Travel – Page 2 – Pathfinders

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 master bedroom is quite spacious, with direct access to the balcony.

The wooden doors do a lot to give the room a rustic cabin feel, even though it is inside a resort.

The living rooms includes a dining table, spacious couch, and a door that opens up to the balcony.

The balcony would have likely offered better views of the town if it was during the winter when everyone is trying to get to the slopes.

The kitchen area with additional bar stool seating for guests.

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.

Lake Tahoe has a ton of hiking trails in the area, so it wasn’t too difficult to find an easy trail that didn’t have many people hiking it.

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.

Everyone was eager to get a spot as close to the water as possible. Given that Lake Tahoe is a lake, there aren’t any major waves so it’s much easier to plant yourself close to the water.

The fires definitely affected the experience somewhat at Lake Tahoe. The haziness was present everywhere at Lake Tahoe, constant reminder to remain vigilant.

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.

We managed to find a smooth rock for us to land our kayaks on, so we decided to bring up our kayaks and enjoy the lake in a more secluded location with just our group.

Don’t make the same mistake I did and make sure you wear appropriate swimming attire if you plan to go kayaking…

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?

The rocky area we ended up landing in with our kayaks. Would have been a great opportunity for a picnic, had we known ahead of time.

With Covid-19 currently raging across the globe, and most countries shutting travel down to/from the United States, I wanted to look a little closer to home when it comes to travel. Given that I am currently based in California, I wanted to explore different areas within the state that would be great for a little weekend getaway without introducing a lot of risks associated with travelling. Below are some of my favorite picks:

1. Pismo Beach, CA

Once the beaches open back up in California, consider choosing Pismo beach as your beach of choice for a day at the beach. Among other things, it is one of the few beaches in California that allows bonfires, as well as allowing vehicles on the beach. Although the beach is currently closed to vehicles due to Covid-19, you can still enjoy the atmosphere of the beach and the pier. It might not be as flashy as Venice Beach or Santa Monica, but for myself, that is what makes it attractive. If this place interests you, I recently took a trip here, and you can read my trip report here.

With views like this, what’s there not to love?
Source: flickr

2. Lake Tahoe, CA

Quite possibly one of the most iconic locations that people can travel to, Lake Tahoe is typically known for its slopes and great snow during the winter. During the summer however, Lake Tahoe becomes a fantastic summer getaway complete with hiking trails, kayaking, and shopping. Being right on the border between California and Nevada, you can easily head over the border and take advantage of the lower sales tax. There’s also a casino too, if you prefer to have a little more glitz and glamour in your vacation.

3. Idyllwild, CA

Definitely the lesser known location on this list, but this small town is nestled deep in the San Jacinto mountains, this location is perfect for the romantic forest getaway when you absolutely need to keep your social distance. It definitely has that small town feel, with a relatively small town center and a single small supermarket. Surrounded by forests with a variety of hiking trails, Idyllwild is a great place to enjoy nature without the crowds that you might find at some of the more popular hiking spots. Book a rustic cabin for yourself and your SO for a quaint getaway.

Just far enough to be away from civilization, but close enough to still get your basic amenities.

I have a trip planned to go to one of these places, so stay tuned for a new post about my experience. Where would you want to go? How are things going on where you live?

Tag: Travel

A Quaint Summer Retreat – Lake Tahoe