So you’ve taken time off work and booked a trip to Tahoe this winter. Check item #1 off your list. Now you’ve got an entirely different task ahead: figure out how much you can pack into your trip to make it the best ever. We could come up with a thousand things to do, but that’s what GoTahoeNorth.com is all about.
Here are some tips from fans of North Lake Tahoe on the can’t-miss, must-do, make-plans-to-enjoy things you should add to your list.
Outdoors
Snowshoe(from Esther B.). You can snowshoe in a ton of places around Tahoe, from designated trails and hiking areas, like the Tahoe Meadows at the Mt. Rose Summit, to resorts including Tahoe-Donner Cross Country Ski Area, Northstar California and Squaw Valley. Several companies, such as Tahoe Adventure Company, offer snowshoe tours, and many more shops have rentals available for day trips.
Dog Sledding(from Alena S.). Truly an experience to remember (trust us, we cherish our memory). Wilderness Adventures has hour-long tours through the Squaw Valley Meadow, between the ski resort and Resort at Squaw Creek. The guide leads a team of 8-10 huskies with a four-person sled.
Hang loose and enjoy (from Richard A.). North Lake Tahoe is definitely built for relaxation. In the winter you can still hang out on beaches and enjoy the serenity of the lake. Or, enjoy a hot beverage and the company of friends at any of the area’s watering holes, coffee houses, lodges or villages. There’s never a shortage of warm fires and great views at Tahoe.
Paddleboard Lake Tahoe on a Bluebird Day (Andy C.). This may seem a little crazy, but if you throw on a wetsuit and try really hard not to fall in, it could turn out to be your best day on the lake, ever. Consider this, in the winter there are far fewer boats on the water, making it like glass on a calm, sunny day. There’s nothing but you on a board paddling across a blue expanse and surrounded by snow-covered mountains. Paints a picture, doesn’t it? Check out this post for details on where to rent a SUP for the day.
Indoors
Rent a cabin(from Jodi S.). Definitely a cozy way to experience Tahoe and maintain that homey feel. Cabins in the area range in price and size and have a variety of amenities from ski-in/ski-out to pet friendly, lakefront views, hot tubs and more.
Visit The Center for Environmental Sciences, Sierra Nevada College (from Diane M.). Open Tuesday – Friday from 1 – 5 p.m., you can tour the center and learn about Lake Tahoe’s ecology, see research in action, fly through a 3D model of Lake Tahoe and dive under the water, and also learn about the building’s sustainable design.
August 9 at Lake Tahoe kicks off a four-day training session for two adaptive athletes on an adventure that culminates in a January 17, 2012 arrival at the South Pole. While they’ll be heading towards the Pole in a small group with just guides and a documentary team, they’re looking for a virtual “armada” of paddlers to join them in their Tahoe training, either paddling along or cheering from shore as the wrap up each leg.
John Davis
As part of rigorous training for a 100-mile journey across the Antarctic landscape – all of which will be professionally filmed – Lake Tahoe residents and spinal cord-injury athletes John Davis, a two-time Paralympics gold medalist, and Grant Korgan, a world-class kayaker and adventurer, are set to kayak approximately 50 miles in 4 days following the Lake Tahoe Water Trail. Seasoned guides Doug Stoup and Tal Fletcher of Lake Tahoe will accompany Davis and Korgan on stand up paddleboards.
Davis rates paddling Lake Tahoe as a soulful experience. “You’re completely surrounded by snowcapped peaks while sitting atop tranquil waters so clear that you can literally see 75 feet down. But the lake also makes for a fantastic cross-training venue as we’ll be paddling approximately 96,800 paddle strokes, just more than half the 176,174 pole pushes required to trek 100 miles across the frozen landscape to the South Pole.”
Grant Korgan
“The Push” expedition team encourages the public to join the paddle, whether it be for an hour or day, creating a human-powered armada to follow and cheer on the team via kayaks and stand up paddleboards. According to Korgan, “With this Lake Tahoe paddle training event, as well as the overall mission of ‘The Push,’ we hope to inspire people of all walks of life that they too can achieve the seemingly insurmountable. We encourage them to push their own everyday limits and live up to their ultimate potential.”
If you’d like to paddle along or cheer from the shore, here’s the rough schedule of events:
Day 1
Tuesday, August 9, 10 miles
6 a.m.: Launch from Sunnyside Restaurant & Lodge on the West Shore of Lake Tahoe paddling clockwise 7 miles to Carnelian Bay, California.
Approx. Noon: “The Push” team will land at a lakefront estate for a private lunch and presentation. Any paddling spectators can head on to Waterman’s Landing in Carnelian Bay for a light lunch.
“The Push” team then paddles to Waterman’s Landing for a quick stop before continuing onto Tahoe Vista, California, completing leg one
Approx. 5 p.m.: Arrive at Mourelatos Lakeshore Resort. One of the most festive days of the trip, this landing is open to the public and will include live music, along with free stand up paddleboard and kayak rentals and demonstrations.
Day 2
Wednesday, August 10, 16 miles
8 a.m.: Departing Mourelatos Lakeshore Resort and paddle 16 miles along the North Shore to camp lakeside on Nevada’s East Shore.
Day 3
Thursday, August 11, 12 miles
Paddle from East Shore clockwise along the lake to a campground located on Tahoe’s West Shore
Day 4
Friday, August 12, 12 miles
Depart early morning and paddle to the historic Ehrman Mansion at Sugar Pine Point on the West Shore, 10 miles south of Tahoe City
Noon: Picnic lunch at Ehrman Mansion, then continue on to Sunnyside Restaurant and Lodge
Approx. 6 p.m.: Arrive at Sunnyside Restaurant & Lodge. Another great spectator and cheering opportunity.
“The Push” Lake Tahoe Paddle Event is the second training event for the athletes, who visited Norway’s Svalbard arctic archipelago this past spring. A third filmed training session hits the ice in South America this September, with a final training event in Nevada’s Black Rock Desert this October. “The Push” is targeting a documentary film release for summer/fall of 2012. Follow the journey of “The Push.”
“The Push” is in support of the High Fives Foundation, a California-based non-profit organization whose mission is to help winter athletes suffering life-altering injuries get back on their feet, and ideally, get back to their sport.
Stand up paddle boarding (SUP) at Tahoe isn’t just another activity. It’s a lifestyle.
This is the fourth in a series of four blogs highlighting all that’s SUP at Tahoe. Read one, two and three.
They say invention is the mother of necessity. For Nate Brouwer it was the opposite. After numerous sunset paddles across Tahoe in the company of his dog Stella he figured out that his board sucked. His impulse to design the perfect SUP for flat water touring, whether the water was flat or not, led to Tahoe SUP, Lake Tahoe’s premier SUP manufacturer. The addition of Tahoe SUP to the area nurtured a seed that was already planted and came at a time when SUP was taking off.
Since then, Tahoe’s SUP culture has grown, spawning numerous retailers, rental shops and events. (See blogs 1, 2 and 3 for details.) The lifestyle of SUP has enthusiasts out on the lake before and after work, on lunch breaks, or looking for jobs that can have them enjoying SUP while also getting paid. Not a bad gig if you ask us.
Others are finding that SUP incorporates movements that encourage proper breathing and balance as well as efficient and effective movement of energy through the body. Movement4Life, a Tahoe-area holistic healing outfit, includes a Paddle 4 Heath component to their rehabilitation therapies allowing clients to train their bodies on SUP while healing.
Sylvain Duclos took his yoga practice to the water as well, incorporating an SUP Yoga class into his Mountain Lotus Yoga class offerings.
Whether you’re serious about stand up paddle boarding (SUP) or just looking for a little funthere are plenty of events at Tahoe to satisfy.
This is the third in a series of four blogs highlighting all that’s SUP at Tahoe. Read the first and second.
Drawing the largest crowds, Tahoe’s “pro-am” SUP events are scattered throughout spring and summer, and heck, even winter.
One of the most well-known races is the 2011 Quiksilver Ta-Hoe Nalu Stand-Up Paddle Classic, August 13 – 14 launching from Kings Beach. Two days of events are for all ages and skill levels and include $25,000 in cash and prizes. New to the Ta-Hoe Nalu this summer is the Ta-Hoe Nalu Stand Up Paddleboard Experience, which invites beginners to learn how to paddle from an elite athlete and then go on a guided tour with them. A $30 fee per person includes demo board, paddle instruction, guided tour, event t-shirt and lunch ticket.
The Tahoe Cup is an annual race series sponsored by O’Neill . Events include May’s Donner Lake race along with the Jam From The Dam, July 9 and the Fall Classic, a 22-mile race from Camp Richardson along the south shore to Kings Beach, September 18. The Jam From The Dam has participants racing from Commons Beach in Tahoe City six miles to the Waterman’s Landing, a new restaurant and stand up paddleboard shop, in Carnelian Bay next to the Sierra Boat Company. Like the Ta-Hoe Nalu, it’s a great opportunity for spectators to demo equipment in a fun and festive environment. Hosted by the Lake Tahoe Paddleboard Association, the Tahoe Cup races are open to professional and amateur athletes.
Additional pro-am races throughout the year include the Thunderbird Run in early June and the Ta-Hoe Nalu SnowFest Arctic Paddle in early March.
For a more relaxed SUP experience at Tahoe consider the weekly SUP series events organized by Adrift Tahoe in Kings Beach. The Thursday night race series is an opportunity for amateurs to challenge each other in a fun SUP setting. The series kicks of June 30 and entry into each race is $5. Additional series events include SUP Yoga, WOW (Women on Water) and Beach & Board Fitness.
While paddling across a body of water while standing up seems challenging, it’s easier than it looks and a lot of fun. That’s what stand up paddle boarding (SUP) is all about—having fun while also enjoying a challenge.
This is the second in a series of four blogs highlighting all that’s SUP at Tahoe. Read the first here.
Whether you’re a first-timer checking out the SUP scene or a seasoned pro, getting out on Tahoe with a paddle board is easy. There is a variety of rental and retail shops around the north shore that have a great selection of equipment. Check out the list at the bottom of this post for details. They’ll fit you with a board that’s the right length and a paddle. Some shops also include a leash that you’ll strap to your ankle in case the board gets away from you. While you’ll see a lot of photos of people enjoying SUP on Tahoe without PFD’s, shops can also outfit you with those as well. (Based on experience from this blogger, it’s not a bad idea to wear a PFD if you’re just starting out or not used to Tahoe’s sometimes frigid waters. One dump into the water and you’ll be glad you wore it.)
When renting, most shops will give you brief instruction to get started. The basics are to climb onto the board and position yourself on your knees, all of this while in the water. You’ll stand up one leg at a time and balance yourself, working to keep your center of gravity low. From there grip the paddle with both hands, much the way you would for kayaking, and paddle. Again, from personal experience, going from kneeling to standing can be the hardest part. Some may find that kneeling and paddling on their first excursion is a good start.
Some Tahoe SUP rental shops also offer extended instruction, either private and hourly or in a group setting. In addition, Adrift Tahoe currently offers SUP tours. Check online at the rental locations below for details.
Head to Tahoe this summer and you may see more stand up paddle boards (SUP) on the water than kayaks or other watercraft. As the nation’s largest stand up flat-water paddle board venue, it’s quickly becoming a mecca for boarders looking to relax and enjoy the sport in a premier location.
This is the first in a series of four blogs highlighting all that’s SUP at Tahoe.
First, why is Tahoe such a great SUP venue? Lake Tahoe is world renowned for its cobalt blue waters that gives those on its surface a clear view of depths up to 75 feet. And one of the best ways to explore its deeps is human-powered via paddle.
According to Ernie Brassard stand up paddle boarding is one of the most scenic and green ways to take in Lake Tahoe. You get a completely different perspective of the lake and the surrounding mountains from the water than you do from the trail. Ernie is president of the 2011 Quiksilver Ta-Hoe Nalu Stand-Up Paddle Classic, August 13-14 in Kings Beach, and a guru to many when it comes to all things boards.
Whether you’re looking for a quiet and scenic paddle or a glimpse at the shore side of some of Tahoe’s most spectacular estates, you can find it along Tahoe’s north shore. Start from Sand Harbor State Park for large boulders, a sandy bottom, hidden coves and lively beaches for a great morning paddle. If you’re taking a half-day adventure you can make it to Thunderbird Lodge for a water-side look at the historic estate, and still have time for a picnic along a hidden beach before paddling back. Paddle out from Kings Beach or Tahoe City and you’ll have views of some of the area’s best homes.
SUP is easy to enjoy at Tahoe for visitors thanks to a wide variety of outfitters around the North Lake Tahoe region that specialize in human-powered water sports. Here’s a quick list of rental and retail shops:
If you’re planning to take an extended paddle at Tahoe, consider checking out the Lake Tahoe Water Trail which includes parking and lodging details, information on where you can exit the water and avoid private property and other tips for paddling safety at the lake.
Choose from a handful of Fourth of July celebrations, from fireworks on the beach to the multi-day Red, White and Tahoe Blue in Incline Village.
Bring your blanket and picnic basket for a night lakeside at Sand Harbor State Park, where the Lake Tahoe Shakespeare Festival performs July and August.
Taste the finest in culinary delights at the region’s 2nd Annual Lake Tahoe Restaurant Week, October 2-9, with 60-plus restaurants offering prix-fixe dishes at exceptional value s- $20, $30 or $40 per person.
Toast the season with winemaker dinners at the notable, lakeside Thunderbird Lodge offering a view like no other; dinners start July 10 with the talented Chef Douglas Dale of Wolfdale’s Cuisine Unique.
Experience the solitude on the Tahoe Rim Trail, a 165-mile loop trail that meanders along the peaks and valleys around Lake Tahoe, and to the lake’s crystal, clear waters (with a visibility of 70 feet down) to water ski and sail.
Take a swing at any of the more than 50 golf courses within a 60-minute drive of North Lake Tahoe.
The 37-plus feet of snow that has fallen in North Lake Tahoe this winter has made for ideal conditions for the region’s annual wild and wacky spring events, many of which take place March through May.
Considered the largest winter carnival West of the Mississippi, the 30th Annual SnowFest returns to North Lake Tahoe this Friday, March 4 through Sunday, March 13. If you’ve got a strong stomach, the Mamasake Extreme Food Challenge has contestants eating foods that get progressively more interesting – to say the least – Friday, March 4. Grab your wetsuit and your stand up paddleboard. The 3rd Annual SnowFest Arctic Paddle is Sunday, March 13 off North Tahoe Beach in front of the Blue Onion Café in Kings Beach. The race starts at 11 a.m. and is followed by a party and live music. This is a great event for spectators.
Mt. Rose – Ski Tahoe opens the gate to high-flying, speed demons of every shape and size for their annual Dummy Downhill Saturday, March 12. Dummies, created out of every conceivable material, are sent down Show-Off run directly in front of the main lodge, with many crashing and burning after taking flight. Mt. Rose also has a Spring Bash & Pond Skim scheduled for Saturday, April 2. Details are forthcoming.
Diamond Peak Ski Resort also has its own version of a Dummy Downhill Saturday, April 2 with categories that include Best Crash, Longest Jump, Most Creative and Shortest Distance. Individuals and teams entering a dummy receive a free commemorative t-shirt and lift ticket for the day (limit 2 per dummy).
Northstar-at-Tahoe bids goodbye to Old Man Winter with “Spring It On!” Saturday, April 2 when participants attempt to ski across the resort’s pond on skis or boards without falling into the bone chilling waters. Costumes are encouraged.
Break out the rear entry boots, swanky sweaters and all the neon you can find for the annual Retro Ski Day & Pool Party at Squaw Valley USA Saturday, April 16. It all takes place at the High Camp Lagoon & Spa with a DJ party that brings guests back to the days of straight skis and Hot Dog the Movie (1984).
Alpine Meadows Ski Resort hosts their Annual Snow Golf Tournament Saturday, April 23. The nine-hole course starts at the top of the Summit Express chair and meanders its way down the mountain with the last holes bringing competitors back to the base lodge. An annual cult favorite, the Mad Cow Downhill is Sunday, May 8 with its mass start, marked by ski patrol detonating an avalanche charge. Racers choose whichever descent route they deem fastest, with the first skier or snowboarder reaching the base lodge declared the winner. Both events are free.
North Lake Tahoe celebrates its long winter season with SnowFest, a 10-day carnival and one of the region’s most popular annual family celebrations, March 4-13, 2011.
In its 30th year, SnowFest continues to draw thousands of attendees with the majority of events free to spectators. The annual favorites are back, along with expanded special events, including the Opening Night Ceremonies, Laser Show, Torchlight Parade and Fireworks; Mamasake Extreme Food Challenge for those with a strong stomach; 21th Annual Gar Woods Polar Bear Swim in Tahoe’s frigid waters; SnowFest Parades in Tahoe City and Kings Beach; Sunnyside Luau; the Great Ski Race, an annual cross country adventure; Kings Beach Ice Castle and Lighting Contest; Wacky Winter Human Bowling with snow saucers and inflatable pins; Tahoe City Golf Course’s “Dog Pull”; the Dragon Snow Palace; Dummy Downhill at Diamond Peak in Incline Village; the highly creative and 23rd Annual Snow Sculpture Contest at Tahoe City’s River Ranch Lodge; Special Olympics Polar Plunge at the Hyatt Regency Lake Tahoe; and the 3rd Annual Ta-Hoe Nalu Arctic Standup Paddleboard Race.
Tahoe is fabulous, especially during the months of September, October and November when the region plays host to the annual North Lake Tahoe Fabulous Fall Celebration. It’s the best time to visit the largest alpine lake in the country, with its warm days and cool evenings, exceptional deals on lodging and a calendar of events and activities as colorful as autumn itself.
Fabulous Fall for Foodies
The first-ever Lake Tahoe Restaurant Week, September 5-12, showcases delicious dishes all at exceptional values, with 3-course, prix-fixe menus ranging from $20, $30 or $40 per person. No tickets are required to take part, but reservations are recommended.
The Lake Tahoe Autumn Food and Wine Festival celebrates its 25th anniversary September 10-12 and is considered the area’s finest foodie gathering. This year the festival pulls out all the stops with a new Welcome Party sponsored by Corzo Tequila at The Ritz-Carlton Highlands, Lake Tahoe. Free cooking seminars taught by acclaimed chefs, with ticketed wine tasting and pairing events, grape stomp and Celebrity Chef Dinner are also provided throughout the three-day affair.
The Downtown Truckee Wine, Walk & Shop is October 2 and has attendees shopping and strolling in historic Truckee while indulging in bite-sized portions prepared by area chefs and sipping fine vintages. Another favorite is Passport to Dining with samples from 25 local restaurants, wineries and breweries, along with live music and silent auction scheduled for October 7 in Kings Beach.
Chocolate lovers feast on decadent goodies and taste boutique wines at the 22nd Annual Chocolate, Wine & Roses Festival November 6 at The Chateau at Incline Village, all while benefitting Tahoe Women’s Services. This year, attendees are going vintage Hollywood and are encouraged to come dressed as their Hollywood idol of the 30s, 40s or 50s – think Marilyn Monroe, Audrey Hepburn and Charlie Chaplin.
The 34th Annual Elegant Affair, also a foodie must-do, is November 19 at Tahoe City’s Boatworks Mall.
Fabulous Fall Adventures
Work off all that scrumptious cuisine at one of North Lake Tahoe’s many recreational events. The Tahoe Big Blue Adventure Sprint is September 18 and is ideal for beginners with its two to four hour finishing time, and has participants kayaking, mountain biking and trail running. Tahoe Adventure Company gets you on the water with their Lodge-to-Lodge Kayak Tour September 23-26, with daily guided paddles ending at overnights at Tahoe’s best lakefront properties.
Health and wellness are the focus of the Hyatt Regency’s Lake Tahoe Wellness Weekend September 24-26 with rejuvenating activities focused on achieving inner balance, as well as beauty seminars designed to recharge and reinvigorate. Try stand up paddle boarding at the Tahoe Fall Classic September 26, a 22-mile race from South Lake Tahoe to Kings Beach on the North Shore, with demo boards available for spectators.
Another way to get moving is to explore North Lake Tahoe’s splendid fall foliage, marked by the red, gold and orange aspens juxtaposed against the forest evergreens. Ideal hiking trails for viewing changing colors are many and include Page Meadows outside of Tahoe City and the two-mile hike to Spooner Lake just off Highway 28 before the Highway 50 junction. Less adventurous travelers will find abundant beauty by driving Highway 267 from Truckee to Kings Beach or Highway 431 (Mount Rose) from Reno to Incline Village with its many aspens along the roadway. Read more about hiking at Tahoe.
Live music is also part of the North Lake Tahoe fall experience and the Hyatt Regency Lake Tahoe is again hosting the Holiday Jazz Festival November 26-27 with Peter White Christmas, Rick Braun, Mindy Abair, Gerald Albright and others.
Fabulous Fall Deals
Take advantage of North Lake Tahoe’s Fabulous Fall Celebration deals and savings with these Cool Deals.
Considered the largest winter carnival West of the Mississippi, the 
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