All the Lake Tahoe holiday resorts are dedicated to ensuring their guests have a whale of a time, both on and off the ski slopes, with a staggering amount of activities on offer. Besides the 15 alpine and 13 cross-country ski areas available, snow fun can be had skating, snow-mobiling, snow-shoeing, ice climbing, sleigh riding, ballooning or even playing snow golf. Indoors there are spa treatments to be enjoyed, casino games to play, rock walls, bowling alleys, movie shows and organised entertainment of all sorts. In summertime the Lake Tahoe menu expands to include every imaginable outdoor pursuit, including kayaking on the lake and sunbathing on the beaches.

English is the most common language but Spanish is often spoken in south-western states.

The US Dollar (USD) is the unit of currency and is divided into 100 cents. Only major banks exchange foreign currency. ATMs are widespread and credit cards and travellers cheques are widely accepted. Travellers cheques should be taken in US Dollars to avoid hassles. Banking hours are Monday to Friday 9am to 3pm.

Unless you are approaching it from the East Coast, Lake Tahoe is a little tricky to get to.

Whatever takes your fancy in the way of living it up is available in Lake Tahoe, from gambling or shooting pool, to kicking up your heels in an Irish pub, or watching a raunchy cabaret show. The numerous casinos, concentrated on the south shore, are the venue for non-stop action way beyond the tables and slot machines, in satellite bars, clubs, restaurants and lounges. For those into the pub scene, at Mulligan's Irish Pub in Lake Tahoe Boulevard it's happy hour all the time. McP's Pub Tahoe on the south shore features live music every night year-round. One of the hottest Lake Tahoe clubs is VEX, in Harrah's Casino, offering great drinks, music and dancing till the early hours. Boost nightclub can be found at Bill's Lake Tahoe Casino and is also a late night favourite.

With literally hundreds of restaurants and eateries to select from in the Lake Tahoe area, the main problem for hungry holidaymakers is what to choose. Most are well satisfied with the top quality restaurants in their particular resorts, but the options are unlimited if one decides to move further afield. A favourite on the south shore is Dory's Oar, offering Californian cuisine with a European influence. Delicious seafood is served at the Fresh Ketch Lakeside Restaurant on the Tahoe Keys Marina. On the north shore in Tahoe City is the casually elegant Christy Hill, and the Wild Goose is also a lovely restaurant. Other Lake Tahoe favourites include Evan's American Gourmet Café and the Tahoe Java Café.

There is an abundance of shops in the holiday resorts and towns around Lake Tahoe, and it is easy to explore them all by making use of the free trolley shuttles and cheap surface transportation options in the area. Great bargains are to be had at the various factory shops in South Lake Tahoe, situated at the junction of Highway 50 and 89. The bustling Swiss-style Cobblestone Center in the centre of Tahoe City and The Boatworks Mall at Tahoe City Marina, North Lake Boulevard, are treasure-troves of interesting stores and galleries. Good buys in the area are gold and silver jewellery, Native American art, crafts, gifts and souvenirs, and of course, outdoor recreational clothing and equipment.