Remember the question, “What came first the chicken or the egg?” Here’s one. “What came first in Lake Tahoe, winter sports or casino gambling?” No one knows the answer to the first question. As for the second question, winter sports were available in Lake Tahoe long before casino gambling came to town. That’s not to say that retail casino gambling isn’t an important part of tourism for this beautiful outdoor community.
Lake Tahoe game
It’s a little-known fact that Lake Taho Nevada is home to a robust retail casino industry, ranking third in the U.S. behind Las Vegas and Atlantic City in New Jersey. Of course, this excludes the online casino industry and bonus code sites like nodepositbonus.cc where competition is fierce.
The first Lake Tahoe casino popped up in 1937. Today, there are more than a dozen name-brand Casinos and resorts spread through the city proper. The list of Tahoe casinos reads like the who’s who of the U.S. gambling industry. That includes but is not limited to the following casino brands:
- Grand Lodge Casino at the Hyatt
- Bally’s Lake Tahoe Casino Resort
- Golden Nugget Hotel & Casino Lake Tahoe
- Harrah’s Lake Tahoe Casino
- Harveys Lake Tahoe Casino
- Tahoe Biltmore Lodge & Casino
- … and more
Each of these casino resorts features excellent room accommodations, fine dining restaurants, snack bars, live entertainment, and live gaming casino floors. Each casino offers table games, hundreds of slots, a poker room, video poker machines, and in some cases, a full-service sportsbook.
So Much More to Do Other Than Casino Gambling in Lake Tahoe
The Lake Tahoe “strip” comes to life when the sun goes down. But, visiting Lake Tahoe is really about enjoying the great outdoors. During the summer, it’s camping, fishing, and water sports. During the winter, it’s skiing, snowboarding, and sitting in a ski lodge with a glass of warm brandy.
If you are planning a trip to Lake Tahoe, your best bet is to plan ahead and make reservations whenever and wherever possible. To do that, you need to know what activities are available in and around the Lake Tahoe area. Here are five activities you might want to consider:
1. Skiing the Sierra Nevada Mountains
The Sierra Nevada Mountains are one of America’s most beautiful mountain ranges. They run through the states of California and Nevada. Near Lake Tahoe, the snow-capped elevations run from approximately 6,000 to as high as 9,000 feet. With annual precipitation of 60 to 80 inches every winter, there is plenty of white powder for skiers to enjoy.
While you always have the option of staying in town at a Lake Tahoe casino resort, there are also a few nice ski lodges located closer to the mountains. The best ski resorts include:
- Heavenly Ski Resort
- Kirkwood Ski Resort
- Northstar at Tahoe Ski Resort
- Sugar Bowl Ski Resort
- Palisades Tahoe
- Sierra at Tahoe
2. Tahoe Adventure Company Snowshoe Tours
If you have no need for speed but still want to enjoy the snow, you can register for one of the Tahoe Adventure Company Snowshoe Tours.
Of course, this activity is only available during the winter when the snow is plentiful. After donning your personally owned or rented snow shoes, a guide will lead you on an amazing 2-3 mile walking tour of the lower elevation Sierras. It’s a 3-4 hour opportunity to be one with nature.
3. Lake Tahoe Hot Air Ballooning
They say you cannot appreciate the majesty of the Sierra Valley until you have seen it through the air. You can do exactly that by taking part in Lake Tahoe Hot Air Ballooning.
This is a one-of-a-kind experience that allows visitors to drift in the air over Lake Tahoe and a good portion of the Sierra Mountains. The adventure lasts about four (4) hours, weather permitting.
4. Sunset Kayak Tour on Lake Tahoe
By day, Lake Tahoe is a sight to see. At, night, it’s on to the casinos. From sunset to dusk, you can book a kayak tour and paddle through the most beautiful landscapes your eyes have ever seen. You’ll want to get your camera ready to ensure the memories will last forever. The tour runs about one hour a night, weather permitting.
5. Tahoe Sport Fishing Ski Run Marina
What’s a lake without fish? Yes, Lake Tahoe is fully stocked with a wide variety of fish. Ski Run Marina charters are leaving the marina area in the early mornings, and then again in the early afternoons. The day charters last 5 hours while the afternoon charters run until sunset. Each charter includes a captain, a deckhand, fishing equipment, bait, and refreshments.
There you go. If you can’t find something fun to do in Lake Tahoe, you must be in another state!
