On a mountain slope overlooking Lake Tahoe, an intensely bright sun shines down through the trees as the Ponderosa pines delightfully scent the air. In some months, you'll take in the view while hiking or on a mountain bike. Even in late April, you may find yourself on skis, your focus slipping from the breathtaking vista and afternoon sun to the fresh-packed powder and 3,000 feet of incline that await you. The northern Sierras have four distinct seasons, each of them more beautiful than the last. And while the area is naturally sublime, the man-made pleasures that arts and culture offer are gaining ground in nearby Reno. If there's a flaw to be found in this all-season paradise, it may be the difficulty in deciding which time of year offers the most compelling reason to visit. Of course, those with their own Lake Tahoe luxury home don't have to decide at all.