Where to stay in Lake Tahoe?
One of the regions that I recommend to stay in Lake Tahoe is where the casinos are located, in South Lake Tahoe, which is located between the border of the states of Nevada and California. The cool thing about this area is that you will be close to several restaurants, shops and casinos. In addition, it is easily accessible for those who depend on public transport and for partygoers on duty, it is the ideal place to enjoy the night in high style.
Check out some hotel options:
- Casino hotels : Harrah’s and Harveys .
- Lake Tahoe Resort Hotel and Heavenly Lodge , two hotels with great references and good locations. They are located close to a Lake Tahoe attraction, theHeavenly Ski Resort Gondola .
Look what a beautiful view of the Lake Tahoe Hotel in winter – photo from booking.com
Lake Tahoe is crowded in the summer, so I recommend booking in advance to see the availability of hotels , chalets or hostels.
And if you are looking for more adventure, in the summer it is possible to camp , but for that it is necessary to make a reservation in advance as places are very popular.
What to Do in Lake Tahoe in the Summer
Summer is one of the most popular times of year in Lake Tahoe to enjoy the lake’s beaches and other activities such as:
- water sports like stand up padde (SUP), canoeing, kayaking and even diving;
- for couples in love or for those who go with groups of friends, there are boat trips;
- trails: the most popular are Eagle Falls , located in Emerald Bay, and the Tahoe Rim Trail ;
- gondola ride: it is a ride on a kind of cable car that is in the central part of the southern region of Lake Tahoe. The gondola takes you to the top of Tahoe’s most popular ski resort and one of the most famous winter attractions, Heavenly. In the summer there will be no snow, but the walk provides a beautiful view of the lake seen from the top;
- a picnic in one of Lake Tahoe’s parks is a must; especially in Sand Harbor or King’s Beach ;
- visit the casinos (this one works for the winter too): and there is a region in Lake Tahoe that looks like a mini Las Vegas and a good choice for those who enjoy gambling. That part is in Nevada, where the games are allowed under US law. Remembering that in the United States each state has its own laws. In California, gambling is prohibited. Therefore, the casinos are only on the part of the lake that is in Nevada.
Cities to Visit in Lake Tahoe
The main cities of Lake Tahoe are a good option for a stop for lunch or dinner, in addition to being the small towns with more infrastructure for supermarkets, region to find good hotels, etc.
The following villages in Lake Tahoe are worth visiting:
- South Lake Tahoe (California): as the name says, this town is located on the southern part of the lake and is home to the famous Heavenly ski resort . As it lies between the California and Nevada border, the city is made up of a long, well-mixed avenue, in one part casinos are allowed (good for enjoying the night in Lake Tahoe). In the other part, the style is more Californian and has a more beach vibe.
- Stateline (Nevada): close to South Lake Tahoe is this small town that is home to Lake Tahoe’s main casinos such as Harrah’s Lake Tahoe , Hard Rock Hotel and Casino and Harveys Lake Tahoe .
- Lake Tahoe City ( California): another city that is very close to the border between California and Nevada that offers good accommodation options and even has some restaurants.
- King’s Beach (California): a small town with good infrastructure for those who want to practice water sports. At King’s beach it is possible to rent kayaks, boards and take pedal boat rides.
- Incline Village and Crystal Bay (Nevada): these are two small towns that are right next to each other. The region offers beautiful views of the mountainous landscape around the lake.
What to do in 2 days in Lake Tahoe
The best way to experience Lake Tahoe and explore the park at its best is by renting a car. That way you can go and return to the hotel at your own time and you will have complete freedom to do the tours.
First day
If you have a car, the tip for those going to Lake Tahoe for the first time is to take the route around the lake and stop at the main viewpoints along the way.
To get around the lake takes around 2 hours if you don’t make any stops. But I’m already advancing that the temptation is great and that walk around the lake can take all day. You will want to stop at all the viewpoints and little beaches along the route, which is surrounded by a beautiful landscape.
emerald bay
Emerald bay is a California State Park and one of the postcards of Lake Tahoe. It is the region that provides the most incredible panoramic view of the lake. It is right at the beginning of the southern part of the lake and to see this beauty of nature there are two lookouts with a good structure for tourists.
The road that leads to the park is already an attraction in itself, beautiful and cinematic. The main viewpoint for Emerald Bay is called Inspiration Point and the view is so beautiful that the lake looks like a painting, it’s so perfect. The site has parking and public restrooms. In addition to it, just pay attention to the signs to check out the other viewpoints, there is no mistake.
One of the most famous trails in Lake Tahoe, Eagle Falls, is located in Emerald Bay Park. I didn’t have time to do the hike, but here’s a tip for hikers. In addition to the beautiful views of the lake, on the way another attraction of this trail is a beautiful waterfall.
Hurricane Bay
Continuing around the lake, the next stop was Hurricane Bay . A part of the lake where you can have a beautiful view of the mountains and is composed of beautiful beaches with stones. It is there where the nobility leaves their boats anchored.
And very close by, already in the Tahoe City area, is Lake Forest Beach , a place where I happened to find a house with a super photogenic pier.
Did you see what a beautiful pier ⇑. This beautiful view is from a dream rental house that if one day I have money, I will definitely go back to Lake Tahoe just to stay there.
hidden beach
Between Inclinage Village and Sand Harbor, already in the state of Nevada, there is a beautiful beach that will provide you with beautiful photos and a spectacular view of the lake, it is Hidden Beach.
Hidden Beach, as the name suggests, is a somewhat hidden beach with no signage. It is located on one of the most photogenic parts of the road and has no parking. If you want to get to know her, the best way is to leave the car on the side of the road.
sand harbor
Last stop of the day was at Sand Harbor, which for me was one of the most incredible places and with one of the most exotic views of the lake, as the place is full of stones, which ends up leaving the color of the water with an even more beautiful look. .
Sand Harbor is located in the northern part of Nevada near Incline Village. And the highlight of this part of the lake is that there are several beautiful beaches for you to enjoy the summer and the beautiful landscape. Now get ready, because the water in the lake is ice , so many people choose to just enjoy the tranquility of the beach and the surrounding nature.
For those traveling by car, depending on the time of day, it will be difficult to find a parking space. There are people who park their cars on the side of the lane, but as everything was full, I had to leave the car in the local parking lot, which cost 12 dollars (between October and April, the fee is 7 dollars).
What to do in Sand Harbor : picnic, water sports, trails and boat trips.
And to have the best views of Sand Harbor I highly recommend walking along one of the trails that are on site.
Second day
On the second and last day, I opted to do a water sport and enjoy the beach more. I went to Kings Beach , a beach on the north side of the lake, located between Incline Village and Tahoe City.
You can also take advantage of the second day to hike, take a boat ride, take a cable car ride or just relax on one of Lake Tahoe’s many beaches.
As Kings Beach is located in a recreation area, this part of the lake is perfect for those who want to enjoy water sports, as there are places where they rent boards, for example, among other items. If you have small children, it’s a perfect place for the kids to have fun.
