Car Hire Lake Tahoe - Mini guide to Lake Tahoe

One of the highest, largest, deepest, cleanest and coldest lakes in the world, Lake Tahoe is perched high above California Gold Country in an alpine bowl of forested granite peaks. The lake lures weekenders from the San Francisco Bay Area and beyond, with sunny beaches in the summer, snow-covered slopes in the winter and bustling casinos year round.

Tahoe City, the hub on the lake's northwestern shore, retains its laid-back relaxed atmosphere despite the volume of tourists basing themselves there every year. The city is situated on Lake Tahoe's only outlet, the Truckee River, which is popular for rafting during the summer.

The Gatekeeper's Cabin Museum, at the mouth of the river, contains a well-presented hodgepodge of artefacts from the 19th century, and has a good collection of native basketware. For a spectacular panorama of the lake, hike to the top of Eagle Rock. Chamber’s beach provides an excellent location for swimming and water sports, while to the west lies Squaw Valley, a premier ski resort and host to the 1960 Winter Olympics.

South Lake Tahoe, the lakeside's largest community, is home to ranks of restaurants, modest motels, and pine-bound cottages which stand in stark contrast to the high-rise gambling dens of Stateline, just across the border in Nevada. The area abounds in beautiful hiking trails, parks and beaches, typified by the shores of Emerald Bay State Park and Sugar Pine Point State Park.

The 120-kilometre drive around the lake is often touted as the ‘most beautiful drive in America’, and while it falls somewhat short of the mark, it is nonetheless a rewarding and relaxing experience full of superb scenery.

For an alternative perspective of the lake, take one of the paddlewheel boat cruises or hire your own powerboat, sailboat or kayak. Other recreational activities include: horseback riding, mountain biking, four-wheel driving, hiking, golfing, cross country skiing, and snowmobiling.

There is no shortage of entertainment on the lakeside, with plenty of fine resorts, lively bars and excellent restaurants available. The lake has inspired its own cultural scene, with the many local artists represented by several excellent galleries running almost continuous art festivals during the summer, such as the Sand Harbor Shakespeare Festival in August.