Understand
Lake Tahoe is the largest Alpine Lake in America, and itâs located where California and Nevada meet. South Lake Tahoe offers beautiful views of mountains covered with fir and pine trees, deep blue water year-round, and a wealth of outdoor activities. A popular location for skiers and snowboarders during the snowy winter season, Lake Tahoe is also home to miles of beaches for sun-tanning, boating, water skiing, and swimming in the summer. Both north and south shores offer plenty of hiking and biking trails and retreats for campers. South shore hosts a long stretch of casinosâa virtual paradise for gamblers.
South Lake Tahoe has grown from several smaller towns into one large area consisting of approximately 24,000 permanent residents. The population fluctuates massively in the winter, and three-fold around New Years Eve. There are two main parts of South Lake Tahoe: the Western part of town centered around "The Y" - the X-shaped intersection of US Highway 50, state highway 89; and the Eastern part centered around the CA-NV state border. The former is distinctly residential, and the latter is distinctly commercial - it is the home of all the casinos and larger hotels, and Heavenly's Gondola starts in this area.
Traveling from "The Y" toward stateline, you will see many hotels, resorts and motels alongside the US50, before arriving at 'Heavenly Village' a town center created at the foot of the Heavenly Gondola, comprising shops, restaurants and two Marriott resort hotels. There is also a multi-story parking garage at Heavenly Village.
One block further along US-50, you arrive at the CA/NV Border, and the unincorporated settlement of Stateline, with its four major resort casinos, and two local casinos.
