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Lake Tahoe is 12 miles wide and 22 miles long, with 72 miles of shoreline, 21 marinas, and an average midsummer water temperature of 70 degrees. It is one of the most pristine lakes in the United States.

The Sierra Nevada Mountains, lush pine forests, sprawling state parks and a growing collection of resorts and communities... Lake Tahoe offers endless options for exploring—via boat, car, horseback or hiking and biking trails. And since it’s split just off-center to the east by the California-Nevada border, you find yourself passing from state to state, and adventure to adventure, within a single day.

Tahoe City On the West Shore

Tahoe City remembers the days when a narrow-gauge railroad and the SS Tahoe steamship were the primary forms of transportation to and around the lake. Stay Complete with its own marina, Sunnyside Lodge has country-style lake-view rooms, a popular restaurant overlooking the water, and lots of Old Tahoe charm.

 

Stay
Mayfield House at Lake Tahoe is a historic stone-front inn with cozy guestrooms and a helpful concierge. A short distance from the lake, Tamarack Lodge is a simple, friendly retreat with a taste of Tahoe history thrown in.
 
Eat
Fire Sign Café is the locals’ place for a hearty breakfast (massive blueberry pancakes, custom omelettes, eggs Benedict) and lunch (hot pastrami sandwiches, tuna melts, garden burgers). For dinner, Wolfdale’s reigns for innovative dishes that combine Asian and European flavors, while Fiamma is a neighborhood trattoria specializing in country-style Tuscan cuisine. Shop You can reel in everything you need for a fishing trip, including a guide, at Reno Fly Shop. Art lovers will enjoy Vista Gallery, a progressive contemporary art gallery representing nearly 40 artists. Boatworks Mall will bowl you over with everything from bookshops to casual clothiers to fine jewelers.

Squaw Valley
The 1960 Olympic Games put Squaw Valley on the map. Here, an Old Tahoe mountain community mixes seamlessly with the new Intrawest Village, a cobblestone-and-timber enclave of charming cafés, shops, galleries and accommodations.

Stay
The Resort at Squaw Creek is a destination in itself, with luxurious guestrooms and suites, five restaurants and a full-service spa. In the village, boutique-style Plumpjack Squaw Valley Inn features whimsical Shakespearean-themed décor. The Village at Squaw Valley has comfortable one- to three-bedroom mountainside condominiums.

Eat
Fireside fires up great gourmet pizzas (pear and gorgonzola; Italian sausage and pepperoni), Mamasake’s chefs serve up creative sushi and sashimi, and Balboa Café fills up with the fine-wine-and-dining crowd. Minutes away, Graham’s is known for its historic lodge setting and Mediterranean fare.

Shop
Plumpjack Sport is the place for fashionable outdoorsy types, Edin Boutique for nighttime trendsetters. Splash! Body and Bath overflows with hand-made soaps and scented bath products. At Waxen Moon, you can make your own candles. Gallery Keoki specializes in photographic pieces and works by modern masters.

Other Favorites
Known as “The Gateway to the Sierra,” the little town of Truckee is a great place to get on one of the local rivers. The main street is crowded with restaurants, galleries and boutiques. Below the ski slopes in Heavenly Village stop at the Pub Tahoe, one of Tahoe’s original nightspots, for a freshly-drawn brew and live music. Stay in a private cabin at the romantic Black Bear Inn (be sure to order your cabin service breakfast before you go to bed). Incline Village is on the lake’s eastern shore in Nevada. Here, pristine beaches mix with historic casino hotels, and a never-a-dull-moment vacation is a sure bet.

Since the 1950s, Lake Tahoe has been known for Hollywood glitz and glamour. Frank Sinatra and the Rat Pack were frequent visitors to local casinos, as were Ann-Margret, Tony Curtis and Rita Hayworth. Boating and watersports were favorite summertime activities. Classic wooden speedboats, catamarans and passenger ferries still ply the lake. A vintage photo (above) shows one of the most difficult aquaplaning stunts.