First time to Lake Tahoe?

Question

What would a first timer, who has never been to that area, need to know about Lake Tahoe; how to reach there, stay and where to go around?

Answer 1

Lake Tahoe is beautiful all year round. You will love it.

Have a look at a map of the lake:
http://www.tahoecam.com/tahoeinfo/tahoemap.html
At the southern tip you can see the location of the airport, Heavenly Mountain Ski Resort and border.

and one of surrounding ares:
http://www.aaccessmaps.com/show/map/tahoe

You didn't mention how you were arriving there.
If you're not driving, Tahoe has an airport. I'm fairly certain Greyhound don't go through there but they would go to Carson City and Reno, no doubt.
There would probably be a local service from those cities to Tahoe.
I have just found a site that has methods of getting to Tahoe with links to Amtrak, the Airport and Greyhound (I was wrong):
http://www.tahoesbest.com/Transportation/

We have been to Tahoe twice and both times stayed at Motel 6 (we were on a budget).
It is a nice large motel, only a couple of miles from Heavenly and the Nevada casinos.
Link below (there is also a photo).
http://www.motel6.com/AccorMaps/(vd4hsors2yfgye55h0n4pv45)/M6ProximityResults.aspx?searchtype=AD
Of course there are other major hotel chains there too (Holiday Inn, Best Western and the casinos).

The links below have great visitors information, links to accommodation and reservations and even a web cam.
http://www.tahoevacationguide.com/Heavenly-Ski-Resort.html

http://www.virtualtahoe.com/

I know you will have a great time there, it's just beautiful!

Answer 2

First: do you want to go in summer or in winter when you have to deal with winter road conditions, snow, ice, etc