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Lake in California and Nevada, US
Photo: via Wikimedia Commons, Public domain
Lake Tahoe is a popular vacation and recreation region straddling the border between California and Nevada. The closest large city is Reno, Nevada. It is especially popular in the summer and winter. Summer activities include golf, boating and hiking. Winter activities include world class skiing, snowmobiling and ice skating. Year round activities include shopping, gambling, eating and taking in the scenery.
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All rides are guided and at a walk - Kids have to be 6 yrs or older - weight limit of . Reservations are required. Open in the summer for horseback riding, and winter for sleigh rides. 2-hour and 4-hour trail rides. The Breakfast Ride, 8AM to 10AM, is a brisk morning ride to bacon and eggs, hotcakes and cowboy coffee. The Steak Ride, 4:30PM to 7PM, is an easy ride for Mom and Dad, but exciting for the kids, through wooded trails, across Taylor Creek and back to a western steak barbecue.
Ride the site of the 1960 Winter Olympics. Has a wide variety of horses. Gentle horses for gentle people, spirited horses for spirited people, and for those who don't like to ride there are horses that don't like to be ridden. One-hour ride (9AM-4PM every hour). Two-hour ride (9AM, 11AM & 2PM). Half-day ride (1:30PM). Private rides - reservations required. Pony rides (10AM-noon & 1PM- 4PM - you lead 20 minutes).
On Highway 89 between Tahoe City and Interstate 80; Alpine is one of the most well established resorts in Lake Tahoe, it boasts a large network of new high speed lifts and enough variety in its terrain to satisfy any level of skier. Alpine also features ticket prices significantly lower than its competitors, while regulating the number of skiers on the mountain to limit crowds.
On Highway 89/West lake boulevard Homewood is a large resort covering two mountains with variable terrain and many different ski runs, located directly on the lake and producing some of the best views of the lake, 6 miles (10 km) south of Tahoe City. Typically, Homewood is the least busy resort, has cheaper tickets than most (including a $99 senior season pass). The smaller crowds mean better skiing longer after storms, and more relaxed attitude than some Tahoe areas. Its main downside is that it has no detachable high speed chairlifts, although they have just replaced their oldest and slowest main double chair with a modern triple chair.
Lifts open daily from 8:30AM-4PM (weather permitting). Northstar Dr. (off Highway 267, near Truckee), A popular beginner and family-friendly resort, with slopes much less steep than at most other major resorts. Just built "The Village" at the base of the mountain with shops, restaurants, living spaces and an outdoor ice skating rink. Expect large crowds on major holiday weekends.
Olympic Valley/Palisades Tahoe is possibly the most well known resort in all of California, and the setting for the book Squallywood. A complete skier's paradise — magazine favorite for its varied terrain, huge size and massive high speed lift system; and a former Olympic village. It's over sized reputation also presents a downside: crowds that even on a mountain of its size can swamp the intermediate lifts and result in lines.
Owned by Vail Resorts, located on the state line (so half casinos, half not)and half the skiing in California and half in Nevada. Beginner, and family-friendly with considerably more terrain than many area resorts, has hosted World Cup ski races.
About 45 minutes from South Lake Tahoe, it features one of the highest base elevations and most consistent snow packs in the Sierra. Off the beaten path, but not as crowded as Sierra at Tahoe or Heavenly with a larger variety of terrain than either.
1111 Sierra-at-Tahoe Road. Slopes are steeper than at Northstar and less well maintained, more of an adventurous place to ski than Northstar is usually not quite as crowded.
Family-friendly resort with slopes for all ski levels. Great for beginners and kids and has convenient parking, easy, wide slopes and breathtaking views of Lake Tahoe.
Highest base elevation in the Tahoe Basin, and the closest major ski area to Reno it is a favorite of locals, and the site of some of the best chute skiing in Tahoe.
At the peak on the highway at about 7000 feet (2100 m), usually one of the first areas to open every year, with extensive night skiing and snow making coverage, this area was one of the first to market with a snowboard terrain Park.
A cross-country ski area.
A resort that consistently among the ski areas with the highest annual snow falls in the US, good varied terrain and an extensive network of high speed lifts, they are also beginning to build a village at the base of Mt. Judah like that at Olympic Valley.
A small area open primarily on weekends near the Mt. Judah entrance to Sugar Bowl.
By car
Getting into the Lake Tahoe region by car is perhaps the most popular method of transportation, but it is not without its hassles and headaches, especially for the first-time visitor.
By bus or shuttle
There is an Amtrak train station in Truckee, California, and bus service from various carriers there to points around the lake.
By train
Amtrak operates the daily California Zephyr train, which goes from Emeryville in the San Francisco Bay Area to Chicago and makes a stop in Truckee.
Along the north shore and Truckee, there is a bus service run by TART (Tahoe Truckee Area Regional Transit). Several services exist along the south shore as well.
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Truckee · Regional · TKF
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A quaint west shore resort town west of Lake Tahoe.
Town on the north shore. Small population.
Near the border between California and Nevada: You can sleep in California and head up the road to gamble in Nevada.
Just north of South Lake Tahoe, it spans the border of the two states. It gives you 'walk-to' access for the casinos.
It's on the northwest shore of Lake Tahoe. One of the two main towns on the lake (along with South Lake) this is a smaller, more relaxed town with a slight mountain hippy feel to it. Tahoe City is considerably less crowded and more relaxed than South Lake Tahoe.
A beautiful Lake Tahoe town on the North Shore.
Historic western railroad town off Interstate 80 between Route 89 and 237 northwest of the lake.
Emerald Bay is a state park in the Lake Tahoe region of California. This is a small bay located at the southwest corner of Lake Tahoe and contains its only true island, Fannette Island.
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