Tahoe City

With a heritage dating back to the Gold Rush, when fortune hunters passed through on their way to mine for silver in the Comstock Lode, North Lake Tahoe’s Tahoe City has a rich history. The town is home to museums and historical landmarks managed by the North Lake Tahoe Historical Society, and a visit to any one of them adds insights into how this town has evolved from frontier outpost to an appealing enclave of shops, boutiques, lakefront restaurants, and private estates.

Things to Do in Tahoe City

Lakefront Commons Beach provides acres of room to spread out and relax, hear a concert in summer, and let the kids clamber on a mini-climbing wall. At the north end, the park blends into the Tahoe State Recreation Area, with right-on-the-lake campsites. The adjacent public pier makes a great place to cannonball into Lake Tahoe.

At Fanny Bridge, spanning the point where lake waters outflow into the Truckee River, go ahead and make the span live up to its name by peering over the edge to see the lake’s resident trout swirling in the clear water below. Take a short stroll downriver to rent inflatable rafts to float along an ultra-mellow stretch of the Truckee River (perfect for kids and first-time rafters). Just east of Fanny Bridge, Gatekeeper’s Museum (a reconstruction of the original historic cabin that was destroyed by fire) houses an outstanding collection of Native American basketry, as well as early photographs and relics from the region. In winter, the town hosts Snowfest, North Lake Tahoe’s version of Mardi Gras, with parades, live music, and snow play.

Where to Stay in Tahoe City 

Choose from a few great places to stay for your Tahoe City explorations: Basecamp Tahoe City, a boutique hotel located right in the center of town, has loads of rustic charm and is five minutes from the lake. Another centrally located option is the storied Granlibakken Resort, where snow sport enthusiasts of all kinds have been coming for generations not only to carve up the slopes, but to kick back, rejuvenate, and relax. When it comes time to refuel, stop by Fire Sign Café, a family-run breakfast and lunch spot that has been a Tahoe City favorite for over 40 years, or West Shore Market & Deli for gourmet grocery items for a picnic, as well as delicious baked goods, sandwiches, and flatbread pizzas.

Things to Do Near Tahoe City

This being Lake Tahoe, there are myriad things to see and do right on the lake; you can’t leave without paying a visit to Vikingsholm, or hiking through Emerald Bay State Park with its picturesque Fannette Island. Feel like just taking it easy? In warmer weather, it’s easy to while away an afternoon on the beach at Camp Richardson. With the arrival of colder weather, the nearby ski resorts beckon: Palisades Tahoe (the former Squaw Valley Alpine Meadows), Heavenly, Sierra-at-Tahoe, and Northstar California Ski Resort are all here, to name just a few.

Need more inspiration? Check out 5 Amazing Things to Do at Lake Tahoe, North Lake Tahoe, and South Lake Tahoe; for the kind of tips you can only get from a local, see where Tahoe City chef and restauranteur Douglas Dale likes to spend his time.

Insider tip: In 2024, Tahoe City’s Fourth of July celebration will feature the largest drone show ever held at Lake Tahoe. More that 300 synchronized drones will be arrayed across the night sky in this eco-friendly alternative to fireworks. The event will also feature fun lake activities and food, music, and live entertainment.