THE CLIMATE OF LAKE TAHOE

Lake Tahoe is surrounded by the Carson range on the east and the Sierra Nevada Mountains on the west. The region is blessed when it comes to weather. Snow capped mountains with regular fresh snow and sunshine 274 days in a year, perfect skiing conditions. The skiing season is from mid November to mid April, and when the snow falls are not what is expected the snow making machines make up the difference.

Lake Tahoe is well known for their blizzards and snow falls every month. At the lake level the snow fall is about 125 inches and in the ranges the snow falls between 300 and 500 inches.

Lake Tahoe is the second deepest lake in the United States and never freezes this makes it perfect for water sports not matter what is the time of the year. It just depends on how brave you are and whether you like cold weather.

PLANNING YOUR HOLIDAY

You have decided that you will go to the snow this year for your vacation, and Lake Tahoe is the destination. The most important part of organizing your holiday is booking the accommodation whether you live in the US or abroad. The next equally most important activity to undertake if you live abroad is to organize the requirements for a visa to the US. Both of these activities takes time, and can be stressful if you leave it to the last minute. Once you have your visa processing on track you should also start to organize your transport needs and in particular airfares as you may need to demonstrate a booking before you get your visa.

There are many transport options to come to Lake Tahoe, and it mostly depends on your place on origin and whether you like to fly or travel by land. It is important not to skimp on your travel budget, because you want to arrive at Lake Tahoe safely and comfortably so that you are ready for an adventure of a lifetime. If that is what you’re looking for, then Lake Tahoe has all the activities just waiting for you.

Flying is an excellent option and Lake Tahoe is in the vicinity of three international airports. All of these airports are in close proximity to Lake Tahoe and the roads are in excellent condition. The Reno/Tahoe International Airport has many direct, domestic services and is only a forty five minute drive away. Two hours drive from Lake Tahoe is the Sacramento International Airport, positioned strategically halfway between San Francisco and Lake Tahoe. The third airport is the Truckee Tahoe Airport. Between these three airports, the airline carrier you wish to take to come to Lake Tahoe should be covered. You can easily take a shuttle at any of these three airports to take you the short distance to Lake Tahoe.

If your preference is driving and you want your car available to you, then you will find the distance quite short, coming from the major population centers in California. Lake Tahoe is a three and a half hour drive from San Francisco and an eight hour drive from Los Angeles. If you don’t own a car, there are plenty of hire car places in San Francisco and Los Angeles with models from budget to luxury depending on your budget and your needs. Although, you will find that having your car available in Lake Tahoe is not really necessary as there are plenty of shuttle services around the lake.

If land travel is your scene and you don’t own a car, why not take the bus or the train from San Francisco to Reno. It is a fast, hassle free trip, with clean and comfortable carriages and vehicles. You can sleep, take in the scenery or read a book while someone else has the job of driving. What could be a better?

Scenic Lake Tahoe receives thousands of visitors every year who come to experience the winter climate and snow sports. The area has been a tourist spot for over 3000 years, although not in winter. The Washoe and Paiute Indians would come to Lake Tahoe for recreation during the summer months and probably also for the fresh fish, wildlife and other naturally grown foods.

Visitors come to Lake Tahoe from all over the world and the area has inspired songs by musicians and the work of writers, such as Mark Twain. Lake Tahoe is home to thousands of ski resorts and more than ten main downhill skiing areas. It is a stones throw from San Francisco, Reno, Carson City, Sacramento and San Jose. Two thirds of the lake is located in California and one third in Nevada.

It doesn’t matter if you are coming into the region from Nevada or from California; you will find the roads around Lake Tahoe and between the resorts easy to navigate allowing you the opportunity to experience the best activities that the area has to offer.

Lake Tahoe offers some of the best skiing in the United States, and dare we say it, the world. Heavenly Ski Resort has the largest area in Lake Tahoe and is located at the highest peak; Monument Peak at 10,067 feet (3068 meters) high. Some of the other impressive peaks are Pyramid Peak at 9,983 feet (3043 meters) high and Mount Tallac at 9735 feet (2967 meters). Many parts of Lake Tahoe are protected areas located in state parks, and this adds to the areas attractiveness.

You can choose to stay along the lake, or in the slopes. You should know that South Lake Tahoe has a permanent population of 34,000 and the beautiful lodges around the lake have a permanent population of 46,200. So if you happen to forget to bring something with you, don’t despair, as you will be able to buy what ever you need at Lake Tahoe.

Resorts in the slopes are generally based around villages, and with villages come amenities such as restaurants, boutiques, nightclubs, and bars. Heavenly Ski Resort has over one hundreds bars and nightclubs and a party scene that you soon won’t forget.