Lake Tahoe: 3 days of summer adventure and relaxation!

A 3 hour drive from San Francisco, Lake Tahoe is truly spectacular – a massive lake flanked by mountains with blue water that run so clear you can see the lake bed! We had the privilege of visiting this incredible destination a few years ago and I still remember the way the sun sparkled off the water. Kayaking in a clear-bottomed kayak in the crystal clear water on a sunny morning will forever be one of my most cherished experiences. A fun fact about our trip here is that we were supposed to go here a couple years ago – we clubbed this itinerary with Yosemite National Park, but we fell in love with Yosemite and decided to spend more days there. Therefore, Lake Tahoe became its own trip 4 years later, and I am incredibly glad it did!

Below is an easy 3-day itinerary (two and a half days really), perfect for a weekend getaway. I have also included restaurants and cafes that we checked out while we were there. There is also information on all kinds of activity/food reservations that we made in advance – especially for kayaking. I hope this helps as you plan your trip to Lake Tahoe – if you like this itinerary, leave me a comment below or share with your friends and family. Safe travels! 🙂

Day 1: Drive from San Francisco to South Lake Tahoe

• We drove from San Francisco to South Lake Tahoe post a hearty brunch at Udipi Palace. We arrived just in time to catch the sunset and here are some of the best spots to do so: Cave Rock (this involves a short hike and rock scramble, if you have the time), Lake View Commons beach, Zephyr Cove and Nevada beach. We stopped at the Lake View Commons beach as it was closest to our accommodation.
• Check in to your hotel/airbnb and grab an early dinner. I highly recommend making reservations in advance, especially during the summer. We went to Riva Grill & Bar but I recommend Azul for some good mexican food.

Day 2: Exploring Lake Tahoe

• We drove out early in the morning Sand Harbor State Park for kayaking. This is one of the clearest parts of the lake and is a 30 minute drive from South Lake Tahoe. Drive up early as the parking spots fill up fast.
• Be sure to reserve the kayaks in advance. I highly recommend Clearly Tahoe – they have “completely clear kayaks” which sell out really quickly, and as the name suggests, are completely clear. If those are unavailable, reserve the “clear bottom” kayaks, so you can still experience kayaking over the lake and being able to see through the crystal clear bottom.
• Kayak your way to Bonsai Rock and soak in the views. Wear covered clothing and don’t skimp on the SPF, as the sun tans you in seconds! (Speaking from experience)
• Chill at Sand Harbor Beach – the vibes are amazingly relaxed.
• Drive back to South Lake Tahoe and grab lunch at Artemis Lakefront Cafe. The falafel sandwich and the fries were absolutely incredible! We also got an iced hibiscus tea which was extremely refreshing.
• Post lunch, drive up to Inspiration Point in Emerald Bay State Park for panoramic lake views.
• If you’re up for a short hike, drive to Vikingsholm Trailhead – another great viewpoint – hike down to Vikingsholm (an old Viking home by the lakeside). If you have some time and would like to hike further, you can continue further along the Rubicon trail and hike back up.
• Drive back to South Lake Tahoe and get coffee/drinks at Lakeview Social. If you’re getting coffee, try the rose cardamom latté.
• Watch the sunset from Lakeview commons – you could also go to Cave Rock if you have the energy!
• Grab dinner and call it a night. We went to Scusa Italian – the food was good and the portions were huge.

Day 3: Early Morning at Lake Tahoe and drive back to San Francisco

• I love checking out local cafes and am alwas up for a good bagel, so on this morning, if you’re looking for a recommendation, pick up coffee at Freebird Chai and fresh bagels from Dragonfly Bagel Co. We got the tomato & herb bagels with their specialty cream cheese. Then, drive back to Lakeview Commons and enjoy your coffee and bagel by the lake.
• Drive back to San Francisco.