South Lake Tahoe: A Mountain Lake Alternative to Lake Como

Around three-quarters of UK holidays abroad are taken in Europe, and the famous alpine lakes get busy every summer. If you fancy something different, a mountain lake in California might be worth a look.

South Lake Tahoe sits in the Sierra Nevada and has a lot going for it. Here are five reasons to consider it over the usual suspects.

1. Space and clear water at South Lake Tahoe

Picture a holiday lake without the shuffle of crowds along the promenade. That is the pitch here.

Europe’s best-known lakes pull in millions of visitors a year. Tahoe is on a different scale, a huge alpine landscape ringed by forest and mountains, with 72 miles of shoreline to explore.

That shoreline includes sandy beaches, hidden coves and plenty of viewpoints. The water is among the purest in the world, with an annual average clarity of 69 to 72 feet. That makes it a joy for swimming, paddleboarding and kayaking.

2. Two states in one trip

It is a neat bit of variety for anyone who gets restless after a few days in one place.

Here is something you will not find at a European lake. You can explore both California and Nevada on the same holiday. Spend the day among the mountains and forest, then head for the restaurants, entertainment and lively atmosphere of the Nevada casinos in the evening.

3. A cooler summer

Heat is a growing worry for people planning holidays around the Mediterranean, so a cooler option is bound to appeal.

Many of us are now looking for ways to dodge extreme summer heat. Tahoe’s alpine climate offers 300 days of sunshine a year, with an average of around 26 degrees, followed by cool evenings. Days can start with a sunrise paddle and end with a sunset hike, which is a gentler way to spend a summer than hiding indoors from the sun.

4. The start of a California road trip

The lake works nicely as a base or as the beginning or end of a bigger adventure. In a single week you could combine it with:

• A city break in San Francisco
• Surfing on the coast
• Wine tasting in the Napa Valley

That is city, surf and sip all rolled into one trip, and it makes a long-haul flight feel far better value than a single week on one spot.

5. Some of the best bits cost nothing

Holiday budgets are under pressure, so free fun matters. Plenty of travellers are keen to stretch their money further, and the area has more than 165 miles of hiking trails through Sierra Nevada wilderness, plus hidden viewpoints and swimming from sandy shores, none of which has an entrance fee.

There is wildlife too, and not the kind you would meet in Europe. Yes, that includes the Californian bear, though it is best admired from a distance.

If you have been to the European lakes already, or simply fancy a change of scenery, this is a fresh way to enjoy the same joys of water, mountains and fresh air.

So there you have it. Lake Como will always have its fans, and rightly so. But if crowds, heat and cost are putting you off, Tahoe makes a strong case. The local tourism board has visitor information on its official Lake Tahoe site if you want to start planning.