Lake Tahoe has been a popular summertime getaway for Northern Californians - and others in the know - since the late 19th century.

The lake is supposedly bottomless, the views endless, activities boundless. Boaters and water skiers ply the lake, fishermen sit at its bank. Surrounding mountains, neighboring casinos and nightlife as abundant as the lake trout Tahoe provides those who fish it have kept families coming back for generations and beckoned new visitors from all over the world.

The lake itself was the big draw at the turn of the century. It still is, but throw in a little rock climbing, hiking, mountain and road biking, golf, tennis and anything else you can do on wheels or water and even the hardiest sports enthusiast will be satisfied by day's end.

You don't need to be a full-bore weekend warrior to enjoy the scenic splendor and outdoor recreational options Tahoe offers. There are scenic tram and gondola rides at neighboring ski resorts, paddle-wheel steamers on the lake, and sunbathing on any of the warm, sandy beaches dotting the lake's 71 miles of shoreline.

Fine dining and evening diversions occupy the pickiest of gourmands in lakeside towns like Tahoe City, South Lake Tahoe, Incline Village, and Kings Beach, and the casinos and gaming parlors of South Shore and Crystal Bay, both in the Nevada portion of the Lake, can add a little zing to your night out.

Perhaps the easiest phase of a Lake Tahoe getaway is getting away itself. Flights from around the country touch down on a daily basis in Reno, less than an hour to the northeast. San Francisco is just three-plus hours to the west via Interstate 80 and/or U.S. Highway 50. Amtrak has regular rail service (with connecting bus) into Truckee, a dozen miles north of the Lake, and the major bus lines have routes into the Tahoe Basin.