To help you be a smarter Lake Tahoe tourist, enjoy your trip more and spend less of your hard-earned money doing it, I've compiled some tips:
- Get Organized Not Lost: When planning your Lake Tahoe days, use a map to locate everything you want to see, and then plan your route in advance. Otherwise, you could spend unnecessary time back-tracking around the lake.
- Screen Test: As always when going out in the sun, bring sunscreen. Use a higher SPF than usual; the UV is intense at 6,000 feet. Find out what else you should do before you go to the mountains.
- Drink in Moderation: Alcohol's effects are greater at 6,000 feet, and the police are VERY serious about enforcing drunk-driving laws.
- Avoid Crowds: Lake Tahoe is even busier in summer than in winer. Go during the week if you can. Prices at hotels plunge on Sunday night and there are vacancies everywhere.
- Have Reservations: You may need dinner reservations on the North Shore on Friday and Saturday nights.
- Stay Warm: Even in summer, nights are cool. If you're going to be out after dark, bring a warm jacket and maybe a pair of long pants to pull on over your shorts.
- Avoid Gridlock: At South Lake Tahoe, relieve traffic congestion and take advantage of the Blue Tahoe Trolley and Emerald Bay Shuttle.
