Lake Tahoe is one of California's most famous destinations for two main reasons: the stunningly beautiful lake and the equally beautiful mountains around it. The largest alpine lake in North America, Tahoe's cold clear waters collect the runoff from more than 600 inches of snow which dust the surrounding peaks each season-attracting skiers from around the world to try the slopes at one of eight resorts (including Heavenly, Sierra, and Northstar).

In summer, the deep blue waters of the lake keep visitors coming. Boaters, anglers, cyclists, hot air balloonists, and vacationers of all sorts flock to the 71 miles of shoreline here. The scenery is breathtaking, with some unique combination of landscape and climate producing astonishing colors and clear vistas. Lake Tahoe is one of those rare spots that is equally enchanting in all seasons of the year.

Resorts, hotels, rental offices, and other tourist services are located all around the lake. The North Shore area is more spread out, with small towns and resorts dotting the shores, while the South Shore is home to casinos, hotels, and the mid-sized town of South Lake Tahoe. The other major community in the area is Carson City, a few miles across the border in Nevada, but most services can be found closer by.

Lake Tahoe is located in northern California about 100 miles east of Sacramento, straddling the Nevada border.