California is a beautiful state and I was born and raised in the Bay Area. It is also ridiculously expensive but that’s a complaint for another time.
The best part of the Bay Area is you can get to any type of environment in a few hours or less.
Beach- 25 minutes
San Francisco- 45 minutes
Disneyland- 5 driving hours
Mountains- 10 minutes
Lake Tahoe/Snow- 4 driving hours
That’s where I’m going to start…Lake Tahoe.
King’s Beach Lake Tahoe
My family had a cabin in King’s Beach, Lake Tahoe for most of my life.
I took my kids for most of the summer every year and for 2-4 weeks in the winter. It was the greatest cabin. You could see the lake from the balcony, you could walk to the lake in about 10 minutes and it backed up to national forest. Nobody could build back there so it was our sledding heaven in the winter. The reason I speak of it in the past tense is, it was sold a couple years ago. I was heartbroken, but I plan on getting a little cabin when I have grandkids!
King’s Beach is very nostalgic for me. My sister and I went parasailing once when we were young. Back then they would just drop you in the water. Now a days they reel you back into the boat so you don’t have to experience the freezing water.
We were doing a tandem ride and my sister was hanging below me. When our ride was over and they cut us loose, I started yelling at her, “Is it cold? Is it cold?”. She was yelling back at me, “How would I know I’m still falling!”. We hit the water at the same time and it was so cold it took our breath away!
I would like to add, they would pull the parasail out of the water before they got you out. So we were just treading water and shivering. Once they got us out we had to take the speed boat back to shore…while soaking wet and freezing. It sucked! I couldn’t tell you one thing about the actual parasailing part but I will remember the slow decline into the crystal clear, freezing waters of Lake Tahoe forever!
Normally the freezing water didn’t bother me. When I was a kid I’d spend all day in the lake. Now I barely put a toe in! I’d rather sit on the beach and look at it! I always find it so funny that kids do not care how cold the water is, they all have to be pulled out against their will at the end of the day. I wonder why that is…
Back to King’s Beach…bet you thought I forgot…I probably would have, but I have an outline I’m following!
There used to be “The Best Breakfast in Lake Tahoe” at the Log Cabin but it closed during Covid. However, our favorite ice cream place behind the Log Cabin is still there. It is so good!
The other super nostalgic thing in King’s Beach is the little homemade mini golf course! We have had some fantastic times there. I remember when I was a kid, we would drink water out of the hose!
King’s Beach is on the north side of the lake about a mile from the state line. When you cross into Nevada there are a few old school casinos but the real gambling happens on South Shore. I am a North Shore girl so I don’t know too much about the south side other than there are bigger casinos.
Incline Village, Lake Tahoe
Past state line a bit is Incline Village. My favorite Starbucks is there! More importantly you can take the brand new lake trail starting at the old Ponderosa Ranch. It goes to Sand Harbor. Its paved and perfect for walking or biking and you have a view of the lake the entire time.
Sand Harbor, Lake Tahoe
Sand Harbor is a little farther south. It is my favorite beach. Stunning but crowded. You have to get there early if you want a parking spot.
We have a regular place where we set up, and it just so happens to be the farthest point from the parking lot! As soon as the bar opens, we are in line for a beverage! It’s just a great beach.
Kings Beach is nice too but it’s more rocky and the water is a little more rough. But, they have a great fireworks show on the 4th of July and almost every weekend in the summer there is an art/craft fair.
Tahoe City, Lake Tahoe
If you go west from King’s Beach you go through Tahoe Vista and Tahoe City. We love shopping in Tahoe City, and we try to eat at Rosie’s . There is a trail along the lake in Tahoe City as well. At the end of Tahoe City you can go left at Fanny Bridge to continue around the lake.
Its called Fanny Bridge because people are lined up and looking down at the Truckee River…all you see are a line of fannies!
IT is also here that you can rent a raft and float down the Truckee River. We have had many good times on the Truckee River. There is an island at one point where people stop and have a party! Music, water gun fights, and just a really good time for everyone.
When the water level is high you have to lay flat in the raft to get under some foot bridges. When the water is low you move slow as molasses and you need to get out and walk a bit.
After a small rapid you end up at River Ranch which is a bar and restaurant. Sometime there is a band playing. It’s pretty crowded but has a very summer vibe.
Palisades (Squaw Valley), Lake Tahoe
River Ranch is on Highway 89 and if you continue down the highway you arrive at Squaw Valley. It’s actually called Palisades now. The Olympics were there so you can see the Athlete Village. There is a gondola ride up the mountain that is awesome. And let’s not leave out shopping!
Northstar, Lake Tahoe
Northstar is another ski resort where we love to go. While my kids ski/snowboard, I shop and drink Dirty Snowmans? Dirty Snowmen? Whatever..it’s a hot chocolate drink with Irish Cream, vanilla vodka and other stuff. It is so good but make sure you’re not driving anytime soon! After the kids are off the slopes, we usually eat then the kids ice skate. I can’t really recommend a restaurant because I feel like they change a lot! Rubicon Pizza is good and has been there from the beginning. And there is a Starbucks!
Truckee, California
Continuing towards Highway 80 is Truckee. The old town is adorable. There is shopping, the train station, an old jail, and Jax at the Tracks. We eat at Jax at the Tracks at least once every visit. Breakfast is great and the foot long hot dog is amazing.
Our favorite part of Truckee in the summer is Truckee Thursdays. They close down the street and there are a ton of booths selling local goods. A bunch of food trucks. A beer garden and a band. We go every year. When we had the cabin we could go multiple Thursdays but now we can only go to one.
This past summer we stayed at Coachland RV Park. It was really nice and less than a mile from Truckee. We will for sure go back.
One other thing I love in Truckee is the Ace Hardware store. I can and have spent hours in there. They have so much fun stuff. Way more than hardware.
Around the Area
That’s all our spots around Lake Tahoe. Reno isn’t too far and it has some fun stuff like skee ball at Circus Circus! Donner Lake is another beautiful lake. Carson City is fun. It’s Nevada’s state capital so you can see all the government buildings there. Plus, there is a Costco and a Target!
Lake Tahoe has so much more to do and see than I even touched on!
Winter: Snow shoe trails, Sledding, Skiing and Snowboarding. There are tons of resorts besides the ones I mentioned.
Summer: Hiking, cycling, beaches, SUP ( stand up paddleboard), kayaking, golf, mountain biking at the ski resorts, boating, parasailing and cruises. There are many more beaches than the ones I mentioned.
Year round: Shopping, Starbucks, restaurants, casinos, looking at the mansions in Incline, and of course, walking by the lake.
I really can’t say enough about Lake Tahoe. As soon as I go over the summit and see my lake, my heart starts beating quicker! I just love it there. It’s for sure my happy place.
