What to See & Do for One Day at Lake Tahoe

One day is not enough at this gorgeous place! We were only near Sacramento for a short time and couldn’t let a chance to visit Lake Tahoe pass us by.

The drive

The drive into Tahoe has many hairpin turns. The pine trees driving into South Lake Tahoe are remarkable. They were definitely the largest pines we had ever laid eyes on. Clean air and a crisp breeze was all we needed riding up the mountain. As we came into South Lake Tahoe we stopped at one of the local drug stores to see if there was a local map so we didn’t miss any of the best stops along the drive around the lake. I would suggest downloading or purchasing a map before you go.

Baldwin Beach

Our first stop was Baldwin Beach. We were set to rent kayaks for the day and explore the Lake by water. Unfortunately, the wind had picked up and we were not allowed to rent the kayaks unless we stayed within 20 feet of the beach. Where is the fun in that?

Emerald Bay

We decided to try to drive up to Emerald Bay and hike down to the cove and explore more on foot. There was nowhere to park to hike down! This place is so popular, you better get there early to have parking. We were there right around 10:30 AM, however earlier risers get the best parking. If you can’t park, you can’t hike.

DL Bliss State Park

We drove on down to DL Bliss State Park and decided to have our picnic on the beach and walk around and explore. The views were stunning, water so clear and blue its hard to believe its real. Also some of the coldest water I have yet to dip my toes into. This park has a wonderful camp ground and easy access to the beach and swimming. There are total of 9 state parks around Lake Tahoe, each with its own entrance fee. Do a little research and chose one or two to visit for the day.

We drove up to Tahoe City and took in a few of the local shops. While we were leaving Tahoe, we all kept repeating over and over just how fantastic this place was. I can’t explain to you in words how truly amazing Lake Tahoe is to view. It is right at the top of my list of the most beautiful places I have ever been

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