LAKE TAHOE
Discover.
Lake Tahoe, Mark Twain characterized as the “fairest site the whole earth affords,” lies 180 miles northeast of San Francisco via Interstate 80.
At 22 miles in length and 12 miles wide, Lake Tahoe is North America’s largest alpine lake. It’s perimeter is 72 miles. Lake Tahoe’s average depth is 989 feet, making it the third deepest lake in the world. Its volume is 122 million-acre feet, enough water to cover the State of California with a foot of water. The Lake straddles the California/Nevada border, with a third of its shoreline in Nevada. Environmental controls have kept the water clarity pure. Surface temperature during the summer months average 68 degrees. In winter, the average temperature drops to 41, but the Lake never freezes.
The Lake Tahoe basin enjoys 300 days of sunshine a year. Average temperatures are 70-75 degrees in summer and 40-50 degrees in winter. Lake Tahoe’s seasonal 350-inch snowfall makes it a skier’s paradise and helped Lake Tahoe earn Rand McNally’s designation as “America’s Number One Vacation Destination.” The indigenous Washoe Indians, who considered Lake Tahoe a sacred site, lived in the basin for 10,000 years. The Gold rush of the mid-1800’s brought miners and subsequent development to the area. By the early 1900’s, Lake Tahoe became a favorite summer retreat for well-to-do San Franciscans. In the 1930’s William F. Harrah established the Lake’s first casino, and the tourism era, which continues as the cornerstone of Lake Tahoe’s economy, began to take shape.
Today, the Lake’s unmatched natural beauty, mild summer and comfortable winter temperatures, and abundant recreation opportunities draw travelers from all over the world to its shore.
In summer, outdoor enthusiasts can enjoy golf at one of 14 nearby courses, hiking, swimming, boating, water skiing, paddle boarding, fishing, sailing, mountain biking, camping and horseback riding.
In winter, skiers can choose from 15 downhill ski resorts including Heavenly Ski Resort, Sierra Tahoe, Alpine Meadows, Kirkwood, Northstar, Sugar Bowl, Diamond Peak, Mount Rose, Homewood, and Squaw Valley USA, site of the 1960 Winter Olympic Games. Cross-country skiing enthusiasts will find plenty of backcountry terrain to explore.
Lake Tahoe offers visitors many culinary choices from five-star lakeview dining to quick bites on the run. For nightlife, there is the non-stop gaming action and headliner entertainment that has made Nevada famous. Shoppers will enjoy the variety of stores and boutiques.
Lake Tahoe has a well-deserved reputation for excellent public and private schools. A community college and a private four-year college are also available. Lake Tahoe also supports a very active arts community, a Shakespeare Festival is a summer highlight while Reno offers a Philharmonic Orchestra, the Museum of Modern Art and is the home to the University of Nevada.
The State of Nevada is known for its very favorable tax structure. There is no personal state income tax, corporate income tax, inheritance tax, estates tax, gift tax, franchise tax, unitary tax, special intangible tax, chain store tax, admissions tax or inventory tax. Additionally, property taxes are low. Many financial experts consider Nevada to be one of the best overall states for tax sheltering and doing business.
In addition the greater Reno-Tahoe area has become the ideal region for startup businesses and established companies. From central access to the 11 western states, to their business-friendly policies, a skilled workforce and remarkable quality of life is located here. Coined as the “next Silicon Valley” companies like Tesla, Switch, Amazon, Google, Apple, Microsoft have all chosen to call Northern Nevada home.
