A Drive Around the Periphery of Lake Tahoe from California into Nevada and Back

Friday, October 10, 2025

Lake Tahoe, California

A Drive Around the Periphery of Lake Tahoe from California into Nevada and Back

Waking in our really beautiful cabin-style Air B and B in Lake Tahoe was truly a pleasure. Our bedroom was beautifully decorated with soft burnished amber glass bedside lamps that gave a soft golden glow to the room and the ambience of a mountain hut. Outside, the leaves on the trees were just beginning to turn and Fall was most definitely in the air. It was cozy under our down comforter—so it was with difficulty that we emerged to find breakfast.

Breakfast was the bagels with cream cheese we had purchased with decaff coffee and feeling quite full with our first filling meal of the day, we decided to set out. Our aim today was simply to skirt the vast periphery of Lake Tahoe, to see the lake in all its variety, to explore the little towns along its banks and to simply take in the scenery of a part of California where lake meets mountains and mountains meet sky.

And so, with AJ behind the wheel, we started our tour of Lake Tahoe. We stopped firstly at the town of Kings Beach, just half a mile ahead of us. Chriselle and AJ got coffees while Llew and I browsed around the stores. None of them were open at this hour, but we were fortunate to find the Tourist Information Center open and in it, we found maps as well as an obliging assistant who told us what not to miss and where to be sure to go. Armed with these resources, we got back into our car again and had a most leisurely drive around. Just a little past Kings Beach on an eastwards drive, you will leave California behind and enter the state of Nevada (which I found to be pretty exciting) but there is little fanfare to announce this fact other than a large sign post with the name of the state name printed on it.

There is nothing really exciting to say about Lake Tahoe except that it is scenically enchanting. You need to keep your eyes peeled to the windows to take in the sights of mile after mile of fragrant coniferous trees, thick woodland paths, occasional one-horse towns with a single grocery store, gas station or coffee shop, boating piers from which people with water-sports on their minds can enjoy rowing or wind surfing.

Yes, we did pass by Incline Village where there is a very pretty walkway that juts out over the lake. It was filled with joggers and walkers and people taking the air on a delightful autumnal morning. The lake waters at the banks are crystal clear and although it is a lake, there are actually waves—which gives you an idea of how huge it is. Eventually, we arrived at Zephyr Cove where one can board ferries that take passengers across the lake for a delightful cruise to Emerald Bay where there is a very pretty island. We stopped there to eat our homemade sandwiches of smoked ham and cheese with lettuce salad as we watched children play along the waterside. This part of the Lake does have attractive shops, should one wish to do a bit of shopping. We merely walked around to enjoy the feel of the cool sun on our back before we moved on.

Past Kingsbury, we crossed the state line again and re-entered California and as we wound around South Lake Tahoe, we took in the sweet wooden cabins everywhere as well as the really expensive mansions of what is called the Gold Coast or Millionaire’s Row. Yes, I could easily see how this place could become the playground of the rich and famous who have disposable income to burn yet wish to get away from the glare of the public eye. At Meek’s Bay, we marveled at the turquoise blue waters of the Lake which, somehow seem to be patterned in ribbons of multiple shades of blue. It is really quite staggeringly beautiful.

And then, we followed signs and much thicker traffic to arrive at Emerald Bay which is probably the most popular part of the Lake. Most cars stop here as there is a large car park which allows you to park and then walk to the Lake’s bank to look out over one of the most beautiful bays in the center of which is a picturesque island. Close to this area is a hike to a castle but we decided that, if anything, we would do it the following day. So, taking a few pictures at this point, we moved on.

By this point, it was late afternoon and as we moved further north, we arrived at Tahoe City which I honestly expected to be much larger a settlement than it actually was. Yes, it is where the majority of the year-round population is based and so there are the usual utility stores here—supermarkets, hardware stores, even a thrift shop. We parked to stretch our legs and browse through some of these stores, to get our magnet in one of the souvenir stores and then to get a cuppa.

Yes, we were ready for tea-time and, luckily, I spied a small eatery called Rosie’s Café, a rather quaint place where I was certain we’d get a nice pot of tea and a tidbit. I stepped inside, met the lady there who assured me she could serve us tea and so inside we trooped. I have to admi that what really attracted me to the place was the promise of what was called ‘Grandma Rosie’s Secret Recipe Strawberry Shortcake’. And as we sat at the table and ordered peppermint tea for ourselves, we also ordered the shortcake. And boy oh boy, what an inspired idea that was! The strawberry shortcake was one large cake that was crammed with fresh slicved strawberries, pillows and pillows of fresh cream, a thick strawberry sauce and just the most melt-in-the-mouth texture and delectable taste. Despite the fact that all four of us shared it, it was more than enough for all of us and we ate well. It went perfectly with our mint tea and made for a really grand stop in a very modest place in a lake-side town.

And then back in our car we went for the last segment of our drive back home. AJ and Chriselle needed a couple more things from Safeway, so we went back into the supermarket before we reached home. We rustled up really delicious dinners of our roast chicken and packaged salad with toast and fresh grapes for dessert. And after dinner, we sat down to play a really fun game called Rock and Roll—a quiz game that was based on questions pertaining to music, musicians, groups, composers, etc. from the 1950s to the present. Of course, as AJ works in the music industry, he was far more well-versed about most of the questions and Chriselle was far more up-to-date with current music than Llew and I were—nevertheless, we had a really lovely time as we gave ourselves up fully to the fun of the game which was punctuated by much guess work and tons of laughter.

Yes, there was a TV set in the cabin, but, funnily enough, none of us felt the need to watch anything. As the evening grew darker and twilight gave way to night, we showered and then hunkered down in our rooms for a cozy night of sound sleep.

Until tomorrow, see ya’…