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Lake Tahoe is
awesome! Beginning in late autumn and continuing through the winter and spring,
the Sierra Nevada mountain region becomes a winter wonderland. Snow is measured
in feet, not inches, and a normal winter will see accumulations of 30 to 40 feet
in the higher elevations. Winter can last up to six months in the mountains,
which is great news for winter sports enthusiasts. The temperatures stay
relatively mild, usually above freezing during the day and only dropping into
the 20s at night. During most days, the sun shines and adds the perfect
finishing touch to the ideal winter vacation.
One of the highest, largest,
deepest, cleanest and coldest lakes in the world, 1000 foot deep Lake Tahoe is
situated at a mile high elevation in an alpine bowl of forested granite peaks.
The drive around the entire circumference of Lake Tahoe is 72 miles in length
and takes about three hours. It is recommended during the summer months only.
During the winter, Highway 89, which runs along the west shore and connects
South Tahoe and Tahoe City closes when there is too much snow. A
delightful alternative to driving around the lake is to view it from a paddle
wheeler on a summer cruise.
The early-mid years of the 20th century saw tremendous building and
deforestation in the Lake Tahoe area. The building boom was brought under
control in the 1960’s, and 85% of the land is now protected from development.
The undeveloped land is owned either by the state or federal governments, and
has been turned into National Forests and State Parks, further enhancing the
appeal of this spectacular place.
The Lake
Tahoe region straddles the Nevada/California border. The state line cuts through
the lake lengthwise, so that the western shore is in California; the eastern
shore in Nevada and some properties situated north and south of the Lake are in
both States. One such hotel even has a dotted line running through its rooms to
indicate in which State occupants are located.
During
normal snow years, many ski resorts are open by Thanksgiving and some even
operate through July 4. As a result, summer visitors can ski in the morning and
enjoy a pleasant afternoon of river rafting. During any lulls in snowfall, ski
resorts make snow. Most resorts have installed sophisticated snowmaking
equipment on a large percentage of their terrain.
The North
and South Lake Tahoe areas have the greatest concentration of ski resorts in
North America, with 15 alpine resorts and 12 cross-country resorts offering a
wide range of terrain and level of expertise. For the novice skier or
snowboarder, lessons are offered at most of the resorts.
Also
offered are packages, which include rental equipment, maps, lift tickets or
trail passes, along with lessons.
Other
popular activities include sleigh rides, dog sled rides, snowshoeing, ice
skating, snowmobiling in the fall, winter, and spring; and in the summer: golf,
hiking, bicycling, fishing, boating, ballooning, and river rafting. Superb
casino gaming and entertainment are available year round.
The Olympic games and World Cup skiing have both been
hosted by Lake Tahoe. It is a world-class destination.
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North America 
