Tahoe's Top Attractions
North America’s Highest Alpine Lake Offers Entertainment Variety
Western United States' most popular lake, lying within both Nevada and California, features myriad attractions and activities that range from fishing to casino shows.
Lake Tahoe, one of the most popular tourist destinations in the Western United States, is a good vacation bet whatever the season. Year round, there's 24-hour action at the Stateline hotel/casinos on the Nevada side of the lake and after dark entertainment in their showrooms. Outside the gambling palaces, activities depend primarily on the seasons..
Warm Weather Pursuits
In late spring, summer and early fall the weather is usually perfect for driving around the 72-mile shoreline or bicycling on the 32 miles of paths that parallel the highway. Some hikers trek along only part of the 175-mile Tahoe Rim Trail. Others make the trail the focal point of a camping experience and bring along their bedrolls.
The Tahoe Queen or MS Dixie, two paddle wheelers that ply the lake's southern waters, take passengers on daily tours. The route goes to Emerald Bay, past Fanette Island and Vikingsholm, the recreated Norwegian mansion originally owned by a newspaper heiress. Although warm days are great for picnics and sunbathing, most people consider the water far too cold for swimming (Tahoe is one of the deepest lakes in the world).
One of the area's most fascinating attractions is the Stream Profile Chamber on the west side of the lake. An interpretive trail leads through groves of quaking aspen, across little creeks and through a meadow of wildflowers to the chamber, which gives allows viewers to examine Thomas Creek at eye level. The stream is especially interesting during the kokanee salmons' mating season, when the males develop jutting jaws and their heads turn bright red.
West Shore Attractions
Self-guided tour paths wind past the large wooden structures of the Pope-Baldwin Recreation Area, a few miles up the road from South Lake Tahoe. The development was a popular summer home site for wealthy socialites from San Francisco at the turn of the nineteenth century. During summer, concerts ranging from those by jazz groups to string quartets take place on the lawn around the mansions.
The Ehrman Mansion at Sugar Pine Point State Park has been converted into a museum that houses early artifacts from the Tahoe Basin. Vikingsholm Castle on Emerald Bay (open only during July and August) the 38-room replica of a Norse Castle, iss considered one of the finest examples of Scandinavian architecture in the Western U. S. It can only be reached by boat or a one-mile hike from the highway (downhill going, uphill coming back).
Winter Sports
After the snow falls, the Tahoe Basin is transformed into a winter playground of 15 downhill and 11 cross country ski resorts. Aerial trams at Heavenly Valley near Stateline and more northerly Squaw Valley, home of the 1960 Winter Olympics, give passengers spectacular views of the lake and surrounding mountains. And all around, slopes provide exhilarating runs for skiers.
The ski villages -- especially those at Squaw Valley and Northstar-at-Tahoe -- are highly developed with shops, condominiums, stables and other amenities. The Mt. Rose ski area is a favorite with Reno residents as it's only 30 to 40 minutes away. The Homewood ski slopes are literally in the middle of the town of Homewood on the western shore of the lake. Special events at the major resorts, such as the World Cup races, attract huge crowds.
Any Season Specials
Year round, unless there is too much snow on the ground and highways are closed, many Lake Tahoe attractions remain openthere are more things to see than can possibly be fitted into a single vacation. Sand Harbor on the lake’s northeast shore and Kaspian Beach on the west are among the best picnic spots. In summer, Sand Harbor is the venue for "Music at Sand Harbor" in July and "Shakespeare at Sand Harbor" in August.
Throughout the year, dozens of special events take place around the lake, whatever the season -- fishermen's clinics, star-gazing nights, wooden boat shows, wildflower walks , art nights, as well as celebrations at the various ski resorts. Two of the best information sources, with calendars of events, are www.bluelaketahoe.com and www.gotahoenorth.com.
