Lake Tahoe: Best of Both Worlds

A few weeks ago, I joined my folks and their friends for a long weekend golfing, relaxing, and enjoying the amazing weather on the North shore of Lake Tahoe.  The trip originated a few years ago as a dudes golfing weekend, but this year turned into a couples trip. Well, and me.  I tagged along with the "over 60 crowd" for the wonderful weekend in the cool climate. 

Lake Tahoe is the largest alpine lake in the US and the second deepest in the US behind Crater Lake by just 300 feet.  Created more than 2 million years ago during the Ice Age, the lake is known for its clear water and surrounding mountains.  While not equally divided, the state line between California and Nevada runs directly through the lake and the highway around the lake provides year round access to Reno, Carson City and Sacramento. The area is popular both as a summertime recreational area with hiking, whitewater rafting and lake activities and a winter time attraction for snow and skiing.  On the Nevada side, you can gamble in the many casinos on both the North and South shores.  

Now the title mentions Lake Tahoe being the best of both worlds.   What do I mean by that?  I don't know about you but I love both the mountains and the ocean.  Well, Lake Tahoe may not be an ocean, but it's SO big you get the same wave like effects and miles of beach front access.  So combine a lovely beach front setting with mountains all around and voila! the best parts of land and sea.  I have never visited the area in the winter but I can only imagine how beautiful it is with the snow covered mountains and blue lake. Perhaps, I need to see this soon...

Upon our arrival in Reno, the fellas hurried everyone off the plane, into the rental cars and zoomed over the pass to Incline Village to drop us ladies off and get to the golf course.  They were quite excited about the 3 days of golf planned at some of the best courses in the area.  The ladies were left to check into our rooms at the Hyatt at Incline Village.  This is a great resort for both families, girls/guys trips, or couples retreats.  The hotel offers standard hotel rooms, suites and even larger condos close to the beach.  The hotel hosts a variety of activities onsite and has plenty of connections with other outfitters to suit your parasailing, horseback riding, kayaking needs. (Fair warning, the concierge while knowledgeable is not great with follow through and can be off putting at times.)

While the fellas golfed, the ladies were free to do whatever we pleased.  Some chose to read and relax by the pool, others chose to gamble, and others enjoyed the amazing Stillwater Spa located within the hotel.  My choices included white water rafting, spa time, gambling and napping where possible.  This is the first trip I've taken in a while that had no real plan other than a few dinner reservations, which was a nice treat to not have any set plan.  Ahhhhh, relaxation!!

Our first full day in Lake Tahoe sent the fellas off for an early tee time and 5 of us ladies headed north 20 minutes to Truckee, California for a half day white water rafting adventure with IRIE Rafting Company.  This is a great company and the guides are well trained and very personable.  I really liked their style and definitely will raft with them again.  Our trip started out on the gentle part of the Lower Gorge of the Truckee River.  We said hello to the fly fishermen scattered along the river and applauded one guy's large trout catch.  The first couple miles provided a refresher on rowing, team work and general commands for the upcoming rapids.  We rafted through a few Class II boulder gardens and warmed up for bigger rapids. Halfway through the trip, the rapids grow larger and closer together as the river begins to narrow and become steeper.  We smoked a few bigger rapids and excitedly awaited the final mile of the river for Jaws and Bronco!  These are fun rapids and ones I've done previously at a higher water level (read more intense).  With it being August, the water flows are lower but these 2 rapids did not disappoint.  Precise rowing and teamwork are necessary for these rapids and our guide, Aryan, did a great job taking us through these rapids.  I almost fell out during Bronco, but managed to throw myself back into the boat and avoided becoming a member of the Truckee River swim team, but didn't avoid a large bruise on my thigh.

On the way back from rafting, we stopped at the Blue Onion Cafe, at the Brockway Golf Course, the oldest course in Lake Tahoe, for a lovely lunch on the patio.  I enjoyed the chicken, spinach, roasted tomato, and feta crepe, while Mom had a killer crabcake salad.  Another lady in our group had a tuna sandwich that looked amazing...avacado, perfectly red tomoatoes, crisp lettuce.  Just being able to sit on the patio at 2 pm and not sweat was a treat.  Our group decided over lunch that for the cold winters the people in this area endure, they deserve to get nice days like that.  It was hard to think about going home when the view, the food, the weather was so lovely there.

Now it seems like I'm jumping from lunch to dinner and I suppose I am, but in between rafting and lunch, I really didn't do much.  I believe there was a nap involved, sitting on a rocking chair outside looking at the mountains, and a bit of gambling.  

Our second evening took us to Garwood's Grill and Pier which is a quick drive from the hotel into California and one of my dad's favorite places to eat on the lake.  Tucked into the shore line in Carnelian Bay, the restaurant boasts floor to ceiling views of the water with indoor and outdoor seating, offers valet boat parking, delicious food and an impressive drink menu.  The famous drink on the menu is the Wet Woody (insert joke here). My selections for the evening included the salmon special served grilled on a bed of basamati rice and grilled asparagus.  The huge portion (too much really) was delicious.  I also enjoyed a Cucumber vodka mojito that was quite refreshing and not too minty. If you're in the area, make a reservation and eat here.  There's really nothing bad on the menu!

As the boys headed off to play their final round, most of us ladies headed to the spa for the morning. I love the Stillwater Spa at the Hyatt.  The hotel does a great job providing a consistent product with their spas across the resort chain.  Some of the ladies enjoyed facials and pedicures, while I chose an alpine glow sugar scrub and an eighty minute massage. It was absolute heaven!

After our pampering, we headed off to the lake for a 2.5 hour catamaran ride on Lake Tahoe.  The clear sky and cool breeze made the excursion quite enjoyable and the drinks and snacks served by the friendly crew topped off a great ending to our weekend getaway.  As you know from previous posts, I love being on the water and this sail was perfect...a little nap on the trampoline part of the boat, a few pictures for posterity and lovely conversation with friends.  During our trip, one of the ladies received a video from her son and daughter in law's baby reveal party...it's a GIRL!  Squeals erupted and hugs ensued!

On our final evening, we headed to the South Shore for dinner at The Chart House.  The restaurant, known for its quality steaks, specialty prime rib, and fresh seafood, is nestled halfway up the mountain a few minutes from downtown Stateline and offers amazing views of the Lake Tahoe basin.  I ordered the house specialty, prime rib, and enjoyed every. single. bite.  The Chart House didn't disappoint from the fresh salad bar, wonderful entrees, and the out of this world chocolate lava cake.  Be sure to tell your waiter you want one of these as it takes 30 minutes to prepare and be share with your table.  You may need to spend a few more minutes in your spin class after this meal, but believe me, it's totally worth it.

As the sun set over the lake and the sky changed from rosy red to blue and starry, we headed back to the hotel with another fun weekend under our belts.  More fun times with friends.  More memories made. And a great way to wrap up the summer and head into the fall.

Until then, happy travels and many laughs...