Cradled at the base of the Sierra Nevada Mountains, boasting natural wonders and a well-established residential community, south Lake Tahoe could be just the place you've been searching for.

The lake itself covers 193 square miles and contains 39 trillion gallons of waterenough water to sink the entire state of California 14 inches deep, or enough water to supply every person in the United States with 50 gallons per day for the next five years.

Kit Carson and John Fremont were the first white men on the shores of Lake Tahoe. Their arrival in 1844 was swiftly followed by a silver strike in the 1860s. California gold rushers who had gone to Virginia City in the 1850s dashed to Tahoe in search of the elusive easy fortune. Silver and timber became Tahoe's chief commodities.

The region's stunning natural wonders drew travelers to the area in the years following the silver rush, and relative calm prevailed until the opening of the first gaming hall in the 1940s. Today, seven casinos operating around the clock are scattered throughout the South Lake area, offering 7,051 slot machines and 411 game tables.

Outside the gaming halls, recreational opportunities abound. Downhill skiers will want to check out some of the 182 ski trails on more than 8,800 ski resort acres. The longest run in the area is 5.5 miles, and the greatest vertical drop is 3,600 feetboth at Heavenly Valley in California. Average snowfall is 300 to 500 inches each year, with 125 inches average at lake level, so there's no need to worry about bare slopes. Ski season runs mid-November through mid-April, but it has been known to snow any month of the year in these mountains.

If fishing is your thing, you'll be happy to know Lake Tahoe is home to mackinaw, rainbow, cutthroat, golden, eastern brook, and brown trout. You'll also find kokanee salmon and white fish in the lake. A recent record mackinaw catch weighed nineteen pounds.

Other outdoor activities include golfing, tennis, sailing, rafting, hiking, scuba diving, jet skiing, parasailing, cycling, snowmobiling, climbing, horseback riding, and of course, relaxing beachside.

Year-round, there's something for the outdoors lover to indulge in.

If you're bringing the kids along, the South Lake region is family friendly. During working hours, public schools are plentiful, with six elementary schools, two middle schools, and two high schools. After-school activities for youth include soccer, track, ski, football, baseball, softball, swimming, and basketball teams. The city's Parks and Recreation Department organizes day and overnight trips for kids, and Youth Summer Day Hikes offers informative, all-day outings designed to introduce practical outdoor skills. There's even special recreational programs for teens.

Lake Tahoe Casinos

Vital Stats

Location: The area is located at the southern tip of Lake Tahoe on the Nevada/California border, 28 miles southwest of Carson City and 58 miles south of Reno.

Population: 34,000 (includes Stateline area and El Dorado County, California)

Average summer temperature: 800 F (boasting 275 clear days per year)

Average winter temperature: 300 F

Phone Numbers of Note

Tahoe/Douglas Chamber of Commerce: (702) 588-4591
South Lake Tahoe Chamber of Commerce: (916) 541-5255
Lake Tahoe Visitors Authority: (800) AT-TAHOE
California State Employment Development Department: (916) 227-0300
State of Nevada Employment Security Department: (702) 687-4560
Substitute Personnel and Business Services: (916) 544-6071
Lake Tahoe Gaming Alliance: (702) 588-2488
Newspapers and/or relocation publications: Tahoe Daily Tribune, (916) 541-3880

Inexpensive accommodations: Lake Tahoe Visitors Authority Lodging Referral Service, (800) AT-TAHOE

Air service: Lake Tahoe Airport (California), (916) 542-6180; Reno Tahoe International Airport (Nevada), (702) 328-6400
Bus service: Greyhound (Stateline), (800) 231-2222
Rail service: Amtrak (Stateline), (800) 872-7245
Public transit: Stage, (916) 541-6328; Tahoe Casino Express, (800) 446-6128 (shuttle between Reno Tahoe International Airport and Stateline casinos)

Map of Lake Tahoe Area

Casinos: Las Vegas Jobs >>>