You can plan your Lake Tahoe summer weekend getaway in a jiffy using the resources below.
Will You Like It?
- Take a look at our Lake Tahoe Pictures.
- Lake Tahoe is popular with all kinds of people, especially those who enjoy the great outdoors, but it's also a great place to take a lazy drive along the shore.
Best Time to Go
Lake Tahoe weather is great in summer, but it gets very crowded on holiday weekends.Getting There
Driving? This handy guide gives you all the driving details.Flying? The nearest aiport is in Reno. Check airfares.
Where to Stay
Check our recommended hotels and campgrounds.How to find a good place to stay, cheap.
5 Great Things to Do
- Lake Tahoe Shakespeare Festival: Even if you don't normnally like Shakespeare, give this lakeside festival a try for its gorgeous surroundings and laid-back ambience. Bored? Just lean back and look at the stars.
- Take a Boat Cruise: There's no better way to see the lake than to get out in the middle of it.
- Vikingsholm: This Scandinavian-style house, the former summer home of millionaire heiress Lora Knight sitting on the edge Emerald Bay is worth a visit.
- Hang Out at a Resort: Squaw Valley and Northstar are just as beautiful in summer as they are in winter, they offer a full range of summer activities and excellent prices for lodging.
- Go rafting on the Truckee: If you're as uncoordinated as I am, you might get a little wet, but a raft trip down the Truckee River is a fine way to spend a morning or afternoon.
Best Brunch
A weekend getaway is a great time to enjoy a leisurely brunch. My friends who live in Incline Village say the Hyatt has one of the best in town. The Log Cabin in Kings Beach serves great traditional breakfasts, and they'll put your name on their waiting list when you leave your hotel if you give them a call.Don't Miss
A ride to the top of the mountain on the Gondola at Heavenly offers the most stunning views you can imagine. The only reason not to go is if you suffer from altitude sickness. It's at at 9,123 feet.Annual Events You Should Know About
South Lake Tahoe hosts Lights on the Lake, the biggest Fourth of July fireworks display in the western United States.The Tahoe Summer Music Festival offers a variety of music: classical orchestral, jazz, bluegrass, country, pop, and Broadway hits, outdoors under the stars.
Tips
- Lake Tahoe is busier in summer than it is in winter. Plan ahead as much as you can, and avoid holiday weekends if you don't like crowds.
- We know it's popular, but why spend time inside a smoky, dark casino with all the natural beauty outside? At the very least, try to start your casino time after the sun sets.
- Bring plenty of sunscreen. It's easier to get sunburned at this altitude.
- The lake is especially beautiful and romantic in the moonlight. Plan ahead. Find out when the sun sets and what day the moon is full.
