What kind of snow plowing service is there in South Shore Road and Donner Pass Road in Truckee, California? We are worried about being stranded in a rental ski home!

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.