Lake Tahoe

The drive to Lake Tahoe isn't bad. If you stay on the north side of Lake Tahoe, you will take Hwy 80 all the way, basically. If you stay on the south side, you will switch to Hwy 50 in Sacramento. Traffic is a concern getting out of the SF area and then again in Sacramento - afternoon/evening commute and then Friday afternoons and Saturday evenings as people head out for the weekend. If you can avoid these times, then the 3.5 hour estimate is reasonable.

For areas of Lake Tahoe - gambling is only allowed on the Nevada side and there are casinos in the south and the north. The casinos in the south (Stateline) are bigger and closer together. The casinos in the north (I think they are mostly in Incline Village) are smaller and more spread out. So it really depends on what you are looking for as far as atmosphere goes. I like north shore better myself.

There are 4 major casinos in South Tahoe: Harvey's, Harrah's, Horizon, MontBlue. Horizon has a nice outdoor pool area if you want that. There are boat tours: Tahoe Queen and Dixie, you can drive around the lake or take a bus tour (demo tours). As for shopping, some stores are at the Y (Google Tahoe Y) and Heavenly village. Also souvenirs and some shopping in those casinos.

Not familiar with N. Tahoe area.

North and South Tahoe are very different (as are west and east . South Lake Tahoe has the 4 big casino/hotels Dayenu mentioned, and is generally more developed. North Lake Tahoe has several towns (Incline Village, Kings Beach, Truckee, Tahoe City) and resorts developed around ski areas (Squaw Valley, Northstar, Alpine Meadows), but is generally speaking less developed than the south shore. Neither has much "shopping", although Truckee is good for a few hours, as is the area around the Marriott Timber Cove in South Lake.

Also, regarding the driving, the drive to the North Shore is "easier" in that it is mostly freeway. Driving to the South Shore isn't difficult, but if you're at all skittish about mountain driving, understand that on Hwy 50, a great deal of the last part of the trip is on a road that hugs the side of the mountain (and it's a long way down!!).

I would suggest the Hyatt Incline as the best combination for you. A nice hotel, on the lake, with a casino, and in east driving distance of Truckee and Tahoe City should you want to visit either.

Thanks for the suggestions. Many have mentioned the Hyatt.
How long would it take to get to the South Shore if we stayed at the Hyatt. One of us loves Harrahs and I am sure would like to go. Also we do want to take some tours or boat trips so can anyone suggest how and where to do that.

I don't know if there are any boat trips out of the North Shore. You might be better off on the South Shore if you want Harrah's and boat trips (note that the casinos are not on the lake, near but not on). What kind of tours?

Try the Thunderbird Lodge Tour reviewed by Fodors - http://www.fodors.com/world/north-america/usa/california/lake-tahoe/review-186634.html

Any idea on time of year? Not all activities are available in the low season.

I would suggest South Lake Tahoe. Much more for you to do there than in Incline. In Incline you are pretty much stuck at the Hyatt.

"In Incline you are pretty much stuck at the Hyatt" I totally disagree - there is soooooo much to see/do along the north side of the lake. I spend from 1 to 3 weeks at the lake most years and much prefer staying on the north end. The Hyatt is a good base for anything anywhere around the lake and it is only a couple of miles from sand Harbor which is arguably the most gorgeous section of the lake.

From the Hyatt to Zephyr Cove for the boat rides takes 25 to maybe 40 minutes depending on if there is any road works going on. It is an easy drive. Then the big casinos at southshore are only a short distance farther.

You can visit Tahoe City, Truckee (great restaurants and some very interesting shopping), Incline itself (some interesting shops in Christmas Tree Village), Virginia City, go up the Mount Rose rd a couple of miles to an amazing overlook of the entire Tahoe Basin, some small casinos at Crystal Bay, and of course drive all the way around the lake to see it all.

I understand what you are saying about Incline. However, I find Incline to be small and isolated, as compared to north or south Lake Tahoe.

For people interesting in gaming, South Lake Tahoe has a greater concentration of larger casinos. There are far more shops and restaurants in easy access. There is Ski Run Marina with shopping, restaurants, and the Tahoe Queen paddlboat.

There are also the historical sights and beach area along the Camp Richarson- Tallac area. As they have a car, they can still drive to Incline, Tahoe City, and the Emerald Bay areas.

There are far more shops and restaurants in easy access.

Seriously, what shops are there in South Lake Tahoe? If I'm not skiing or gambling, I can't find anything to do in SLT. I'd much prefer to shop in Truckee (which has one of the best cooking/kitchen stores anywhere).

Oh, and Incline is North Lake Tahoe, last I looked!

The Heavenly complex with the Gondola has about 30 shops and all sorts of place to eat.

I think you are talking about the kitchen shop in Tahoe City, not Truckee.

Yes, there is shopping in the Marriott complex. I personally like Truckee better because it's more "organic", but you're right, it's something to do in SLT. And no, the kitchen shop is most definitely in Truckee (I go there every time I'm in the area). The name is The Cooking Gallery and it's right on the main street.

North Lake Tahoe feels like Lake Tahoe. South Lake Tahoe feels like Reno.

I disagree with iamq.

I think the north Tahoe snobbery is showing.

Not snobbery, just a preference. I grew up spending weeks at a time on the north shore (Tahoe Vista/Kings Beach) during the summer as my aunt had a cabin there. It is what I know and love.

July 2008, I took a tour of Northern California. We stayed one evening at MontBleu Resort & Casino at Stateline. I felt very comfortable. The room was nice and the casino was not too large. The hotel has two gift shops and two restaurants.
Would recommend.

"There are far more shops and restaurants in easy access"- ridiculous. Just the overpriced shops in Harrah's and at the Marriott complex. Otherwise there is next to no shopping at southshore.

I spend time at southshore too - but those are trips where I mostly plan on hitting the casinos or maybe go up the Gondola. It isn't northshore snobbery - in fact the north end of the lake is sort of "moth eaten" in places. But the north IS less crowded, less developed, and for the most part prettier.

One can have a wonderful trip staying anywhere around the Lake - but norhhshore is less hectic and actually has more to see/do

The kitchen shop is most definitely in Truckee . . .

There is construction going on between Colfax and the Nevada state line. You might want to check out getacross80.com for updates before you decide to drive that way. The north shore is my favorite side of the lake, too, but you might enjoy the south side more for gambling - just personal preference, really, when it comes down to it. Have fun, whatever you decide. I have grown up visiting Tahoe regularly, so I probably take it for granted but when I took relatives there from the midwest they just cried when we sailed into Emerald Bay because it was so beautiful.

Holly