Lake Tahoe offers some pretty amazing places to go and see. It’s possible to spend a whole week trying to experience it all and still not do everything. But that doesn’t mean you can’t hop in the car and make a day trip out of driving around the lake; that way, you will at least see all of it. So grab your map or GPS, some friends or family and hop in the car as I take you on a day trip around Lake Tahoe.

On a sunny Sunday morning my fiancée Lauren and I hopped in the car in Reno, pointed ourselves toward Lake Tahoe by way of Mt. Rose Highway (State Route 431) and embarked upon our daylong adventure.

Our first stop came before we even made it to Lake Tahoe. The last lookout point on the Mt. Rose Highway before you enter Incline Village offers some of the most beautiful views of Lake Tahoe in the entire area. From this vantage point there is a view of the entire lake, Incline Village and the Championship Golf Course below. This is just a turn out and it’s easy to miss if you aren’t paying attention, but if you keep a sharp eye out you should be able to spot the pillar that hosts an interpretive sign, plus the above-average number of cars parked there and the stonewall at its ledge.


Incline Village
Once at the bottom of the hill we stopped for lunch at T's Mesquite Rotisserie in Incline Village. Although busy and crowded, T’s is a great place to stop. With walls covered in art by local artists and a visible kitchen, T’s atmosphere is both visually pleasing and exciting. With it’s own special blend of Mexican and American barbeque flavors, T’s offers entrées like soy lime chicken, Yucatan chicken, tri-tip and pork. The chicken is tasty but nothing extraordinary, however the tri-tip is truly out of this world. Wrapped in a corn tortilla and smothered in salsa, meat lovers will find themselves in heaven. The beer is reasonably priced and the outdoor seating is superb if not limited.

After finishing lunch we hopped back in the car and continued our trip heading north on Highway 28 around the lake toward Kings Beach. Again, beautiful views of Lake Tahoe the entire way. Highway 28 (and eventually Highway 89) circles the lake around its east, north and western shores weaving in and out of the forest, offering alternating views of beautiful Lake Tahoe and the serene alpine forest that surround it.


Crystal Bay
On the way to Kings Beach is another beautiful lakeside community, Crystal Bay. The most notable feature is the Crystal Bay Club Casino; its vintage sign is a blast from the past and reminiscent of Frank Sinatra and the rest of the Rat Pack. But if you want to finish the drive around Lake Tahoe in a day, you can’t stop everywhere, so we drive on.


Kings Beach
Kings Beach isn’t just a beach, it's a full-blown town with stores, cafes, shopping and traffic. We stopped at the beach to stretch our legs and check out the view. While parking can be a little confusing, Kings Beach is a worthwhile stop to stretch, walk around, dip your feet in the water and take more pictures. The only real downside to Kings Beach is the parking lot, which is short on space and not free. Although there is no one collecting parking fees, there is a fee box which I can only assume works on the honor system.

A dog-friendly beach, Kings Beach offers more incredible views, a boat launch ramp and arts and crafts fairs on the weekends.


Tahoe City
Our next stop in Tahoe City brought us to where the Truckee River and Lake Tahoe meet. Parking at the Truckee River Outlet Gate Keepers Museum we were able to walk to the bridge and dam that crosses the Truckee River at its beginning. With lots of historical plaques and a large mural of Lake Tahoe on the sidewalk, this stop filled our brains with Lake Tahoe’s history. With more breathtaking views and lots of walking paths the Truckee River Outlet is a perfect place to stop for a few minutes. There is a fish-food dispenser at the bridge, so be sure to bring quarters so you can feed the fish (something that is fun for both kids and grownups) that congregate at the top of the Truckee River below the dam.

Before leaving Tahoe City, we stopped at the Tahoe House Bakery & Gourmet Store for a snack. With a huge selection of baked goods and a cozy atmosphere the Tahoe House quickly became a favorite. Inside the dining area is full of couches, lounge chairs and dining tables that surround a fireplace, but we choose to sit outside in the shade to enjoy the beautiful summer’s day.

Note: Tahoe City lies on the junction of Highways 28 and 89; be sure to keep left and to turn onto Highway 89 when 28 ends.


Emerald Bay
After enjoying our cookies we hit the road again. Now traveling south down Highway 89 we embarked upon the longest and most beautiful section of our drive. Like most of the drive around Tahoe the views from the road were stunning. But that was nothing compared to the views of Lake Tahoe from Emerald Bay State Park at Vikingsholm.

Unfortunately, like Kings Beach, the parking at Emerald Bay park wasn’t free, but a couple bucks was nothing compared to the views found there. With plenty of rock formations to hike on and a walking path for those not up to hiking, Emerald Bay park is a great place to stop. The views of Lake Tahoe and Emerald Bay are worthy of postcards and the view of Mt. Tallac behind it is just as impressive. But beware; there are no bathrooms at this stop.

After leaving Emerald Bay park we headed toward Camp Richardson, and boy what an amazing drive! Soon after leaving the park, Emerald Bay Road/Highway 89 heads across the spine of a ridge above Lake Tahoe. The road’s shoulders drop away and it looks as if the road will literally end in the waters of Lake Tahoe. A skinny two-lane road with no shoulder, no barriers and an awesome view; be prepared for slow and erratic driving.

Note: Highway 89 does close between Homewood and Fallen Leaf Lake during the winter after the snow falls.


Camp Richardson
We drive into a South Lake Tahoe favorite, the Camp Richardson Resort. It offers a general store and deli, the Beacon Bar & Grill on the beach, an ice cream parlor, free parking and walking paths galore. We stopped for ice cream and a walk to the beach. For those looking for more, the general store deli and Beacon Bar & Grill are great places for a bite to eat. Camp Richardson also offers bike rentals, a marina and more than 300 campsites, a historic hotel and lakefront cabins.


South Lake Tahoe
After leaving Camp Richardson we continued to drive down Highway 89 toward the Y (the intersection of Highway 50, Emerald Bay Road and Lake Tahoe Boulevard in South Lake Tahoe. At the Y, Highway 89 meets Highway 50; be sure to turn left onto Highway 50/Lake Tahoe Boulevard to continue the drive.

If you’re hungry, popular stops are the Cantina Bar and Gril, Izzy's Burger Spa and Big Daddy's Burgers.

We stopped at Alpen Sierra Coffee Co., a little coffee shop on Highway 50 near Stateline. The atmosphere is fun and the organic coffee is excellent. The whipped cream they top the drinks with tasted like half and half to me and wasn’t at all that sweet (a good or a bad thing depending on your preference). Be sure to answer the trivia question of the day before you order: If you get it right they discount your purchase!


Stateline and beyond
As we followed Highway 50 it took us through Stateline and Zephyr Cove and we made our way back to Incline Village to complete the circle. If you need gas, snacks or drinks be sure to stop in Zephyr Cove because there is nothing until you get to Incline Village.

If you stop in Stateline you can get your shopping and dining fix at the Heavenly Village which offers upscale shopping and dining galore and scenic rides on the Heavenly Gondola. The gondola is open during the summer for scenic rides through Labor Day and tickets are $28 for adults. During the winter the gondola takes you to the top of some of the areas greatest ski slopes

After leaving Stateline, Highway 50 offers great views and it takes you through the impressive tunnel that is Cave Rock, but make sure to turn left at the junction of Highway 50 and Highway 28. If you don’t, Highway 50 will take you to Carson City.


Home at last...kind of
After another 35 minutes of breathtaking views and a winding road through the forest we finally made it back in Incline Village at the base of Mt. Rose Highway. We had been on the road for seven hours, used nearly half a tank of gas, taken 134 pictures and filled the back seat with empty water and soda bottles. But we had a blast and we can’t wait to do it again.