What to do in Lake Tahoe?

So, I am planning my yearly early December trip.

I want to go to New Orleans, but am not sure that I may have the funds to go (need to save $1,000 at least).

Friends suggested going to Lake Tahoe. I have never been to Lake Tahoe, only Reno, and I love Vegas more than Reno.

I really want to relax and have a good time, but not be around a lot of cigarette smoke (as in the reno casinos).

can you all tell me some good spots to go to in lake tahoe and is it more affordable?

I am coming from the Bay Area

What to do in Lake Tahoe?

What kinds of things would you consider would contribute to a good time? The weather will be cold and potentially snowy. Do you want to deal with that? Would you have a car with 4 WD or would you carry chains in the event of snow?

The entertainment at Tahoe is not like Vegas or even Reno especially before any holiday period. It could be very quiet up there in early Dec, especially mid week.

What to do in Lake Tahoe?

Yikes! I do not have 4wd and do not want to drive in the snow, so i guess i would take a tour bus or a plane.

I just want to relax and chill, and tahoe is my option only if I don%26#39;t have enough money for nola.

There are few similarities between New Orleans and Lake Tahoe. Last trip to Nola, I got a great price on a Southwest flight and named my own price on Priceline for my hotel. I got the Fairmont for $100 per night. Gorgeous old hotel! You could get a 2 or 3 star hotel for quite a bit less. There are a lot of relatively inexpensive dining options in New Orleans.

Transportation to Tahoe from San Francisco would be substantially less, but you may have to pay more for a hotel. If there%26#39;s no snow, you could drive up and most likely, you could find good deals on hotels. Unfortunately, the weather is very unpredictable. That pesky weather makes all the difference in how affordable Tahoe is during December.

I%26#39;ve been to N%26#39;awlens many times and, personally, it%26#39;s not the first destination that pops up when I want to ';chill and relax'; -- drinking, eating, reveling, yes.

If you%26#39;re looking for a budget destination for a long weekend, why go so far?

I recommend San Diego ... heck, even Seattle. Sure it%26#39;ll be rainy but you can chill and relax while enjoying beautiful scenery.

If you want to fly further, check out Mexico where your money will go a bit further.

Phaminator, I must be older than you are. I can relax in New Orleans. There are lots of places to hear live jazz and I love to walk around the Garden District. I%26#39;m waaayyy too old for Bourbon Street!

Mexico? Love it, my favorite place for a vacation. I already have my next trip to Puerto Vallarta booked. Check Expedia, Travelocity, and Orbitz. Sometimes you can get package deals-hotel included for not much more than airfare.

San Diego is a great idea. Again, you might want to check for package deals. Seattle, another good suggestion.

Best of luck in your search.

nah, i%26#39;m not talking about the Bourbon St, girls-gone-wild scene ... zydeco just makes me want to get up and hop around! ;)

You%26#39;re right, it%26#39;s hard to stay in your seat with zydeco playing.

So you%26#39;re looking for a good early December trip, are you? Why not consider San Diego? The weather is far more predictable than Lake Tahoe, and it%26#39;s a lot closer (and thus somewhat cheaper) than New Orleans. You can also get great deals on flights to Portland, Seattle, and Denver. All have interesting things to see and do!

I suggest saving New Orleans for a time when you have more dinero, and also when the town has recovered more so from Katrina. I was lucky enough to visit N.O. a couple months before Katrina, and I doubt it is much of what it used to be (except in the French Quarter).

Davdaven -- I was just in New Orleans last July and I can tell you that New Orleans is back in business. There are now more restaurants open than pre-Katrina.

Mdbbw31 -- I don%26#39;t know if you%26#39;ve ever been to New Orleans but if you haven%26#39;t, you have to go. It%26#39;s a great town to visit. Very unique. No place like it IMHO:-)

But, to answer your question, every time we go up to Lake Tahoe we tend to do a lot of outdoor stuff. Not sure if that%26#39;s your thing though. If you rent a snowmobile, you can see the beauty of Lake Tahoe from a higher elevation. It%26#39;s just awesome and relaxing.

There%26#39;s got to be enough snow to rent a snowmobile and in early Dec that%26#39;s not reliable in Tahoe.