkyway Bowl, at Heavenly which gives you a few more feet of vertical for a little bit of extra effort. Always check for up-to-date avalanche, snowfall and weather forecasts for the entire Tahoe back country area from the Sierra Avalanche Center (http://www.sierraavalanchecenter.org/) before you go out of bounds.

Lifts, Trams and Gondolas

Tahoe is the land of the six-pack high-speed chairlift. We have gondolas, funitels, and trams along with a life time supply of high speed 6 person chairlifts. The resorts here are fully modern with the latest in technology and as rich skiing history, like the old Trams at Heavenly and Squaw Valley. Skiing around Tahoe is a fully modern, fast and fun experience. The astounding uphill capacity at the resorts keeps you skiing with a minimum of down time.

On-mountain Amenities

What’s that? You want a little down time? Understandable. Skiing endless top to bottom mogul or powder runs can be tiring. You need a recharge now and then. No worries, no matter where you are at the resorts here you’re never far from a bite to eat. Mid mountain lodges, top of the mountain lodges abound with gourmet dining, and drinking, right off the runs with stellar views of the ski slopes and the lake and no shortage of wine and beer.

Tahoe Lodging

Sure, you could sleep in your car at the base of the runs after eating a ski-bum-gourmet meal of saltines and ketchup, but why now live a little? You want be good to yourself; that’s why you’re here.

As a year round vacation destination, Lake Tahoe has thousands of hotels and motels to choose from after a big day on the slopes. If you’re hungry there are enough dining establishments to feed tens of thousands! Great lodging rates can be found to keep your budget happy even at a hotel close to the slopes!

In a competitive vacation market such as Tahoe, resorts are always teaming up with hotels to offer ski and lodging packages to get you the best deal for your trip. Whether you’re skiing or snowboarding, you can bundle your lodging, lift tickets and equipment rentals into one great deal, so you spend less money and more time having fun.

Lake Tahoe

Lake Tahoe, in California and Nevada, is a world class winter destination mentioned in the same breath as Vail, Park City, and Banff. The snow is falling. The lifts are running. Come hit the slopes!!!

So, you have narrowed down your vacation plans to Lake Tahoe… but now, you have to make the most important decision of all! Will it be North Shore or South Shore? South Shore or North Shore? This choice has plagued Tahoe visitors for years. The answer is not easy, you have to look at yourself, your fellow traveling companions, and decide what kind of experience you are seeking. Then, take that list and compare it against the Tahoe shores and hope for the best!

The simple facts, no matter where you go, North Shore or South Shore, you are going to experience the 396 inches of annual snowfall, the 300 days of sunshine, have somewhat close access to the 18 excellent ski and snowboarding resorts, golf courses, casinos, and the breathtaking Lake Tahoe. Mark Twain called Lake Tahoe “the fairest picture the whole earth affords.” However, you still need to pick a side!

Now, for those of you who have not been to Lake Tahoe before, just a little history. The North Shore is in California and South Shore is in Nevada. The California portion of Tahoe contains Alpine Meadows, Northstar, and Squaw Valley ski resorts. It also has the popular towns of Tahoe City, Truckee, Kings Beach, and Agate and Carnelian Bay. South Shore has Heavenly, Kirkwood, and Sierra-at-Tahoe ski resorts, and the towns of Incline Village, Zypher Cove, and Stateline to visit and enjoy. But this is all the technical side of things, the part that really needs to be investigated is the energy, the atmosphere, the “je nas sais quoi” of the shores. And both North and South Shores have that in spades!

South Shore, the Nevada side, brings the carefree, have fun and forget yourself attitude that the state is famous for. With plenty of casinos, liquor stores, restaurants, arcades, shows and entertainment easily found. South Shore invites those who want to have a lot to do and a lot of excitement. The casinos make South Shore to be a 24-hour vacation destination. After you get off the slopes, or out of a spa, you can hit the town for dinner, then a show, then dancing, then some gambling before doing it all again the next morning! This atmosphere means you will probably have a very busy, non-stop vacation. Skiing, shopping, gambling, dancing, and eating to your heart’s content. Many of the casinos and ski resorts (Heavenly and Sierra at Tahoe) have licensed day cares that you can leave you children with, while you get a little extra adult time in…Many first timers to Tahoe find the plethora of activities and shuttles and day care the perfect option to get to know Tahoe and the surroundings. The South Shore towns also seem to have more young families, and ski bums hanging out just to meet new people and get their ski on. So, if you are up for an active escape from the humdrum of your everyday life, maybe South Shore is for you!

North Shore on the other hand, is all about calm and relaxation. Not as many first timers stay in North Shore, they may venture over on a day trip or on one of the shuttle’s buses, but North Shore is all about keeping calm and enjoying the solitude the lake has to offer. Many Californians and long time vacation homeowners visit North Shore and soak up the lack of the excitement and lights present just down the street. The two Marriot resorts built on the California side of Stateline are gleaming examples of this attitude for calm and tranquility. They have top rate spas within the resorts as well shuttles to and from the ski resorts, laundry service, and room service, everything to make your stay nearly effortless for the vacationer. The peaceful nature of Lake Tahoe is capitalized on and the residents and visitors of North Shore seem more relaxed, more like people recharging and recomposing themselves. This does not mean that there are not a wide array of different activities to explore and enjoy, North Shore still offers first class ski resorts, shuttles to and from, fine dining restaurants, spa packages, outlet shopping, and quaint historical walks and museums, it just asks that you take them at your own pace. Travelers will not be overwhelmed by the multitude of places to go and things to see, but can select things that look of interest to them, that day. Plus, you can always cross over the Nevada side for an evening out or two!

As you can see, whether you visit North Shore or South Shore really depends on what type of experience you are seeking… this time around-you can always come back next year!

If you’re looking for a summer vacation with mountain fresh air and mild temperatures, then Lake Tahoe is the place for you.  The average summer temperatures are in the 70s and 80s.  Tahoe is known for its clear blue water and beautiful mountains surrounding the alpine lake some 4,500 miles above sea level.  The lake’s western shore in California offers several activities for summer vacationers.  From Tahoe City down to Emerald Bay, the west side has lodging, restaurants, boating, kayaking, boat cruises, swimming, hiking, rafting and tours of historic sites.

Tahoe City, the largest city on the western side, offers several options for your summer vacation.  The city has many places to stay and eat with plenty of lake side dinning choices.  The Sunnyside Lodge offers the mountain grill on their large deck overlooking the lake.  The grill has a casual atmosphere where kids are welcome.  The menu consists of appetizers, sandwiches, seafood dishes and salads.  The Calamari steak sandwich is my favorite menu item. Sunnyside is also a lodge that has been a landmark on Lake Tahoe since the 1950s. Their location is right on the lakefront with 23 guestrooms and suites.

Rafting and boat cruises are also popular activities in Tahoe City.  You can take a leisurely, self guided raft down the Truckee River.  The trip is a five mile float down the river ending up at the River Run restaurant. About half way down the river along the shore is an ice cream vendor.  This stop is a nice break and provides a cool treat on a summer afternoon.  You can also enjoy a nice meal along the river at the restaurant at the end of your trip.  From the restaurant you can take a bus back to your car on highway 89.  There are two different rafting companies on highway 89 offering rentals.

Departing from Tahoe City, the North Tahoe Cruises offer sightseeing boat cruises on the Tahoe Gal.  They offer four different daily cruises; a shoreline brunch cruise, a lunch cruise to Emerald Bay, a cocktail cruise and sunset dinner cruise.  We took the sunset dinner cruise that goes along the northern shore.  This cruise features views of some of the luxury lakefront homes and beautiful views of the lake and surrounding mountains.

Further down the shore on Tahoe’s west side, between Homewood and Meeks Bay, is Sugar Pine Point State Park.  The park has many miles of inland hiking trails and a variety of trees including the park’s namesake, the sugar pine.  The park also has two miles of lakefront, but the beaches are too rocky for many beach activities.  Another attraction here is the rustic three-story Ehrman Mansion which was built in the early 1900s and is open for guided tours.

In Meek Bays at the Meeks Bay Resort and Marina, you have several summer activities to choose from.  Boat, canoe and kayak rentals are available along with access to beautiful white sand beaches, barbeques and designated swimming areas.  Meeks Bay also offers fishing, hiking and the Washoe Cultural Art Festival.  The Meeks Bay Resort offers a variety of lodging choices.  You can stay in log cabins along the lakefront or stay in a historic mansion.  The Kehlet Mansion rests on the bay’s north point and offers impressive views of the lake.

Emerald Bay is located in the southwest corner of Lake Tahoe and is home to a unique Vikingsholm mansion built in 1868 and features Scandinavian architecture.  The bay also has a small island, Fannette Island, where a Tea House was built.  This is the only island to be found on Lake Tahoe.  You can get to the Vikingholm by boat or by hiking down the trail from the parking lot on Highway 89.  The hike is about one mile and drops 500 feet to the base of the bay where the house is located.

Down the road from the Vikingshom parking lot, you will come to the Eagle Falls Picnic Area parking lot on highway 89.  From here you can hike the trail that leads to the Upper Eagle Falls which is about a one-third a mile away.  The hike is very rocky and has steep areas that drop off suddenly.  The trail offers several breathtaking views of Lake Tahoe.  If you keep climbing further up the trail you’ll reach Eagle Lake.  The hike is two miles round trip if you go all the way to the lake.

The west side of Lake Tahoe has plenty to offer summer vacationers.  From Tahoe City in the northwest down to Sugar Pine Point, Meeks Bay and Emerald Bay in the southwest, the western side of Lake Tahoe is a great choice during the summer months to enjoy all that Lake Tahoe has to offer.

I’ve been dying to go snowboarding, but the weather out here on the west has been warmin’ up! I usually hit up Boreal park in Truckee since it’s close to home here in the bay. I was planning to go this MLK weekend, but I may just cancel. Does anyone know a good time to get soft fresh snow up in tahoe/truckee???

It’s Monday morning, and you’ve a busy week of events and activities planned. Sun is streaming in through the tall pine trees outside the condo’ and the gentle squawking of birds and the smell of pine wafts through the open window in the cool summer morning. No time to eat. This is Lake Tahoe: a giant crystal pond surrounded by California, Nevada, sun, fun and mountains. You can’t just waltz up to a spot like this and expect to be able to handle it. It’s big, and there’s a lot to do. You need a plan…

Your choose-you-own Tahoe adventure begins now

You roll over and open your eyes, eager to meet the day, your wife/girlfriend/best buddy/son/daughter appears and says, “honey/babe/pardner/daddy, what do you want to do today?” The best plan of attack is, like reading a book, start at the top and work your way down…

Lodging

As a major vacation destination Lake Tahoe has thousands of hotel and motel rooms, a stunning array of gambling opportunities, and enough dining establishments to feed tens of thousands! It you’re into hole-in-the-wall burger or burrito shops try Izzy’s Burger Spa or Taco Taqueria in South Lake Tahoe or T’s Rotisserie in Incline. If you want something fancy poke around in any of the bigger casinos in South Lake Tahoe, Incline Village or Cristal Bay for some swanky four star dining. Of course all the Ski Resorts, like Heavenly Tahoe, have some awesome dining high up on their slopes that are open year round and accessed via a tram or gondola ride.

Tahoe has every kind of room for you from discount economy lodging to high end luxury hotels with casino gambling just steps away. If your tastes and budget fall somewhere in between you’ll have no trouble finding exactly what you’re looking for. Specials and deals on lodging and dining rates abound as you would expect for such a popular destination.

Shopping and Concerts in Tahoe

If you’re not quite equipped for a rugged adventure of mountain climbing and grueling backpacking, you can hit the awesome shopping centers and gambling in the town of South Lake Tahoe, or line up tickets to the nightly concerts by national headliner musicians and comedians at the casino showrooms all around the Nevada side of the lake. From our awesome local bands playing intimate concerts at small venues to huge stage productions with big-name artists, Tahoe gets the best concert acts in the country. Or enjoy the Lake Tahoe Shakespeaer Festival (http://www.laketahoeshakespeare.com/)

Roll over the mountains to Reno, Nevada for a series of free concerts through the summer in Wingfield park (http://www.renoriver.org/events.html) and the plaza at Harrah’s in downtown Reno.

Lake Tahoe Summer Adventures

There are lots of adventures to be had in Tahoe, but the two basic types are Land Adventures and Water Adventures.

Land Adventures

There’s a lot to do in Lake Tahoe for lovers of the outdoors in the summer time, so start with the easiest and tamest and move up to the hardest and most extreme. We get a bit of sun and good weather. Typical summer temps range from overnight lows in the 40′s and high in the 80′s: (averages). It get’s plenty warm for hiking, biking or horseback riding and even camping, and we hardly ever get rain in the summer time.

Tahoe Mountain Biking and Hiking

Some would say that Tahoe is the best place on the west coast for epic cross-country mountain biking, some would say the country, some would say the world. And you need look no further than the Tahoe Rim Trail (tahoerimtrail.org) to get started. Bar none, the best off road biking, remote wilderness hiking and backpacking in the Tahoe Basin can be found somewhere on this 150 mile long scenic trail. It’s just a matter of how far you want to ride or hike to get it.

By far the most popular section of the TRT for hiking and biking is the Flume Trail (theflumetrail.com). The Flume Trail began life as a siphon waterway from Incline Village, Nevada on the east shore of Lake Tahoe over the Carson Range, down the Truckee Meadows, and up to Virginia City, NV high in the Virginia Range. (http://parks.nv.gov/ltbc.htm)

To access the flume park either at the Tahoe Meadows trailhead at Mt. Rose Pass on HWY 431, or at Lake Tahoe Nevada State Park on HWY 50 at Spooner Summit (http://parks.nv.gov/lt.htm). Get a map when you rent a bike or arrange your shuttle ride at any of the great local shops. Both rides finish just outside Incline Village, NV where you can ride down to the beach to cool off at Sand Harbor State Park (http://parks.nv.gov/lt.htm), or head into town for burritos, burgers, beer and rest after a long ride.

In the summer you can ride the Heavenly tram or gondola and go for a hike, enjoy the views or grab a bite to eat at the Adventure Peak Grill, a full-service outdoor restaurant and bar. (http://www.skiheavenly.com/mountain/adventure_peak/)
Tahoe Road Biking

Several times through the summer you can get in on a large group ride that goes all the way around Lake Tahoe on smooth paved roads. The 72 mile ride around the lake is perhaps the most popular long ride. It has high traffic in areas, and has long strenuous climbs. The popular Death Ride (http://www.deathride.com/) organized by a local bike club is held every July and covers 129 miles and 15,000 feet of climbing. Also, the Tahoe Sierra Century (http://www.tahoesierracentury.com/) runs every September and circumnavigates Lake Tahoe on a supported bike tour.

Camping and backpacking in Tahoe

Though Tahoe is most known for its hotels, restaurants and casinos, some people prefer to camp on their vacation. And honestly, if you’re looking for a real adventure, you should be sleeping on the ground.

There are lots of options for camping right down on the lake at Nevada Beach just minutes from Stateline and South Lake Tahoe along highway 50 in Roundhill, Nevada. You can see sunset views over Mt. Tallac and the Desolation Wilderness right from your campfire.

Or, get way off the trail on an overnight excursion into the Desolation Wilderness (http://www.fs.fed.us/r5/ltbmu/recreation/wilderness/desowild/). Permits (http://www.fs.fed.us/r5/ltbmu/recreation/wilderness/desowild/permits.shtml) are required, so pick one up at the Ranger Station near Camp Richardson on your way to the trailhead. The scenic Pacific Crest Trail (http://www.pcta.org/) skirts the western rim of the Tahoe Basin, and the Tahoe Rim Trail (http://www.tahoerimtrail.org/) completes the 150 mile loop for a two week backpacking trek with resupply stops every few days.
Tahoe Water Adventures

Lake Tahoe is a large body of water. As the second deepest lake in the United States it is 1,637 feet deep, 22 miles long and 12 miles wide. So there’s more than enough space on its shimmering surface for any kind of water recreation you can imagine.

Waterskiing

All summer sail boats stream across the lake and motor boats tug around happy people waterskiing, tubing and wakeboarding. Water temps are 65 to 70 degrees, but you wouldn’t be sorry if you wore a wetsuit.

Skiing, tubing and wakeboarding are really popular on Tahoe. The many public, private and secluded beaches are great places to launch a day of motor boating with family and friends. And the Sierra Nevada Mountains, holding snow well into the summer, makes a great backdrop to the festivities.

Tahoe Beaches

If all you want is to sit on the beach and float around in a raft, Tahoe is easy, it will oblige. You can go to DL Bliss State Park, Pope Beach or Zephyr Cove for a full service experience with food, beverages and kayak rentals or Hidden Beach in Incline or one of the many access points around the lake for a more rustic natural lakeside experience.

In Tahoe City you can rent a tube or raft and float several miles down the Truckee River. Trips start near the outlet of Lake Tahoe where highways 28 and 89 intersect and end several miles down a scenic calm lazy river.

If you want to get out on the lake away from shore you’ll need the help of a motorboat. Rentals are available all around the lake and you can rent anything from a kayak to a large cabin cruiser. (http://www.boattahoe.com/boat_rentals.htm)

Fishing in Tahoe

As a large open expanse of fresh water, Tahoe has some spectacular fishing opportunities! Whether you’re trolling out in the open or fly-casting in the rocky shallows you can find lake trout as big as 10 pounds! Mackinaw trout, German Brown and Kokanee are the common sport fish in the lake.

Many lakes and streams dot the mountainous region around the Tahoe Basin so there is no shortage of water to fish.

Enjoy it while it lasts!

At some point you make it back to bed. Either sun-baked and tired, or content from an entertaining day in town, but you have to rest, so you can get up and do it again. Lake Tahoe isn’t going anywhere and the fun things to do there are just getting better! But your vacation can’t last forever. So plan your attack to take advantage of everything Tahoe has to offer.

Welcome to the Lake Tahoe Luxury Home Magazine online edition. See some of the most beautiful Lake Tahoe luxury homes, estates and land for sale in the Lake Tahoe luxury real estate market.

Lake Tahoe is home to some of the most breathtaking luxury homes in the world. From the lakefront beach estates to scenic mountain top lake views, Lake Tahoe is one of the most sought after luxury home markets in the United States today.

Luxury living in Lake Tahoe offers incredible beaches, award winning restaurants, championship golf courses, world cup skiing, not to mention high-class casinos and world-class resorts. Lake Tahoe and Truckee are close to many activities like casino nightlife, celebrity shows, fishing, boating, scenic hiking and mountain bike riding.

The Lake Tahoe luxury real estate market includes a variety of luxury living lifestyles where you can enjoy the mystic deep blue waters of the lake itself. You can find these settings in many lakefront communities or high mountain retreats.

Lake Tahoe and Truckee offers upscale mountain living for those who enjoy fine dining, the arts, culture and history.

Lake Tahoe is home to the American Century Celebrity Golf Championship at Edgewood Golf Course where more than 100 celebrities gather to enjoy the golf and mountain lifestyle. This mountain lifestyle combined with a strong economy and the abundance of amazing Lake Tahoe luxury homes is what draws thousands of people each year to relocate to Lake Tahoe and Truckee.

Whether you are a businessman, a retiree, or just looking for the mountain climate, Lake Tahoe and Truckee offers something for everyone. Many of the luxury homes in this majestic part of both California and Nevada can be found in areas such as South lake Tahoe, Stateline, Zephyr Cove, Incline Village, Tahoe Vista, Carnelian Bay, Tahoe City, Homewood, Truckee, Tahoe/Donner and Donner Lake, Lahonton, North Lake Tahoe, Squaw Valley, Alpine Meadows, Glenbrook, Roundhill, Westlake Tahoe, Meeks Bay, Crystal Bay, Tahoma and Tahoe Paradise.

This online edition of Luxury Home Magazine offers our readers the best of all luxury real estate found in the Lake Tahoe and Truckee area.