Lake Tahoe — The Wanderers

We often find reassurance in places, things that we are familiar with. As the world is going crazier by the day I personally find my peace in exploring new horizons. Though our life is great and comfortable here in San Francisco we needed a mental break far from the daily stress we all have been experiencing lately.
Life can change overnight so we decided to make the most of our time in America by going on a little getaway for our 4 year anniversary.

We both agreed on a road trip to Lake Tahoe, the famous freshwater lake in the Sierra Nevada mountains located between California and Nevada. This place was on our bucket list for quite a while but we never managed to find the time… With the state reopening slowly we saw an opportunity and booked everything last minute.

Lake Tahoe is the nation’s second deepest lake surrounded by a myriad of scenic viewpoints, encircled by majestic trails and adjacent to breathtaking national parks. An outdoor heaven for anyone looking to unplug and recharge. Also known as one of the purest lakes in the world (99,99% purity same as distilled water!) it did not disappoint one bit! We will for sure come back and spend more time exploring the area, but what we experienced in a short amount of time was already beyond our expectations.

We had 2 full days and a puppy so we needed to be conscious about our hikes and overall planning as the little pup needed his daily rest :)
With a little bit of research it was easy to find dog friendly restaurants, trails and beaches.

On our first day we started with a short hike in South Lake Tahoe, the Eagle Fall trail. The steep but short hike led to beautiful and serene falls with continuous views over the lake. It was surprisingly not too crowded. You can extend the hike into the Desolation Wilderness but be aware that a permit is required.

It gave us a pleasant glimpse of what Tahoe is all about, and we were excited to explore more.

The day went by quickly and we decided to take it easy and explore the area around our hotel. We stayed at Basecamp Hotel which is your go to place if you are looking for a little adventure without compromising on your confort. The place is really cool and gives you those glamping vibes, the decor is on point and they have a nice outdoor space with firepits and a beautiful AIRSTREAM!

After a good night of rest we were ready for a new adventure! We found a promising hike in north lake Tahoe, a trail less crowded and dog friendly that would take up most of our day. So we had an early start and got ready for this uphill climb supposedly leading to a hidden lake! The “Chimney to Marlette lake” hike was quite challenging but not crazy hard. It is a 10 km round trip with a steep elevation. it’s not too exposed and if you start early enough the cool weather makes the climb bearable. We saw no one on the way up and the constant change of scenery was very enjoyable. The pup did a great job with many water and treat breaks!

For us what matters the most when we travel is to avoid crowds and find secluded paths/trails. We enjoy the quietness and I usually find most of my energy in serene environments.

The climb was great but we were not prepared for how spectacular the lake was! The lake sits peacefully at 7,823 feet and offers breathtaking views! We stopped for a little while to meditate, eat and take it all in before going further.

Waiting for squirrels or bears to come out and play

After walking a little while around the lake we were conscious of the time and the fact that the way down would require another 5k. So we took off and started ascending carrying the pup alternately. The trail is really easy to follow so you will have plenty of time enjoying the beautiful surroundings.
1 hour later we made it to the parking lot and drove to a lovely outdoor dining restaurant to satisfy our growing hunger! Milo napped for 2 hours straight and we went back to Basecamp in order to enjoy a cold beer and relax before sunset.

Few hours and a little nap later we decided to go and watch the sunset… A must in my opinion everywhere you go. We found this spot recommended by locals that requires a short hike and gives you one of the best sunsets you will ever see in Tahoe ! Cave Rock required a good fitness level as the climb to the rock is not easy and there is no “path” you just climb over a bunch of big rocks. We arrived towards the end but the view was glorious!

What a way to end a beautiful day. The next day we planned a little day at the beach to get Milo more familiar with water. We went early again to avoid crowds and get a nice cool weather.
Kiva beach was our spot for the day. Also called “Tallac Point” this narrow shoreline is adjacent to a marsh zone which makes it less frequented. We found the place stunning as it offers some serious astonishing backgrounds.

Lake Tahoe is a short 4 hour drive from San Francisco, we mainly explored south and east Tahoe but we will come back again this summer to get a feel of the North, a local’s favorite! This place is captivating and has so much to offer for outdoors lover.

This has to be one of my favorite places in California and I have only seen a small part of it !

Here’s some tips and places to try whilst in Tahoe:

Sprouts café (great veggie options and delicious smoothies)
Austin restaurant (Nevada side) great stop for lunch
Basecamp Hotels (South and West Tahoe)
Basecamp Pizza for late night dining ( get your pizza delivered and eat by the firepit @the camp)
Lone Eagle Grill (watch sunset and get drinks)
Cave Rock to watch sunset

Until Next time Tahoe,

Love,

A