Introducing Lake Tahoe

Shimmering in myriad blues and greens, Lake Tahoe is the nation's second-deepest lake. Driving around its spellbinding 72-mile scenic shoreline gives you quite a workout behind the wheel. The north shore is quiet and upscale; the west shore, rugged and old-timey; the east shore, undeveloped; and the south shore, busy and tacky with aging motels and flashy casinos. The horned peaks surrounding the lake, which straddles the California–Nevada state line, are four- seasons playgrounds.

Tahoe gets packed in summer, on winter weekends and holidays, when reservations are essential. Lake Tahoe Visitors Authority and North Lake Tahoe Visitors' Bureaus can help with accommodations and tourist information. There's camping in state parks and on USFS lands.