Where should you spend your upcoming summer vacation? Not Lake Tahoe, according to Fodor's

Lake Tahoe, one of the crown jewels of America, was earlier this month named by Fodor’s Travel as one of the 10 places to skip visiting this coming year.

Also on the list of places to avoid, which includes locations from around the world, is the American West.

Fodor’s list encompasses natural attractions that could use a break; locations impacted by drought; and cultural hotspots plagued with overcrowding and depleted resources.

“These natural destinations desperately need a pause from visitors,” according to Fodor’s.

According to the popular travel guide, Lake Tahoe has a people problem, resulting in traffic jams, packed beaches and trails and decreased lake clarity.

About 15 million people visit the iconic lake each year, and tourism accounts for more than 60 percent of Lake Tahoe’s $5 billion economy – up from 40 percent in 2010.

The lake’s listing by Fodor’s sparked frustration among Tahoe tourism boards.

According to a letter penned by members of the Lake Tahoe Visitors Authority, the North Lake Tahoe Resort Association and Travel North Tahoe Nevada rebutting the Fodor’s article, it’s not just tourists who impact the lake – it’s also an increase in residents moving to the Tahoe Basin.

Instead of avoiding the lake, the tourism agencies wrote, visitors and residents need to focus on being stewards of the region by doing things such as biking and walking, rather than driving, and visiting during the off-season.

“Simply telling visitors not to come doesn’t solve problems,” according to the letter. "Instead, it has the potential to impact Tahoe’s tourism-driven economy.”

Fodor’s also broadly listed Nevada, California, Utah and Arizona as a place to avoid, citing the ongoing drought plaguing the West.

The Associated Press contributed to this story

Amy Alonzo covers the outdoors, recreation and environment for Nevada and Lake Tahoe. Reach her at aalonzo@gannett.com.