Just like any tourist that comes to Las Vegas do, gambling can also be an alternative pastime during a Lake Tahoe vacation. Whether you are up for grabs with high stakes gambling or just to while the time away on slot machines and card tables, Lake Tahoe casinos can provide an atmosphere of fun and excitement.

Casino gambling is a legal activity on the Nevada side of Lake Tahoe, why wouldn’t it be? Las Vegas also belongs to Nevada, the gambling capital of the United States of America.

Just like it’s predecessors in beighboring city Las Vegas, casinos at Lake Tahoe, be it a  variety of slot machines and table games or even highroller games, are located on the South Shore in Stateline, and on the North Shore in Crystal Bay and Incline Village.

If you plan to try out casinos in Lake Tahoe, you can find a great deal of information, packages, bargain deals or discounted hotel accommodations, one could either request for information from the Lake Tahoe Tourist Bureau or surf for information in the comfort of your own home.
Here are some famous casino spots in Lake Tahoe.

One of the most popular casino strip in Lake Tahoe is the North Shore, Crystal Bay with several casinos like the Cal Neva Lodge & Casino,Crystal Bay Club, Jim Kelley’s Tahoe Nugget and the Tahoe Biltmore Lodge & Casino.
Over at the Incline Village you can also find the Hyatt Regency Lake Tahoe Resort, Spa & Casino.

Over at the opposite end to the South Shore, Stateline one could find Bill’s Casino Lake Tahoe, Harrah’s Lake Tahoe – now owned by Harvey’s, Harvey’s Lake Tahoe Casino and Resort; Horizon Casino Resort, MontBleu Resort Casino and Spa and the Lakeside Inn.

You could notice the direct contrast at the two totally different personalities of Lake Tahoe, which make it an attractive vacation destination for people from all walks of life.

First thing you get to realize is the disparity yet funny atmosphere in Lake Tahoe, where the serene, relaxed and peaceful environment collides with the fast-paced, high energy and gambling commodity of Nevada.
Finer and homegrown lodging and cabin accommodations are contrasted by the mass market/five star hotel appeal just across the shore

During nighttime, the lit-up casinos and resorts can be seen for miles around at night, letting you know in  hypnotic and carefree demeanor that that you have already crossed the state line.
Lake Tahoe casinos are open 24 hours a day. You can stay inside and gamble or go to dinner or a show.
There are plenty of things to do outside at Lake Tahoe, too. To get to know it best, explore it from three levels, and they’re all accessible year round.
Here are some good tips that will help you get on your way in a casino

1. Just like what your mom would say. Never spend your milk money. This saying holds true even for those who may be lured to place down all of their remaining cash on the betting table.

2. Plan out how much you re willing to gamble on. Impulse spending or betting sometimes get in the way of focusing on a game.

3. Always set a limit, be it for time spent in a casino or time spent on a particular table or slot machine, since gambling can be addictive and may leave you glued to your seat while waiting for that big windfall.

So try to make the most out of your Lake Tahoe vacation. Gambling can be an alternative pastime during a Lake Tahoe vacation, so head for the casinos and enjoy.

Going on a trip with your family is supposed to give everyone a chance to bond and what better way to do that but to go on a Lake Tahoe vacation. Lake Tahoe which is in the northern part of California has a lot to offer to its visitors. It was once host to the winter Olympics and to this day, is considered to be one of the best skiing destinations in the world.

To enjoy the snow, you can choose from one of seven ski resorts. You can even rent their equipment if you did not bring your own. Some of these places even give lessons to beginners and have other activities for you to enjoy such as snowboarding, tubing and riding a snowmobile.

Another family bonding activity you can do with your family is hiking. Lake Tahoe has hundreds of trails to choose from and some of these are short while others are long. Take for instance the hiking trail at Eagles Lake. This one is 2 mile long and you have to cross a steel footbridge to get from one end to the other. You can hike alone or hike with a guide.

You can also go biking since there are trails in and around the city. These are maintained by the Tahoe City Public Utility District and Caltrans fund. The best part is that these are all paved so you won’t have that much difficulty expect perhaps when you are going uphill. You can rent bikes from various shops around the lake.

Fishing is another activity you can do with your family. You can do this in lakes that are open all year round like in the Boca Reservoir, Donner Lake, Lake Tahoe, the Prosser and the Stampede Reservoir.

Chances are, this may be your first time to Lake Tahoe and you would like to see the different places. To do that, you can sign up for a guided tour and visit the sights which includes the setting where the famous show Bonanza was recorded especially when it was such a big hit during the 1950’s and 1960’s. You can take pictures and bring home some souvenirs.  A lot of people do that which is quite normal when you are just visiting.

One activity you can also do by the lake is cruising. There are two cruises to choose from namely the Tahoe Queen and the M.S. Dixie II. Both ships cruise around the lake for 2 hours daily. It also serves dinner on board. The M.S. Dixie II offers the dinner cruise on Wednesdays while the Tahoe Queen offers this on Saturdays.

As for places to stay in Lake Tahoe, you can always check in a hotel or rent a townhouse, condominium or home. The rates are nightly and if there are none around, you can always camp in the woods as long as you brought your tent along.

Bonding with your family does not always have to cost a fortune since there are a few simple things that you can do together. Skiing, hiking, fishing, biking and eating are just some of the things you can do should you decide to go on Lake Tahoe vacation. So discuss the idea of coming here the next time everyone is available.

Anywhere you go around the world, it always pays to know what to do and sometimes all it takes is common sense, so be a smart tourist during your Lake Tahoe vacation. First time tourists usually fall prey to ‘unsuspecting’ circumstances like waiting in line for hours just to get a meal, or get frustrated over exaggerated offers for good deals on trips and vacation packages or sometimes even end up on a lonely resort without even a slightest hint of what was offered for the ‘price-buster package.’

All too commonly, Lake Tahoe visitors fall prey into common time-wasters and fun-busters, it could be the result of a lot of things but one thing’s for sure, the primary reason for such a predicament will always have to be about poor planning.

It’s either they are stuck in gridlock due to a possible rush of vacationers in getting to their desired vacation spot, or basking at South Lake Tahoe sunburned yet miserable due to some  or  waiting in queue at world-famous restaurants for hours on end.

But truth be told, sometimes all it takes is just some common sense and carefully planned activities to let you enjoy your Lake Tahoe vacation. Being a smart tourist does not only keep you away from the hassles of messing up your vacation, it also helps you enjoy more and even get to spend less money. Here are some of the best tips to apply that would try and make things easy for you, rest assured this is not rocket science.

It pays to get organized, especially in making sure that you do not get lost. When planning your activities around Lake Tahoe, use a map to locate everything you want to see, and plan your route in advance. Otherwise, you may spend unnecessary time back-tracking around the lake.

To avoid getting unusually burned, make sure you check out for a sunscreen test. It’s as simple as taking along a sunscreen when going outdoors, preferably with a higher SPF (Sun Protection Factor).
The reason for this is the intense heat of the sun since yolu are at an altitude of no less than 6,000 feet above sea level.

If you should drink alcohol, drink it in moderation. The effects of alcohol are greater at 6,000 feet, so better watch out if you are driving around.

Avoid the rush, since Lake Tahoe is busier in summer than in winter. Same goes with the fact that there are more visitors on weekends than on week days. If possible, plan your getaway on a weekday since most hotels prices take a nosedive during Sunday nights and vacancies can be found everywhere.

If you are planning to have dinner in one of the famous restaurants in Lake Tahoe, make sure to have dinner reservations beforehand, especially on the North Shore area on Friday and Saturday nights.

You have to be sure to have something to keep you warm during outdoor activities during nighttime. Nights are extraordinarily cool even during summer nights at Lake Tahoe, so bring a warm jacket and a pair of long pants to pull on over your shorts.

Avoid annoying traffic, especially at the South Lake Tahoe area by taking advantage of the Blue Tahoe Trolley and Emerald Bay Shuttle.

Those are some of the common tips on how to be a smart tourist during your Lake Tahoe vacation, guaranteed it will save you money, time and effort in doing so.