The city of South Lake Tahoe, California, is defined by its location: It’s perched on the southern shores of North America’s largest alpine lake. Impossibly blue and astoundingly big, Lake Tahoe is 22 miles long, 12 miles wide and 1,645 feet deep at its deepest point.
In summer, you can swim, kayak, paddleboard, sail or zip around on a fast boat. You’ll be wowed by its waters and then pampered by its namesake city. Winter impresses with its own kind of unbeatable recreation. World-famous Heavenly Ski Resort offers 4,800 acres of powder, nine high-speed lifts, 97 trails and the highest skiable peak in the entire Lake Tahoe region.
Make the most of your mountain weekend in three action-packed days.
As always, check for travel restrictions and closures before planning your trip.
Friday: Explore the Shoreline
Pack breakfast (and snacks) to start your weekend aboard the Heavenly Mountain Gondola and nab an eagle’s-eye view of Lake Tahoe without breaking a sweat.
The year-round gondola whooshes up the ski slopes to an elevation of 9,123 feet. As you ascend, you won’t be able to take your eyes off the steadily widening scene, with Lake Tahoe’s aquatic sapphire gleaming at center stage. Drink in the lake view, its massive blueness covering 190 square miles.
Disembark at the Observation Deck for awesome group selfies, then hop back on to finish out the ride to the top.
Now that you’ve surveyed Lake Tahoe from south to north, drive to Emerald Bay to study its west-to-east profile. From the high overlook at Inspiration Point, gaze wistfully across the bay, then lace up your boots to realign your perspective.
Choose between two hiking trails starting at Bayview Campground: If it’s spring or early summer, head for Cascade Falls. A gentle trail travels through a fir-and-granite wonderland to a waterfall fed by rushing snowmelt.
If it’s late summer or fall, climb steeply uphill to high views of Lake Tahoe and the forested shores of Granite Lake. Come winter, strap on snowshoes or traction cleats and tackle either trail.
Next, get a feel for Lake Tahoe’s fascinating history at the Tallac Historic Site, where ultra-wealthy San Franciscans constructed opulent lakeside mansions between 1894 and 1930.
See the still-standing summer homes of lumber magnate George Pope, casino operator “Lucky” Baldwin and investment broker Walter Heller. Their sprawling estates hosted movie star guests, glamorous parties and nightly casino games.
To get a feel for Tahoe’s Jazz Age luxe life, attend a music concert at the lakefront Boathouse Theatre or on Valhalla Grand Hall’s lawn. (The Tallac site is open to the public year-round, but concerts happen in summer only.)
Cap off the day in 21st-century luxury with a date-night dinner at Evan’s American Gourmet Café. In this cozy mountain cabin, chefs pair contemporary California cuisine with pristine white tablecloths and impeccable service.
Saturday: Try an Outdoor Adventure
Lake Tahoe has two nonnegotiables, depending on the season: A summer trip requires a day on the lake, while winter demands a day on the slopes. Either way, you should fuel up with a dirty chai or a pour-over at Revive.
If it’s lake time you’re after, rent a paddleboard and test your balance in the calm waters at El Dorado Beach. Afterward, walk over to Sprouts Café for a tempeh burger brunch.
Then, drive up Emerald Bay Road and hike the 1-mile trail to Vikingsholm, a stone-and-timber mansion on the shore of Lake Tahoe’s Emerald Bay. In 1929, wealthy widow Lora J. Knight hired workers to construct this magnificent 38-room structure, which replicates the style of a 1,200-year-old Viking castle.
As the day wears on, head over to Tahoe Keys Marina and kick back on a lake cruise. Several companies offer boat tours, but wine lovers should book ahead for a wine-tasting cruise on the Golden Rose, a 1953 Chris Craft Venetian water taxi.
Ski bums should snag Heavenly lift tickets and prepare for an epic day on the mountain. Carve up the slopes on gentle beginner corduroy, swoopy blue cruiser runs or double-black-diamond steeps — keep your cellphone handy for snow-capped selfies. With Heavenly’s unfiltered view of Lake Tahoe, the backdrop can’t be beat.
When your quadriceps beg for a break, it’s time for dinner. Head over to Ski Run Marina to feast on souvlaki or moussaka at Mediterranean-inspired Artemis Lakefront Café.
Sunday: Adventure Around Town
You’ve already experienced South Lake Tahoe from a variety of perspectives — now see it from the seat of a bike.
Rent wheels at Anderson’s or South Shore Bikes (make it a fat-tire bike if there’s snow) and ride the Pope-Baldwin Bike Path through groves of sugar pines, white firs and aspens. You’ll pass three major beaches along the way — Pope, Kiva and Baldwin — so pack a bathing suit and a picnic on summer days.
Midafternoon is a good time to check out South Lake Tahoe’s craft brewery scene. In a small city saturated with breweries and taprooms, narrowing down your options is hard.
Try some of the 16 beers on tap at the lofty warehouse housing South Lake Brewing Company. Join the biergarten fun at the Hangar, a playground of picnic tables, string lights and food trucks.
Play cornhole, pingpong and board games at South of North Brewing. Pull your own pints while you hang by the outdoor fire pits at Lake Tahoe AleWorx. Or dip into the house-made beer cheese and backyard-party culture at Sidellis.
If your taste buds prefer pinot noir to pilsner, get a lakefront seat at the Idle Hour, a wine and piano bar with outdoor terraces. Or if you’re ready for dinner, snag a table by the fire pits at the Shops at Heavenly Village, a stone-and-timber shopping plaza with eateries, boutiques, pubs and a multi-screen cinema.
Dine on sweet potato tacos at Azul Latin Kitchen or head over to Taste at the Loft for American tapas followed by an entertaining magic show.
Your weekend is coming to a close. Before you go, take a final, lingering look at that big lake shimmering in the moonlight and wave goodbye until your next trip.
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