Looking for activity or relaxation? Lake Tahoe vacations offer both
If you're looking for one place that has it all, no matter the season and no matter what type of activities you are looking for, you could do a lot worse than heading to Lake Tahoe.
With the lake tucked into the Sierra Nevada Mountains between California and Nevada, Lake Tahoe vacations could include everything from downhill skiing to sunbathing to mountain biking to a day at the casino. With a booming tourist industry, vacation packages that include accommodations plus activity packages aren't hard to find.
During the summer, the lake takes center stage, as Lake Tahoe is a popular destination for those looking to experience the thrill of water sports like wakeboarding or sailboat racing. The lake reaches 1,600 deep in some places, making it popular for scuba diving. However, diving in the lake should be restricted to more experienced divers, as the 6,000-plus feet altitude adds complications to the body's decompression process.
Resorts lining the lake make it possible for visitors to relax and cool off by the water. And if you can't grab a cabin by the water, you can still take in the lake from one of the many beaches or abundant restaurants along the lake, which can often also be accessed by boat. Mountain biking is also a popular activity during the months when the snow is gone, as there are hundreds of miles of trails around the lake, including the 165-mile Tahoe Rim Trail that goes all the way around the lake.
When the snow falls, the skiers flock to Tahoe; the area features more than a dozen ski resorts. There's plenty to like about skiing in Tahoe -- frequent blizzards produce large amounts of powder and the surrounding mountains provide great views of the lake. Even those who don't like to ski might want to hop on a gondola at one of the ski resorts -- some operate during all seasons -- to check out the view.
And for those who aren't interested in any kind of outdoor activities, there's still plenty to do with abundant shopping and dining opportunities, and of course, lots of casinos. It should come as no surprise that the Nevada side of the lake is home to large resort casinos, comparable to anything you might find in Vegas.
Smaller airports service the Tahoe area, as well as larger ones in Sacramento, Calif., Reno, Nev., and Carson City, Nev., so if you're checking out options for Lake Tahoe vacations, you might also want to access a travel site like Travelocity.com to see where you might be able to get the best deal on flights and hotel rooms.
Courtesy of ARAcontent