"The Commercial Side of Tahoe" South Lake Tahoe by goingsolo

When I told people I'd be travelling to Reno, I was universally greeted with the statement "You HAVE to go to Tahoe." I heard it so many times, from friends, from people in Reno and in California and from the subliminal messages broadcast at the Reno Tahoe Airport (I can't back that one up), that I decided that I just had to visit Tahoe.

Since time was short, I opted for the South side, about 30 minutes from Reno. The drive was scenic, the lake large and blue but the town itself an utter disappointment. Perhaps its because it was so overhyped, kind of like seeing a movie after about a hundred people tell you it is the Best.Movie.Ever. and it just can't live up to those accolades. But, as I got caught in the hordes of Labor Day traffic, I could do nothing more than stare at the large hotels, numerous fast food restaurants and other elements of commercialism, so much so that I realized that this place just was not for me. Perhaps I was a bit too hasty with that. it was a holiday weekend, after all. But I came away from Tahoe with the feeling that too many Mickey D's and KFC's ruined the beauty of what was, in actuality, a really beautiful lake.

I plan to return some day to the north side and I'm told that I'll like that better. Of course, those are the same people who said, "You MUST visit Tahoe", so I can't take their opinions to heart. Still, in the interest of travel and fairness, I have to say that I didn't give this place a shot. Its worth another visit to hike its trails and meander by the lake far, far from the Golden Arches and other rampant commercialism.