Can’t Miss Stops Around Lake Tahoe

Eat

Getaway Cafe at 3140 U.S. Highway 50 is a Mexican fusion restaurant that’s been voted Best Breakfast in South Lake. If you’re renting a cozy lakefront cabin (like this one), you’ll surely pass this local gem on your way into town. This women-owned business is known for its coconut-crusted french toast and chorizo benedict. Heading out a little later in the day? Try a half sandwich (like an Ortega turkey melt) and a cup of soup to fuel your Lake Tahoe adventures!

Located at 1041 Fremont Ave, Macduff’s Pub offers a cottage atmosphere with a classic Scottish menu. The steak and Guinness stew and shepherd’s pie are crowd favorites. Or better yet, snag a last minute cabin rental right on the lake and catch your dinner yourself! If you bring in fresh-caught fish, the chefs will season and sauce it to your liking and cook it up while you enjoy a brew!

When it’s dinnertime, visit Flatstick Pub at 4101 Lake Tahoe Boulevard. This American bar hosts a mini golf course and duffleboard! Grab tickets for a tee time and get a discount on Happy Hour drink prices. The kitchen serves “authentic street tacos with a California flair” until around 9 p.m. and has an extensive draft beer list with popular drinks like South Lake Pilsner and Barrett Brown. Want to eat back home at your cheap vacation rental? Flatstick Pub does takeout.

For dessert, stop at The Baked Bear at 4118 Lake Tahoe Boulevard for ice cream sandwiches – the best in the west! Choose top and bottom cookie flavors like cookies and cream or funfetti. Then, select ice cream from options like gluten-free mint chip and toasted s’mores before adding toppings from Nutella to fruity pebbles.

Drink

Walk, roll, or stroll the South Lake Tahoe Beer Trail – a six-mile stretch offering nine craft taprooms. Head out from your vacation cabin rental, start your hike at South Lake Brewing Co. at 1920 Lake Tahoe Boulevard, and meander to 8 breweries scattered throughout South Lake Tahoe. Don’t want to do the whole trail? The breweries are clustered, with 2-3 within easy walking distance at each location. Plus, plenty of restaurants are scattered in between to make sure you’ve got a good base before starting the Beer Trail.

If you’re looking for live music, ambiance, and inventive drinks, visit The Cocktail Corner at 2042 Lake Tahoe Boulevard. This local hotspot focuses on “bringing people together over food and drinks.” If you go to The Cocktail Corner in the summer or fall, the large patio is the perfect place to eat oysters on the half-shell while sipping a cucumber splash. In the colder months, head inside for fried chicken or a chef’s burger with a rotating beer menu.

Bear Belly Brewing Company at 8428 Trout Avenue is a nano brewery with a tap room open Wednesdays through Sundays. The small-batch beers regularly rotate, with five available at any given time. Sip a Masshole Hazy IPA for hoppy, tropical notes. Or go for a Boys to the Yard blueberry milkshake IPA with subtle fruit and lactose flavors. Food trucks park outside in the summer, and leashed dogs are allowed on the patio. Bringing outside food is recommended, and there are more than ten tasty options within walking distance! You can also prep your snacks at home at this charming Kings Beach abode just minutes away and pack a picnic with you!

Take a hot air balloon ride over Lake Tahoe

See & Do

See Lake Tahoe from the air with Lake Tahoe Balloons – the world’s only hot air balloon to launch and land from the deck of a boat! Head to Tahoe Keys Marina just after sunrise to float in the alpine air! Book a stay at this fabulous vacation rental and walk to the launch spot! You can even spot parts of Yosemite from the air on clear days!

Want to enjoy the solace of Lake Tahoe’s wilderness? Head to the Nevada side of the lake (or snag a vacation rental nearby!) and hike to Skunk Harbor! This gorgeous, secluded walk is about three miles long and features fun rocks in the water to play on. The beach is sandy and perfect for families and pups.

For an underwater experience, visit the Emerald Bay Maritime Heritage Trail, where you can dive to explore sunken boats, launches, and barges dating back to the turn of the century. Four of the dive sites feature interpretive panels with information about the sites. Divers can also access waterproof interpretive cards to learn about this unique area while underwater.

Ready for a climb? Traverse the Tahoe Via Ferrata at Palisades Lake Tahoe. This memorable climb requires wearing a harness attached to sets of permanent ropes and cables anchored into the famous Tram Face rock feature. Choose a two, three, or four-hour tour, and make reservations ahead of time as this is a popular activity for families!

Visitors looking for a relaxing day on the water should head out in kayaks with Clearly Tahoe! You’ll see the world-renowned Lake Tahoe waters from a clear-bottomed boat! Paddlers can see up to 65 feet below the surface and soak up views of the surrounding mountains while paddling. Or, go at night when the boats light up with LEDs!

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