A Postcard from North Lake Tahoe, California
With clear blue skies and sun sparkling like crystals on the snow, Tahoe gives a whole new meaning to winter. We've skied, sledded, and enjoyed great conversation around the evening fires. It just may be time to claim our spot here; then we get to enjoy it all year round!

  

About North Lake Tahoe, California
Name your favorite season and outdoor sport, and you most likely will find it at Lake Tahoe. World class ski resorts attract the winter sport lovers, while the same mountains and lake offers phenomenal hiking and swimming in the summer. There are over 15 ski resorts there, including the site of the 1960 Winter Olympics. With over 125 inches of snow annually, it's no surprise that the Lake Tahoe area offers some of the best snowskiing and snowboarding. When the snow melts, there are several championship golf resorts and some of the best hiking and mountain biking trails in the Tahoe basin. With all that to do, having a second home here makes great sense.

Gaming is well-contained on the Nevada side of North Lake Tahoe, keeping the California side relatively quieter and oriented towards family and outdoor vacation homes. The active nightclub life found at South Lake Tahoe and Reno is accessible but "not in my backyard". A slower, small town pace dominates this northern ski area, where the pull is the slopes. A slightly younger age is also here. Its "a great spot for snowboarders from San Francisco".

Good locations for second homes on the North Shore of Lake Tahoe, California include Kings Beach, Truckee, Tahoe Vista, Carnelian Bay and Tahoe City. Squaw Valley, Sugar Bowl and Alpine Meadows are the major ski destinations here.

Local History
Tahoe history goes back 10,000 years when Indians lived on the shores of the Lake, which they named "da-ow". Later anglicized to Tahoe, the lake was first scene by explorers in 1844 and by 1890 was a favorite resort area for people from San Francisco and nearby cities. Its continued growth in popularity took a quantum leap when the 1960 Winter Olympics at Squaw Valley brought international renown to its first class skiing. The Lake itself was formed five to 10 million years ago by the rising and falling of the land due to the shifting of geologic faults. Over 29 miles long, the lake is 99.1 percent pure, allowing objects at 100 feet to be clearly visible from the surface.

An Average Lifestyle
Rustic mountain cabins create a serene setting for those looking for a retreat setting, far from the maddening crowd. Most of the people who come to North Lake Tahoe are active and eager to engage in the outdoors, winter or summer. Winter and summer months attract the most number of visitors, with the beauties of spring and fall reserved for those lucky enough to own homes here.

Housing
Housing options: Many of the properties in the North Lake Tahoe area are high-end condos and townhouses, though still costing less per square foot than a comparable place in resorts such as Aspen.

Median Housing Value: (Kings Beach, Census 2000): $202,400 (Tahoe Vista) $269,000

Things to Do
• Camp in one of the six state parks
• Downhill Ski at one of the 14 ski-slopes in the area
• Cross country ski at 10 different ski resorts with groomed trails.
• Enjoy Ice Skating, Sledding, Snowmobiling, Snowshoeing and Sleigh Rides in the alpine forests
• Take to the mountain roads for superb mountain biking
• Hike or Climb the renowned peaks of the area (Granite peaks rise to over 10,000 feet)
• Go boating on the vast expanse of the lake
• Swim in the crystal clear deep blue water
• Golf at one of the 13 golf courses

Near-By Excursions
• Reno, Nevada is about an hour and a half drive, where casinos and luxury hotels are available

Cultural Events
• Lake Tahoe Shakespeare Theater, Sand Harbor, NV during the summer
• Lake Tahoe Music festival with name musicians every summer
• Visit one of the 11 museums in the area

Location
The Lake Tahoe Basin is located along the border of California and Nevada bound by the Sierra Nevada to the west and the Carson Range to the east.
Elevation: Average 6,225 ft above seal level, with mountain peaks up to 10,067 feet.
Size: The lake itself has 71 miles of shoreline

Getting There
10 Airlines serve the Reno-Tahoe International Airport. In addition, Greyhound bus services the area, and there is an excellent local Transit system.

Distance to other major cities
Carson City, Nevada: 20 miles
Sacramento: 110 miles
Stockton: 152 miles
San Francisco: 188 miles

Weather
Average days of sunshine per year: 274
Average amount of snow: 125 inches per year
Average Temperature in January:38
Average Temperature in July; 93

Demographics and Economics
Population: Tahoe Basin: 65,000; Kings Beach: 4037; Tahoe Vista: 36.3Placer County: 248,399
Median Age: 29.2 (Kings Beach)
Median Household Income: $35,507

Major Industries
Local economy depends chiefly on tourist income, with Summer and Winter being the high income months.  The transition seasons of fall and spring are enjoyed more by the year-round residents.  Major employers are casinos, resorts and lodging.  Wedding services are one of the popular services offered by local chapels and resorts.