Weekend Getaway: Lake Tahoe

Fall is a spectacular season in Lake Tahoe.

For a few weeks between the go-go summer festival season and the popular winter ski season, there's a lull in the traffic and crowds -- an ideal time to head to the Lake for a weekend.

You'll take in wide open vistas anchored by the largest, most pristine alpine lake in America -- highlighted by the yellows and oranges of western fall foliage and the deep hues of evergreen forests.

Lake Tahoe is a four-hour drive from San Francisco, and less than a two-hour drive from Sacramento.

And providing air access just 45 miles from the Lake, the Reno Tahoe International Airport is served by dozens of daily flights from major cities across the country.

Lake Tahoe straddles California's eastern and Nevada's western state lines. Carved by glaciers, it's 22 miles long and 12 miles wide, ringed by 72 miles of easily accessible shoreline and mountains that rise more than 4,000 feet above the water.

The Lake Tahoe area offers a wide range of upscale lodging, from luxury suites at the mountain ski resorts to lavish lakeside cottages. In between are hotels, motels, inns and lodges, bed and breakfasts, and rental condos and cabins.

You'll also find plenty of chic dining in Tahoe-casual settings -- even the Nevada side of the Lake features sophisticated California cuisine.

The North Shore

I'm partial to the north shore of Lake Tahoe, where Truckee serves as a gateway to both mountain and Lake destinations. It used to be a funky little Old West town, but today Truckee's Commercial Row features authentic stone-and-timber buildings housing hip shops and trendy restaurants.

Set inside the historic Truckee Hotel, Moody's Bistro & Lounge is a happening place with casual fare. If it's mild enough outside, ask for a table on the brick patio. Reservations are recommended (even for weekend lunches) at Dragonfly. The cuisine is Asian/California fusion, and the second floor deck provides outstanding views of downtown and the mountains.

Truckee is a few miles inland, so if you prefer to head directly to the Lake, travel south from there on Highway 89 to Tahoe City, and then north on Highway 28 to GarWoods Grill and Pier at Carnelian Bay. It's open all day, and offers floor-to-ceiling lakeside views from the dining room, as well as from the immense heated deck.

If you continue traveling along the north shore on Highway 28 and across the California state line to the Incline Village/Crystal Bay area, you'll find Nevada-style 24-hour gaming and live entertainment at the Tahoe Biltmore, the Crystal Bay Club Casino, and the Hyatt Regency Lake Tahoe Resort, Spa and Casino.

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The South Shore

Although the south shore city of Stateline was considered pretty tacky in the recent past, it's undergoing a rejuvenation that's benefiting the entire region.

If you opt for the upscale Heavenly Village area, on Highway 28 just south of Highway 207, you could easily spend the entire weekend enjoying its hip shopping and tasteful dining.

Great lunch stops include Kalani's, which offers Pacific Rim fusion and sushi, and the colorful and quirky Fire and Ice, where your choice of fresh ingredients will be cooked to order while you watch.

Upscale accommodations are available at the Marriott Timber Lodge, the Embassy Suites Hotel Lake Tahoe Resort and the Forest Inn Suites Resort.

There's also casino lodging within walking distance at Harrah's and Harvey's Lake Tahoe and Horizon Casino Resort.