Where in the United States can you travel to a place with over a dozen ski areas, the beauty of a glistening lake surrounded by mountains, a casino and a trail network that rivals the Appalachian trail system? Lake Tahoe is the only place that all of those criteria can be met. With a depth of almost 1700 feet and two states sharing its shores, it is a special jewel that is enjoyed by nature lover and avid gambler alike.
The north shore of Lake Tahoe is deemed The North Shore, naturally. This is the California side of the lake. Located on this side is the smaller town of Tahoe city where you can find wonderful restaurants such as Sol y Lago or Jakes. The lake is surrounded by beautiful sandy beaches bordered by grassy public parks. There is also the small town of Kings Beach, and Crystal Bay with three casinos. There are various ski areas in the region, the main ones being Squaw Valley, Alpine Meadows and Northstar.
The south end of the lake, or South Shore, is the Nevada side. This is where you find the main concentration of casinos. A few years back the town of South Shore, with the help of ski area development company Intrawest, cleaned up their streets, built beautiful new condos, put a gondola in that connected the town to the ski area and put in new sidewalks and landscaping. The result is a high class, yet reasonably priced lakeside skiing trip that makes you never want to leave.
On the west and east sides of the lake there are wonderful trail systems that take you into some of the most pristine forests of the west coast.
Desolation National Forest is a broad area that encompasses hundreds of mountain lakes. It is possible to hike in a few hours and find your own mountain lake to live at for a few days. The waters of these lakes are clear and cold, allowing for great cooking and body shocking swimming. It is also possible to connect different lakes into a loop.
The rim trail is the trail network located across the lake from Desolation (the east side). The rim trail is a masterpiece of trail construction with lofty feelings when looking at the lake below. The trail balances itself on the mountain side creating a feeling of walking on stilts. The views of the west shore mountains is magnificent and varies daily with colors of the lake.
Lake Tahoe is a beautiful place that will satisfy all types of needs and interests. Plus, your trip has the extra bonus of two states being visited.