What's the difference in the personalities of each area? Contemplating for a June visit. Does the city still have life or does it shut down (as opposed to slow down) during the summer months?

The hotels and casinos are larger on the south shore. I prefer the north shore for its quieter vibe.

South shore is more built up than north shore. Stateline, which is just over the Nevada border on the south shore, is where the big, glitzy casinos are. South Lake Tahoe is the town just on the California side of the state border, and it is good sized and has a fair amount going on.

North shore has casinos as well - on the Nevada side - but they are more low key and spread out. The north shore is more natural and quiet than south shore.

Then there is the west shore, which is pretty quiet - plenty of cabins and homes, much different feeling than the rest of the lake because the gambling is farther away.

Lake Tahoe has 2 high seasons - winter and summer. Both are quite busy. Spring and fall are the shoulder seasons when things are a bit quieter.

Can anyone recommend any north shore hotetls? Trip advisor only lists 2 and doesn't have nice things to say.

The Hyatt and the Inn at Squaw Valley on the north shore are 2 of the nicest hotels in the Tahoe area.

Many of the places right on the water at the North Shore are older and have not been updated due to restrictions on development. I like the Sunnyside Lodge, which is not technically the North Shore, or this place which is near the South Shore (but far enough out of the craziness and traffic): http://www.camprichardson.com/

Does N. Lk. Tahoe have a town/city center? Is it easy to take cabs/walk between these hotels and the town?

When are you going? ]

The differences are most pronounced during the winter and summer seasons. The fall, and especially the spring, are really quiet. It’s all nice though because if you don’t like what’s going on where you are you can take a short but beautiful drive to another part of the lake and enjoy something else.
Sorry but there is no real glitz in Tahoe even though a previous poster described the casinos as glitzy. Tahoe is nothing like the glitz of Vegas. The casinos are very low key.

Sunnyside on the west shore is quite nice and is on the lake side of the road.
The Hyatt in Incline is fantastic and was recently remodeled. The pool and spa are all new. We stayed a week during the remodel and it was nice then.
Inn at Squaw Valley is not near the lake but is off 89 near Truckee in Squaw Valley. If this is the one with the restaurant Plumpjacks then I can say that it is a very cute place. Rooms are huge and very nice. Plumpjacks is great. The Squaw Valley Resort across the valley is quite nice too.
The village in Squaw Valley has been built up and there are a lot of choices there but you'd have to drive to the lake.
If I go to Tahoe during the off season I prefer south shore because it’s quiet then but there is plenty to do. Off season elsewhere is really quiet so it does depend on what you want.
South shore:
Marriott Grand Residence is very nice. We enjoyed staying there. We also really like the Embassy Suites right at stateline but on the CA side. We prefer CA no smoking laws. Timber Lodge is nice and so is Black Bear Inn. We also liked Tahoe Seasons. Since we live so close we have stayed many places in the area.

oops sorry I see you said you were going in June. It does depend on how close to the 4th of July you are going but normally June is really quiet because summer hasn't started yet. July and August are the big months. June is still pretty cool up there.

I can't believe TA doesn't have great reviews on the Hyatt in Incline Village on the NV side, or did you just check CA hotels on the north shore? We go last week of June through July 4th week at the Hyatt every year. It's so much fun and activities abound. Lots of good restaurants. We do drive down to the So. Shore one night for some other casinos, but it is a zoo at Stateline.