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A Lovers’ Guide to North Lake Tahoe: Date Ideas for Spending Valentine’s Day in the Sierra

Last updated: March 2024

February weather is the ideal excuse to get nice and cozy with the one you love or get away with good friends or family this Valentine’s. With the snow-covered mountains as the perfect backdrop, North Lake Tahoe is a must for a winter adventure to remember.

With Valentine’s Day on a Monday this year, you can make it a long weekend to get the most of all North Lake Tahoe has to offer. From romantic dates to group dining and all the winter activities in between, check out our guide to North Lake Tahoe this Valentine’s Day to ensure that there’s never a dull moment.

Photo: Tahoe Getaways

North Lake Tahoe Lodging Specials for a Long Weekend

Those looking for a Galentine’s group adventure or a getaway with friends or family, many North Lake Tahoe lodging properties offer cost-saving deals for 3+ nights (where the 4th night is free). Others feature couples’ romance packages to celebrate the holiday.

Some examples include the Sweetheart Special from Tahoe Getaways where you can treat your sweetheart(s) to romantic cabins to large retreats.

Places like the Resort at Squaw Creek offer a family-friendly option with Valentine’s Day cookie decorating, family broomball and glow golf.


For a full list of lodging properties and romance packages around the North Shore, see here.

Photo: Hyatt Regency North Lake Tahoe

Treat Yourself, for Self-Care

Beautiful spa experiences aren’t hard to find at North Lake Tahoe’s many fabulous resorts. The region is home to a variety of spas for you to show a little love to yourself on this holiday.

As a special way to unwind, treat yourself to an all-inclusive spa day. Get a massage, unwind in the sauna, or replenish your complexions with a custom facial or wrap. The spa’s relaxed setting and lakeside views are the R&R you’ve been looking for. Book directly through the spa.

Elsewhere, you can treat yourself to luxurious spa treatments at The Ritz-Carlton, Lake Tahoe. Indulge in a warming winter scrub, cinnamon maple body treatment, biodynamic facial, or a host of other specials to keep everyone looking and feeling your best.

Photo Credit: Robbie Sell, Northstar California

Ice Skating, for the Winter Classics

If a classic winter adventure is more appealing to you, rent some ice skates and enjoy the multiple rinks available across the region.

Located in the heart of The Village at Northstar, you can find a 9,000 square foot ice skating rink which is the center of a hubbub of activity, day and night. Rentals are available.

Skate on the Resort at Squaw Creek’s private rink with heated waterfalls, hot tubs, a pool and the peaks of Olympic Valley as a backdrop. Rentals are available, and the rink is open from December to April.

The Tahoe City Winter Sports Park is a one-of-a-kind, all-inclusive winter recreation facility. Ice skating is a great way to connect with loved ones, and conveniently paired with a sled hill, cross-country area, and nearby restaurants and lodging properties.

Make sure to take a selfie together while you’re out there practicing waltz jumps and share it with #TahoeNorth.

Photo Credit: Touch Lake Tahoe, Incline Village

Puppy Play, For “Dog Lovers Only”

Want to get out for something different but can’t bear to leave your canine companions behind? That’s alright. For those of you who surround yourselves with “dog lovers only,” there are plenty of dog-friendly activities and establishments to be found throughout the North Shore.

Photo: Northstar California

Après, for Wine and Beer Connoisseurs

Indulge in style at Northstar California Resort with Tōst, the resort’s exclusive mountaintop service. Complementary s’mores and champagne are served to all ski guests, but for a more private experience, guests can upgrade to Platinum Tōst, which includes an additional charcuterie board and fire pit in a VIP area. All this comes with an incredible view of Lake Tahoe. Bonus tip: Upgrade to a bottle of Dom Perignon to make it an extra special afternoon.

Couples can also cuddle up together next to a warm fire, and there’s no better way to warm up after a day on the slopes! Check out our guide to getting cozy in North Lake Tahoe with the toastiest fireplaces and tastiest hot toddies to give you an excuse to cuddle up with your loved one.

Photo: Tor Johnson, Granlibakken

Fine Dining, for Those Who Love to Indulge

With multiple restaurants spanning the North Shore and a wide variety of cuisine offerings, you can pretty much have it all –– and by all, we mean exquisite food, stunning views, and an unparalleled ambiance.

Several North Lake Tahoe eateries are holding special Valentine’s Day events and specials just for those who flock to the area. Celebrate at the snowy and scenic Granlibakken Tahoe Cedar House Pub, featuring a full bar, live music, and even kid-friendly menus for little ones that want to tag along. Or, hop over to La Fondue Restaurant and Bar for authentic Swiss food and a full bar.


Overlook the vast and beautiful views of Lake Tahoe in all its splendor as you enjoy fresh, modern American cuisine at Christy Hill Lakeside Bistro. With small plates, luxurious main courses and indulgent desserts, this adored local establishment is the perfect interlude for a date night to remember. Our advice: take advantage of Christy Hill’s vista-point location, situated just 100 feet away from Lake Tahoe’s shoreline, by visiting near sunset. The splendid alpenglow skies are absolutely breathtaking.

Wolfdale’s Cuisine Unique combines fresh and local tastes with Asian and European inspiration, all in a historic building that was originally floated across Lake Tahoe from South Shore! Wolfdale’s will be setting the mood with a special menu, including premium cuts of meat, like Durham Ranch Wagyu.

Photo Credit: Chris Bartkowski

Snowshoeing, for Nature-Lovers

View the stunning purples, pinks and blues of the Sierra sunset while snowshoeing. With so many options for guides and rentals across North Lake Tahoe, venturing into the snowy woods is as easy as “go!”

Tahoe Adventure Company offers daily sunset snowshoeing tours. Included in this adventure experience are permits, snacks, warm drinks and snowshoe rentals, giving you and your beloved all of the adventure with none of the hassle.  After working up an appetite, head to Cafe Zenon for an artful variety of homemade goodness. Serving breakfast, lunch and dinner, this new North Shore hotspot will please any palate. (They even serve Pho.)

Ski and ride outside the designated boundaries of Palisades Tahoe and get an introduction to the backcountry with Alpenglow Expeditions. A certified guide will lead groups of up to four (which means you can double date!) to see some of the most beautiful parts of North Lake Tahoe on an adventurous snowshoe tour.

Photo: Resort at Squaw Creek

The Gift of Tahoe, for Big Adventure Planners

Just because you can’t make it up to North Lake Tahoe for Valentine’s Day doesn’t mean it can’t be included in your gift-giving. Give your friends or loved ones the gift of an exciting trip by booking a room at one of Tahoe’s many lodging properties.

To say the least, there’s no shortage of romantic or adventurous activities in the Sierra. Whether you’re looking for love to get you through the winter weeks or keeping things warm and cozy with an old flame, there’s a good reason to choose North Lake Tahoe.