NY Times and Tahoe Adventure Company

By CINDY PRICE ~ New York Times
Published: August 18, 2006
NY Times Article

POLITICS and religion aside, 200,000 people can't be wrong. According to the California Tahoe Conservancy, that's the estimated crowd at Lake Tahoe on a busy summer weekend. That's enough people to make you rethink your vacation plans, but Tahoe never feels too frantic. Maybe it's the enormous mountain lake standing center, proudly straddling California and Nevada, that lets you know right away who's in charge, but the weekenders who flood the 72 miles of shoreline instinctively bow to nature's pace. And there's that other little fact, too - far less provable, but widely asserted: There's nothing quite like a weekend spent circling Tahoe. The endless activities of summer are standard enough, but they're set to a Sierra backdrop of soaring evergreens and crystalline water worthy of a thousand poets. Throw in the late-night siren call of the Nevada casinos, and it's a tough act to follow.

Friday
3 p.m.
DEEPER SHADES OF BLUE
"It's just like the Caribbean!" the tour guide, Kevin Hickey, is shouting over his paddle. "Until you dip your hand in." Wordsmiths have beaten themselves silly trying to capture the true color of Lake Tahoe, so take your pick - cobalt, azure, electric, sapphire. Suffice it to say that it's pretty darn blue. And cold. Even in late summer, the water averages 65 to 70 degrees, given the many mountain streams that slither into it. Judge for yourself on a guided kayak trip out of Sand Harbor, Nev., with the Tahoe Adventure Company (866-830-6125, www.tahoeadventurecompany.com), which offers individual tours that are part geology lesson and part history lesson. Paddle out past the children cannonballing off the rocks, and learn about the lake's underlying fault lines, or that a tsunami may have burst forth there in the last 10,000 years.

Visitors Love To Adventure With Us

We visited Lake Tahoe a few weeks ago and got very lucky because Tahoe Adventure Company had reopened for the season the same day we decided to rent kayaks! They're located in North Lake Tahoe. The process of renting kayaks from them was very easy. They took the time to make sure we got on the kayaks safely which I appreciated. You do sign a liability waiver when you rent. Also they provide life jackets. Make sure to bring a ziplock bag or something to keep your phone in! They provide waterproof bags for a fee. The guys working that day were friendly. They also have several lessons/tours which would be fun to try out in the future since some of them take you to cool coves, etc. Their pricing for renting kayaks is reasonable for the area: $27 for a single and $39 for a double per hour, including all fees. Also if you rent for 2 hours, they offer the 3rd hour free. I also want to give a shout-out to Courtney who answers the phone when you call the company and is THE NICEST person I have ever spoken to over the phone. She's extremely helpful and seemed so great! Thank you Courtney!! -Vidhi S.

Rentals

"How lucky we were to have a full moon on one of the few nights we were in North Tahoe. An amazing evening on the water paddling out into the lake, watching the sun set over the horizon on one side and then oh so dramatically the moon rise on the other. A serene experience we would definitely recommend!" Jackie C.

Our Adventures

"This was my first time in Lake Tahoe in the winter, and I was excited to do every kind of activity to enjoy what the area has to offer. Snowshoeing came highly recommended, particularly with the option to do a sunset tour, where you could see the sunset from a ridge on the Castle Peak mountain. The whole experience was great. Eric was a terrific guide who got everybody set up in their snowshoes, and with the poles. Took us up the mountain giving us tidbits of information all along the way, and providing emotional support when it got exhausting due to the elevation." -Trip Advisor Review

Winter Adventures

Tahoe Adventure Company leads high quality adventure travel trips and tours with a focus on experiencing the natural beauty of the surrounding mountains, trails and brilliant waters of Lake Tahoe. Our goal is to offer the highest quality, most enlightening adventure tours in the Lake Tahoe area. Our knowledgeable, safe, and friendly guides offer exceptional service and strive to help create a memorable adventure for your group. Whether you decide on Kayaking Lake Tahoe, Mountain Biking or Hiking local trails, our many adventure activities allow us to share with you a side of Lake Tahoe few people ever experience.

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