If you follow me, you know, I LOVE Lake Tahoe! This is the first time I’ve gone during the winter to experience it in the snow. It is absolutely magical and the epitome of a winter wonderland. Here are my tips for everything you need to know for Lake Tahoe in the snow!
1. What Vehicle to Take to Lake Tahoe in the Snow
A four-wheel drive vehicle and or chains are a must if it’s snowing or if it’s predicted to snow.
2. Where to Stay on the Nevada Side! (Also, the Most Dog-Friendly Bed & Breakfast you’ll Find!)
If you’ve read my Ultimate Explorers Bible- Lake Tahoe post, then you’ve seen my favorite bed and breakfast in Lake Tahoe! I’ll attach it again here because you won’t find a better deal in Tahoe. I promise! This place is awesome.
The view is incredible and it’s only $125-$195 per night depending on the room you get. There are five rooms total. You have to call them directly to book. Tell them Jena sent you. They love dogs and don’t charge a pet fee!
My Favorite Room!
We normally get the Zephyr Cove suite, which comes with two rooms. This is an excellent option for four people, and you get your own private wrap-around balcony with an insane view and a barbecue pit. There’s also a private entrance for this room, which is convenient and makes you feel separated from the rest of the house.
My Second Favorite Room at our Bed & Breakfast:
The other room which I would suggest is called the Guest Room. This is actually my favorite room because it comes with an awesome jetted jacuzzi tub with a beautiful view of the Lake! The only downside about this room is that it doesn’t have access to the downstairs private balcony.
Other Room Options:
The two other rooms are incredible as well! There’s one that’s called the Tuscany Suite with a wine cellar and a gorgeous bathroom with a clawfoot tub!
The other room is called the apartment. It’s a full apartment with a living area complete with a pull-out couch, so it sleeps four people, and an entire full kitchen with a stove, oven, full-size fridge, etc.
The reason I don’t rank these two as the top choices is because they are on the bottom floor of the house, so they don’t have a lake view.
3. Where to Stay on the California Side!
As you may know, it is entirely up to your preference as to where you’d like to be on the lake. You’ll most likely want to stay closer to the activities that you want to do. These little cabins are ADORABLE and the perfect location if you’re going to be skiing on the California side at Homewood, Squaw Valley, Alpine Meadows, or North Star.
It’s called The Cottage Inn. They’re cute little cottages right on the lake! They come with breakfast and a wine and hors d’oeuvre happy hour. Some of the cottages even have a giant jacuzzi tub in the middle of the room. They are incredibly cozy and the perfect location!
4. Where to Ski!?
There are so many mountains surrounding Lake Tahoe! It’s hard to choose where to go! Buy tickets in advance because these mountains sell out quickly on weekends and it’s cheaper to buy them online ahead of time than at the mountain. Also, if you buy a consecutive 2 or 3-day pass for any of the mountains, you’ll get a discount.
List of Suggested Mountains:
Diamond Peak (Beautiful lake views)
Homewood (Insane views of the lake)
Diamond Peak and Sierra seem to always have the best prices, while Squaw, Homewood, and Northstar are usually VERY pricy.
5. Where to Rent and or Buy Skis/Boards, Helmets, Gloves Etc!
I suggest renting your skis/boards at the mountain. We’ve learned from experience that it’s much better to rent at the mountain in case your boots start hurting you or something is wrong with your equipment. So you can exchange them right there instead of having to drive into town to exchange them.
If you for some reason want to rent in-town, Rock Discount Rentals has good deals on the South Lake Tahoe side and Dave’s has good deals on the Tahoe city side. Epic Mountain Rentals have amazing brand-new equipment, but they are quite pricy. Tahoe Used Ski and Snowboard is a good shop to checkout for buying discount equipment and ski clothes!
6. Activities other than Skiing/Boarding:
You can sled, tube, snowmobile, check out the snow-covered beaches, hike, ride the Gondola at Heavenly Mountain, cross country ski, check out nearby hot springs, find the best places to watch the sunset, and make snowmosas, just to name a few things.
7. Where to Take your Dog for Grooming and/or Doggie Daycare!
The least expensive and best-rated place I’ve found for doggie daycare is Tahoe Best Friends. They only charge $45 for the entire day 7 am -7 pm. They also have grooming, which I’m sure is amazing! (This spot books up at least a week in advance, so reserve ahead of time.)
Hair of the Dog Pet Concierge is where Princeton has been twice. The groomers there are awesome and they also offer doggie daycare!
To Sum it Up!
Before the warm weather rolls in, pack your bags and go to lake Tahoe in the snow! Use these tips for where to stay and what to do. If you found this helpful, I’d love for you to pin it and/or share it with friends that will benefit from it as well! If you have any questions let me know and as always, have fun when you go!
Pins For Pinterest!
