5-Nights Marriott's Timber Lodge from $1,089

Bordering California and Nevada, Lake Tahoe (12 mi/19 km wide and 22 mi/35 km long) is the highest alpine lake in the U.S. The surrounding area (usually referred to simply as Tahoe) is a year-round resort destination with spectacularly beautiful mountain and lake scenery, camping, hiking, mountain climbing, boat cruises, historical sites and lots of snow skiing.

And, of course, there's gambling, big-name entertainment and Vegas-style revues. Most of the big casinos—such as Harrah's, Caesars, Harveys and Del Webb's High Sierra—are in Nevada, just over the border from California. Traveling from the south shore of Lake Tahoe to the north shore along Route 89 is scenic but slow-going.

Though the lake itself is bisected by the California and Nevada state line, most visitors to the Tahoe area don't concern themselves with this distinction. Instead, visitors often go to the northern or southern ends of the lake. It's not uncommon for vacationers to ski or lodge in California but cross into Nevada for nighttime activities at Stateline or Reno.

Only minutes away from the mountain's base, the California town of South Lake Tahoe and the Nevada town of Stateline provide skiers ample lodging, dining, shopping and (in Nevada) gambling.