Lake Tahoe is spectacularly beautiful. From the picturesque lake to the lofty pine trees, and stunning mountains, it is gorgeous. If you’re a nature lover, you will like it, but keep in mind that it is also over-crowded, very hot, too expensive and extremely touristy. It reminded me of so many lovely places on this planet that eventually become “the must-see destination,” and before long there’s a McDonalds or KFC on every corner.
It’s Crowded
An estimated 3.2 million people a year visit the Lake Tahoe area every year, and it seems like they were always doing whatever it is I wanted to be doing. Parking can be a real problem, especially finding a place near the lake. Your best bet is to rent one of the LimeBikes (or their electric standing scooter) for only a few bucks an hour. Be careful though, accidents are common and helmets are not.
It’s Too Hot in the Summer
Lake Tahoe
I’m not a fan of sweltering hot weather unless I am out on the water. We were in Tahoe in late July, and it was in the low 90s most days. The Spring or Fall is usually a more comfortable time to visit because it’s less crowded and the temps are bit milder. If you like to snow ski, Tahoe is a favorite place for that in the Winter, but I’m told the lines for the chairlift can be quite long. We also had a couple of smoke-filled days due to wildfires burning in the area, but that is unfortunately becoming much more common during the Summer in many parts of the Pacific Northwest.
It’s Overly Expensive
The Smoke filled sky around Lake Tahoe
Lake Tahoe tends to attract other Californians that need a good place to vacation away from Los Angeles. Because of this, money is tossed around like a football on the beach and everything seems to cost more than it should. From the casinos, to a couple hours out on a boat, I had sticker shock most of the time. For example, to ride the Gondola up to the top of a mountain cost $49 each for about a ten minute ride, and when we got to the top it was so smoky we couldn’t even see the Lake below.
It’s very Touristy
The Gandola ride at Lake Tahoe
Lake Tahoe is quite simply a fun place to take the family for Spring Break or a cool place to party before a wedding. It’s full of every kind of tourist trap you can imagine, from gold panning to zip-lines, magic shows, drive-in wedding chapels, and horse-and-carriage rides. There is no shortage of things to do, as long as you have an endless budget and a lot of patience.
By now you can probably tell that I didn’t particularly enjoy my trip to Lake Tahoe. I think it’s probably a nice place to go if you’re a Californian looking for an escape from L.A., or you are a nature lover that can visit during the off-season and stays away from the more crowded areas. To me, it was over-rated, especially since I already have beautiful lakes and gorgeous mountains in my own backyard.