You can’t tell by looking that Lake Tahoe is one of the deepest and highest lakes in the world, but its extraordinary clarity and mesmerizing blueness have to be seen to be believed. Its setting among the peaks and forests of the Sierras makes it a living postcard that groups will be tempted to experience and explore.
Luckily, there are nearly as many ways to get out on the lake and enjoy the scenery as there are shades of blue.
For larger groups, Lake Tahoe Cruises provides year-round sightseeing tours on its two famous paddlewheel boats, showcasing some of the lake’s most fabled coves and breathtaking vistas. Daily sightseeing cruises to Emerald Bay, sunset dinner cruises, weekend dinner dance cruises with live music, and special family cruises with entertainment for kids are just a few options. The colorful M.S. Dixie II can accommodate groups as large as 570, and the Tahoe Queen can welcome as many as 500. Private charters are available for both vessels. For smaller groups, there are more intimate boats. The Tahoe Paradise, an 82-foot yacht, and the Tahoe Princess, a 70-foot pontoon boat and “floating ballroom,” are both equipped to carry up to 120.
The Bleu Wave, a 1966 Burger luxury yacht owned by MontBleu Resort Casino, offers catered charter cruises in classic style. The 70-foot boat can accommodate parties as large as 49.
For groups that want to get their feet wet in the literal sense, there is also a wide variety of rental watercraft and other do-it-yourself boating activities. Everything from a one-person kayak to paddleboats, powerboats, sailboats, and a 24-foot cabin cruiser can be rented by the hour on Lake Tahoe. Attendees who crave excitement might jump at the chance to parasail or water ski.
Tahoe Adventure Company features team-building exercises for nearly any size of group, either on the water or off. In the summer, guided sunset, full moon and astronomy kayak tours on the lake are just a few of the memorable experiences available, and customized programs are also offered. In the colder months, a Winter Olympics-theme team-building package is designed to bring out both competition and collaboration in groups.
New environmental regulations ensure that only clean-burning aquatic vehicles are permitted on Lake Tahoe to protect its legendary clear waters. Action Watersports at Timber Cove Marina rents only powerboats and jet skis with the latest technology in their engines. Jet skis seating up to three are available for $100 per hour or $75 per half-hour in the summertime. The company also provides parasailing adventures reaching an altitude of 600 feet for $55, or 1,200 feet for $80 per person. As long as space in the boat permits, observers may go along for $15 each.
As a souvenir, it’s hard to beat a prize fish you caught yourself. Tahoe Sport Fishing offers guided group charters throughout the year with all necessary gear and licenses. Its six boats give it the largest fleet on the lake and allow it to accommodate groups of up to 60; for larger groups, it can hire boats from other companies. Fish in the lake include several species of trout and, in the latter half of the year, kokanee salmon.
For More Info
Action Watersports 530.544.5387
www.action-watersports.com
Bleu Wave 866.413.0985
www.tahoebleuwave.com
Lake Tahoe Cruises 800.238.2463
www.zephyrcove.com
Tahoe Adventure Company 530.913.9212
www.tahoeadventurecompany.com
Tahoe Sport Fishing 800.696.7797
www.tahoesportfishing.com
