Two Sides to a Great Story: Fun in Lake Tahoe

So how does Lake Tahoe compare to Vegas?  If you take away the desert in the equation, add some alpine flavor with lots of skiing and snow, there's plenty to like about Lake Tahoe that you won't find in Vegas.  Lake Tahoe can be deceptively quiet and pristine but once the sun goes down and the hotels and casinos light up, you get a totally different picture.  For one, there are 14 different mountain resorts you can choose from and enough neon lights to keep any city dweller happy for days.

Why you should visit

Lake Tahoe is beloved by poets, artists and writers, most notably the one and only Mark Twain, who thought it was the 'fairest picture' he had ever seen in the whole world.  Even now, a century and a half later, Twain's romantic rendering of Lake Tahoe still stands true.  Is it still any wonder why its Washoe name means 'Lake of the Sky'?

Lake Tahoe is located in the Sierra Nevada, but it owes two-thirds of its genes to California and one-third to Nevada.  By merely switching sides, you get to experience two different aspects of Lake Tahoe that are totally different from each other.  It also happens to be the biggest and highest alpine lake in North America.  While it's more known for its alpine-related offering, Lake Tahoe offers lots of recreation opportunities at any time of the year. 

Skiing in Lake Tahoe

The winter months are the best times for all of your dream snow sports, including snowboarding, snowmobiling, ice-skating and yes, skiing.  No matter what type of snow you like, Lake Tahoe has the perfect powder all groomed nicely for your enjoyment.  Deep, steep, friendly or scenic?  There are different runs to experience depending on the terrain you choose.  It shouldn’t be long before the right alpine attitude rubs on you.

In summer, you can opt to take a kayak or go scuba diving to explore the waters, go waterskiing, river rafting and fishing.  Or you can stay on the ground and go biking, camping, hiking, golfing or rock climbing.  You can even enjoy the view from the air and take a ride on a hot air balloon.  There are plenty of activities you can do at Lake Tahoe, regardless of which season you choose to go.

Gambling in Lake Tahoe

Since Lake Tahoe has a little bit of Nevada, you can take advantage of the lure of Vegas and go find yourself a good casino to place a few bets.  Some of the liveliest and most exciting casinos can be found here, from grand old-style entertainment and lounge acts to the more hip and current gambling dens and nightly shows.

The Nevada side of Lake Tahoe is where you'll find the legendary Cal Neva Resort (Frank Sinatra used to party here), Harrah's with its 900+ slot machines and of course, Caesar's Tahoe.  The casinos in Lake Tahoe are a lot less intimidating, the crowds are not in the same age range as those in Vegas (Lake Tahoe's is younger) and the pace is less frenetic.

What about the entertainment?

Lake Tahoe is home to a variety of festivals, concerts and performances to satisfy your taste for culture and the arts.  Lake Tahoe is a feast for the eyes, whether you're out skiing down the slopes or inside one of the hotel-casinos enjoying the shows. 

It has some of the best and big-named headliners around, including Kathy Griffin, Chris Isaak, David Spade, Ice Cube, Jay Leno, the venerable Tony Bennett, ZZ Top, and Sammy Hagar, still rockin' after all these years.  From karaoke bars to stand-up comedy to lounge acts to adult revues, Lake Tahoe has got your vacation covered.

When to go?  Lake Tahoe is great any time of the year and if you want to get into the thick of the action, head for the mountains during the months of December to March.  This is when the action really gets hot and high.  Special events, concerts and competitions abound, although your best bet is January when the snow is perfect for skiing and there are fewer visitors. 

April is great for spring skiing while late May, mid-June, October and November are the months you should be there if you want to spend less.  Regardless, Lake Tahoe is fun any time of the year and your going there is really just a matter of when.