Week in the Tahoe
At 6,225 feet above sea level, Lake Tahoe sits high in the mountains sharing its shores with California and Nevada. The heat is comfortable and the weather is almost always sunny, making for a great destination for hiking, swimming, kayaking, and other outdoor activities. The lake is surrounded by mountains which offer a plethora of hiking and mountain biking trails as well as small towns with small restaurants, cafes, boutiques, and water sport shops. It's such a bright and cheery atmosphere filled with people who crave to conquer the mountains. Then with the sweet taste of victory they find the reward of this beautiful blue lake, coaxing the passerby to test their waters. Lake Tahoe offers a refreshing and relaxing experience that quenches traveler's desires to connect with the outdoors.
As I was traveling with family, we stayed at a more upscale location. The Hyatt Regency in Lake Tahoe offers many activities and amenities. For outdoor sports, they parasailing, catamaran charters, motor boots, jet skis, kayaks, and stand up paddle boards. The private beach includes beach volleyball courts, fire pits, and outdoor restaurants. The hotel gives of a luxurious rustic vibe, catering to those who crave mimosa sunset cruises and spa service, to those who take full advantage of the nearby hiking trails and can't wait to get their kayaks on the water.
The Lake Tahoe Rim Trail is 96 miles of trail encircling Lake Tahoe. The trail can be split up into daily heights offering beautiful views of the lake and its surroundings. The Lake Tahoe area is also known for its "Ale" stops. Many different hiking and biking trials feature different ale stops to quench your thirst. Outdoor magazine claimed, "Lake Tahoe Is Marrying Adventuring and Beer Drinking."
To get started with finding hiking, biking, kayaking, and of course the best beer stops for you, check out Outside Magazine's interactive Ale Trail!
Below are pictures taken from the Rim Trail from various starting points.
The other great part about Tahoe is the lake! The blue color is unlike any other lake I've swam in. Although cold, it's swimmable and refreshing after a hard hike. More secluded parts of the lake include Hidden Beach, Sunset Cove, Skunk Harbor, Chimney Beach, Secret Harbor, and Emerald Bay that have incredibly blue water and are lovely secluded coves along the coastline. Kayaking or paddle boarding is a great way to get there and see the beautiful coast as well.
A great starting point is Sand Harbor. Come early, park your car or take a bus and plan to spend the whole day. Sand Harbor can be quite crowded but a great beach for families! Sand Harbor has water sport rentals, including kayaking and paddle boarding. From Sand Harbor the kayak trip along the coastline is beautiful, filled with many coves and beaches tucked away by rocks and trees great for exploring. Kayak tours can also be taken along the coast. On your left side lie the beautiful coves and crystal clear waters and on your right, the great mountains lie looming off into the distance draped in fog, standing majestically. It's truly a scenic kayak ride.
Although Lake Tahoe consists of mostly pebble beaches, there are some sandier beaches. But, the beautiful blue color of the water is due to the pebbles rather than sand, making the view beautiful although a little inconvenient. Bigger beaches have kayak and paddle board rental, like King's Beach, Incline Village, Sand Harbor, the area by Homewood resort, and Emerald Bay.
For adventure seekers, Tahoe has great mountain biking options! The trails are well maintained and beautiful, giving you thrill, a workout, and gorgeous views of the mountains and the lake below. We chose the Flume Trail: a 14 mile bike ride. The first 4 miles are an intense uphill battle that opens up to Lake Marlette, which is great place to rest and regain some energy. Heading onwards the next 5 or 6 miles lead around the lake to the side of the mountain, giving a great view of Lake Tahoe. The greatest part is you're riding of the ridge of the mountain, the view really couldn't get any better than that. It's exhilarating! The last stretch about 4 to 5 miles is pretty much all downhill, which is really a blast.
The Tunnel Creek Station will provide a shuttle to Spooner Lake, your beginning point from which you bike all the way back to the cafe (which is also where you rent all the equipment). After your great mountain biking adventure, grab a smoothie, sandwich, some Tahoe merchandise, or chat with the friendly employees and bikers at the cafe and relax! This one one of my favorite experiences from Tahoe and is highly recommended, even for people who have never tried mountain biking before.
Great outdoor adventure can only be paired with great food. Tahoe has plenty of restaurants ranging in cuisine. On our last night in Tahoe we ate at the Lone Eagle Grill, our dinner's fighting to compete with the beauty of the setting sun over the mountains. The chef was truly gifted, making each of his plates remarkable and the location of the restaurant, right on the lake, couldn't have been better. Paired with tasteful decor and great service, the steep prices make Lone Eagle Grill worth the splurge.
Another one of our favorites, was Thai Recipe. A small family restaurant that serves authentic southeastern asian food. The decor and waiters are charming and the food was amazing. We also enjoyed West Shore Market after our hike on the Rim Trail. I had a great pesto pasta with cherry tomatoes and even bought a commemorative mug. The market is very charming and attractive to hikers.
Great for hiking, beer drinking, kayaking, and just relaxing, Tahoe has it all. Beautiful waters for those who prefer to venture out into the blue or watch the waves come in or trails leading up to the peaks and coating you with a layer of dust as you continue forward. Great food, people, and never too little to do, Tahoe makes for a great place to visit.
