Whether you've come for winter skiing or summer sightseeing, enjoy Lake Tahoe's nightlife as much as its day-time fun. Find cozy bars, dance clubs and five-star dining around the lake and 24-hour action across the Nevada border.
Après-ski at Lake Tahoe is more than just taking off your boots and sipping cocoa. Rise to new happy hour heights at Tahoe's ski resorts. Heavenly's Tamarack Lodge has drinks and food at the top of the tram, while NorthStar offers champagne, a raw bar and s'mores around a fire pit at the mid-mountain resort level. Restaurants, bars, a movie theater and skating fill the village at the mountain base. Find casual bars at base lodges for many of the region's dozen other resorts.
In the mood for five-star dining? South Lake Tahoe has that covered too. Fresh California produce and award-winning wines are part of the year-round gastronomy surrounding the lake. Six Peaks Grille at Squaw, Manzanita at NorthStar and the Soule Domain at Kings Beach are among northern Lake Tahoe's top restaurants. Jimmy's at the Landing, Evan's American Gourmet Café and Nephele also offer culinary delights.
For gambling and entertainment, drive to Reno, the "Biggest Little City in the World," less than an hour from Lake Tahoe's eastern shore. Top-billed performers fill major entertainment venues. Check the schedule at the Pioneer Center for the Performing Arts for a touring Broadway show or the Reno Phil Chorus and orchestra.
Catch a live concert at the Grand Sierra Resort and Casino for more good times. The huge indoor theater draws well-known performers, ranging from longstanding stars such as Olivia Newton John and Steely Dan to the Ten Tenors, Vance Joy, Boyz II Men and Dancing with the Stars: Live! Late-night shows might include silk aerialists or fire dancers.
When you don't want a concert, try more intimate clubs featuring solo artists. Go to LEX Nightclub for a DJed dance party or EDGE Nightclub for dancing with laser effects.
Reno has 24-hour nightlife, meaning later shows and no last call for drinks, dancing or legal gambling. The biggest casino is Peppermill Resort Spa Casino, but you can wander between 20 casinos in town for tables, slots, video poker and sportsbooks.
There's gambling and shows on the Nevada side of South Lake Tahoe too. Headliners such as Keith Urban, Peter Frampton, Phish and Dave Matthews perform at Lake Tahoe Outdoor Arena summer concerts.
There's so much to do in Lake Tahoe in can be kind of overwhelming so here's a snapshot for you: a day of skiing at Heavenly with happy hour at Tamarack and a sunset dinner at Riva Grill on the Lake. Then literally walk across the border from California to Nevada for a show at the outdoor arena. Dance at XHale, hit a hookah bar, play some tables at the Hard Rock Hotel and Casino and finish with a few slot machines and breakfast before you go outside to watch the sunrise over the lake.
If you're on a tight budget, experience the casino glitz of Lake Tahoe's nightlife affordably. Purchase a few tokens to play slot machines, find an all-you-can-eat buffet and enjoy some people-watching.