songlf99

I’m thinking about going to South Lake Tahoe for one week during the Thanksgiving week. Since I have never been to Lake Tahoe, is this area a good place to start exploring Lake Tahoe?

Would it be a little too cold to do hiking, kayaking at that time? Will skiing be available at that time? Will a rental car be needed to drive around to do sighting seeing? And also, Marriott Grand Residence Club Tahoe and Marriott Timber Lodge, which one is a better place to stay?

Any advice will be very much appreciated. Thanks in advance!

Suzie

I stayed in a very nice unit at the Marriott Grand and alos at the MTL. I prefer the Grand but both are in the same location so if you want a better deal you could go with MTL and be very happy.


Tahoe will be cold at Thanksgiving. MOst ski resorts want to be open on that wekend so if hter eis not siufficient snow they will make it so that at least some runs are available.

YOu will not likely be kayaking. Hiking in iffy weather is best left to those familiar with the area nad who are well prepared for the chanign weather at that time of year. I would not advis ehiking for a fir timer to Tahoe in November.

I would plan on renting a car but if the weather is predicted to be snowing you should consider if you are prepared to drive in the snow. While there are poepl to put chains on your tires when you are on the freeway it's not quite as simple as that when you are on surface streets. Stopping is difficult even with the chanis so you need to be experienced. If the weather is expected to be snow free youwill be fine even if it has snowed previously as teh roads are cleared of snow regularly.

In the summer I wouldn't suggest SLT as the best place to be to explore Tahoe but in the winter it's the right place to be as it has more to do.

songlf99

Thank you for your reply. It is very helpful.

Scarlett

I have nothing to contribute ( but that never stopped anyone lol ) but I do want to say that I would take Suzies advice every time when it comes to So Lake Tahoe

dmlove

I agree with Suzie's advice, but wonder what's left. Unfortunately, Thanksgiving is usually in-between seasons --- too late for fall, and too early for winter. If you can't kayak, and hiking and skiing are iffy, and you shouldn't drive if you're not experienced, than what? (P.S. I've been to Tahoe a hundred times, but never at Thanksgiving that I can recall).

JJ5

I went last year, during the first week of December and they were skiing. I'll try to bring my trip report up.

Our drive out was hard, but it was a nice time. I have lots of pictures of me and the snow filled beach and some gulls. LOL!

Marginal

It's cold and windy in November, but not reliably snowy enough for skiing. I'd forget about hiking and kayaking.

I think Marriott Grand Residence is the nicer of the two, if I remember right.

You definitely will want a car to get around.

dmlove

The Marriott Grand Residence IS the nicer of the two, but they're both very nice (the Marriott Grand Residence is sold as "fractional ownership" - i.e. 4 users per year,whereas the Timber Lodge is a "timeshare" - i.e. new users every week).

songlf99

Now I'm under the impression that late Nov. might not be a good time to go visiting Lake Tahoe. Besides there are much outdoor activities we can do, driving condition might be tough. I have been working with the interval to get an exchange unit in one of those places I'm interested in Thanksgiving for a while. And a couple of days ago they told me that Marriott Grand Residence Club Tahoe happened to have a 2-bedroom unit at that time.
I guess I should go somewhere else during that time. What would be the best time to visit Lake Tahoe in Winter/Summer?

Supercilious

"What would be the best time to visit Lake Tahoe in Winter/Summer?"

For hiking and kayaking, September is the best. The kids are back in school and the weather is great. Forget the timeshare and camp out on Emerald Bay. You're young and into an active lifestyle, so go for it.

For skiing, Jan thru March is usually best. November and December can be unreliable in some years.

songlf99

Thanks, Supercilious! It is great to know.