Lake Tahoe is the sixth largest lake (by volume) in the United States, trailing only the great lakes. The lake is also the second deepest in the country. Lake Tahoe sits on the California/Nevada border in the Sierra Nevada mountains. The lake has several towns around it, with the primary industry being year-round tourism. South Lake Tahoe is one of the most common destinations, and it is a city on the southeast side of the lake. Tahoe City is another main spot, and it is on the northwest side, directly opposite of South Lake Tahoe. Winters are perfect for playing in the snow as Lake Tahoe has 14 ski areas. Summers are fantastic for hiking, boating, fishing, and exploring the outdoors.
Depending on whom you ask, the Lake Tahoe area has about 14 ski resorts. The top two are Heavenly and Squaw Valley. Winters are packed with tourists who are drawn to the slopes during the day and the entertainment (and gambling) at night.
The lake has endless options in the summers including boating, ziplining, and hiking. One of our favorite sites is Lower Eagle Falls, which is a short hike to scenic waterfalls.
Lake Tahoe has several notable historic sites. A few must-visits are the Tallac Historic Site (old, luxurious buildings that paint what the late 1800s looked like at Tahoe), and Vikingsholm (a Scandinavian-architecture castle from the 1920s).
Tahoe gets a lot of snow, averaging 408 inches per year. Winters are a high season for tourism as visitors come for the skiing.
Spring is a "mud season" where it is too warm for skiing but too cool for much else. May high temps are in the mid-50s.
Summers are simply perfect. The area is beautiful for exploring. The daily high temps are in the mid-70s with lots of sun.
Early fall can be a good time to see the colors changing.