Beaches, ski resorts, bars, restaurants, picnic areas, casinos, and the clearest blue waters you will ever see—South Lake Tahoe has it all. There’s never a bad season to visit this beautiful community; there’s always something for everyone here. From ski trips during winter to cruising in Lake Tahoe or the Big Blue during summer, South Lake Tahoe truly never disappoints. Lake Tahoe itself is dubbed as America’s Year-Round Playground, and it consistently lives up to the name.
Aside from the fantastic view and access to the Big Blue, there are plenty of things to do in South Lake Tahoe, may it be above or below the surface. With its beautiful sceneries of nature, euphoric nightlife, and raving concerts under the stars, boredom does not have a place to stay in this ever-dynamic city.
Visit South Lake Tahoe in the summer for a jam-packed hiking trip and end it with a splash after going on a boat to Emerald Bay. During spring, visit the city and enlighten yourself with Tahoe’s exquisite golf courses or paddle around the lake to unwind. During fall, the city prides itself on its outstanding opportunities for mountain biking. When winter comes, treat yourselves to a stay in the city’s world-renowned resorts such as Kirkwood Resort, Heavenly Mountain Resort, and Sierra-at-Tahoe. Participate in their sledding, snowshoeing, and snowmobiling events, among many other things. Add to that, you may even fish in Lake Tahoe all year round. That being said, South Lake Tahoe will never run out of things to offer while you are here!
Lake Tahoe is a kind of heaven for all freshwater anglers, with the endless fishing possibilities that it offers. It is crystal clear as the blue sky above Lake Tahoe almost looks like it’s too good to be true. Being one of the biggest lakes in the United States, it serves as a humongous habitat for trout species of all colors; namely, lake trout or mackinaw trout, rainbow trout, kokanee salmon, brown trout, and cutthroat trout. Not only that, you may even find yourself catching a couple of largemouth bass, crappie, bluegill, mountain whitefish, and goldfish while circling the lake.
Among these fish species, the lake trout emerges as the most-sought fish by anglers when fishing here, and it helps that it is available in Lake Tahoe all year round. The lake can be accessed through multiple entry points and hotspots, such as in Emerald Bay, Donner Lake, Truckee River, and the Zephyr Cove. Most of these are sweet spots for catching monster-sized mackinaws, primarily when you troll here on a windy day.
If you are a fan of trolling, fly fishing, drift fishing, and jigging techniques, then Lake Tahoe is the place to be.
Considered a National Natural Landmark, the Emerald Bay State Park lies on a small section of Lake Tahoe’s western shore, surrounded by picturesque landscapes of granite hillsides with a tiny islet right at the center. Vikingsholm, a Scandinavian-style castle that overlooks the shallow blue-green waters of the Emerald Bay, can be toured by visitors from the Memorial Day Weekend up to September. For a beautiful bird’s eye view of the bay, you may check the Inspiration Point.
Prepare your dancing shoes, for South Lake Tahoe holds its annual concert series in the Lake Tahoe Outdoor Arena with world-renowned musicians accompanied by incredible views! Famous artists who have already performed here include Lady Gaga, Paul Simon, and The Who, among many others. The parking lot’s transformed into one of the largest venues you will ever be in during summer, and it’s the perfect place to spend the hottest days and nights of the year!