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If you want to try out something new and spend a weekend or even a week-long vacation, then you can take a romantic Lake Tahoe vacation. Spectacularly nestled in the Sierra Nevada mountains, Lake Tahoe is one of today’s finest vacation destinations around the United States. Lake Tahoe is located along the border between California and Nevada, but wait until you get to experience the natural and breathtaking beauty of Lake Tahoe where you will be surely captivated by its romantic setting and natural charm.

Travel experts agree that there are more romantic Lake Tahoe vacation ideas, accommodation and sightseeing activities. Only a short 60-mile ride from Reno, and an easy drive from San Francisco, Lake Tahoe can be a fine romantic getaway for either a weekend retreat or a honeymoon setting. The beauty and charm of Tahoe is its unique mix of mountain air, scenery and activities, highlighted with big name entertainment, dining and nightlife. No wonder it is considered by far the best and the largest alpine lake in North America.

But Tahoe is not just synonymous with parties and social gatherings or sporting adventures, it can also be a getaway for those who wish to have a peaceful day of rest and solitude. The north shore of Lake Tahoe is the area for those seeking a more serene environment, with world-class and finer lodging options. Activities in the north shore area are considered a bit laid back and suits a slower paced environment.

The south shore area, on the other hand, is much more pulsating and appropriate for a high energy environment, mass market hotel/motel accommodations, glitz and the other commodity Nevada is famous for, gambling. The lit-up casinos and resorts can be seen for miles around at night, a good indicator that one has crossed the state line. Romantic and idyllic times to visit Lake Tahoe is around early June, and September to mid October.

Weekdays during the summer season is a busy day for lake Tahoe, but wait for the summer weekends, where it gets unbearably busy, which is not surprising since over 30 million people live within a 350 mile radius of Lake Tahoe.
Take a day to circle the lake by car, but it would take 3 days to find suitable areas to relax, get active outdoors and getting a taste of the varied dining and entertainment choices.

For the romantic, the North Shore side of Lake Tahoe is also known as the quiet side. On then north shore you find some attractive little towns with some fine heritage buildings, quaint little roadside taverns, and accommodation in like cvbacation rentals and standard hotels.

Most of those hotels found here include romantic studio cabins for a very relaxing Lake Tahoe vacation. The north shore around Homewood and Tahoe City, as well as Truckee, has an old west feel and some neat little shops and restaurants. Truckee also has some scenic views at the Donner Summit Bridge, where in the winter you’ll find skiing with fewer crowds to deal compared to resorts. If one is also looking for good vacation camping spots, you’ll find them along the lake’s west shore.

So pack up those bags with your loved one and take a romantic Lake Tahoe vacation.

This tourist attraction has a lot of water sports you can try out. One of the things you can do here is water skiing. You can go to one of the resorts by the lake and then have the ride of your life. If you want wind carry you, rent a boat and go sailing. The other option is to rent a kayak because this will give you the chance to explore the shoreline. If you just want to relax, take a dip in the lake or in one of the many public beaches.

For those who want to get some exercise, they can hike a portion of the Rim Trail. There are 4 to choose from namely north, south, east and west shore. In each one, there are easy, medium and hard conditions for you to hike that can be a mile long to a little over 5 miles.

Another option will be to rent a bike and ride along the designated path. The best part about it is that you can go as fast as you want.

When you get hungry, there are plenty of restaurants to choose from along the shore. But if you want to dine and even dance at the same time, try dining on a ship. There are two to choose from namely the Tahoe Queen and the M.S. Dixie II.

If you want to see Lake Tahoe high up, you can ride the Squaw Valley cable car or the gondola ride located at the Heavenly Ski Resort. The rates of both are different but when as you are moving closer to the top, you will forget about how much you paid for it when the scenery up there is just amazing.

During the winter season, you can ride up and do some skiing along the slopes. The place itself is considered to be one of the best skiing destinations in the country and was the venue for the Winter Olympics back in 1960.

Since both rides are over in a few minutes, another aerial ride you can try which lasts much longer is by going on board a helicopter. To do this, you have to drive yourself to the Lake Tahoe airport. Unlike the two sky rides mentioned, there is a maximum of 3 passengers per flight.

For those who are not aware, Lake Tahoe was the setting for the famous show Bonanza in the 1950’s and 1960’s. Most of the outdoor scenes were shot at North Lake Tahoe near Incline Village. If you loved the show, it will be nice to drop by and see everything for yourself. You can take some pictures and bring home some souvenirs.

After a tiring day of doing all sorts of activities, you can enjoy the night life in Lake Tahoe. Blue Avenue is the place where you can check out the hottest clubs and bars. A great place to drink beer before going to bed.

A Lake Tahoe vacation is worth exploring if you are planning your next holiday. If you do some research, you will surely find other things to do in the area.

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One adventure you can try out is horse back riding. There are ranches within the area so you can visit one and borrow a horse from the stable. Once you are on the saddle, you can gallop along the trail and see the lake as well as the snow capped mountains. There are also trails for those who want to ride a bike or take a hike. Some are long while others are short so you can choose between those that are 2 miles long or longer. This is part of the 150 mile Tahoe Rim Trail that encircles the lake.

When you see Lake Tahoe, you will feel the blue water inviting you to go for a swim. If you go a few yards out, you will even see fish and a few other objects 70 feet below by using a snorkel and pair of goggles. Once you get out of the water, you can lie down in the sand and get a tan.

If you want to work up an appetite, you can do some kayaking or parasailing that you can rent from nearby stores.

One of the key attractions in Lake Tahoe is the cruise. There are two vessels to choose from namely the M.S. Dixie II and the Tahoe Queen. Both of these go on a 2 hour scenic cruise daily with a dinner cruise offered once a week.

While in town, you might as well do some sightseeing. Given its strategic location between California and Nevada, you can try your luck at the nearby casinos, shop for souvenirs at the local gift shop and visit the Ponderosa Ranch which is a theme park inspired by Bonanza, a television show which was quite a hit in the 1950’s and 1960’s.

Another attraction in Lake Tahoe is Vikingsholm castle. It is a 38 room estate that resembles an actual 1,200 year old Viking castle.

You shouldn’t miss the sunset in Lake Tahoe and the best place to get the view is to up the mountain. There are trams or cable cars and gondolas which can take you all the way up. There are shops, sports facilities and restaurants so there are other things you can do instead of just walking through the woods.

If you want to see the Lake Tahoe and the surrounding area much better, there is no other way but to get a good view by air. There is a hot air balloon tour and a helicopter ride. These tours are only open subject to the weather conditions so if it is too windy, you will have to reschedule your little trip.

A vacation in Lake Tahoe is just the thing you need if you want to spend time with nature. There are properties you can rent along the lake as well as those secluded in the forests which is far different than staying in a hotel. So the next time you are planning a family adventure, consider a Lake Tahoe vacation.

Since it is already December, one thing that a lot of people will be doing is skiing. Right now, there are over a dozen ski resorts in Lake Tahoe. A majority if these just opened in the last week of November and these will open until April or May of next year. You can learn how to ski and go down the slopes if you are an experienced skier. Another option is to replace those skis with a snowboard or tube which could be just as fun when you are in the snow.

If you decide to come here next summer, most resorts there have equipment you can borrow. These include a water ski, parasail, kayak and sail boat. You can also do some snorkeling since there are beaches nearby and a cruise that offers dinner once a week.

For those who want take a tour by air, you can enjoy a helicopter tour or a hot air balloon ride. Such trips can only get off the ground assuming that there is good weather otherwise the trip will have to be rescheduled. The helicopter tour to and from the airport will be an hour. The hot air balloon ride lasts about 4 hours.

There are also guided tours provided on land. You can go with a guide as you go hiking along a trail or ride a carriage that is pulled by a beautiful 2,000 pound Blond Belgium horse. As you are riding, the tour guide will give you a brief lesson in Tahoe history. Sadly this tour is not available right now since it only operates from May to October.

Although you won’t be able to see that much if you are cruising, you will be surrounded by the breathtaking view of the mountains and trees. You will get to see Emerald Bay, the Fannette Island, the Sierra Nevada Mountains and the Vikingsholm Castle which the M.S. Dixie II and the Tahoe Queen offers when you take a 2 hour sightseeing cruise.

Throughout the year, various races, competitions, dances and events are done. Already planned for next is the NBC Sports 2009 American Century Celebrity Golf Championship. Although the date has not yet been formalized yet but it could fall in July, you can expect big names like Michael Jordan, Charles Barkley, the NFL’s Ben Roethlisberger, Billy Joe Tolliver, Jerry Rice and Tony Romo, NHL great Jeremy Roenick, and from Hollywood, John O’Hurley, Kevin Nealon and Ray Romano are expected to attend.

So you don’t miss out in any of the festivities, do some research online and try to include this as part of your itinerary when you decide to have a Lake Tahoe vacation. You may not always participate in it but at least you can actually watch it.

Reservations for your Lake Tahoe vacation can be done through your travel agent or by yourself. It is going to be fun and exciting so make the most of it when you decide to come to town!

The Squaw Valley cable car is a ride you can take from the village in Squaw Valley all the way up to High Camp is that 8200 feet above sea level. The moment you are seated, you go up 2,000 feet vertically and then head straight for a granite wall. If you think you are going to hit it, don’t worry because you will quickly pass it just inches away from the rocks. What makes this ride so amazing is the huge windows all around giving you a 360 degree view of everything around you.

There probably wouldn’t be this rid around if this place was not the venue of the Winter Olympics way back in 1960. In fact, people regard it as one of the greatest ski destinations in the world.

Once you get up there, you can ice skate, swim in the artificial lagoon, play some tennis or golf, mountain bike and bungee jump. There are places to eat up there and if you want to spend the night up in the mountains, go ahead since there is a resort there that has 405 rooms. The cable car is open all year round. During the day, the cost for adults is $12 but this is lowered to $5 after 4pm. For children, there is a flat fee of $5 and free if you are carrying a toddler below three years of age.

If you think that is the only ride available, think again because there is also the scenic gondola ride at the Heavenly Ski Resort. This is located about half a mile from the Stateline casinos. The ride is 2.4 miles long and you will be brought 14,000 square feet in the air. You will not only see Lake Tahoe but also Carson Valley and the Desolation Wilderness. Once you get to the top, you can spend the day enjoying a picnic or watching the sun go down.

The ride is open all year round and the operating hours are from 10am to 5pm. About 8 passengers can fit the gondola which will fit almost any group. If there are more of you in the group, wait for the next one that will follow the first one shortly since they have about 138 of them.

The cost of the ticket is much higher than the Squaw Valley cable car ride. Adults will have to pay $20, seniors pay $18, and kids between 6 and 12 pay $5 while those under 5 years of age are free. You can get discount coupons if you stay in the nearby hotels or dine in the nearby restaurants.

The cable car and the gondola are just part of the package if you decide to have a Lake Tahoe vacation because once you disembark; you can do a host of activities like skiing, swimming and a few other things that is just for the entire family. So if you are thinking of spending your next vacation here, consider going on a Lake Tahoe vacation.

Just six miles from the lake itself, you can go from one side of the mountain to the other by riding one of the lifts. The resort has a total of 16 lifts. There is the express gondola, quad chairlift, triple chairlift, double chairlift, surface lift and the magic carpet. While the rates of the lifts vary, you can get discount coupons so you don’t have to pay the full amount.

One of the most popular activities that people do up here is skiing and you can do that over a 40 kilometer scenic trail.  You can rent equipment if you did not bring your own and even sign up for a lesson if you want to learn how to do it.

A lot of people who were surveyed have said that skiing in Northstar is the best because the backside has plenty of challenging blacks, while the front side is well-protected from the wind. While other ski resorts in the area may have to close due to bad weather, surprisingly this place is still open.

If you don’t want to ski, you can try some other activities like snowboarding, tubing, geocaching, joining a mountain tour and a lot more.  For those who want to be alone, they can go for a hike as there are over 70 hiking trails to choose from.

When you get hungry, there are dining facilities and restaurants nearby so you don’t have to go very far. These restaurants are namely Martis Valley Grille, True North, Chilly Pepper’s Cantina, The Lodge at Big Springs and the Summit Deck Grille.  Here, you can have something as simple as a burger or hotdog to something juicier like a well done steak.

For those who want to warm themselves up, they can drink some free wine as there is a tasting activity done every Saturday during the winter season served with some appetizers.

The Northstar Resort is open all year round so you can come here anytime you want. In fact, some people don’t just come here to relax but also to have special events like anniversaries, conferences, seminars, trainings and weddings.

If you want to know more about what Northstar has to offer, check out their website. If what you see is worth seeing for yourself, you can let your travel agent make a reservation or do this on our own.

A Lake Tahoe vacation is truly something you should try out with your entire family. While some can drive there, there is an airport nearby and a shuttle waiting once you get off the plane.

If you look at the rates posted on their various services, the price difference is not that far during the regular season and the peak season. In most cases, the rate is the same or it is higher by only $2.  So what are you waiting for? Make Lake Tahoe vacation the next place to visit this holiday season.