We are planning a trip to Lake Tahoe Labor Day weekend. Should we stay in CA and just drive to NV a couple of nights for casinos?

We aren't active outdoor people, but we enjoy a nice walk or row boat rental. We also enjoy nice restaurants and a little night life.

Is there a scenic area of the CA side that has some nice restaurants or bars, but is easily accessable to the NV side if we are looking for more?

I would recommend staying in South Lake Tahoe. It doesn't matter what side of the border you stay on - everything is very close.

There's a nice sand beach that you can visit right there and a bike/walk path that runs along the lake. With the car, you can head up to Emerald Bay for some spectacular views.

Lake Tahoe was just voted the #1 destination in the country on Tripadvisor, it's a gorgeous place to spend time in. We like to base in South Lake Tahoe, our stay at the Marriott Timber Lodge was excellent. For great meals, Cafe Fiore, Evan's Gourmet Cafe and Harvey's 19 Kitchen all have amazing food and you will have panoramic views of the lake at 19 Kitchen, try to go and catch the sunset here.

Enjoy your time Lake Tahoe! ***kim***

There are kayak rentals, sailboat rentals, jetski rentals, and powerboat rentals, but have never seen a rowboat rental in Tahoe.

kim, since you went for that TimeShare presentation on the Marriott, did you by any chance, buy ?
And as far as TimeShare stays go, do you recommend it?

Friends of ours are talking about buying a place .. we are trying to talk them out of it lol

FYI - For a row boat rental go up to Angora Lakes which is near Fallen Leaf Lake.

Great place to kick back and enjoy the scenery.

Directions to Angora Lake

Take Highway 89 to Fallen Leaf Lake Road and turn left. Turn left at the first paved road. Continue to Forest Service Road 12N14 and turn right. Watch for bicyclists along this road. Continue past Angora Lookout to the road's end at the parking lot. There is a day use fee.

The pick of the bunch, yes, the pick of the bunch is Tahoe City. Avoid South Lake Tahoe if you can, for it has become just too commercial and unwieldy, with the casino culture permeating every part of that town/city. The Nevada side is not quite as pretty, unfortunately. So, if you have the choice, go for Tahoe's West Shore, which is where Tahoe City is located. Although, be forewarned that no matter where at Tahoe you stay, the summer months are devilishly popular and can test you patience with the traffic and traffic jams; but despite the crowds, Tahoe remains a top vacation destination. Have a great time!

IN the summer we stay in Tahoma & Homewood and on the weekends we avoid Tahoe City so we don't run into any of those devilish traffic jams.

Recently the regional newpaper did an article on the demise of the casinos in Tahoe due to people being able to do their gambling at indian casinos and really wanting an outdoorsy adventure vacation in Tahoe so I don't really see SLT as a casino town. Even when we stay in the Heavenly Village area in one of the Marriotts in Sept we don't feel the pull of the casinos since there is really so much to do in Tahoe.

Have a great time. I still think you'd like SLT based on what you listed that you like. Stay in one of the Marriotts and you'll get all that you want.