A lot of people come to Lake Tahoe during the winter because it is considered to be a skiing paradise. But during the summer, there are also activities you can enjoy which means you can consider spending a Lake Tahoe vacation when school is over.

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.

Lake Tahoe has a lot to offer to tourists. You have to remember that the winter Olympics was once done here and this was the setting of some television shows and movies. Given its ideal location, you can enjoy a Lake Tahoe vacation regardless of when you decide to come here.

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!

There are a lot of activities you can do should you choose to go on a Lake Tahoe vacation. If you want to see the valley below, you can get a ride on the Squaw Valle Cable Car.

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.