On a weekend in late June, just as warmer days announced the arrival of summer in California, I welcomed the season with a road trip to Lake Tahoe.
Our day starts with breakfast at Tunnel Creek Cafe, a cozy restaurant set next to the trail we plan to visit. We order plates of bagels, alongside coffee and orange juice, fuel for what we think will be our morning hike before a relaxing beach day. But our plans are upended when we find that many other people have the same idea for the same hike, and have taken up all the available parking near the trailhead.
Our only options are: scratch the hike and go straight to the beach, or park far from the trailhead and trudge through the scorching heat to reach the starting point. Most of the group favors option 1, so we pack our beach bags and drink coolers and follow a slightly steep trail to the beach.
The walk down is not terribly long, but it’s steep enough that I’m already thinking about how difficult the walk back up will be. I push those thoughts aside and focus on the present, on not tripping over the pine cones and tree branches that litter our path, and on the sparkling blue of the lake that’s visible through gaps in the trees.
The beach is called Secret Cove, though once we arrive, it seems to be anything but what its name implies. The stretch of sand is not crowded with people, but it is clearly a well-known place. Sunbathers lie on towels and beach blankets facing the pristine expanse of the lake; others sit under the limited shade provided by trees whose branches fan out over the sand. Recreational boats and jet skis sway atop the water’s surface, gleaming under the late morning sun. Children run back and forth from lake to shore, their excited laughter filling the air and making me smile.
We find a spot that’s half shaded, and spread out according to our preferences—some of us underneath the sun, and the rest of us in the shade. I sprawl out in full view of the sun, liberally applying sunscreen and wearing a bucket hat to protect my scalp.
When the sun gets too hot, we transition to the lake, taking cold plunges and splashing each other with icy pellets that hurt and feel good at the same time. Our laughter carries across the water, mingling with the sounds of summer: the swish of a light breeze, the sound of little hands slapping the water, rhythmic bird song in the distance, and the gentle lap of waves kissing the shore.
As the lazy afternoon stretches on, I already know that I’ll remember it fondly. There’s something special about enjoying a place with people you love. The moments live on as shared memories, connecting us across time and space, until we gather together again.
***
I’ve now been to Lake Tahoe in the winter, spring, and summer, and I can confidently say it’s a great destination in all of those seasons.
For more stories from Lake Tahoe, you can start here: A Weekend at Lake Tahoe.
Good to Know
- How we got to Lake Tahoe: we drove up from San Francisco to Truckee, just outside Lake Tahoe. It’s about a 4-hour drive with some traffic.
- Where we stayed: Northstar California Resort, Truckee.
- Where we ate: Rubicon Pizza Co., Wild Cherries & Tunnel Creek Cafe.
As always,
thank you for reading!
Same Footprints, Different Sands
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