Lake Tahoe

This post has been long overdue. Lake Tahoe is one of the most magical places I’ve been to. It’s got amazing views, great beaches and scenic drives.

We started our drive from San Francisco. The landscape changed as we drove further up north towards the mountains. I was planning to doze off a bit since we left so early but I couldn’t keep my eyes off the beautiful views. Halfway through our drive, we passed by a small town in El Dorado Hills, where we came across a great brunch spot called Milestone Restaurant & Cocktail Bar. I highly recommend the  Chicken Fried Steak! From there onwards, we passed by Eldorado National Forest as we made our way up the mountain. The views were unreal!

We decided to stay at the south side of the lake, as we felt like it had quick access to some of the regions best attractions (more on than later).  We stayed at the 7 Seas Inn,  a cute bed and breakfast run by a lovely family.

By  the time we finally unpacked and settled, we were approaching sunset. The host recommended we check out Secret Cove/Chimney Beach  on the east (Nevada) side of the lake. In order to get there we had to go through the Chimney Beach trail, which is where we started to experience the true beauty of the region. It’s much more beautiful than the pictures. The fresh air, sound of the waves and zero noise pollution. This was a perfect spot for a retreat. The sunset was beautiful!

To end the first night, we ended up at Lake Tahoe AleWorXwhich had the best pizza and beer on tap. They also had these fire pits with smoldering glass and great live music. I still dream about this perfect night! ☺

The next day we decided to drive and hike along the lake and we did our research before so of course, the first stop was Emerald Bay. The drive up was a bit scary for me, but OMG, the view was incredible!!! I am not exaggerating but mountains + bay+ pine trees+water= THE MOST beautiful view ever!

The pictures don’t do justice to it. If you only are passing by or have limited time in Tahoe, then Emerald Bay is the number one spot! I don’t think you will ever forget this view.

Once you park and get off, the hike down is worth it, with a cute little beach to take in the view of the bay.  We wanted to kayak to the little island in the middle, unfortunately, there were long lines and so that didn’t happen. You can book in advance though, so make sure to do so if you end up there!

We decided to move forward with exploring the other parts of the lake. Next stop was Meeks Bay, which is hands down the nicest beach in all of Lake Tahoe. The water was crystal clear with great views of the mountains in the background. We stayed here for a couple of hours, and soaked up the sun and the picturesque beach.

By this time, we were pretty much starving and so we headed to Sunnyside Restaurant & Lodgewhere we ordered the most delicious Zucchini fries and burgers, of course, again with a lovely view of the water! (the people who live here are soooo lucky!)

Next day, we headed towards the beach by Ski Run Boulevard and kayaked for a bit, then went to Basecamp Pizza. If you are here, you have to try the spicy Thai curry pizza. As weird as it sounds, it’s super tasty! I feel like Lake Tahoe in general just has great pizza joints!  We also stopped by Glen Alpine falls, but sadly, there wasn’t enough water as it was summer (didn’t think about it). I imagine It’s beautiful during spring time.

I love nature and after visiting Lake Tahoe, I have to say that it’s a must see. It’s relaxing, perfect for hiking and so stunning. Moreover, it’s the perfect getaway. I highly recommend the south and west side of the lake. We briefly passed by the north, but didn’t really notice anything that stood out when compared to the other areas.

I plan on visiting this place again during the winter, as I feel like it’ll be just as pretty with snow and equally as packed during the skiing season.