South Lake Tahoe, California

Crisp alpine air combined with numerous recreational activities at the lake can work up a healthy appetite. Culinary delights can be found just about anywhere along the beautiful shoreline and mountain ski areas. Whether gourmet dining suits your fancy or you're strictly the 'meat and potatoes' type, you'll find it at Tahoe.

California Cuisine Traveling on the California side of the lake from north to south takes us past many unique eateries. Sunsets at the Lake , in the hamlet of Tahoe Vista, offers an unusual seafood menu and great wines to complement your meal. Le Petit Pier has provided fine dining with a view since 1972 and received numerous awards from Travel Magazine and Wine Spectator. At Carnelian Bay, you might check out Gar Woods Grill and Pier for excellent seafood and prime rib. Dine with an excellent view of exquisite mahogany wooden boats floating on the waterfront. Tahoe City gives us many fine dining establishments from which to choose. Christy Hill offers eclectic California cuisine that changes with the seasons. Intimate dining with a view and rave reviews from Bon Appetit and the Los Angeles Times are some of the reasons this place is so popular. Wolfdale's and chef, Douglas Dale, present excellent seafood dishes uniquely prepared. At Jake's on the Lake , a mainstay for more than 20-years, offers seafood with a Cajun flair in the main dining area. The Lakeside Bar inside Jake's has an innovative menu and a fabulous view. Pfeifer House has been providing Old World charm and a marvelous menu since 1939. For wild game exquisitely prepared, the cozy River Ranch Restaurant is sure to please. Valet boat parking is available if you travel by water to the Sunnyside Resort . Housed in a 100-year old building, this quaint and rustic eatery offers an extensive menu and a popular Sunday Jazz Buffet.

The Squaw Creek, or Olympic Valley, area has lovely restaurants with great views of the ski slopes. Cascades at Squaw Creek is renowned for a delicious gourmet breakfast buffet every morning and a superb seafood spread on Friday and Saturday evenings. Dine with a view at Glissandi and enjoy making your selection from a great menu. It has received the 'Best Award of Excellence' from Wine Spectator Magazine on more than one occasion and the 'Four Diamond Award' many years running. Dine by a cozy fireplace at Graham's at Squaw Valley , a great place for a romantic dinner. If you need to unwind after a hard day of hiking or skiing, Bullwhackers Pub is the place. Play a game of pool, watch sporting events and enjoy microbrews in a trendy, upscale mountain atmosphere.

On the south end of the lake, an excellent dining choice is Evan's , the proud recipient of awards from Bon Appetit and Robb Report. The place is noted for outstanding cuisine, fine wines and decadent desserts. Dory's Oar features the taste of England and outstanding service. The Tudor English Pub inside Dory's is the perfect place to tip a pint of brew.

Nevada-Style Dining Many excellent restaurants are located in the major hotels which are mainly situated at the north and south ends of Tahoe. Harvey's Resort features Llewellyn's , a favorite place for exotic game exquisitely prepared. You can enjoy an unsurpassed view of the lake while dining on Ostrich, Guinea Hen or Roasted Lobster. Austin's at Incline Village provides a rustic atmosphere and food to match. Voted the “Best Family Restaurant”, the place serves large portions for the “meat and potatoes” crowd. Cafe 333 Restaurant and Espresso Bar caters to those who want delicious fat-free dining. Almost any menu item can be prepared to suit your diet. Enjoy a five-course dinner at Le Bistro Francais delectably prepared by Chef Jean-Pierre Doignon, who learned his art at “Lameloise” in Burgundy, France. At Ciera Steak & Chophouse , in Montbleu Casino Resort & Spa , you can have an elegant fine dining experience by tasting a variety of steaks and fresh seafood with a vast selection of international wines.

At the southern Stateline area of the lake on the Kingsbury Grade toward Carson City, you'll find some eateries with marvelous views of the valley below. The Eagles' Nest is appropriately named and serves great seafood and some wild game dishes. A nautical atmosphere is found at the Chart House serving excellent seafood and prime rib. The Edgewood Restaurant has and excellent menu featuring seafood and some wild game. This attractive eatery offers marvelous views of the lake and Edgewood Tahoe Golf Course .

Driving the 72-miles of shoreline around the lake is the best way to enjoy the beauty and see the sights. However, that is not the only way to view everything Lake Tahoe has to offer. Come along with us on a tour of paradise.

Driving Delights Beginning at the north end of the lake, visitors can travel by automobile completely around the lake. From Brockway Summit on Highway 267 from Interstate 80, you will see your first spectacular view of the lake and the Tahoe Basin. At Kings Beach, you can proceed either to the California or Nevada side of the pond. There is no gaming in California and the atmosphere is charming and relaxing. Take the time to stop in Tahoe City and enjoy the waterfront and the many shopping and dining choices. The Sunnyside Resort and Pfeifer House provide not only excellent cuisine, but are historic buildings, as well. If you drive north on Highway 89 from here, you will go to Squaw Valley Resort , the beautiful home of the 1960 Winter Olympics. The Olympic rings still remain, as well as many of the original buildings, which now serve as lodging and dining spots. Back at the lakeshore, you should proceed on Highway 89 south to Sugar Pine Point State Park and then on to magnificent Emerald Bay . Camp Richardson is at the very southernmost portion of the lake and is a delightful place to take a break. As you cross the border into Nevada, you will pass Edgewood-Tahoe Golf Course with the most beautiful and difficult greens in the state. One of the first major casinos you see will be Harvey's . Stop in for great gaming or dine at Llewellyn's . For a tour within a tour, take Borges Carriage Rides to see the sights such as Caesars , Harrah's Tahoe , Embassy Suites and gorgeous scenery. Next, visitors come to Zephyr Cove Resort , home of the M. S. Dixie II , a marvelous vessel for lake tours. You are now on the east side of Tahoe heading north to Sand Harbor , the site of the Lake Tahoe Shakespeare Festival , which takes place annually during the five weeks before Labor Day. At the north end of the lake on the Nevada side, you come to Incline Village and Crystal Bay, another main casino area. Major hotels here include the Cal-Neva Resort , Hyatt Regency and the Tahoe Biltmore . The Ponderosa Ranch is close by for family fun.

Hike, Ski or Bike around the Lake The Tahoe Rim Trail is perhaps the most beautiful in the world. Hike more than 150-miles along mountain peaks as high as 9,400 feet. The trail goes completely around the lake, following the route of Basque sheepherders in the 1800s. You will pass the hunting grounds and game trails once used by the Washoe Indian tribe many moons ago. If you come to Lake Tahoe to commune with nature, this trail is a must. The D. L. Bliss State Park allows hikers access to the gorgeous Rubicon Trail that follows the shoreline of the lake. The rocky path in dense trees takes the hiker to Vikingsholm Castle and Emerald Bay . The Eagle Falls Hike takes hikers on a short trip to Eagle Lake in the Desolation Wilderness area. It would literally take months to travel this portion of the country covering 100-square miles and filled with more than 100 lakes.

No matter where you travel around the Tahoe area, you will find excellent skiing. Squaw Valley Resort provides not only world-class slopes but excellent hiking and bike trails, as well. The Mt. Rose Ski Resort offers the highest base elevation in the area at 8,260 feet. Alpine Meadows has great areas for extreme snow sports and programs for the physically-challenged skier. Heavenly Resort provides the longest downhill slopes and the Heavenly Aerial Tram offers spectacular views. For the cross-country enthusiast, the Royal Gorge and Spooner Lake Cross-Country areas are the best anywhere.

To see the lake up close and personal, take a ride on the M. S. Dixie II or Hornblower's Tahoe Queen . You may also sail on the lake at Sail Woodwind and view the water through the glass bottom of the vessel. Tahoe Sailing Charters offers romantic sunset cruises or all-day trips to various points of interest. Truckee River Rafting lets you tour miles of the beautiful river flowing out of the lake. Aerial tours are provided by Para-Sail Tahoe for the adventurous and Balloons Over Tahoe for a more relaxed trip. Biking around the lake is easy with the many paths in the area. Bike Rentals at Lake Tahoe and Mountain Bike at Squaw Valley have all the equipment you need, plus maps and expert advice.

No matter how you choose to tour the area, you will find it one of the most beautiful places in the world.