Summer Travels | Lake Tahoe

Tahoe has been a summer vacation favorite for my family and I to travel to. We come here often to experience all the attractions this city has to offer. Being LA natives, we are used to the smogginess of the So Cal skies, so when we travel to Tahoe, we literally experience a breath of fresh air.

This town is enveloped in trees and forests and sits high at an elevation of over 6,000 feet. The sky is a rich blue compared to LA's faded skies. Not trying to put down LA, it's my hometown and all, but Tahoe is a true gem. We always try to look into new things when we visit, but here are some of our favorite things to do when we're in town:

1. Hike Fallen Leaf Trail

We are not a family who has hiked before, so we literally showed up to the trail in rompers, jeans, handbags, and sneakers. And we forgot bug spray. But we had to give this place a look because everyone we have talked to has recommended taking a look. 

I can definitely understand why- the view of Fallen Leaf Lake is absolutely picturesque. There's also a waterfall nearby, which us being the super novice "hikers" we were, couldn't actually find. Granted, if you're not experienced or aren't used to the place, it's fairly difficult to find. If you're planning on visiting, definitely figure out where the falls are so you're not wandering around aimlessly. We were disappointed about not finding the falls, but we were also winded from the long walk we just took (I repeat, we are not seasoned hikers :D). 

All in all, we had a great time laughing at our ineptitude and enjoying the views. This is a great place to visit if you love hiking and gorgeous views. If you're not an experienced hiker like we were, just make sure you're dressed and prepared for an actual hike. Make sure to bring a camera of some sort, because there are breathtaking points of interest on this trail. There are also designated camping spots across from this view. 



2. Water Sports/Activities

If you're traveling with a group, this a great way to spend some time with friends and family. There are so many different places that offer jet skis, boats, and even giant inflatable rafts and swim rings! Since renting these out can get on the pricier side, I would recommend going with a group and splitting the cost! There is definitely more than enough room for four people on the inflatables and room for nine or more people on the boats. We ended up renting a boat and sailed all the way to Emerald Bay. It was after we heard that a bear was spotted near Emerald Bay that we decided to turn back. We had enjoyed our time on the water for a good hour, hour and half by then though.

3. Visit Reno 

Known as the biggest little city in the world, Reno is one of the next largest cities located near the Lake Tahoe area. Filled with casinos, it is somewhat reminiscent of Las Vegas but smaller. The main casinos are all connected to one another, so it's really easy to visit each one because they are all in walking proximity. Reno houses a few of the general casinos that also have locations in Vegas and Tahoe like Circus Circus and Harrah's, but they also have a couple that are unique to only Reno. The most notable of those was the Silver Legacy, which emulated a Victorian themed interior. It even had a large museum-like display with some of the fortune of the founder of the casino dating back to the 1800s, which isn't something you'd normally see in a casino. There are a lot of spots to take pictures, so make sure to bring your camera!

If you're in the shopping mood, be sure to check out the Sparks outlets just 15 minutes away from Reno. Outlets range from Adidas, Guess, Banana Republic, Nike, and so many more. There are also some great sales around holidays, where a lot of the merchandise is marked down on top of any other sales the store might be having. I scored a dress that was originally $36 for $12 during the 4th of July sales Banana Republic was having.

4.  Check out Local Eateries

Sure you'll have your IHOPS and Applebee's but Lake Tahoe has so many eateries that aren't chains for practically any meal of the day. My top two breakfast places are A Cup of Cherries and Driftwood Cafe. A Cup of Cherries has unique flavors of cappuccinos and lattes, complete with latte art and all. Their breakfast choices are great, since there's a good variety of what to choose from. The portions aren't terribly large, so splitting a plate might not work for here, but that might not be such a bad thing after all. It'd be a great time to order yourself a nice serving of their delicious Island Pancakes all to yourself!
Driftwood Cafe's also has a wide selection of breakfast and lunch options. The portions here are definitely larger, so splitting can be an option if you're looking to save a little more. 
My favorite place for lunch is Artemis Grill, which serves traditional Mediterranean cuisine. Portions here can also be split. They also have a lakefront cafe on the Ski Run Marina, which is a great place to go for a bite to eat and to admire the views.