Happy Sunday Friends!
So last weekend the hubby, Aria, and I took our first family trip together and traveled north to Lake Tahoe! We even took Percy with us! Traveling with a 9 month old baby and pup is a lot more work then we expected, but that is a whole other blog post, teehee! But Lake Tahoe was still a memorable vacation and absolutely beautiful. We spent a whole week there and today I am sharing Our Lake Tahoe Experience and Travel Tips!
Where to Stay
Depending on your style there are a lot of great lodging options for staying in Lake Tahoe. Both Reno and Carson City are within a short driving distance from many of the best sight-seeing stops at Lake Tahoe and are both great options to stay if you want to be close to everyday conveniences, malls, Starbucks etc…
Hotels
Pet Friendly
Both North and South Lake Tahoe have beautiful hotels and resorts available. If you are a traveling with a pet the options are a bit slimmer, but a few great options that are pet accommodating are the Fireside Lodge Bed & Breakfast (Cute and rustic, and in great proximity to major tourist attractions), Harvey’s Lake Tahoe Hotel & Casino (South Lake Tahoe area, near grocery stores and coffee shops), Hotel Azure (a perfect in-between option, nestled in the woods but still near conveniences, has a “in-the-woods cozy feel but still has those hotel comforts).
Non Pet Friendly
For great hotel/resort options that are not pet friendly some of the top picks are The Lodge at Edgewood (Beautiful, luxurious, but still historic. In a prime location for tourist attractions and provides stunning views of the lake.), The Landing Lake Tahoe & Resort (probably one of the most popular hotels to stay at, nestled on the lakes edge with stunning views, full spa, bar, and restaurant; this is one of the most luxurious stays you can get in Lake Tahoe.), Hyatt Regency Lake Tahoe Resort & Casino (located in North Lake Tahoe in the Sierra Mountain Range this hotel is in the perfect location for enjoying the adventures that Lake Tahoe has to offer. Surrounded by biking and hiking trails, stunning views, and adorable North Lake Tahoe shops and java huts.), Cedar Glen Lodge (Also in North Lake Tahoe area, Cedar Glen Lodge offers cozy cabin accommodations that allow you to enjoy a luxurious yet still rustic experience of Lake Tahoe. These little cabins are simply adorable and come with fire places perfect for a more private experience. Also offers access to a sandy beach and cute local shops and walking trails.), and finally West Shore Cafe and Inn (Located on the west side of the lake halfway between North and South Lake Tahoe, this Inn is beautiful and provides views that are unbeatable. It is a fabulous location for family get-togethers and even weddings!).
Airbnb
If you are looking for the full Lake Tahoe experience, Airbnb is the way to go. There are thousands of options and stay experiences to choose from, and you can really design your own Lake Tahoe adventure the way you would dream it this way. We actually stayed in an Airbnb cabin nestled in North Lake Tahoe for our visit, and loved the experience! We used Agate Bay Properties and recommend them for a fast response and great service! I would highly suggest them to anyone looking for a beautiful cabin with all the amenities and big beautiful wood fireplaces! The exact cabin we stayed at is the Morway Cabin, and loved it’s location nestled in the woods but just minutes from local shops, restaurants, and java shops. There are also tons of stunning walking trails and a beautiful parks by the lake all in walking distance to this cabin.
Where to Eat
Breakfast
Where we stayed there was a cute little coffee shop right down the road in Tahoe Vista called Pep’s Place that I loved to go to for a morning latte and breakfast sandwich. Seriously so delicious! I ordered a caramel latte and the croissant and I could seriously have this for breakfast every single day! Other really great places for breakfast are Heidi’s Pancake House (Best Breakfast in South Lake Tahoe!), Ernie’s Coffee Shop, Rosie’s Cafe (A more rustic, antique filled cafe near North Lake Tahoe), Fire Sign Cafe (In Tahoe City), and Driftwood Cafe (Located in the shops at Heavenly Village).
Lunch
We did some grocery shopping and actually enjoyed lunch at our cabin most days, but some really great spots for burgers and sandwiches are Jake’s on the Lake (In Tahoe City), Beacon Bar and Grill (One of the most popular in South Lake Tahoe), and Riva Grill (with a stunning lake view patio ambiance).
Dinner
Our first night in town we had dinner at Jason’s Beachside Grille in Kings Beach, North Lake Tahoe and LOVED the atmosphere! The food was really good and the service was amazing! Our last night in Lake Tahoe we ordered out from Gar Woods Grill & Pier and was blown away by how incredible their menu was. This place is really beautiful and offers romantic patio tables. This would be a perfect place for a fine dining experience in North Lake Tahoe. Other great places for dinner are the Edgewood Restaurant in South Lake Tahoe, and Scusa Italian Ristorante for a family friendly Italian dinner.
What to Do
Skiing
There is SO MUCH to do in Lake Tahoe, I do not even know where to begin. But I suppose I should start with skiing. We visited Lake Tahoe during an off season and there was not any snow on the ground yet. Also we are not really a skiing family. BUT if you are and you plan to visit Lake Tahoe to ski, some of the best places to stop are Northstar California (A beautiful resort also equipped with the well know Northstar Shoppes; a great place for family skiing!), Squaw Valley Alpine Meadows (Stunning ski hills and great for veteran skiers, this place is a must-stop!), and Heavenly Mountain Resort (Another family friendly ski experience this is a beautiful resort filled with hill difficulties of all ranges, shopping, and restaurants.).
Hiking
Hiking is never limited in Lake Tahoe. Both North and South Lake Tahoe offer endless beautiful trails to walk, hike, or bike! Some of the must-do trails are Cascade Falls and anything throughout Emerald Bay State Park. We wanted to visit the Vikingsholm Castle really badly too, but it is a STEEP 1 mile hike to the castle and with a 9 month old baby and my pregnant self that was not an option for us.
Shopping
The Shoppes at Northstar Village are cute and fun to browse if you are looking for souvenirs and just a fun afternoon of browsing. I also recommend the Shops at Heavenly, and Lake Tahoe Chocolate Shop! Also keep in mind that there are local shops, ice cream parlors, grocery stores, and clothing shops sprinkled all around Lake Tahoe and all provide a different experience worth checking out!
Sights
Aside from what I have already mentioned above, there are a few other sights that I recommend NOT missing when you visit Lake Tahoe. We loved Inspiration Point and were able to take some incredible photos that will be memories forever. We also really loved visiting Sand Harbor Beach, literally breath-taking! Other must-see spots great for families are Tallac Site (“A Historic Site made up of 3 Estates built between 1894 and 1930.”), Hellman-Erhman Mansion (Incredible!), Tahoe Trout Farm (So fun for adults and kids! Catch and cook your own fish!), and Martis Peak Fire Lookout!
If you have other recommendations for Lake Tahoe please comment below and share!