Given Lake Tahoe's popularity and natural beauty, is it any surprise that its vacation real estate offers superior value? And with nearly 71 miles of mountainous shoreline, thousands of second homes in this idyllic spot boast views of the water. Add to that the ample activities that Lake Tahoe offers visitors year-round, and it's easy to understand why Tahoe is an ideal place to own a second home.
Name your favorite season and outdoor sport, and you will most likely find it in Lake Tahoe. With anywhere between 125 and 500 inches of snow annually, world-class ski resorts attract the winter sport lovers, while the same mountains and lake offers phenomenal hiking, fishing, water-skiing, and teeing-off at championship golf resorts in the summer.
Located in the heart of the Sierra Nevada mountain region, Lake Tahoe is one of the deepest lakes in the United States. With idyllic blue waters and a visual clarity to a depth of 100 feet, Lake Tahoe borders the state of Nevada to the east and California to the west. While visitors are drawn to the Nevada side of the lake for gambling in the many casinos, the California side draws multitudes of outdoor enthusiasts.
And because Lake Tahoe sits less than 200 miles from San Francisco, and only 100 miles from Sacramento, it's a popular escape for California vacationers. Temperatures average a crisp 38 degrees in the winter, but can hover in the 90s during the summer months.
The famed lake was first discovered 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.
Its southern shores are home to South Lake Tahoe, where a festive nightlife and access to resorts such as Heavenly Ski resort attracts a number of San Francisco tourists. The northern shores exhibit a small-town feel with access to resorts such as Squaw Valley and historic communities such as Truckee.
