Planning a trip to Lake Tahoe
A Tale of Two Shores
Before you visit Tahoe, it's important to understand the distinction between the North and the South shores. Don't let the "City" in the North Shore's "Tahoe City" fool you; you can drive through it in a couple of minutes. To the contrary, South Lake Tahoe brims with high-rise casinos, motels, and mini-malls. Where you choose to stay is important because driving from one end of the lake to the other takes an hour or more in summer and can be treacherous in winter.
So which side is for you? If you're here for gambling or entertainment, go south: The selection of casinos is better, with more action and more lodgings, often at better rates. If you seek a relaxing, outdoor retreat, head to the North Shore, which has a better selection of high-quality resorts and vacation rentals. The woodsy West Shore has the most camping spots, and the East Shore, protected from development, has no commercial activity.
Wherever you stay, you'll find plenty of water and mountain sports. The lake is crowded during summer and ski season, so plan far ahead. It's much easier to get reservations for the spring and fall, and rates drop significantly. Many vacation homes and condominiums are rentable; call the visitor-center bureaus or visit the websites below under "Visitor Information" for a list of rental agents.
Visitor Information -- In Tahoe City, stop by the Tahoe City Visitor Information Center, 380 N. Lake Blvd. (tel. 888/434-1262; www.gotahoenorth.com). In Incline Village, go to the Incline Village/Crystal Bay Visitors Center, 969 Tahoe Blvd. (tel. 888/434-1262 or 775/831-4440; www.gotahoenorth.com). Go to the South Lake Tahoe Chamber of Commerce, 3066 Lake Tahoe Blvd. (tel. 530/541-5255; www.tahoeinfo.com). Many other websites offer information about Lake Tahoe, including www.virtualtahoe.com, www.skilaketahoe.com, www.laketahoeconcierge.com, and www.tahoevacationguide.com.
Getting There
It's a 4-hour drive from San Francisco; take I-80 east to Sacramento, and then U.S. 50 to the South Shore, or I-80 east to Hwy. 89 or Hwy. 267 to the North Shore. Be prepared for snow in the winter. During heavy storms, you won't be permitted to pass the CHP (California Hwy. Patrol) checkpoints without four-wheel-drive or chains. From Los Angeles, it's a 9-hour drive; take I-5 through the Central Valley to Sacramento, and then follow the directions above.
Reno-Tahoe International Airport (45 min. to North Shore, 90 min. to South Shore; www.renoairport.com) runs regular service by 10 major airlines, including American (tel. 800/433-7300), Delta (tel. 800/221-1212), and United (tel. 800/241-6522). Rent a car or take a shuttle up to the lake: North Lake Tahoe Express (tel. 866/216-5222; www.northlaketahoeexpress.com) serves the North and West shores; South Tahoe Express (tel. 866/898-2463; www.southtahoeexpress.com) serves the South Shore (1-day advance reservations recommended). To get to the lake, take U.S. 395 South to Rte. 431 for the North Shore or U.S. 50 for the South Shore. All the roads leading to the lake are scenic, but the panorama as you descend into the Lake Tahoe Basin from Rte. 431 is spectacular. Pull into the overlook and enjoy the view.
Amtrak (tel. 800/USA-RAIL [872-7245]; www.amtrak.com) stops in Truckee, 10 miles north of the lake. Public transportation (TART or Truce Trolley) is available from the train depot, or you can take a taxi to the North Shore. Greyhound Bus Lines (tel. 800/231-2222; www.greyhound.com) serves both Truckee and South Lake Tahoe with daily arrivals from San Francisco and Sacramento.
