Everything in Lake Tahoe will be open in August. Restaurants, hotels are in two main areas, north shore and south shore. No matter where you stay you will need to drive. We prefer north shore, nice Hyatt there but it isn't necessarily close to much. Visit Truckee, some shopping in Tahoe City, Garwoods for a Wet Woodie!

What do you mean by shopping? Except for Truckee, there isn't really much shopping in Lake Tahoe.

The South Shore is more developed and due to the proximity of South Lake Tahoe to Stateline (i.e. gambling), has more (but not many) big hotels/casinos. In addition to the larger hotels (Harvey's, Harrah's and a third the name of which escapes me at the moment), there are two upscale Marriott timeshare hotels, and a myriad of motels, Embassy Suites-type hotels, condo complexes etc. There is one major ski area in south lake - Heavenly Valley.

The North Shore is more laid back, has more ski areas (which are great in summer, too), fewer hotels, less development. There are a lot of condo/house developments and little towns scattered along the lake, but they tend to have very little of interest to tourists -- more like a market, 7-Eleven, pizza place and laundromat kind of towns. The bigger towns are Incline Village (in Nevada, where the mentioned Hyatt is), Kings Beach and Tahoe City. Truckee is an old mining town which is great for restaurants and some shopping, but it isn't on the lake and has no hotels.

I should add, Lake Tahoe fans tend to be either "south shore" or "north shore". Personally, we're "north shore". The only reason we would ever go to south lake is to ski at Heavenly or to see a show/concert. In fact, we're heading up to the north shore tonight (and every weekend this summer).

HI nancytwo and sf7307. Thanks so much for your replies. This is actually for a meeting and I'm trying to figure out if there is enough there for people to do in their free time thus the question about easy access to shopping and restaurants as several people will likely not have a car. I get that the main reason to go to Lake Tahoe is for the scenery and outdoor activities but again am wondering if there is enough for people to do for a weekend meeting without a car and the ability to travel around the lake. Thanks again for your help! sf7307 enjoy your time there this weekend!

We like both the North and South shores - and think the best beaches may be just to the north of south shore, including Baldwin beach was it?

You also have Fallen Leaf Lake in that area - along with the classic Vikingshom. http://tinyurl.com/cmqvb8w

and http://www.tahoesbest.com/places/parkbeach.htm

You can also drive toward Kirkwood Ski Area - and enjoy the great outdoor Grover hot springs at Markleyville: http://www.parks.ca.gov/?page_id=508

But North Shore has the Truckee River - which you can float down, and there is shopping heading on into Reno - about an hour away. You can also take the tram up to the top of Squaw Valley or Alpine areas - as you can at Heavenly Valley on the South Shore.

Both are great really.

BTW - if you want to be closest to the most activities - allowing people some walking options - it's probably by Stateline at South Shore. There is also a good golf course there - Edgewood - which has been the site of PGA and Celebrity tour events. http://www.edgewoodtahoe.com/

And the 3rd major resort at the South Shore is I guess now called Horizon? - but it used to have another name. There is also a 4th one a bit further away from the big 3, but forget it's name also. This page can help: http://www.virtualtahoe.com/Casinos/index.html

Here is a map for Baldwin Beach - a few miles north of the Y at South Shore.- but the other nearby ones are fine too: Kiva and Pope. Just pick the one you like. Emerald Bay is also nice.

http://www.aboutlaketahoe.com/beaches/baldwin_beach.htm

http://www.aboutlaketahoe.com/hiking/topo-maps/pages/south-shore-beaches.htm

Actually - in thinking about it - we may have spent more time at Pope Beach - or was it Kiva? The are both also very nice - and we spent time at all 3 over the years - but these two don't have a parking fee as does Baldwin.

http://www.aboutlaketahoe.com/beaches/Pope_Kiva_Baldwin/index.htm and http://www.aboutlaketahoe.com/beaches/kiva_beach.htm

And to be fair - my wife's cousin and her husband live on the North Shore - by Dollar Point - and King's Beach - among other places up there is also very nice. http://www.gotahoenorth.com/resorts-and-towns/kings-beach

And there are other beaches over on the north/west side by Homewood - but they don't get the afternoon sun as much.

Can't really go wrong with either place - North or South shore - or anyplace around Lake Tahoe really.

I think that for your needs, the South Shore (Stateline area as Tomsd mentioned) would be best. There is a lot one could walk to - casino, restaurants, - don't expect world-class shopping, but there are souvenir-type shops - etc.

One suggestion for those spending their weekend without a car is to look into something like a lake cruise or jeep tour. In many cases they will come to your hotel to pick you up. Here is a link with some information on that:

http://www.laketahoetours.net/?event=offer.type&productType=CRUISE&mpt=1715&name=Cruises%20from%20Lake%20Tahoe

There is certainly enough to do even without a car in that area. Expect loads of people & cars there in August, the more you can do without having to drive, the better.

P.S. For myself, I prefer North Shore. DH is a South Shore kinda guy.

Tom, all your suggestions are great, BUT the OP was "wondering if there is enough for people to do for a weekend meeting without a car and the ability to travel around the lake".

sf7: I believe I addressed about where to stay with the most things to do within walking distance - Stateline at South Shore. You could even rent bikes and ride out to the beaches I mentioned - Baldwin et al.

As for getting around the lake - a car is the best way I know unless you have some good road bikes - not just beach type cruisers.

Agree, Tomsd. The question here is what would be a good location if you don't have a car and still be able to let your group be able to enjoy activities for a weekend.

South Lake Tahoe area is much nicer than it was when I was young, thanks to a real effort to set standards. At one time the building style did not conform to the setting and was somewhat tacky, but visits over the past last 5-10 years have been revealed a metamorphosis.

THe public transportation at Lake Tahoe is far better than in most communities in CA. In the summer you can actually get from Incline Village or even Truckee to South Lake Tahoe via the west side of the lake. You start on TART and then near DL Bliss you transfer to the Nigfty 50 Trolly that goes to SLT. In SLT you use Blue Go busses. You can get to Squaw Valley as well. The only area not covered by public transport is on the east side from Round Hill in SLT to teh Hyatt in Incline.

TART - http://www.placer.ca.gov/Departments/Works/Transit/TART.aspx


Blue Go including Nifty 50 Trolly -

http://tahoetransportation.org/transit-and-shuttles/bluego

Great info Suzie.

BTW, we rode our bikes around Incline last weekend and stopped in at the Hyatt and it is a beautiful hotel (but not really near anything else, other than the beach). It's obvious if you go into Googlemaps and zoom in.

The Hyatt is a fantanstic resort. I love a few things about it that you don't get at other places at the lake.

1. There are hammocks around the resort where you can lounge and just enjoy listening to the birds and nature. The grounds on the lake side are beautiful.

2. At night they have gas fires where you can face the lake. Especially great because after a day in the high altitude sun you feel even colder at night. When there is a full moon over the lake the view is intoxicating. They allow you to roast marshamallows for s'mores.

3. Food and drink service on the beach. You can even have the beach boy get your lounge chair all arrangged. Need I say more.

<<<They allow you to roast marshamallows for s'mores>>>

I like to roast marshmallows for marshmallows

Well marsha is so much tastier so if you haven't tried that version you are really missing out!