Straddling the California-Nevada state line, Lake Tahoe - North America's largest alpine lake - is the crown jewel of the High Sierra. A mere three-hour drive from San Francisco and encircled by a 72-mile-long road that ranks as one of the most scenic drives in the world, this 191-square-mile emerald lake sparkles at 6,225 feet above sea level. Trails offer glorious high-in-the-pines hiking in summer, including along the 150-mile Tahoe Rim Trail. And North Lake Tahoe boasts Tahoe's most spectacular downhill skiing in winter, including Alpine Meadows and Squaw Valley, both of which also have stables. There's even golf at Incline Village and Northstar, two other prime ski sites. The cable car at Squaw Valley, site of the 1960 Winter Olympics, whisks you up to High Camp for stupendous views at 8,200 feet. Festivals include the mid-summer Lake Tahoe Shakespeare Festival and Lake Tahoe Music Festival. And not to be outdone by the glitz of South Shore's Stateline casinos, North Shore's more pacific Crystal Bay has four casinos.
Must See
- #1 Crystal Bay
- #2 Lake Tahoe Shakespeare Festival
- #3 Squaw Valley
- #4 Tahoe Queen
- #5 Tahoe Rim Trail
Skip It
- #1 Nothing disappoints