I'm from Ukraine originally, have moved to Tahoe from SF seven years ago just because I had to have all 4 seasons like I was used to back in Europe!!!! I fell in love with this place at first sight and now I'm staying here forever... Love Tahoe sooooooo much. God, bless America and Tahoe region !!!!
Zinc and Lecithin supplements work very well to prevent those bloody noses in high and dry altitudes. As well as disciplining yourself to increase hydration. (Having lived in Colorado at 11,000 feet for many years, it’s just something you have to learn to deal with.). Thanks for the video. Great images!
My number one con would be the cost of living. It is very expensive to live there. Number two would be the crowds and traffic. I live just a bit south east of the lake and never go there on weekends. Along with the crowds and traffic come the crappy tourist attitudes although I guess that would be the case in any tourist town. I don't agree with the isolation though. I think if you feel isolated there you will feel isolated anywhere you go. that's more of a personality thing. Other than that, a pretty good assessment. My only other complaint is that they shut down the Ponderosa many years ago and never reopened it. :(
Since I lived on the West Shore for many years I agree with you on your pros and cons. Yes getting a job is a great way to meet people or be interactive with others at the restaurants and bars. Many of the jobs are seasonal though. My house did not have a garage and often times it took the snow plow a few days to plow my street. Once it took a week to plow the road and that is when you make use of snow shoes. The biggest con now is the real estate prices and how extremely high they are both on the CA and NV side. Just about the same as Los Angeles now. That is where I live now. If you bought your property or home before the tech boom you are very lucky. Even in 2009 you could buy a decent home for a fair price but not anymore. The other cons are prices at the super market and gas will be higher and the closest hospital from the West Shore was about 40 minutes to Truckee. One holiday to avoid if you are a local is July 4th. The roads are a parking lot. If you enjoy anything outdoors and nature there is no better place on earth than Lake Tahoe. The visibility of the water is amazing and it has to be the clearest lake on the planet. Using a humidifier in your home will help for the dry climate.
Used to have a place on the west shore...LOVE Tahoe but the crowded scenes became too much to continue so alas, left it...still go up and visit from time to time but to see what it's all become is almost too much to overcome. Grew up there in the 70's so you can just imagine how it is today in comparison for me. Love your vids!!!
Hey Chris! thank you so much! and your right, I've only lived there for two years but I have seen the crowds increase since Covid especially. Living in Lake Tahoe in the 70's sounds like a dream!
@@GabriellaViola believe me it was!!! I think I skied every resort up there, even some that aren't there any longer, along with water skiing the summers...you want to do something really cool, get a boat and go out in the middle of the lake for the 4th and watch the fireworks shows!!! They used to do three shows up there, two at north shore and one at south shore. You could see all three out there! It was a blast!!! Enjoy it while you can! I'm too old to get around any longer like I used to. 🙃
That’s sounds soo fun …I grew up on a lake too in New York but nothing like Tahoe …I’m actually not in Tahoe for 4th of July this year but maybe next year …I’ve yet to see the famous Tahoe fireworks 💥
Sorry to hear it’s too much to live there anymore for what it’s become. That must feel so heavy/heartbreaking. 💔 Happy to hear you still visit, though. My familiarity with Tahoe is from brief summer visits in the late ‘80s early ‘90s. I think I must have left part of my heart there, because I think of the area constantly over these intervening years. Hoping to move there soon, somewhere near Tahoe on the Nevada side. Can’t afford shoreline areas proper. May even head to Carson City. Are there nearby towns you like? Are you pleased with where you settled? ☀️⛰🏖🏔❄️
this video was really helpful! i’m about to move here after graduating college for an americorps half term and i’ve grown up on the east coast. so glad to hear about your experience and so excited to move here 😍
Yes. You correct I’ve been coming up to Tahoe for 7 years I’ve experienced all your pro and cons but love it I’m finally going to buy a second home next year - I’m retired but very active 👍😎
I just uploaded videos of Lake Tahoe (from our visit in October), so, your channel came up. We live 2 hours away, so, we're good! NOT a fan of snow, so we could never live in Tahoe. I also know its been challenging, well, because its 2020, and tons of people are moving up there (hence, why you're getting good numbers with this video). We make our annual trek to Tahoe always in the Fall as the crowds slow down and the weather is still very nice. We're mostly spontaneous with our trips, so that is tough to do in the Summer time, so we stay away. I subbed because I can't ever get enough of watching Tahoe videos. 🗻😎
Thanks for subscribing!!! And yes this summer with crazy with the amount of people but it has definitely died down. Right now its usually busy for the holidays but South Like Tahoe feels like a ghost town. I dont blame you with the snow, its beautiful but it's really not fun to drive in!!!
Actual Cons: If you’re a young partier working at a ski resort it’s easy to make friends. If you’re an adult working from home and not into the party scene it can be difficult to make a group of friends in Tahoe. The traffic is brutal. Local neighborhood residents petitioned to be removed from google maps because they’re overrun with traffic. To park at your favorite hike or beach spot get there before most wake up. You’ll get back to your can in time to see fights over parking spots and cars being ticketed and towed. Planning a scenic drive around the lake in July? You could make it to San Diego in the time it will take you. Need a Uber after a night out? To bad, none available. Call a cab. If you move to Tahoe bring a humidifier for every room. This will help with the nose bleeds. When planning your grocery budget plan for Hawaii prices.
From one local to another... nice video AND absolutely beautiful pictures! I've been a full timer here for the last 12 years and can't imagine living anywhere else.
I’ve lived in north lake for about a year too! Two of the biggest cons I’d say are the higher cost of living compared to relative wages around here and how it can be tough to find good housing sometimes. But it’s my favorite place ever!
If you live in Incline village area you are in Washoe county, high taxes?? I live in Douglas county in Zephyr Cove with lower property taxes/sales taxes and even a lower water/sewage bill here in Round Hill. My twenty minute drive to Carson City means $2.25 a gal gas at Costco and 1/4 mile to Walmart/Trader Joe's.
Lake Tahoe is insanely beautiful if you take advantage of it. Owned a ski boat but had to be in the water at daybreak and out of the water by around 10am. Between late June and thru Sept. Crowds a big negative but definitely ways to make your way around them. If you water ski the best lake is near Nevada city called Bullards Bar. Havent been on Lake Tahoe in the past ten years but have great memories of it. Lived north of Truckee in the Graeagle area to avoid the mayhem and utter gridlock of the crowds. Beautiful area
Hi Gabriella. Great stuff. You should add to Pros improved life expectancy. Living at high altitude has beneficial effects on cardiovascular function and reduced air pollution. Here's a piece of trivia for you - I live in London, UK and you're three times more likely to suffer a knife stabbing than be hit by a snowball. I love Tahoe and intend to retire there - Zak
That’s so crazy ...I have heard that living in high elevation makes you stronger ...and of course it’s pretty safe here ...but I do wonder is less oxygen/high elevation has an effect on aging and the skin since it’s so dry ?
@@GabriellaViola Hi Gabriella again - It's pretty much acknowledged now (by medical folk) that reduced oxygen at higher altitude seems to influence the genes that influence heart function and increase life expectancy ... assuming you don't smoke, eat or drink to excess! I would suggest that any increase in lifespan far exceeds any dry skin problems and, hey, wrinkles give you character! Zak
I moved to Truckee during the summer of 2020 and ended up moving back to my hometown after 3 months. As far as the cons go: 1) Dry Climate: I would constantly have to use lotion, and anytime I left for a short period of time and came back my eyes would be blood shot for a few days. 2) Snow storms: Did not live there during snow season, but I'm not into snow sports or activities, and most of the locals I talked to there were very passionate about ski season. I'm relieved I left before the snow. 3) Isolation: I moved there in June 2020 so it was during the pandemic so it felt really isolated up there. I would ride my bike on the legacy trail in Truckee and see 1 or 2 cyclists during a one hour ride. It always kinda weirded me out some. I prefer having more people around and feeling that type of energy. 4) Crowds: Moving to Truckee during the pandemic brought extremely high amounts of tourism to the Truckee and Tahoe area. All the locals kept complaining about how busy everything was. From end of June to the end of August downtown Truckee was way too packed and I avoided it. Another con for me was diversity, there are hardly any people of color living in this area and it felt very white washed to me. I grew up in a diverse community so it just never felt normal to me. Also the heat in the summer can be unbearable. It can reach the high 90's and be extremely dry air so it feels like you're in a desert, although the outdoors were beautiful it was too hot during the majority of the day to experience them.
100 percent agree. Its funny you mention the lotion and the bloodshot eyes, because it drives me crazy for sure, and its my number one con. I guess it doesnt bother some people though. But at the same time I hate humidity 😁
@@GabriellaViola Haha no, I love *swimming* in Lake Tahoe. It was a comment about how you say you "live *in* Lake Tahoe." I'd just never heard anyone put it that way before.
I think you have a very good judgment on the pros and cons. I lived in many places in my life but all ways returned to the feel safe mountains. And small community's.. Good job
Great perspective! I've been visiting Lake Tahoe for almost 30 years. Used to own a timeshare at Heavenly Valley. Although I love the area, I decided that I couldnt live there. #1: It's way too expensive to live on the California side. #2: I couldn't handle living at a tourist destination. Laughable, I know, since I am a Tahoe tourist!
Thanks so much Kenny! I actually live in Stateline.. tourist central and yes can be totally annoying lol !!! But i think it's pretty inexpensive compared to North Lake Tahoe and Incline!
@@GabriellaViola Are the casinos and restaurants located in South Lake Tahoe? With the altitude, have you noticed any problem with being short of breath? I ask since I have asthma. Also, are there gyms and health clubs to work out at? And 300 days of sunshine? Really? I live in L.A. and have been to Lake Tahoe twice, once during the month of December at Harrah's and once during the month of July. Beautiful place that I'm considering retiring to. During my brief time there, I found the people to be friendly and down to earth.
Con: It is expensive to live there and make a living. Paradise has a price. I was born in Truckee in 1954 when my parents had a business in King’s Beach. I lived there from 1954-1973 and a few times later. The isolation today is nothing like it once was because you have relatively well-maintained roads in the Winter. For me it was the people I knew growing up that complemented the environment that I was born into. If I had not been born into it, my perspective would be quite different.
Hey Wendy thank you so much!! It definitely felt like a risk leaving LA as I was so comfortable there, and I didnt know I soul, but I was glad I did it!!!
Crowds can also be Pros especially if it's seasonal touristic place. Sometimes you miss people. I live on one Croatian island and it's really nice. No stress etc. But in winter time sometimes I wish that summer crowed. :)
I have had a place here in Zephyr Cove, NV since 2003 moving here permanently in 2007! And yes we get a lot of snow some years and some years like the last three seasons not so much! The main thing you have to realize is that the roads are cleared quickly as they have great equipment to deal with it! The other point I want to make is a great 4 X 4 vehicle (I own a four door short bed Tacoma 4x4 pick up with soft compound rugged terrain tires that I slow down to 35 mph driving threw 1 1/2 ft of snow)! We have a two car garage with my wife's sports car to play with in summer. The other reason we live in Zephyr Cove is it is in Douglas County which has the lowest property taxes in the basin and in Nevada no State income taxes! Stateline, NV is also in Douglas county. There are many local bars/grills and restaurants that many of us socialize staying away from the tourist traps! There are so many trails that the tourist don't know about that are in many cases just as beautiful as the easy to get to ones. Glenn Alpine Falls and the trail from Lilly Lake that feeds into the falls is just one of them. We bought our second home here in the Round Hill area in 2012 for $365,000, 21,000 Sq Ft with a two car garage. We have a 45 x 14 ft balcony looking out at the Heavenly Ski resort with a peekaboo of Lake Tahoe looking South. My Daughter and Son in law have a 27 ft power boat and 27 ft Sail boat that the grand kids, them and us play on the lake with. Life is REALY good for us to retire in and it is not as expensive to live here as we go to Carson City 20 miles away once a week to Costco for gas ($2,25 a gal last week) groceries then driving the 1/4 mile to Walmart for groceries/other things.
awww thank so much thats sweet! Most people are nice on here but, I don't think anyone can dodge the occasional mean comment on RU-vid...seems like it comes with the territory cause not everyone is going to like what you have to say 😬😬
@@GabriellaViola unfortunately there will always be haters for no good reason no matter who or what one does, but you are appreciated ! Glad there are wholesome people out here still 🙏🏽🙏🏽
@@CreNativeFosho agreed and I gotten a few I just ignore them, or youtube filters most of them out ...people either love the videos about Tahoe or don't agree with them ...cant please everyone ...thanks for the encouraging words 😊
My question is, if you have hay fever at night down here in the bay area,S.F.,will it go away in the mountains?Because I am thinking of moving up there for that very real and bothersome medical reason. Thanks.
Sounds perfect, I like isolated location, you get to be one with the nature. Find lovely girl like you and you have a dream life come true. I'm a bit of eco nut myself so this nature is just perfect.
Great vids! I planned a major trip across the USA and currently experiencing pretty bad and consistent altitude sickness in Denver. May not make Tahoe and I’m so upset :(
I agree with your pros and cons. Being a somewhat local (Sacramento) we’ve been coming to Tahoe since the 1970’s. Sinus problems are annoying but a saline spray helps. Crowds can be avoided but it is tough to drive to get places in summer months. The biggest problems why we did not retire there are the huge prices of real estate in the area. It really was a paradise area in the 80’s and 90’s until very wealthy people started with their second and third vacation homes. Also health care can be a large concern for the elderly as there are no large medical centers nearby.
well there is barton which seems to be pretty good. Coming from NYC and LA i love that i dont have to wait on line to be seen for any health concerns. And yes its definitely annoying to have these big third homes just sitting there empty!!!
Coming there for the first time in Sept. 2021. Flying into LAX from Atlanta. Drive to Tahoe with my two LA buds. Hiking and sight seeing for the week. Looking forward to it. Probably won't want to leave. Will return for vacation in 2022 with my teen age daughters. Got to get them exposed to other places besides Georgia and Florida.
that sounds amazing! yes after visiting a bunch while living in LA i decided i wanted to stay for good! I hope that the wildfires clear by the time you visit!
@@GabriellaViola Well, drove in yesterday. The ride up from LA was good but the view was obscured by smoke. Today was much better. Hiked Spooner Summit, to Snow Valley Peak. Spectacular views of the lake. What an amazing place. Looking forward to the rest of the week.
i agree with you pros definitely outweigh the cons i was there the first time a few weeks back and i really wanna move there ive been to seattle, ny, sf, etc but i was never attracted to any other cities as much as lake tahoe! such a beautiful place:*)💙
Born and raised in Tahoe. Moved out 5 years ago and could not be happier. Some of the rudest people on the planet live in Tahoe and there is only two seasons, winter and short summers, that's it. Back in the 70's it was beautiful and then buildings started popping up everywhere and completely ruined everything. Now its just a giant tourist trap filled with gamblers alcoholics and drug addicts, the real Lake Tahoe no one ever talks or hears about lol.
Well yes each year I lived in South lake Tahoe the snow was more or less.Running a shovel a drag or con you got to be in shape.I used to ride mountain bikes and customs in the summer the Ultimate pro on south shore and in the winter too with the correct tires so the tourists knew I was a crazy local it was Obvious ha ha✌
We live full time on the lake in South Lake Tahoe and this is legit :) the dryness is so rough on my sinuses! Bloody noses for sure. And omg the shoveling. Isolation gets “better”. I never feel that way. But then again...I live in the largest town/city on the lake. Lol, yes. Avoid the crowds. Locals know where to go to be local;) another con though as of late: out of towners (mostly from the Bay Area) buying up homes to stay in for a few months driving up the costs of the market so that locals have a hard time finding places to live. Many of my friends who have been renting here for many years have been evicted because owners realize that they could make bank selling. Their dreams get dashed and they are forced to move out of town. So a lot of homes stand empty a good part of the year. No blame, but that’s the reality right now.😞
I live in South Lake Tahoe too! well just moved out of my apartment to travel for the summer but I have noticed that there are barely any rentals to be had it's friggin crazy..seems like everyone moved here during covid and prices have just gone up.
I agree! There is no place quite like Tahoe. I think for only being here a year you pretty much nailed it. The winters here can be pretty harsh, I’d stay forever just don’t want to be elderly and shoveling snow navigating the ice.
What no one thinks about when buying here is the drive ways and the roads to the home! We wanted a short/flat driveway with no incline and the roads to our home with as little hills as possible which we did get. My Troy Built snow blower makes quick work of 2 ft of snow with my 24 x 24 ft driveway. I am a 73 year old man with proper clothing/boots/cloves can deal with even a blizzard that I also have a generator.
@@brucesteger2699 Are “cloves” …cloven hooves? That’s some impressive mountain-living adaptation! 🏔🐐 Anyway, great points on what external property aspects to look for in dealing with Tahoe snow conditions.❄️
Yes! Almost a month and loving it. Dry climate for sure! No bloody noses but drinking a lot of water and using chap stick. Meeting people a challenge, but fortunate to have great neighbors!
This is what I think. I drive truck delivering asphalt to make your roads better, delivering rock to build up your driveways. Delivering landscape products to make your homes more beautiful and I love doing that. But I dread coming up here because none of you people can take 30 seconds to give a truck time to make a turn or a minute to get over out of the way. We are not here to make your lives more miserable, were here to do our jobs
One con ya misses is how expensive it is to live here. I'm in Truckee so I'm speaking more of North lake but an average, no frills home is a million dollars. Gas is 7 dollars per gallon, food is similarly expensive, along with everything else. I buy my gas and groceries in Reno to combat the cost but there's no way around high rent costs. Recently "affordable housing" was built but it's limited and still costs between 1500-2000 dollars per month.
Great video and info, looks incredible too. That clear lake looks so nice! I could snorkel the entire shore line. Are there fishes? But prob cold there ahhh sucks for a sport bike bro, even western nc is to cold, lol, 70 today, i like 80+ n 95+ is better, chases the cruiser bros away, they go drink, lol, i dont i ride its way funner.
Thanks for making this video. I really love this area and would love to move there, but not sure about how I would do it with the job market and my skill set. Same with my husband. We haven’t seen much opportunity unfortunately. The snow is definitely something I am not sure how to navigate through either since I recently moved from Florida. It’s by far one of my favorite places to visit though. Your pictures are so gorgeous too by the way. You definitely have amazing talent. I love how you can just get lost in the water and enjoy all the 4 seasons. 😍🌲🐻🦋
Thanks for the comment! I mention a bit about the job situation in the blog version of this video, which I linked in the description. As far as the snow I hear ya, I moved from LA so I was worried about the snow too, especially driving in it! But I ended up loving the snow which surprised me! Thank you so much for the kind words about my photos : )
That’s definitely a con of living here. Job opportunities are sparse. It depends truly on who you are. We have a saying here, “poverty with a view.” If you are lucky enough you get to pass the time with a view and not the poverty.
Not sure if you address the wildlife in another video. Curious how that impacts things. Honestly how often have you encountered a bear or other wildlife??
@@GabriellaViola Absolutely. People in our gallery often comment on how tropical it is here. Apparently they still haven't experienced a week like this one!
A few more cons: Summers are too short and winters way too long; Very difficult to earn a decent living; Extremely high Real Estate prices and very high rents if you can‘t afford to buy!
I think the opposite winters too short summers too long but then I think skiing is the most amazing/fun thing a human can do, if you're not into skiing stay away.
I meant 99% humidity. It is miserable and there is absolutely nothing to do in Dallas. NO one can name one thing. Shopping and eating out doesn't count.
I bought my house here 18 years ago after 2 years of looking. Best thing I ever did. I like the isolation and I like even more not paying California taxes. That said I have a place in LA as well but I'm finally getting rid of the loft I rent in downtown. It has become a sewer literally
that's great you bought a house smart move! especially since prices have im sure the value has gone up exponentially 😊😊 . I used to work downtown LA in 2015-2016..i wasnt crazy about it then...has it gotten worse since then ?
Getting there supper early helps and going during the week. I have written a blog post about a gem spots on my blog feel free to check it out! www.gabriellaviola.com/post/the-prettiest-spots-on-lake-tahoes-east-shore
What's even more annoying is not defining what side of "lake tahoe" you live in, and refer to "tahoe" as a whole. South Lake is vastly different than North Lake and the two communities do not mix. Like, at all. The standard of living is vastly different between north lake and south lake. The tourists are different between north lake and south lake. Even the "remoteness" is different, as North Lake is super close to i80, so you can get "out" more easily than in South Lake.
I lived in Stateline in South Lake Tahoe and then incline village, the south lake crowds drove me nuts at times but it is convenient...definitely different vibes in terms of local verse touristy ... if I moved again I would def move to the north side around Tahoe city
Hey Gabriella, great video. I loved your enthusiasm and the depth of the detail of your explanation. I am currently looking to buy a holiday home in incline village but am wondering if it would be smart to look for a place that is smaller and close to the water or slightly further away but a bit bigger. I have always loved the area since I was little and would dream of relaxing in the sand one day and then biking in the mountains on the next. Just to help your opinion, I’m married with two teenage kids with a budget of around $600-700,000. We are a big active family but love the accessibility to amenities in the incline village area but would it be smarter to look else where? Keep up the good work and hope you are safe 💙
Hi thanks for the message, to be honest, i don't know much about the housing market, I just rent...If i had to guess I would think Incline would be one of the more expensive areas..
Hi! I’m a local. I’d look closer to south lake in Nevada area such as zephyr cove or round hill if I were in your position. That way, you still have amenities of slt, being close by, but the benefits of NV tax cuts! Incline is small and not a lot of available property. 600-700k is doable!
Yes I live in Stateline, its a nice safe area, walking distance bars and restaurants, and pretty central in terms of driving to pretty spots, my main complaint about Stateline is that its very touristy, as your across from Heavenly Mountain
Great video you were dead on I would like to add one con- it gets freaking cold in the winter. I sail my lime green Catamaran in that spectacular water. Look for the huge pirate flag. Ill be in south shore july 12-25😎😊
I moved here from the Deep South. It's cold by Southern standards , but it's MILD by East Coast and Midwest standards. The sunny and dry weather mitigate how cold it actually feels.
I've always dreamed of isolating myself in a beautiful home with large windows facing Lake Tahoe. However, after checking the home prices I realized that you have to be a millionaire to live out there :(
@@Sonoma_Coast My husband is in Tech(so was I)remote now..we just moved here in August from the Bay Area, cheap here compared to the town we sold our home in...
I paid $980 for a studio in stateline South Lake Tahoe ….so I’m sure a 1 bed is around $1300 maybe ? But prices have increased since covid with everyone swiping up the rentals
I would add ome more con to the list! It costs an arm, a leg and your first born male child to pay rent in South Lake Tahoe! I knoe for a fact, I lived there for almost 30 years!
@@GabriellaViola anywhere in any part of Tahoe, it doesn't matter, it's extremely expensive to live in Tahoe! If you live near that lake, you're going to pay dearly for the chance to live there!
You must make a lot of money as a photographer. Housing and jobs (that aren't service industry) are the cons that most people I know struggle with constantly here
I actually worked in the service industry when I first moved here, there are some affordable studios and one bedrooms in south lake tahoe and stateline. Not sure if prices have gone up in the recent year with everything going on ..I noticed that North Lake Tahoe is more expensive when I was looking over there...
@@GabriellaViola I can only speak for north lake but prices for a one bedroom or studio have become unattainable for a single worker, and the price per bedroom in rentals has shot up too. It's pretty bad most people I know have moved to reno
@@michaelcharles4763 I pay a little under 1k per month for a studio and utilities so compared to what I'm used to in LA and NY, it's pretty cheap...but yes North Lake Tahoe might as well be LA with the rent prices..
the main road through South lake and Stateline can get crowded from what I remember. Probably not bad this year though. How are the bear incidents lately?
I am still here! I have been here for a year and a half at this point, I might hit the road in the spring but im still on the fence. As of now im enjoying the winter its been snowing alot!
