Every year, without fail, we make the drive up to Lake Tahoe -- it's become a ritual for our family at this point. It's about four hours from the Bay Area (I covered the basics in my weekend road trips guide), and every single time, the first sight of the lake still gets me.
The first stop: coffee at the lake
Before anything else, we stop at Artemis Lakefront Cafe in South Lake Tahoe. It's right on the water, it's low-key, and it's become part of the ritual itself -- I don't think we've done a Tahoe trip without it.
Summer trip
If we're going in warmer months, it's all about the water -- lake swims, paddleboarding, renting a boat for an afternoon. Sand Harbor on the Nevada side has some of the clearest water and best beach spots if you want a proper lake day.
Winter trip
In winter it flips completely -- snow instead of swims, and a totally different kind of trip. Heavenly Village in South Lake Tahoe is an easy home base if you want ski access plus places to eat and warm up afterward.
The view you have to stop for
No matter the season, Emerald Bay is worth the pull-off. It's the one overlook I make everyone stop for, every year, even when we're running late.
A few honest tips
- Book lodging early -- prices climb fast for both ski season and summer weekends.
- Pack for both hot days and cold nights -- the elevation changes everything.
- Leave early if you're driving up on a Friday; the last stretch backs up badly.
Pack for the trip
Layers, sunglasses, and whatever the season calls for -- a few of my go-tos are on my LTK under Travel Favs.
