Tahoe is one of those places that you could visit 10+ times and never get sick of. The lake posses serious serene MAGIC!
You will have two very different experiences depending on if you visit during the winter or summer months. Nonetheless, there is no “bad season” in Tahoe. I would categorize October/November as the “slow” months only because the lifts are closed and most water sport companies have closed up! There is still great sightseeing during these months though.
You can drive around the lake within an hour or two, depending on how many stops you take.
Best Gems to Visit Around the Lake - Sightseeing
You could make an entire day out of driving around the lake. You will discover spectacular new views with each turn you take. This drive is a photographers dream. It doesn’t matter whether it is winter or summer, the views at all the below spots are breathtaking!
Emerald Bay (South Lake, California Side)
Sand Harbor Beach (North Lake, Nevada Side)
King’s Beach (North Lake, California Side)
Eagle Rock (California Side)
D.L. Bliss State Park (California Side)
Winter in Tahoe
Winter in Tahoe is a true snowy wonderland! You will actually feel like you have entered Narnia…
Hit the Slopes
You can go skiing, snowboarding, cross country skiing, snow shoeing, tubing or rent snow mobiles! Name any winter activity, Tahoe has it. All these activities will be available at various spots around the lake—it is very easy to navigate once there.
If you do plan to ski/snowboard, I recommend buying your lift tickets in advance and picking them up the night before. Also, rent equipment the night before to avoid morning lines! They can get long…
Heavenly Mountain
Heavenly is probably the most popular ski/snowboard destination in Tahoe because you get a beautiful view of the lake while making your way down the mountain. This view attracts people from across the globe, so the mountain does get crowded on weekends (especially holidays)! It is one of my favorites, but you can expect to wait up to 20 minutes in chairlift lines.
This mountain is unique in that you can take a chair lift up the California side of the mountain, and ski down the Nevada side!
Squaw Valley
This mountain is famous for hosting the 1960 Winter Olympics!
Northstar
Another great mountain for blue and black runs.
Kirkwood
This mountain is a bit of a drive (~1 hour from South Lake), but a popular destination
PRO TIP - If you go in winter and do not have a car with 4-wheel drive, make sure to buy snow chains.
Summer in Tahoe
Water Activities
Tahoe offers any water activity you can think of: boat rental, skiing, jet skiing, tubing, scuba diving, parasailing, kayaking, etc. Once again, you will easily be able to navigate rental options once there. Don’t stress planning too much in advance.
Non-water Activities
My favorite days are when we have zero plans and can just explore to our hearts desire. I recommend saving at least one day to do this.
Hiking
There are endless trails in the area and you can’t go wrong. Some of the top ones are:
Rubicon Trail
Cascade Falls Trail
Fallen Leaf Lake Trail
Eagle Falls to Eagle Lake Hike
Granite Lake and South Maggie's Peak
Glen Alpine Trail to Aloha Lake Hiking Trail
Skyline Trail
Mt. Tallac Trail
Taylor’s Creek
This is a popular destination if you want to spot a bear and walk in nature! Great place to take kids.
Accommodations - Should I stay in South Lake or North Lake Tahoe area?
Again, you can’t go wrong, just depends on the vibe that you are going for!
South Lake borders Nevada, so there are a lot of casino’s there. If you are looking for night life during your stay, South Lake is the area to be.
North Lake is a bit more quiet. You feel like you are truly in the mountains here. Great area to stay if you are looking to “get away.”
Airbnb: We typically use Airbnb for accommodation in Tahoe. There are so many beautiful homes!
The Landing: This hotel/spa is in South Lake and is right on the water. We stayed here in October for a great price (because it was “off-season”). There is a beautiful beach right behind it, which made for a great sunset destination!
Food
Tahoe is definitely not a foodie destination. We typically grocery shop and cook in the cabin—makes for a fun activity! That said, there are some solid spots in the area if you are looking to eat out. My top recs below:
Fire Sign Cafe - Breakfast/lunch - North Lake
Heidi’s - Breakfast/ lunch - South Lake
Izabella’s - Dinner (Italian) - South Lake
Basecamp Pizza - Dinner/Drinks - South Lake
Driftwood Cafe - Breakfast - South Lake
Whatever you do here, it will leave a special spot in your heart. Enjoy and feel free to reach out with any questions!
