With the fires that are currently raging through California, it is getting harder and harder to travel throughout the state. Call it a double whammy when we are already dealing with pandemic travel restrictions. Fortunately for us, Lake Tahoe was relatively unaffected by the SCU Lightning Complex fires, although there was still smoke in the area.
Sadly, the day I was scheduled to travel up to Lake Tahoe, I received a call from the cabin I had originally rented to inform me that a bear had apparently attacked the cabin, and that the cabin I had originally booked was now unavailable. It would’ve been a great cabin to take photos in, a two-story, three bedroom and two bathroom cabin right next to the lake. I ended up settling for a condo that was situated in one of the resort areas in Lake Tahoe, sitting right next to the ski lifts.
The area we stayed in was a mini-town, complete with a town square with ice-skating rink, shops (which were closed), restaurants (which were mainly closed), and a theater (also closed). The eerily quiet town which I imagine would have been booming during the snow season, provides a nice quiet escape for people who want the feeling of living in a ghost town, without actually having to go to a ghost town.
The Room
The room we stayed in was part of a luxury resort, and was complete with two bedrooms, two bathrooms, a living room, kitchen, and balcony. For a home away from home, it was definitely nice, but it did still have that hotel room feel, since you needed a key card to enter the room.
The Activities
During the summer months, Lake Tahoe becomes a lot like other destinations, known for their watersports and nature trails. While we were there, there were quite a few people with mountain bikes looking to explore the various trails that it has to offer. The first day of our trip, we tried to get some kayaking at the lake in. We tried going to Sand Harbor, one of the more well-known beaches of Lake Tahoe, only to find out that the parking lot was completely full until 5 PM. Rather than go back and let the day go to waste, we decided instead to circle back to a trail nearby called Monkey Rock trail to kill some time while we waited for the parking lot to open up again.
After hiking the trail, and flying my drone out for some videos, we went back to the parking lot for Sand Harbor, and was able to find a spot. We were then taken aback by the sheer number of people that were still at the beach. Reminded of my time at Pismo Beach, it’s hard to be surprised at this point that even with the pandemic raging, people will find ways to get outside and enjoy nature.
Kayaking
The next day, we got up much earlier to make our way to Sand Harbor again to try our hand at kayaking. We were able to snag a couple of single kayaks, but if you plan to go kayaking in Lake Tahoe, I would highly recommend making a reservation prior to you arriving, as we almost missed out due to the rental place running out kayaks. We booked the kayaks for three hours, and paddled north along the coast. This was one of the better activities that Lake Tahoe has to offer, and anyone travelling to Lake Tahoe during the summer should consider adding it to their itinerary.
Conclusion
Even though Lake Tahoe is such a popular destination, there are definitely opportunities to enjoy some privacy if you are willing to put in a little effort to find it. Although normally known for their winter activities, I thoroughly enjoyed my time in Lake Tahoe and can recommend it for people looking to enjoy the nature of California while still being within civilization. As an added bonus, you won’t typically encounter the masses of people that are here for skiing or snowboarding, so with the right accommodation, you could have your own little slice of nature. Where is your go to place when you want to escape the hustle of city life?
Pathfinders 