My friend, Pam Taylor, is a bit of an expert on Lake Tahoe. She suggested I have lunch at Sam's Place -- a roadside diner/bar not far from Stateline. Good suggestion, Pam!

She also urged me to visit the Thunderbird Lodge, a lakeside mansion open to the public. I found out from my hotel's concierge how to do it -- you go to the Incline Village Visitor Center, on the North Shore, and take a tour bus from there.

But the concierge neglected to tell me (and I didn't ask!) that you have to make reservations in advance. When I showed up at the Visitors Center they were very, very nice but all of the remaining tours for the day were completely booked. So now I know for next time.