DISCOVER
LAKE TAHOE CALIFORNIA

Lake Tahoe's a bit unusual in that the state line between California and Nevada runs right through the lake. Two-thirds of the lake and almost as much of the shoreline are in California; the rest is in Nevada.

Lake Tahoe: note the state line
running through the lake!

I asked your opinion: Should I include information about Lake Tahoe Nevada on these pages? And you answered me.

The verdict: When you go to Lake Tahoe, you don't really care if part of it is in California and part is in Nevada. So we're treating Lake Tahoe as if it was totally in California (except for the gambling, of course). Thanks to all who took the time to share their opinions!

Find Lake Tahoe hotels and lodges, compare prices and ammenities, then book your choice at HotelsCombined:

Lake Tahoe with Island and Paddleboat
(CC) Romain Guy

But this quote from Mark Twain tells the real story:

Lake Tahoe's claims to fame are endless, but here's a sampling:

• Its beautiful sapphire-colored water that's so clear you can see the bottom of the lake up to an amazing 75 feet down
• Its location in the awe-inspiring Sierra Nevada Mountains where it's surrounded by peaks as high as 10,000 feet and more, making for some of the most spectacular mountain views in the world
• Its year-round vacation status; with winter sports and summer activities - it's a true destination with something for everyone
• The friendliness of its people - Lake Tahoans are in love with their little piece of the world, and they enjoy sharing it with visitors
• Its Fourth of July synchronized fireworks display - you'll "oo-oo-ooo" and "ah-ah-aaah" as the starbursts of color explode in the sky and are mirrored on the lake
• Its Squaw Valley - a great snow sports venue and home to the 1960 Winter Olympics
• Its unbelievably enthralling mountain drives and spectacular lake views
• Its play areas, and sandy beaches just waiting for you to discover them

That's just the beginning of what Lake Tahoe has to offer. Let me
help you find your way around!

Heading for the Lake Tahoe area? Find the best hotel deals at HotelsCombined. It's one-stop-shopping!

The Four Lake Tahoe Quadrants

Because there's so much to see and do around Lake Tahoe, I like
to divide it: first in half, then into quadrants:

North Lake Tahoe, known to insiders as North Shore, consists of:

• California's North Shore (including Tahoe City, Tahoe Vista, and Kings Beach)
• Nevada's North Shore (including Incline Village)

South Lake Tahoe, known locally as South Shore, includes:

• California's South Shore (where South Lake Tahoe is located. This is the area most easily reached from Sacramento)
• Nevada's South Shore (which includes Stateline and Zephyr Cove)

Lake Tahoe California, Season by Season

Thanks to it's altitude, Lake Tahoe has basically two seasons, and they can be categorized by the types of activities you'll likely find available.

Emerald Bay in early March; (CC) Franco Folini

November to April sees highs that average between 49F (November), 41F (in January) and 53F (April), with average snowfalls of 125 inches at lake level.

At alpine skiing
levels, resorts boast of 100 inch to 200 inch bases!

What is there to do in Lake Tahoe California in the winter? Well,
alpine skiing, as you would imagine (there are some great ski resorts in Tahoe), but also: nordic skiing, cross-country skiing, snowboarding, terrain parks (for jibbers and jumpers), snowmobiling, sleigh rides, and dog sledding, and just plain ol' playin' in the snow!

About the only winter sport you can't do is ice skating on the lake - for the simple reason that the lake never freezes (because of its depth and the fact that cold water sinks, pushing the warm water from below up, there's too much movement for the water to freeze)! But there is ice skating elsewhere.

From May to October, on the other hand, you'll experience highs averaging from 61F (in May), to 79F (in July and August), and back to 62F (in October): very balmy weather for such altitudes, indeed.

Steve Cleek Corral Trail; (CC) dh Reno8

And what about is there to do during the summer months? That's easy!

Try your hand at: river and whitewater rafting, golfing at some of the most beautiful courses in the world, para-sailing, pedal boating, or waterskiing.

Then there's wakeboarding, kayaking, jet-skiing, canoeing, windsurfing, lake tahoe fishing, cruising aboard a paddleboat, hiking, mountain biking, camping, or simply lolling on a beach and enjoying the sun!

There's definitely something for everyone at Lake Tahoe California! So, come along and discover more about this spectacular area!

Bringing you more info about the Lake Tahoe California area - and Nevada too - here:

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