Travel Guide: Summer in Lake Tahoe
You’re looking at spots for your next vacation. Are you headed to a beach or to a city or to the mountains? Beach, every time. Vacations should involve getting a tan but preferably somewhere with other people around to get to know. Why not choose Lake Tahoe and have all three? – Collin McCarthy
Straddling the border of Nevada and California and measuring a whopping 22 miles in length, Lake Tahoe is big—really big! If you are looking for a summer getaway, look no further than here. June to September is a glorious time to visit Lake Tahoe. With average temperatures reaching a toasty 74 degrees in July, visitors can soak up the sun and enjoy the great outdoors with activities like boating, hiking and water sports in abundance. Locals don’t call it “Big Blue” for nothing—this freshwater lake is the second largest in the U.S. and has the diverse activities to prove it.
STAY
With a 17,000 square-foot mountainside spa, access to fly fishing and hiking, and proximity to three local golf courses, The Ritz-Carlton, Lake Tahoe is one of the area’s most glamorous hotels. To get here from anywhere in the country, fly into the nearby Reno-Tahoe International Airport. Luxurious suites here come with in-room fireplaces and floor-to-ceiling windows with stunning views of the alpine lake’s crystalline shoreline. Experience authentic Lake Tahoe cuisine in the hotel’s Manzanita Restaurant after check-in. The mountain eatery sources local, organic food, and diners can expect Californian cookery with a regional twist. The hotel has a variety of accommodations, with prices ranging from $209 per night for a deluxe room to $3,000 per night for a three-bedroom residence with balcony. Book your stay online.
EAT
The charming mountain town of Truckee is home to Pianeta Ristorante, a small but snug Italian restaurant with an enormous wine cellar. This husband and wife owned-restaurant has been serving prime Italian meals to the area for almost 20 years. Order the Vongole (fresh clams, tomato, basil, and white wine broth), the Chicken Marsala (chicken scaloppini, Sicilian marsala sauce, sautéed mushrooms, grilled spinach, and orecchiette pasta), and the Marbled Cheesecake for dessert.
SEE
Fallen Leaf Lake, located about one mile south of Lake Tahoe, is an excellent spot for hiking. Well-marked trails surround this clean, pristine lake, and visitors can take a path that leads along a picturesque stretch of Taylor Creek.
For those who prefer to relax while on vacation, a chartered cruise on the Lake (try this company) is the perfect opportunity to see towering mountains from the water—which might still be snowcapped some summer! Taking in the natural beauty from below will give a whole new perspective.
