Activities for couples in lake tahoe

Posted: 02/09/2007--25/11/2008 || Rate this Article: 3 || Views|| Sign In || Register ||Hello Guest

Long ago, Washoe Indians spent their summers on the beaches of the big waters which they called da-ow. Outsiders mispronounced this, and it came to be known as Tahoe. Lake Tahoe was a summer retreat then, and now it is that and more. With 300 days of sunshine each year, Lake Tahoe has become a year-round playground for couples looking to get married, spend a honeymoon, celebrate an anniversary or other milestone, or simply to get away for a magical few days on the shores of one of Americas cleanest lakes.

Many of us associate Lake Tahoe solely with winter sports and activities. We remember the 1960 Winter Olympics at Squaw Valley, one of Tahoes 18 ski and snowboarding resorts. We watch ski competitions on television with the clear, blue lake lying in the background below. And every year we hear about the incredible amount of snow that falls on the Tahoe region C usually near 400 inches. In addition to the aforementioned sports, Tahoe is certainly a winter playground for couples. Tahoe offers snowshoeing, cross-country skiing, and snowmobile rides. Couples will enjoy snuggling on romantic sleigh rides and frolicking like children on the inner-tubing hills. In the evenings, theyll find candlelit dinners in fine restaurants and a variety of entertainment from local playhouses to world-class entertainers in the many casinos. Lodging options include everything from budget motels to luxury resorts to cozy cabins and romantic inns.

Summertime in Tahoe is full of both mountain and water activities to delight every couple who visits. Trails for hiking and mountain biking abound on the mountains and through the valleys around the lake, and nearly all offer spectacular views. Horseback riding, camping, fishing and rafting are other popular mountain activities. If sunshine and boating are more to a couples liking, the same beaches revered by the Washoe Indians are now beckoning us to stretch out and enjoy the sun and sand. Both sailboat and paddleboat rentals are popular, and every couple must check out one of the summer sightseeing or dinner cruises on Lake Tahoe. If more refined sports are desired, tennis courts and golf courses are found all around Tahoe, and of course, swimming is always available, whether on the lake or in one of the many hotel swimming pools.

When summer outdoor activities have been exhausted, couples might want to venture toward some of the cultural charm offered at Lake Tahoe. Walking hand-in-hand through some of the mountain art galleries dotting the area will carry visitors into another time and place. Annual attractions such as the Lake Tahoe Shakespeare Festival, the Great Gatsby Festival and the Festival of Fine Arts are exciting events that bring entertainment, art, music, drama and great food to the valley. The Fourth of July fireworks will dazzle couples as they sit on the beach and watch the colorful lights burst over the lake.

A fun place to visit any time of the year is the Cal-Neva Hotel and Casino which illustrates the distinct line down the middle of Lake Tahoe, separating California from Nevada. The state line actually runs directly through the middle of the building, including through the middle of a swimming pool, where couples can swim back and forth from state to state. Casinos abound right up to the state line on both ends of the lake. Some are simple rustic establishments with wood floors and country and western music. Others rival the fanciest casinos in Las Vegas. Couples will find the smaller casinos, cabins and mountain living on the north end of the lake, while the tall buildings, flashing lights and city life can be found on the south shore.

For a couple just beginning their lifelong adventure together, Lake Tahoe is the perfect backdrop for an outdoor wedding. Wedding possibilities range from traditional chapel ceremonies and sunny beachside services to the extraordinary and unusual options of exchanging vows on hot air balloons or on snow-covered ski slopes. Newlyweds will find that their honeymoon spot can be right outside the back door of the church C or at the end of the ski run, depending on their preference!

For abundant sunshine, crystal blue waters, fresh mountain air and a plethora of options for romance, couples will find that Lake Tahoe is the place where dreams come true.