Northlake Dr, Crystal Bay

Located on the California/Nevada state line, Crystal Bay is one of the most common lodging options for Bay Area weekend commuters. It offers the best of all worlds - casinos, gambling, nightlife, proximity to some of the best resorts in the Tahoe area (Squaw Valley, Northstar, Alpine Meadows, and Sugarbowl), and of course, stunning views of the lake all around.

Unlike the south shore, where the casino and ski populations seem far more segregated (I haven't a clue what the skiers down there do at night), visitors here tend to mingle more, and many daytime riders moonlight as gamblers. The locals are friendly, the tourists are psyched to meet and greet, the table minimums are low, and the ski homes here are some of the nicest in the area.

If you want come up from the SF Bay and do the Lake Tahoe scene, with the freedom to go to any mountain that you choose without feeling segregated at a resort, I recommend this fun ski/gambling town.