LAKE TAHOE, CA

mountains, waterfalls, fishing, and more

You could visit Lake Tahoe, CA in every season and see something completely different. I have now been in the winter and fall, and I can’t wait to blog again about summer and spring! Lake Tahoe is one of the deepest lakes in the United States. You can see the other side from anywhere around the lake, but it’s so vast, that it feels a little like the ocean.

WHERE TO VISIT

Here are all of the places that I would advise you look into if not visit. They are the highlights are the city. I’ll explain in more depth below.

CHOOSING WHICH SIDE TO STAY ON

If you have the option, stay on all of the sides of the lake during your stay. Each has it’s own feel and culture. We stayed on the North Side in a small cabin resort with a pool on the water and beach access, and then we moved to the South Side half way through our trip to a big hotel to walk to all of the restaurants and night life. I’d stay on the east side if there ever is an Airbnb or hotel that pops up on that side.

NORTH SIDE

It’s so quaint and relaxing. Kings Beach is really sandy and not near as touristy! You can get a place with a pool right on the water! The North Side is my favorite side.

WEST SIDE

The West Side offers rocky beaches and private residents. I would only stay on this side if you’re skiing in one of the local resorts.

EAST SIDE

The East Side is where you see the typical iconic photos of the turquoise waters and rocks. It’s beautiful but there are few if any hotels/airbnbs to stay here.

SOUTH SIDE

The South Side has the biggest hotels, casinos, and touristy stuff. It’s fun to see and the closest to Heavenly Mountain. There is very little options to stay on the water though.

WHERE TO STAY?

There are hundreds of great options around the lake. We had an amazing experience at Red Wolf Lakeside Lodge on the North Side of the lake and Marriott Grand Residence Club on the South Side. Both had pools and hot tubs and were very affordable. I booked Red Wolf Lodge direct and Marriott on Expedia and got a killer deal!

HIGHLIGHTS

FISHING

Tahoe Sport Fishing was awesome to work with, taught us how to fish in the lake, and entertained our kids.

TRUCKEE, CA

This little road trip has all of the information about the Donner Family (the ones that ate each other), and great views!

Taylor creek

The boardwalk is beautiful, but it’s also the BEST spot to see bears all of the time.

cascade falls trail

If it’s been dry, the falls will be dried up, but the vista is still worth the short hike. Check the status on AllTrails.

emerald bay

The bay is beautiful, and it’s worth the drive getting there from South Lake Tahoe. Seriously, the drive is incredible!

KINGS BEACH

Kings Beach is a beautiful sandy beach on the North Side of the lake. It’s quaint and perfect to plan in the sand or catch some rays.

DRIVE THE LAKE

This drive is gorgeous! Near Emerald Bay, you will drive over a road that both sides of the road fall off into cliffs. It’s awesome and a little scary.

Van Sickle Park

This park is gorgeous, but make sure to check out the Scenic Overlook trail! You can see a lot of the lake from there.

THINGS TO DO:

Lake Fishing

Tahoe Sport Fishing was awesome to work with, and they were the cheapest we found. We spent a half day on the water and it was enough for me (my husband would have stayed out all day). My arms were exhausted from reeling in all the fish :) Lake Tahoe offers some of the most challenging fishing we’ve ever done because you drift along the hills and valleys under water and have to bounce your bait off the bottom. It takes skill and fines, and it’s so rewarding when you get one! Tahoe Sport Fishing will fillet your fish, and you can take them to MacDuff’s Pub to have them prepare a meal out of the fish.

go hiking

There are so many awesome hikes around Lake Tahoe. Check out my AllTrails list for the one to best suits your capabilities. The best hikes are: Eagle Falls, Van Sickle Bi-State Park, Cascade Falls Trail,

ENJOY THE VIEWS

Seriously, just take some time to drive the lake, stop at beaches and vistas and enjoy time with your family. Logan Shoals Vista is my favorite view of the lake.

RESTAURANTS:

MacDuff’s Pub

We ate here multiple times, and we NEVER go back to a restaurant. That’s how good it was! Try the pastas and shephards pie!

Edgewood

This restaurant has probably the best view on the lake, but the food was just mediocre for the price. I would go for a couple drinks, and eat elsewhere.

La Fondue

Delicious fondue spot of the North Side. Dinner and an experience!

Kalani's

Probably my favorite restaurant that we ate at in Lake Tahoe! Everything was amazing - even for our kids!

Old Post Office Cafe

Get there early, but the food and portion size is worth the wait! It’s a fun little cafe!

getting THERE AND around

I would fly into Reno, NV and rent a car. We got a great bundle package on Expedia.com. You’ll be doing a lot of driving, so don’t waste your money on Ubers.

DAY TRIPS FROM TAHOE

CALAVERAS STATE PARK

This is the closest place near Lake Tahoe to see the beautiful Redwoods! It’s about a 2 hour trip away through the mountains with little cell service. The road is beautiful, but it is a one lane road, so be prepared for issues.

YOSEMITE

We had planned to go to Yosemite for a few days on this trip, but I didn’t realize that Half Dome was over 4 hours away from South Lake Tahoe. The entrance to the park is only 2 hours, but the reason we were going to go was too far. If you plan to add Yosemite to your trip, prepare to spend at least 3-4 days there with driving.

Hope Valley Foliage

Hope Valley has the best view of the fall leaves around Lake Tahoe. Aspens dot the road getting there, and then the area opens up to beautiful orange and red leaves.