It’s hard to comprehend but Lake Tahoe was formed over 2 million years ago; it’s the largest alpine lake in North America and the only one deeper in the US is Crater Lake in Oregon. Now that you’ve got some knowledge about it’s history, lets delve into why you should go! Spanning two states (Nevada and California), North Lake Tahoe is home to dozens of beaches, some amazing restaurants and shops, 12 ski resorts, hundreds of miles of trails for hiking or mountain biking, and of course the stunning lake. There is SO much to do there, no matter the time of year and it’s downright beautiful at every single turn.
During the winter months, people flock to the ski resorts of North Lake Tahoe. In the summer, the lake is littered with people out on kayaks, swimming, or boating. We visited in the fall and while the weather wasn’t great the weekend we went (lots of rain and a little wet snow), we hiked, shopped, and ate our way through town. Here’s a round up of our favorite places to eat, things to do, and hotels to stay at for your next trip to North Lake Tahoe.
Where to eat
Gar Woods Grill & Bar: Located in Carnelian Bay, go here for epic sunsets, yummy cocktails, and killer food. We loved the French dip, pistachio crusted halibut and coconut shrimp.
Fire Sign Cafe: Located in Tahoe City, Fire Sign Cafe serves an amazing breakfast and the menu is so big you’ll have trouble deciding what to get. Order the waffle ‘for the table’ !
West Shore Market: Located Tahoe City, this is an excellent option for picking up quick groceries, wine, and sandwiches to go though you can also dine in.
Jake’s on the Lake: Located in Tahoe City, go for waterfront dining and a wide selection of food!
Soule Domain: Located on Kings Beach, this cozy spot is a great fine dining option.
Manzanita: Located at the Ritz-Carlton, Lake Tahoe, Manzanita is an amazing fine dining restaurant featuring Californian cuisine with an artistic twist.
Spindleshanks: Located on Kings Beach, think of this as upscale pub food. Awesome salads and sandwiches at lunch and some delicious seafood options at dinner.
Sandy’s Pub: Located at the Resort at Squaw Creek in Olympic Valley, this sports bar offers really good pub fare like Bavarian pretzels, nachos, and buffalo cauliflower.
Crest Cafe & Catering: Locate in Alpine Meadows, we went for bagels, an egg and tater tot scramble bowl and lattes that were all super good.
Sunshine Deli: Located in Incline Village, we went to pick up sandwiches to-go and they killed it! So good.
what to do
Hike Eagle Rock Trail: A 0.7 mile loop trail that ends with views of the lake from a craggy cliff. While it’s a short trail, it’s pretty vertical and there are several places that are more like rock scrambles than a hike. Still, my 3.5 year old daughter Penny was able to do it without any trouble, even in the rain!
Explore Sand Harbor State Park and Beach: Without a doubt one of the most incredible beaches we’ve ever seen. The water was so clear, the rocks are just bananas, and the walking path was great!
Get on the water with Tahoe Adventure Company: The weather didn’t cooperate for us this trip, but we can’t wait to visit again and go out kayaking with TAC.
Shop in Tahoe City: A wine shop, toy store, a florist, and several boutiques lured us in to the shopping center here and we spent over an hour exploring.
Visit the playground at Kings Beach: Talk about a playground with a view! We let Penny get her wiggles out while we took in the stunning scenes of Kings Beach. It’s a sprawling sandy swath with snowcapped mountains in the distance!
Climb the rock walls at High Altitude Fitness in Incline Village: A killer rainy day activity. Penny had a BLAST and we had to pry her off the wall when it was time to leave.
Stroll the Stateline Lookout Trail: An easy, albeit busy, 1.7 mile loop near Crystal Bay, Nevada. Penny’s legs tuckered out before we got too far in but it was a delightful stroll with lovely views.
where to stay
The sprawling property features a heated pool along with two hot tubs right at the base of the ski runs, a world class spa, and Manzanita, an amazing restaurant. With a variety of rooms ranging from single king rooms to multi-room residential suites, it’s the ideal place to stay for any family planning a special trip to North Lake Tahoe.
Set in Olympic Valley, the property is surrounded by stunning mountains and a beautiful golf course. In the winter months, the Resort at Squaw Creek has ski-in/ski-out access and the chair lift is just near the pool deck, not far from the guest tower at all. For families looking for a ski resort vacation, this property is a great choice. With several restaurants, the pools and hot tubs, and plenty to do right at the hotel, there really is no reason to leave!
