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Lake Tahoe rests half in California and half in Nevada, the second-deepest lake in the United States at 1,645 feet deep. At 6,222 feet above sea level and surrounded by the Sierra mountains, its cobalt blue water is so clear that a white dinner plate can be seen 78 feet below the surface.
For more than a century, tourists have flocked to Lake Tahoe and surrounding areas for skiing, water sports, hiking, fishing, golf, gambling and nightlife as well as quickie divorces in neighboring Reno.
Our proclivities were for the former, so my daughter and I chose the tranquility of the north shore and the tucked-in-the-forest Ritz-Carlton Lake Tahoe.
This premier mountain retreat is perfect for a family summer vacation. Ritz Kids (for children ages 5 to 12) offers activities based on water, land, environmental responsibility and culture, with wildlife and forest adventures, storytelling, crafts and culinary art, including designing your own pizza at the Backyard Bar & BBQ.
For a lakeside experience, try the Hyatt Regency Lake Tahoe Resort, Spa and Casino at Incline Village. Nearby, catch a ride on the M.S. Dixie for a daytime or dinner-and-dancing paddle wheel cruise.
Our best day was thanks to Action Watersports, located behind the Hyatt, where we rented a 21-foot Sea Ray and the nautical services of Scott, a delightful and informative driver/guide for a three-hour spin.
He took us by Thunderbird Lodge (the “Castle-in-the-Sky”), a Gatsby-era landmark where the likes of Howard Hughes, Frank Sinatra and his Rat Pack would do some serious partying.
Emerald Bay, one of the most photographed sites in the United States, enchanted us with its pristine emerald green waters and the tiny island in the center of the bay, topped by an equally tiny Vikingsholm Castle.
All of these and many more sights made for a perfect morning, but I’ll never forget the sight of my daughter floating blissfully, all alone in the middle of Lake Tahoe. If you’re looking for more action than bliss, you’ll find it all at this rental: jet skiing, parasailing, paddle boards, kayaks, water skiing, surfing and fishing packages.
Shopping is eclectic and Alpiney and kind of touristy, although, to be honest, we were so taken by the mountains and the water experiences that we really didn’t do much shopping.
Lake Tahoe is a busy place, especially in the summer, and reservations and plans are essential. When in Manhattan, you don’t waste time going back and forth cross-town.
Likewise, in Tahoe you don’t want to spend your day going back and forth from the north shore to the east shore to the south shore. You’ll be caught in traffic.
Keep this in mind when dining out, and there are great spots to eat.
At the Ritz, Manzanita offers delicious cuisine in a spectacular setting and s’mores and St. Louis-style ribs at the Backyard Bar & BBQ.
The West Shore Café is a lovely spot, and Chambers Landing Bar and Restaurant is one of the oldest bars in Tahoe, located at the end of a dock. Try the “chambers punch,” but be careful when you leave. The water is a misstep away!
Steamers Beach Side Bar and Oven is a local favorite for burgers and pizza.
For old-world charm, try The Pfeifer House with schnitzel, sauerbraten and other delights on the menu. The Soule Domain, a log cabin tucked in the woods, offers creative American dining in a romantic setting.
You absolutely must try Squeeze In for “The Best Omelettes on the Planet,” and they’re not kidding!
Also not to be missed is Jake’s On the Lake, family owned since 1978 with gorgeous lake views. Its menu is inspired by California/Hawaiian flavors and features the freshest salmon, sea bass and crab cakes.
I opted for beef, the short ribs with sweet ginger-chili glaze, and wanted to extend our Ritz reservation to return here for more of the same.
Fall is the best-kept secret in Lake Tahoe, when the Aspens turn golden, but really, any season at Lake Tahoe is “the fairest picture the whole Earth affords,” as Mark Twain once observed.
— Judy Crowell is a Noozhawk contributing writer, author, freelance travel writer and Santa Barbara resident. She can be reached at news@noozhawk.com. The opinions expressed are her own.
