Bonding During a Lake Tahoe Vacation

Going on a trip with your family is supposed to give everyone a chance to bond and what better way to do that but to go on a Lake Tahoe vacation.

Lake Tahoe which is in the northern part of California has a lot to offer to its visitors. It was once host to the winter Olympics and to this day, is considered to be one of the best skiing destinations in the world.

To enjoy the snow, you can choose from one of seven ski resorts. You can even rent their equipment if you did not bring your own. Some of these places even give lessons to beginners and have other activities for you to enjoy such as snowboarding, tubing and riding a snowmobile.

Another family bonding activity you can do with your family is hiking. Lake Tahoe has hundreds of trails to choose from and some of these are short while others are long. Take for instance the hiking trail at Eagles Lake. This one is 2 mile long and you have to cross a steel footbridge to get from one end to the other. You can hike alone or hike with a guide.

You can also go biking since there are trails in and around the city. These are maintained by the Tahoe City Public Utility District and Caltrans fund. The best part is that these are all paved so you won’t have that much difficulty expect perhaps when you are going uphill. You can rent bikes from various shops around the lake.

Fishing is another activity you can do with your family. You can do this in lakes that are open all year round like in the Boca Reservoir, Donner Lake, Lake Tahoe, the Prosser and the Stampede Reservoir.

Chances are, this may be your first time to Lake Tahoe and you would like to see the different places. To do that, you can sign up for a guided tour and visit the sights which includes the setting where the famous show Bonanza was recorded especially when it was such a big hit during the 1950’s and 1960’s.

You can take pictures and bring home some souvenirs.  A lot of people do that which is quite normal when you are just visiting.

One activity you can also do by the lake is cruising. There are two cruises to choose from namely the Tahoe Queen and the M.S. Dixie II. Both ships cruise around the lake for 2 hours daily. It also serves dinner on board. The M.S. Dixie II offers the dinner cruise on Wednesdays while the Tahoe Queen offers this on Saturdays.

As for places to stay in Lake Tahoe, you can always check in a hotel or rent a townhouse, condominium or home. The rates are nightly and if there are none around, you can always camp in the woods as long as you brought your tent along.

Bonding with your family does not always have to cost a fortune since there are a few simple things that you can do together. Skiing, hiking, fishing, biking and eating are just some of the things you can do should you decide to go on Lake Tahoe vacation. So discuss the idea of coming here the next time everyone is available.

Be a Smart Tourist During Your Lake Tahoe Vacation

Anywhere you go around the world, it always pays to know what to do and sometimes all it takes is common sense, so be a smart tourist during your Lake Tahoe vacation.

First time tourists usually fall prey to ‘unsuspecting’ circumstances like waiting in line for hours just to get a meal, or get frustrated over exaggerated offers for good deals on trips and vacation packages or sometimes even end up on a lonely resort without even a slightest hint of what was offered for the ‘price-buster package.’

All too commonly, Lake Tahoe visitors fall prey into common time-wasters and fun-busters, it could be the result of a lot of things but one thing’s for sure, the primary reason for such a predicament will always have to be about poor planning.

It’s either they are stuck in gridlock due to a possible rush of vacationers in getting to their desired vacation spot, or basking at South Lake Tahoe sunburned yet miserable due to some  or  waiting in queue at world-famous restaurants for hours on end.

But truth be told, sometimes all it takes is just some common sense and carefully planned activities to let you enjoy your Lake Tahoe vacation.

Being a smart tourist does not only keep you away from the hassles of messing up your vacation, it also helps you enjoy more and even get to spend less money.

Here are some of the best tips to apply that would try and make things easy for you, rest assured this is not rocket science.

It pays to get organized, especially in making sure that you do not get lost.
When planning your activities around Lake Tahoe, use a map to locate everything you want to see, and plan your route in advance. Otherwise, you may spend unnecessary time back-tracking around the lake.

To avoid getting unusually burned, make sure you check out for a sunscreen test. It’s as simple as taking along a sunscreen when going outdoors, preferably with a higher SPF (Sun Protection Factor).
The reason for this is the intense heat of the sun since yolu are at an altitude of no less than 6,000 feet above sea level.

If you should drink alcohol, drink it in moderation.

The effects of alcohol are greater at 6,000 feet, so better watch out if you are driving around.

Avoid the rush, since Lake Tahoe is busier in summer than in winter.
Same goes with the fact that there are more visitors on weekends than on week days.
 If possible, plan your getaway on a weekday since most hotels prices take a nosedive during Sunday nights and vacancies can be found everywhere.

If you are planning to have dinner in one of the famous restaurants in Lake Tahoe, make sure to have dinner reservations beforehand, especially on the North Shore area on Friday and Saturday nights.

You have to be sure to have something to keep you warm during outdoor activities during nighttime.

Nights are extraordinarily cool even during summer nights at Lake Tahoe, so bring a warm jacket and a pair of long pants to pull on over your shorts.

Avoid annoying traffic, especially at the South Lake Tahoe area by taking advantage of the Blue Tahoe Trolley and Emerald Bay Shuttle.

Those are some of the common tips on how to be a smart tourist during your Lake Tahoe vacation, guaranteed it will save you money, time and effort in doing so.

An All-in-One Lake Tahoe Vacation

Whether it be an extreme sporting adventure, a family retreat or a serene solitary getaway, an all-in-one Lake Tahoe vacation has it all.

Lake Tahoe, nestled in the Sierra Nevada mountains, is one of today’s finest vacation destinations around the United States and is located along the border between California and Nevada.

Tahoe’s depth is 1,645 feet and makes it America’s second deepest freshwater body and the largest alpine lake in North America.

Historically, the lake was formed around 2 million years ago and forms part of the Lake Tahoe basin, for which the lake has been shaped during the Ice Ages.

One of Lake Tahoe’s distinct features is the clarity of its water and the breathtaking view of the surrounding mountains.

The lake is one of the most popular tourist attractions, both from domestic and international tourists.

Lake Tahoe also plays host to a broad range of year-round activities and sporting adventures, including a significant number of ski resorts, a wide variety of tourist attractions and summer outdoor recreation resorts and facilities.

For nature lovers, Lake Tahoe boasts of its mountain and lake scenery attractions that remain unchanged throughout the year.

The Nevada side of Lake Tahoe also includes large casinos where highways provide year-round access from Reno, Carson City and Sacramento, California.

Approximately no less than two-thirds of the shoreline belongs to California and the  south shore is dominated by the lake's largest city called South Lake Tahoe, California.

It is then bordered along Stateline, Nevada, while Tahoe City, California is located on the lake's northwest shore.

Although the lake’s highways run along much of Lake Tahoe’s shorelines, most areas still lie within the jurisdiction of the United States Forest Service and are declared protected zones.
For starters, basic tourism information can be obtained from Lake Tahoe's many tourism and travel guides, both online and published travel materials.

Lake Tahoe vacationers can find good deals on Lake Tahoe hotels and vacation rentals, depending on budget and preferences, with hundreds of lodging options from economy and moderate hotels, motels, full service luxury resorts, casinos, inns, cabins and luxury vacation rentals.
There are also plenty of incredible ski resorts, golf courses, beaches, hiking & biking trails, camping, fishing and boating options and restaurants that make Lake Tahoe one of the best and most sought-after vacation spots in the world.

Apart from just being a mountain and lake attraction, Lake Tahoe boasts of year round weather and climate scenes that provide any avid extreme sport enthusiast with a good skiing environment, as well as an appropriate water environment for a water sport adventurer.

Lake Tahoe never freezes at any time of the year and is a good vacation venue for a well-deserved family vacation or even just a simple weekend getaway from all the hustles and bustles of everyday metropolitan life.
Lake Tahoe is accessible by car under ideal conditions within 2 hours from the Sacramento, California area or take a 1 hour ride from Reno or 30 minutes from Carson City.

During the winter months, chains or snow tires are often necessary to reach Tahoe from any direction.

Traffic can be considered heavy during weekends because of tourists taking a weekend break.

Lake Tahoe will remain to be one of the best tourist spots in the world and surely, one will not have the chance to regret having a, all-in-one Lake Tahoe vacation.

A Helicopter Ride Is Just What You Need As Part of Your Lake Tahoe Vacation

It is not everyday that you can go on vacation. When you do, you should make the most of it and one way to do that is to put a helicopter ride as part of your itinerary when you plan your Lake Tahoe vacation.

If you decide to go for it, you have to drive yourself to the Lake Tahoe airport where the helicopter will be waiting. You will be riding a 2004 Robinson R44 Raven II that is considered to be one of the safest and quietest helicopters in the industry.

The maximum number of passengers for the helicopter ride is 2 with a maximum of three. The person riding must not weigh more than 250 pounds otherwise this could cause problems when the helicopter is in the air.

Each seat is made of leather and so you are able to talk with one another while airborne, you will be provided Active Noise Reduction headsets throughout the flight.

The cost of the helicopter ride varies. While the regular rate is $60 for adults and $47 for children, you will also have to pay an additional surcharge on fuel.

For instance, for a 10 minute ride near Emerald Bay and the casino, you will have to add $5 per person. For a South Shore Tour that lasts 20 minutes, you will add $10 per person. If you go to Sand Harbor which is a 30 minute ride, you will have to add $30 per person. If you want to see Lake Tahoe and going to and from the airport is 45 minutes, you will have to pay an additional $20 per person while the sunset tour that is an hour’s flight time, you will have to add $25 per person.

Since you are only a passenger on board the helicopter, the pilot is the person in command. He or she who has flown hundreds of hours has the final word when it comes to accepting who goes on the ride, how long the length the flight time will be and if it is safe to fly based on the weather conditions.

If you can’t make your helicopter ride, you are advised to call them at least 24 hours before. But if you do not show up without calling in advance, you will still be charged the full amount of the tour originally booked.

It is only when the helicopter ride has to be cancelled due to weather conditions or maintenance that they will reschedule your tour.

Aside from going on a tour in Lake Tahoe, the helicopter company that offers this also has other packages to choose from. You can do some aerial photography or enroll in a program in basic or advanced flight training.

For those who want to tie the knot and do something different, they can say their wedding vows and be pronounced husband and wife if you avail of their package.

A helicopter ride isn’t something you can do everyday so you should make the most of it should you deicide to go on a Lake Tahoe Vacation. It’s exciting when you are hundreds of feet from the air and you are still able to look down and see the spectacular view of the sights below.

Windansea Beach

Past all of La Jolla's ritzy homes, hotels, and well
known restaurants, lies Windansea Beach.  Down the
hill, this beach is flanked by surfers and sunbathers
on hot summer days.  With sandstone cliffs, a sandy
beach, and amazing surf breaks, Windansea Beach has
been a popular surfing haunt as far back as the 1940s
and a gathering spot of the Windansea Surf Club since
the 1960s.

The shack on the beach that was built by surfers during
World War 2 is now a San Diego Historic site.  The
beach is also great for body surfing and snorkeling.
The north end of Windansea is fairly rocky, with the
south being sandier, great for walking along the edge
of the water.  You can also enjoy a picnic in the
grass next to the beach and bask in the splendid views
of the Pacific Ocean.

At Windansea Beach, there are no restrooms.  During
the summer months, lifeguards are stationed all along
the beach, even in some weekends of fall and spring.
There are separate swim and surf zones at the beach,
with no wheelchair access.  When you visit, you can
park on the street or try the tiny single lot near
the beach.

Getting to the beach
You can find Windansea around 6800 Neptune Place.
From the north, follow I-5 south to the Genesee
Avenue exit then head west.  Turn left on Torrey Pines
Road and follow the road into downtown La Jolla.
Turn left on Girad Avenue then take a right on Pearl
Street.  Take a left onto La Jolla Boulevard then
make the right on Nautilus Street and your there.

From the south, follow I-5 north to the Ardath Road
exit, Ardath Road will become Torrey Pines Road.  Take
a left from Torrey Pines Road onto Girad Avenue.
Make a right onto Pearl Street then take a left onto
La Jolla Boulevard.  Take the next right on Nautilus
Street and your there.

Windansea is possibly one of the most beautiful
beaches in Southern California - and a great place
for romantic strolls at sunset.  Parents should
use caution with small children at the beach, as the
surf often breaks directly onto the shore with a
lot of intimidating power.

If you plan to visit the Windansea Beach, you should
make sure you get there early.  As with most beaches
in San Diego, getting there early will help you
get the best parking and more privacy when the crowds
start to arrive.  Windansea is a very amazing beach,
and worth your time on hot summer days.