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Tuesday, October 13, 2009

TAHOE by Sondra Kiriakis

Welcome to TAHOE [Pronunciation: tä-ˌhō].

Tahoe is a crystal clear lake located high in the Sierra Nevada Mountains. The lake and its surrounding area which is commonly referred to as Tahoe, has an elevation of 6225 feet. Lake Tahoe is twenty two miles long and 12 miles wide and has a shoreline that extends over 71 miles. This gorgeous lake is shared by two US states, namely California which stakes claim to 42 miles Tahoe's shoreline and the state of Nevada which has 29 miles of it. Lake Tahoe which is the largest alpine lake in North America is renowned for its almost translucent waters that are known to evoke feelings of wonder and awe. In fact, when the famous American author Mark Twain first set his eyes on the Tahoe Lake during his visit to the area in the late 1860's he described it as "the fairest picture the whole earth affords."

Accommodations in Tahoe Tahoe Vacation Rentals are popular for family vacations around the entire Tahoe basin. To find accommodations in Tahoe simply do a Google search and type in the following:

"Reserve Tahoe Rentals" "Book Tahoe Rentals" "Reserve Tahoe Vacation Rentals etc... ."

Here you will find local companies that offer all types of accommodations. From homes, cabins, condos, chalets, cottages perched on the hillsides around the lake. These rentals range from budget to some really fancy lake front mansions. Dog friendly rentals in Tahoe are popular as travelers from the San Francisco Bay Area bring their families on vacation including pets. A local company offering an abundant amount of Tahoe rental cabins and homes is http://www.ReserveMyHome.com for Tahoe accommodations.

Tahoe Vacation rentals make economic sense Vacation rentals are in fact a popular accommodation choice in Lake Tahoe which is quite a family-centric destination. Hiring a vacation rental in Lake Tahoe often makes economic sense for a family or large group that wishes to vacation together as it reduces the expenses that are associated with booking individual hotel rooms.

A locale of unmatched beauty The area Lake that is named "Tahoe" which was created by volcanic activity was first discovered by an American called John C Fremont in 1844 but before that the Lake and its forested surrounding area was home to the Washoe Indian tribe who called the Lake 'big sky lake' in honor of its sparkling, blue and clear waters. Lake Tahoe has an average depth of 989 feet and at its deepest point the lake reaches a depth of 1,645 feet. However the Lake is not too conducive to swimming as the waters of the lake are often very cold even during the peak summer months. Moreover it is also known to have extremely strong and treacherous currents. Another interesting fact about the lake, is that this lake doesn't drain into an ocean even though nearly sixty-three streams flow into it, rather it drains into the Pyramid Lake located in the Nevada desert by way of the Truckee River. Apart from the beauty of the lake, the area around Lake Tahoe is also characterized by crisp, clear air, dense forests and much tranquility.

Tahoe's Amenable weather This high mountain area is blessed with agreeable weather as a result of which it has now become an immensely popular year round destination for Americans. Tahoe on an average enjoys 250 to 300 days of sunny weather during the year. During the winter months it tends to receive nearly 300-500 inches of snow fall and this has enabled Lake Tahoe to become one of the nation's premier ski destinations. The Tahoe area has a multitude of ski resorts that offer a vast number of activities like snowboarding, ice -skating, snow shoeing, snowmobiling, sleigh riding in addition to skiing and cross country skiing. During the warmer months, people flock to Tahoe to indulge in various recreational activities like boating and water sports, hiking, tennis, camping, ballooning, golf, horseback riding, parasailing, bungee jumping and much more.

Getting to Tahoe.

By Car Driving to Tahoe is easily accessible by various modes of transport. Tahoe is located on the border between California and Nevada. This popular resort destination lies 200 miles to the east of the Californian city of San Francisco while it is just 30 miles to the west of Reno in Nevada. North Lake Tahoe which is known for its ski resorts can be accessed by car via the I-80 from San Francisco. South Lake Tahoe which is populated by many hotels, restaurants and casinos lies mainly in Nevada and can be reached from Reno by taking US 395 South and then US 50 West.

By Air The closest commercial airports to Tahoe are Reno Tahoe International airport in Nevada which can be accessed via a 40 minute drive from this popular year round destination. Another big commercial airport that serves the region is the Sacramento International Airport in California which is located two hours away. Smaller airports like South Tahoe Airport and Truckee-Tahoe Airport afford additional air links to Tahoe.

By Bus During the winter ski months several bus services operate to various Tahoe ski resorts like the Bay Area Ski Bus and the NAC ski.

By Train Tahoe can also be accessed by train on the Amtrak California Zephyr Route that makes a stop in Truckee.

Towns and Villages on Lake Tahoe's shoreline The shoreline of Lake Tahoe has several towns and villages each of which are known for their own distinct character and myriad attractions. Lake Tahoe is divided into two distinct parts North Lake.

Tahoe, which is home to ski resorts and towns like Incline Village, which is a wealthy enclave that is peppered with million dollar homes, shops and restaurants. Other towns in North Lake Tahoe include the old railroad town of Truckee, Tahoe City, ski resort towns of Alpine Meadows and Squaw Valley which was the site of the 1960's Winter Olympic Games amongst others.

South Lake Tahoe is a large area which is essentially geared towards tourism and lies largely in the state of Nevada. This tourist heavy area is home to several big name casinos like Harrah's, Harvey's, Mont Bleu and the Horzion which are all located in the town of Stateline in Nevada. These casinos are not only known as gambling destinations but are considered to be resorts which provide much entertainment of all the family.

Apart from these small Tahoe towns and villages, the area surrounding the Lake also has a number of state parks like the Lake Tahoe Nevada State Park which offers several recreations options to vacationers and locals alike. Sand Harbor with its sandy beaches is a preferred location in the park. It is located three miles to the west of Incline village and has boating and picnicking facilities. Sand Harbor is hosts the popular Lake Tahoe Shakespeare festival every July. Other popular locales in the Park include Memorial Point and Hidden Beach, Cave Rock, Spooner Lake, Zephyr Cover all of which have facilities for picnicking, hiking, mountain biking, fishing, camping, trekking etc.

Some state parks located on the Californian side include the Bodie State Historic Park which is a well preserved ghost town and the Donner Memorial State Park.

Tahoe Attractions Taking a ride on a historic paddle wheeler where you can get out and about on the Lake itself by riding onboard a historic three deck paddle wheeler called the MS Dixie II. This paddle wheel replaced the original MS Dixie in 1994. This paddle wheeler sets sail from the town of Zephyr cove. Similar cruises are also offered by the Tahoe Queen which sails from the town of Emerald Bay in South Lake Tahoe.

Vikingsholm This Scandinavian styled vacation home was built in 1929 at the cost of US$500,000. Vikingsholm is an exponent of Nordic architecture that was built with local materials. A part of this home is even topped with sod roofs. Tours of Vikingsholm are available from Mid-June until Labor Day. This attraction which is located on the head of Emerald Bay can be accessed via a scenic hike from Eagle Point State Park though it is also accessible by car.

Olympic Valley This all weather destination is accessed via a cable car ride that traverses over 2000 vertical feet and transports you to a village that features an Olympic Museum, ice skating rink, swimming pool, spa and restaurants.

Bars and Restaurants in Tahoe Lake Tahoe is a prime American destination and it boasts of wide variety of bars and restaurants that aim to cater to all tastes. Bars and restaurants populate both North Lake Tahoe as well as South Lake Tahoe. Some popular restaurants located here include Rosie's and the Old Post Café both of which are located in California and are favored brunch and breakfast spots. Other well -like establishments include the Char Pit, which is a small restaurant located in the town of Kings Beach that is renowned for its hearty burgers and baby back ribs. River Ranch Lodge and Restaurant, Le Bistro, Dragonfly, Fiamma are still other dining spots which find favor with both locals and out- of-towners who come to Tahoe to vacation.

About the Author

If you have made up your mind to vacation in Tahoe soon or in the near future don't wait a until the last minute to book your vacation rental for a large selection of Tahoe rentals check out http://www.ReserveMyHome.com. Sondra is and expert author and writes articles for small and medium travel related companies.

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