Lake Tahoe Like A Local: A 24-Hour Travel Guide

February 07, 2017

What do you think of when you hear “Lake Tahoe”?

Probably amazing views, thriving outdoors culture, plus lots of sun and snow. That’s exactly the kind of place we’re always after, and it doesn’t hurt that it’s within striking distance of two Bay Area Burton Flagship Stores. We’ve compiled some of our favorite stops from our last visit to Tahoe – use this to jumpstart your own adventure.

Go Snowboarding, of Course

The Tahoe area is home to resorts like Squaw Valley, Heavenly, Boreal, Sugar Bowl, Alpine Meadows, and more. After an early-morning weather check, we hit Northstar California Resort, where the Burton Mountain Festival and Burton Girls Ride Day would be going down the next day. It was a bluebird day with 72 inches of new snow in the past week. In other words, it was perfect.

Early morning cruise around Northstar Resort.

See What's Brewing

It’s crucial to leave the resorts to experience the true vibe of Tahoe. After snowboarding in the sunshine for a few hours, we headed to downtown Truckee. First stop: Dark Horse Coffee Roasters for a pick-me-up. Lattes in hand, we perused the books, pet all the dogs, and lounged for a bit before exploring the rest of the laidback town.

You'll find Dark Horse tucked around the corner from the main strip. Definitely worth the stop.

Dark Horse is at maximum coziness, thanks to the friendly customers and a warm stove.

bg tahoe — BG Ambassadors Meg and Kristen came along for the ride. These two are wheelie good friends.

Stretch it Out

Nothing beats post-riding yoga. In the afternoon, we swung by Studio Tahoe to stretch and breathe through any tightness from the morning. The high ceilings and dreamy lighting provided a calming atmosphere, and the 85-degree studio space warmed up our muscles.

Get upside down once in a while, it's good for you.

Grab a Bite

Important rule of travel: Pay attention to where the locals eat. Following a tip from a Tahoe resident, we headed to Marty’s Café. With comfy seats, friendly waiters, and the best all-day breakfast menu, Marty’s is a must. We watched the trains go by and ate to our heart’s content.

Lakeside Lounging

What would a visit to Lake Tahoe be without a trip to the largest alpine lake in North America? Following our instincts on the way home, we veered onto a dead-end street after catching a glimpse of the lake. What we found was a dock with an excellent view of Kings Beach State Recreation Area. Thankfully we had some travel necessities in the car: A bottle of bubbly and Burton camp chairs.

How it feels when you finally reach the lake.

Strolling around Tahoe for the day was a blast, and these were just a few of the highlights. While we were only working with 24 hours, imagine what you could do with a long weekend. See for yourself and let us know your favorite spots in the comments below. ∆