My husband and I relocated to the Lake Tahoe area for his job earlier this year, and I'll admit, I wasn't crazy about it at first. It didn't seem like there was much to do besides ski, and since the snow wasn't great this year a lot of times you couldn't even do that. Plus, from where we live in South Lake Tahoe you have to drive 45 minutes to get to the nearest Target! I know, the horror. But over time, Tahoe really started to grow on me...and once summer hit, I totally fell in love with it. The weather is gorgeous, the lake is stunning, and I can't imagine a more perfect place to spend the summer.
So although I'm still somewhat of a Tahoe newbie, I thought I'd share my top 5 favorite summer activities here! (some of these photos came from my blog while others came from my Instagram!)
1. Drive around the lake
Surprisingly this is one of my favorite things to do and it still hasn't gotten old yet. The lake itself is a little over 70 miles around, so it's very doable to take a trip around the whole thing in a day while allowing time to stop and explore along the way. As you're driving, you can stop and take photos at scenic Emerald Bay (pictured above), head up to the cute little town of Truckee and have lunch, and just take in all the different communities scattered around the lake. You drive pretty much right next to the water the entire way, and if you're in a vehicle where you can take the top off even better!
2. Rent a stand-up paddleboard Stand-up paddleboarding is so much fun, so if you've never tried it it's definitely a LT must. There are few different places that rent paddleboards in the area, and there are a lot of great spots you can take them out on to the lake. I've only done it once so far on Lake Tahoe this summer, but I definitely plan on doing it again soon. It's a really good core workout and it's an awesome way to spend time on the water.
At the top of Mt. Tallac with my sweet husband and our goofy dog
3. Hike Mt. Tallac There are lots of great hikes in the Tahoe area, but my favorite (so far) is definitely Mt. Tallac. The hike is a little under 10 miles round trip, and you get great views of both Fallen Leaf Lake and Lake Tahoe pretty much the whole way. Once you reach the summit, the views of Lake Tahoe and the Sierras are truly spectacular.
4. Float or Kayak on the Truckee river The Truckee is the main river in the Tahoe area and there lots of great spots where you can put in a tube or kayak and spend the day relaxing on the river. It's a definitely a popular activity here in Tahoe, and it's such fun way to spend a summer afternoon.
5. Take a boat cruise If you're visiting Lake Tahoe, boating is a great way to really see the lake in all its glory. If you can rent your own boat or you know someone with a boat, that's ideal as you have the freedom to go where you'd like. However, another fun option is one of the paddlewheel cruises that leave from Zephyr Cove or the Ski Run Marina in South Lake Tahoe. The cruise itself is a little cheesy and very touristy, but there's nothing like being out in the center of the lake with the crystal clear water all around you!
That's just the tip of the iceberg when it comes to fun things to do here in the summer, but those are some of my personal favorites. Thanks again for having me Tracy!
