Packing List for your Winter Lake Tahoe Vacation

A packing list for your winter Lake Tahoe vacation would be the best solution for you if you are planning to have a winter getaway of skiing or snowboarding activity at Lake Tahoe.

Skiing and snowboarding enthusiasts know what to bring along, but for first time snow sporting fans, here is a checklist of what to bring along.

This checklist will also be useful for anyone, especially on basic items one needs to bring along regardless of whether you are out for a snow sporting getaway, or simply enjoying the Lake Tahoe outdoors during winter.

For skiers and snowboarders, of course, you need to tag along your Alpine and Nordic Skis, Boots and Poles, as well as snowboards and boots, helmets, ice skates and snowshoes.

For clothing and footwear, one should need to bring along a waterproof jacket or parka, waterproof pants or shells (to wear over a warm base layer), breathable under layers (long underwear, non-cotton fabrics to prevent from absorbing melted snow subjected to body heat), fleece, sweaters, turtlenecks, gloves/mittens, neck gaiter, hat or helmet, ski or snowboard socks, goggles and sunglasses.

Be sure to pack extra layers of clothing to accommodate for the mountain climate, since the weather can change quickly.

For those who may not want to lug along bulky equipment, a lot of rental shops offer offers ski and snowboard rentals, overnight equipment storage, and season-long
lockers for those who don’t want to worry about transporting their gear to and from the mountain.

For your basic winter needs after skiing or riding the snow, you may need to have with you long pants, sweaters, warm jacket, casual shoes, warm socks, snow boots, warm base layer undergarments, scarf, warm sleepwear, accessories and casual wear

Here are other key items you may need to have handy with you like sunscreen, lip balm, aloe cream, sunglasses, eye glasses or contact lenses, camera and film or digital camera and batteries, medical insurance cards, credit cards, cash or travelers checks, ID or Driver’s License, travel alarm, prescriptions or medications, itineraries and confirmations, maps and directions, bathing suit, baby’s needs, diapers, swim diapers, address book, story books for bedtime, games for the ride, toothbrush/toothpaste, cosmetics, spare car key and ski tickets or passes.

Here’s a helpful tip, pack ski tickets or passes with ski or snowboard boots so they won’t be forgotten.

Other handy things that would be nice to have along would be a CD or MP3 player, CDs, headphones and batteries,  DVD’s, guidebooks and brochures and pillows for the ride.

Finally, before leaving home for the vacation, make sure that you leave a trip itinerary, contact info, spare house and car key with your neighbor or a relative, arrange for your mail and newspapers to be picked up, turn off gas lights and water, lock all windows and doors, arrange for pet care and water the plants.

And if you are traveling with children you should allow for extra travel time and be flexible - plan to make frequent stops, bring water and snacks, bring along wipes or a towel handy in car for messes and spills, ensure that car seat is properly installed, bring toys and games to keep children occupied during the long trip and show your child photographs of your destination to get your child excited about your vacation.

So take note of this packing list for your winter LakeTahoe vacation, you will definitely need it.

Have a Taste of Hollywood on your Lake Tahoe Vacation

Who would ever have thought that you can have a taste of Hollywood on your Lake Tahoe vacation?

A lot of big screen films and television shows have been to various filming locations in the majestic Lake Tahoe, and who among Hollywood’s biggest names in tinseltown could resist the beauty of Lake Tahoe.

Indeed, only to name some, the famous Ponderosa Ranch of the TV series Bonanza is actually located on the Nevada side of Lake Tahoe.

And another bit of film trivia is that the opening sequence of the famed TV series was filmed at the McFaul Creek Meadow with the beautiful Mount Tallac in the background.

In the highly acclaimed motion picture The Godfather Part II, the Corleone family lived in a compound on the shores of the Nevada side of Lake Tahoe.

In one of the famous scenes during the final minutes of the film, Fredo Corleone is taken out onto the lake for a fishing trip, on the orders of his brother Michael (Al Pacino) to be executed for treachery, where Michael stands by the shore watching the deed being done.

The house and grounds portrayed in the film are also located on the California side of Lake Tahoe in the summer estate of Henry Kaiser known as Fleur du Lac.

The only structures used in the movie that still remain are the complex of old native stone boathouses with wrought iron gates.

And although Fleur du Lac is private property and no one is allowed ashore there, the boathouses and multi-million dollar condominiums are easily viewed from the lake.

In the film Smoking Aces, most of the scenes were filmed in South Lake Tahoe and Stateline.

Many of the hotels and casinos are visible in the film with their older names. The climactic scenes of the 1987 Charles Bronson film Assassination were filmed around Lake Tahoe.

Top Gear a British TV program on state-of-the-art cars and gadgetry filmed one entire episode at Lake Tahoe sometime this year.

Located between the borders of California and Nevada, Lake Tahoe boasts of over 300 days of warm sunshine,  396 inches of annual snowfall, 18 world-class ski and snowboarding resorts, incredible golf courses,  fantastic hotels, casinos and many, many more.

For a relaxing and romantic getaway, one can find many romantic destinations that boast of world-class service, elegant decors and scenery, superb cuisine and a wide array of choices to select from. From five star to first class, standard and deluxe, even economy accommodations, a large number of hotel and motel establishments are more than willing to provide free information about Lake Tahoe and how it could be best enjoyed.

And this is how Lake Tahoe has indeed captivated filmmakers and movie buffs alike.

So now you can also have a teste of Hollywood in your Lake Tahoe vacation

Bonding During a Lake Tahoe Vacation

Going on a trip with your family is supposed to give everyone a chance to bond and what better way to do that but to go on a Lake Tahoe vacation.

Lake Tahoe which is in the northern part of California has a lot to offer to its visitors. It was once host to the winter Olympics and to this day, is considered to be one of the best skiing destinations in the world.

To enjoy the snow, you can choose from one of seven ski resorts. You can even rent their equipment if you did not bring your own. Some of these places even give lessons to beginners and have other activities for you to enjoy such as snowboarding, tubing and riding a snowmobile.

Another family bonding activity you can do with your family is hiking. Lake Tahoe has hundreds of trails to choose from and some of these are short while others are long. Take for instance the hiking trail at Eagles Lake. This one is 2 mile long and you have to cross a steel footbridge to get from one end to the other. You can hike alone or hike with a guide.

You can also go biking since there are trails in and around the city. These are maintained by the Tahoe City Public Utility District and Caltrans fund. The best part is that these are all paved so you won’t have that much difficulty expect perhaps when you are going uphill. You can rent bikes from various shops around the lake.

Fishing is another activity you can do with your family. You can do this in lakes that are open all year round like in the Boca Reservoir, Donner Lake, Lake Tahoe, the Prosser and the Stampede Reservoir.

Chances are, this may be your first time to Lake Tahoe and you would like to see the different places. To do that, you can sign up for a guided tour and visit the sights which includes the setting where the famous show Bonanza was recorded especially when it was such a big hit during the 1950’s and 1960’s.

You can take pictures and bring home some souvenirs.  A lot of people do that which is quite normal when you are just visiting.

One activity you can also do by the lake is cruising. There are two cruises to choose from namely the Tahoe Queen and the M.S. Dixie II. Both ships cruise around the lake for 2 hours daily. It also serves dinner on board. The M.S. Dixie II offers the dinner cruise on Wednesdays while the Tahoe Queen offers this on Saturdays.

As for places to stay in Lake Tahoe, you can always check in a hotel or rent a townhouse, condominium or home. The rates are nightly and if there are none around, you can always camp in the woods as long as you brought your tent along.

Bonding with your family does not always have to cost a fortune since there are a few simple things that you can do together. Skiing, hiking, fishing, biking and eating are just some of the things you can do should you decide to go on Lake Tahoe vacation. So discuss the idea of coming here the next time everyone is available.

A Helicopter Ride Is Just What You Need As Part of Your Lake Tahoe Vacation

It is not everyday that you can go on vacation. When you do, you should make the most of it and one way to do that is to put a helicopter ride as part of your itinerary when you plan your Lake Tahoe vacation.

If you decide to go for it, you have to drive yourself to the Lake Tahoe airport where the helicopter will be waiting. You will be riding a 2004 Robinson R44 Raven II that is considered to be one of the safest and quietest helicopters in the industry.

The maximum number of passengers for the helicopter ride is 2 with a maximum of three. The person riding must not weigh more than 250 pounds otherwise this could cause problems when the helicopter is in the air.

Each seat is made of leather and so you are able to talk with one another while airborne, you will be provided Active Noise Reduction headsets throughout the flight.

The cost of the helicopter ride varies. While the regular rate is $60 for adults and $47 for children, you will also have to pay an additional surcharge on fuel.

For instance, for a 10 minute ride near Emerald Bay and the casino, you will have to add $5 per person. For a South Shore Tour that lasts 20 minutes, you will add $10 per person. If you go to Sand Harbor which is a 30 minute ride, you will have to add $30 per person. If you want to see Lake Tahoe and going to and from the airport is 45 minutes, you will have to pay an additional $20 per person while the sunset tour that is an hour’s flight time, you will have to add $25 per person.

Since you are only a passenger on board the helicopter, the pilot is the person in command. He or she who has flown hundreds of hours has the final word when it comes to accepting who goes on the ride, how long the length the flight time will be and if it is safe to fly based on the weather conditions.

If you can’t make your helicopter ride, you are advised to call them at least 24 hours before. But if you do not show up without calling in advance, you will still be charged the full amount of the tour originally booked.

It is only when the helicopter ride has to be cancelled due to weather conditions or maintenance that they will reschedule your tour.

Aside from going on a tour in Lake Tahoe, the helicopter company that offers this also has other packages to choose from. You can do some aerial photography or enroll in a program in basic or advanced flight training.

For those who want to tie the knot and do something different, they can say their wedding vows and be pronounced husband and wife if you avail of their package.

A helicopter ride isn’t something you can do everyday so you should make the most of it should you deicide to go on a Lake Tahoe Vacation. It’s exciting when you are hundreds of feet from the air and you are still able to look down and see the spectacular view of the sights below.

Your Ideal Lake Tahoe Vacation

Image Source: travelenvogue.com

Planning for your ideal Lake Tahoe adventure? How to get there is not as difficult as it seems.

Whether it be a solitary getaway, a family weekend, a couple’s retreat or a few days of sporting adventure, then Lake Tahoe has it all.
Lake Tahoe is reputed to be the perfect year round vacation and wedding destination with relatively stable weather conditions, breathtaking scenery and a variety of environments suitable for a wide range of sporting activities.

Located between the borders of California and Nevada, Lake Tahoe boasts of over 300 days of warm sunshine,  396 inches of annual snowfall, 18 world-class ski and snowboarding resorts, incredible golf courses,  fantastic hotels, casinos and many, many more.

There are several ways of getting to Lake Tahoe since there a big 3 US air carriers that all serve the Reno-Tahoe International Airport such as American Airlines, United Airlines, Delta Airlines, as well as stop-overs by Continental, Northwest, Alaska, Frontier and Southwest.

From the airport rental cars and express bus service are the best way to travel to the lake.

Another good travel option is to arrange for shuttle service from the hotel you are staying in.

Driving time to the north shore is about 45 minutes, and 90 minutes to the south.

Winter storms are common and it’s easy to get caught unprepared, as Lake Tahoe weather quickly changes from clear skies to blizzards.
Winter and summer storms are usually common from September through June and drivers should be sure they have chains with them to tie around the tires especially when passing through snow-drenched roads high up in the alps.

The shoreline is now abuzz with casinos on the Nevada side of the lake.
One of the most notable is the Cal-Neva Lodge, which was famous for hosting the rich and famous.

Frank Sinatra, once a part owner, and Marylin Monroe were common faces here, while former president John F. Kennedy also enjoyed spending time at this famous establishment.

For a relaxing and romantic getaway, one can find many romantic destinations that boast of world-class service, elegant decors and scenery, superb cuisine and a wide array of choices to select from.
There’s usually a steady stream of live shows on the south shore at Harrah’s, Caesars, and at some of the other establishments near by.

So, whether  you plan to go skiing, mountain biking, paying golf or simply relaxing and enjoying the breathtaking view, experience the enjoyment of your Lake Tahoe vacation.
Proper planning is key to make you enjoy your vacation. From what things to pack, how to save time and money, preparing for high altitudes, it does help a lot to make your vacation as hassle-free and enjoyable as possible.

You can save money with Lodging Packages and Deal, and still enjoy a worthwhile vacation at Lake Tahoe at lesser costs.

Many resorts and hotels offer a variety of pre-arranged packages that include activities, lodging and often meals, all for one low price.
Many resorts also have recreational facilities that could help make your stay enjoyable and worthwhile, if you are not a, outdoor junkie or would just like to just take a break from the busy routines of everyday living.
These resorts provide complimentary access to recreational facilities including swimming pools, gyms, spas, playgrounds, ski and sledding lessons and a whole lot more families on vacation will enjoy.

So try and make this your ideal Lake Tahoe vacation, how to get there is just as easy a pie.