City: Crystal Bay, NV

Category: Accommodations

Telephone: (800) 225-6382

Address: 2 Stateline Road

Description: It was once owned by Frank Sinatra. And Marilyn Monroe and John F. Kennedy were frequent guests. Known as the “Lady of the Lake,” the Cal Neva Lodge (now the Cal Neva Resort) was a favorite playground for Hollywood’s biggest stars during the 1940s and 1950s. But when the Nevada State Gaming Control Board learned Sinatra was also entertaining people with questionable backgrounds, it rescinded his gaming license. The lodge fell upon hard times until a succession of new owners revived it beginning in the 1980s. Today the Cal Neva Resort retains the romance, history, and elegance of its past. It has all the touches and amenities of a modern full-service casino resort. Since the California–Nevada state line bisects the property, you can swim from state to state in the lovely outdoor pool overlooking Lake Tahoe or stand with one foot in each state in front of the enormous rock fireplace in the Indian Room. Used for special events, the Indian Room also showcases the history of Lake Tahoe with displays of Washoe Indian artifacts and pictures of early settlers. The main lodge of the resort has been restored to its original 1937 design, including open-beamed ceilings and hardwood floors. A focal point is the Circle Bar, with a domed ceiling containing 7,000 pieces of glittering multicolored German crystal. It’s hard to beat this favorite watering hole’s view of the lake at sunset. But lake views are a given here since all the private rooms as well as public areas of the lodge have large windows facing the water. You can choose from hotel rooms in the tower or cabins and chalets on the lakeshore, including a variety of accommodations once used by celebrities. Fireplaces and patios are also available. Besides the 24-hour casino (which is the oldest originally operating casino in the country), other amenities include lake-view dining, a bar, tennis courts, a video arcade, and a full-service European health spa and fitness facility. Romance, however, is still the name of the game for this grand old dame. The Cal Neva is one of the hottest spots for weddings at Lake Tahoe. With four distinct wedding locations and a complete bridal and honeymoon service on-site, the resort specializes in personalized weddings performed in exquisite surroundings overlooking the lake. For a taste of Old Tahoe with all the modern comforts, the Cal Neva is a fun place to stay. It’s in the center of Crystal Bay, where you can walk to three other casinos and several more restaurants. During winter we highly recommend stopping by this historic resort to enjoy its dazzling display of half a million lights, snowfall curtains, and fantasy figures, which celebrate the winter wonderland of Lake Tahoe.

City: Crystal Bay, NV

Category: Accommodations

Telephone: (775) 831-0660, (800) 245-8667

Address: 5 Nevada Highway 28

Description: Built in 1946 as the Tahoe Biltmore, this hotel has had a succession of names through the years, including the Cal-Neva Biltmore and the Nevada Lodge. In 1986 the owners decided to call it by its original name, and it is again the Tahoe Biltmore. One of the oldest hotel/casinos at Lake Tahoe, the Biltmore boasts an interesting history of appearances by big-name stars, including Rowan and Martin, Regis Philbin, and Phyllis Diller, who reportedly shocked theatergoers with her vivid green hair. The hotel also claims to have a resident ghost—a showgirl named Mary who was murdered in her room and whose spirit has reportedly been seen by employees and guests throughout the years. The main casino tower has 47 recently refurbished rooms with room service, bell service, and lake views. The other 45 rooms are motel-style accommodations and are located at the rear of the property. All are within easy walking distance of several other casinos and restaurants.Besides the full-service casino, amenities include a swimming pool, several restaurants, and a sports bar. The Biltmore is known by Insiders to offer some of the best values in rooms and food at Lake Tahoe. Check the Web site for ski packages and manager’s specials. Be sure to ask about membership in Club Biltmore, a cash-back players club that entitles members to prizes and perks at the hotel.When this guide went to press, the Biltmore had just changed hands and it was rumored that an extensive expansion and renovation was in the works. Considering the economic downturn, however, it’s anybody’s guess when that might happen.

City: Crystal Bay, NV

Category: Getting Here, Getting Around

Telephone: (800) 832-8213, (530) 546-5888

Description: The only limo company headquartered at North Shore Lake Tahoe, North Tahoe Limousine offers an eight-passenger stretch limo for $65 per hour and a six-passenger limo for $50. Both cars come with fully stocked bars. A two-hour minimum rental is required. The company will also take you to airports in Sacramento, San Francisco, or Reno. North Tahoe also has a 15-passenger bus for parties and tours.

City: Crystal Bay, NV

Category: Nightlife

Telephone: (775) 833-6330

Address: 14 Nevada Highway 28

Description: The showroom of the Crystal Bay Club Casino becomes a comedy club on Tuesday at 8:00 p.m. when well-known regional comics take to the stage. Tickets are $10 in advance and $15 at the door.

City: Crystal Bay, NV

Category: Nightlife

Telephone: (775) 832-4000, (800) 225-6385

Address: 2 Stateline Road

Description: The Cal Neva Resort, owned by Frank Sinatra in the 1960s and frequented by Sinatra’s “Rat Pack” and the Kennedys, is teeming with history. Marilyn Monroe was supposed to have had a midnight rendezvous with JFK here in the early 1960s. But now the Cal Neva, named so because it straddles the California and Nevada state line, is relatively quiet. I would always recommend a stop here just to enjoy the view and a drink in the Circle bar. However, entertainment is sporadic, so call or check the Web site for a schedule.

City: Crystal Bay, NV

Category: Nightlife

Telephone: (775) 831-0512, (775) 833-6333

Address: 24 State Line Rd

Description: Totally renovated with a warm, woodsy ambience, the Crystal Bay Club Casino has upped the bar on entertainment and dining in Crystal Bay. An eclectic parade of entertainers appear in the Crown Room and the smaller Red Room, usually on weekends. For a fine dining experience, I’d strongly recommend dinner in the Crystal Bay Steakhouse, although it’s not exactly cheap.

City: Crystal Bay, NV

Category: Nightlife

Telephone: (775) 831-0660

Address: 5 Nevada Highway 28

Description: The Tahoe Biltmore features live music in its Breeze nightclub and occasional special events in the Nevada Grand Ballroom.

City: Crystal Bay, NV

Category: Relocation

Telephone: (775) 831-0625

Address: 201 Stateline Road

Description: This small, independently owned office specializes in luxury second homes on the North Shore of Lake Tahoe. Its four Realtors are licensed in both California and Nevada, and they handle properties from Tahoma, California, to Incline Village, Nevada. The firm likes to boast that it has Realtors who specialize in personalized service and who really know the area. The office has been selling property since 1956.