Page 163 - 2015 Travel Guide to California

LAKE TAHOE VISITORS AUTHORITY; WILL HART; JEFF ROSS PHOTOGRAPHY. OPPOSITE: LAKE TAHOE VISITORS AUTHORITY
SNOWMOBILING around the lake,
below; fly fishing with a view near Lake
Tahoe’s South Shore, right; dining in
Harveys 19 Kitchen-Bar, below right;
Edgewood Tahoe Golf Course and
South Shore Lake Tahoe, opposite.
Cyclists can take advantage of a network of
road rides and mountain paths with every-
thing from a scenic roll in the woods to
treacherous, teeth-rattling mountain
descents. The ambitious can even bike the
entire 72-mile circumference of Lake
Tahoe, while the cautious can pedal newly
opened bike paths close to town. Golfers
can check out the lakeside Edgewood
Tahoe Golf Course (home of the hugely
popular American Century celebrity golf
tournament in July) and several other
nearby courses.
Heavenly Mountain Resort opened a
much-expanded on-mountain Epic Dis-
covery adventure center in 2014 that
includes zip lines, an educational forest
canopy tour and ropes courses, as well as
a network of hiking trails branching off
from their gondola (which is worth a sight-
seeing ride even if you never step off it).
Winter
Lake Tahoe South Shore boasts three top-
notch ski resorts: Heavenly, Kirkwood and
Sierra-at-Tahoe. Heavenly is a huge and
popular mountain, spanning two states,
with contrasting views of the blue Tahoe
waters and the high-prairie Nevada coun-
tryside. The Heavenly Gondola drops
visitors right into the action in the center
of the city. Heavenly’s Tamarack Lodge has
an après ski scene with pumping music,
multiple bars and go-go dancers gyrating
to keep themselves (and the viewers)
warm. Kirkwood, about a 45-minute drive
from town, is known for its off-piste ter-
rain, deep snow and relaxed vibe.
Sierra-at-Tahoe is a medium-sized family-
oriented ski resort with a newly opened
base plaza, located on Highway 50 between
South Lake Tahoe and Sacramento.
24/7/365
When the day of outdoor activity is done,
the second shift of fun is just beginning in
Tahoe South. High-rise casinos rock with
the sounds and energy of non-stop gam-
bling. Gamers get recharged in an array of
restaurants and buffets, as well as at
comedy shows and live music events like
Harveys Concert Series with such head-
liners as the Steve Miller Band, the Doobie
Brothers, Lady Gaga and Bruno Mars.
Packed bars and clubs give this indoor play-
ground a Vegas feel, albeit at 6200 feet
above sea level. Outside the casinos, the
main strip of town boasts shopping oppor-
tunities including the new Chateau retail
area, and name-brand boutiques as well as
quirky local ski shops and crafts stores.
Dining can be anything from sushi to
burgers and gourmet cuisine—offered at
casual local diners (like the newly opened
Azul Latin Kitchen)—to luxury lakeside
restaurants. When you finally decide to
take a rest, South Lake Tahoe offers a vast
array of lodging options, including recently
launched boutique hotels like the out-
doorsy-themed Basecamp Hotel and the
waterfront five-star resort of The Landing.
Regardless of your choice of food,
activity or season, Lake Tahoe South Shore
is a spot to satisfy any sort of appetite—
you’ll only be hungry for another trip.
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