Things To Do
Tahoe City
Tahoe City (along with Squaw) will be the wedding’s hub town, with tons to do, see and eat. Two places that are must visits: Christy Hill, a bistro-style lakeside restaurant with an incredible menu, and Wolfdale’s, an upscale Asian-inspired California eatery. We love both, but think Christy Hill is the best restaurant on Lake Tahoe. For more casual fare: Tahoe Mountain Brewery, Za’s and River Grill are great places to relax and have a drink. We also love Bridgetender Tavern and Grill, a laid back bar with good food right next to a bridge that crosses the Truckee River. The closest beach to Squaw is also in Tahoe City: Commons Beach, a sweeping stretch of land with a small cliff to its north. If you are still in Tahoe on Sunday, and we hope you are, there is a weekly free concert on the beach that is a lot of fun.
Olympic Valley
Grand, gorgeous and welcoming, Squaw Valley is the perfect place to host our wedding weekend. The venue was the site of the 1960 Olympics, a legacy you can see throughout the sweeping space. Our home base will be the Resort at Squaw Creek, a hotel will multiple restaurants, pools and activities, but the best way to see the valley is to get out in it: rent a bike, play golf or go for a hike. On Friday before the wedding, we will be leading a trek up Shirley Canyon to High Camp and welcome anyone and everyone. It’s a moderate hike flanked by a gorgeous alpine river, but here is the best part for those of you who may not hike often: You don’t have to hike down. Squaw has an impressive gondola that ferries people from the base of the mountain to High Camp. A must near Squaw: River Ranch – a gorgeous old inn sitting over the Truckee River. The food is great, but the atmosphere is unmatchable. Go for a beer after a hike or just to soak your feet in the cold, crystal clear water.
Incline Village
Incline Village is one of the bigger towns on the lake, so it has a lot to offer – including Alibi Brewing and the beautiful Hyatt Regency. But we would suggest visiting Incline as a stop on your way to some of the great hikes nearby. A must: Chimney Beach Trail, an easy, short hike from the road down to a picturesque secluded beach on Tahoe's east shore. The beach is named for a chimney that still sits on its shores, all that is left of an old house. Before or after your visit, we’d suggest a stop at the Tunnel Creek Café, a small coffee shop with good breakfast and a stable of sandwich options. This is also the jumping off point for the Tunnel Creek Trail, a fantastic hike that delivers sweeping views of the lake with little effort. The Hyatt nearby also has an amazing restaurant and bar: Lone Eagle. Highly recommended for a drink at sunset.
Homewood
While Squaw is hosting our wedding weekend, the actual ceremony will be in quaint Homewood, California at the West Shore Café. You’ll spend a lot of time there on Saturday, but there are two things we’d suggest nearby. Eagle Rock juts above the trees in Lake Tahoe so severely, it’s one of the best view hikes around the lake – and also the shortest. A 10-15-minute climb up an old lava plug brings you to the top of the rock, where you will see the entire lake from the west shore, including our wedding venue. And down the street from West Shore Café is Chambers Lodge, a nearly renovated beach, restaurant and pier bar that is the perfect place to spend a few hours in the afternoon. It’s rustic, but upscale, and usually filled with people. Looking for a great breakfast spot before or after your hike? Fire Sign Cafe rules. Pro tip: put your name in ahead of time and then go exploring nearby.
South Lake Tahoe
The most populous city on the lake is also the rowdiest, with large casinos, a popular nightlife and a more Vegas-scene. That said, the south side of the lake is fantastic for two things: Beer and hiking. Outpost Brewery Co, housed in the trendy Basecamp Hotel, is a fantastic place to stop, play some cornhole and enjoy a beer from the brewery or a host of rotating taps. But the real reason to go south is arguably the gem of the lake: Emerald Bay, the iconic spit of water that makes for great picture taking, hiking and swimming. We highly recommend a hike to Eagle Falls, a short walk up the canyon, or a visit to Vikingsholm, a massive mansion that, you may guess, is considered one of the best examples of Scandinavian architecture in the United States. Up the road is D.L. Bliss State Park, a small lakeside park centered around the home of Duane Leroy Bliss, a railroad magnate whose family donated the land to the state park system. There are plenty of easy walks around here.
Truckee
Truckee is a quintessential Sierra mountain town. Sitting on the bank of its namesake river, Truckee is a great place to just walk around. But we would recommend our favorite brewery in the area: FiftyFifty Brewing Company. Get the Landslide Double IPA. Main Street in Truckee is Donner Pass Road, which brings us to another site worth checking out: Donner Memorial State Museum, a museum dedicated to the failed Sierra crossing in 1846-1847. Insert cannibalism joke here. But the lake is worth a visit, especially if you drive up to the overlook at the top of the pass.
Carson City
The capital of Dan’s home state! Named after the famed Kit Carson, the city has certainly seen better times, but it’s still a worthwhile visit for its small-town Nevada charm, pleasant main street and the Nevada Governor’s Mansion, where Dan’s great grandpa lived from 1908 to 1911. We highly recommend Comma Coffee, a delightful Western-style coffee shop.
Reno
This will be the jumping off point for the trip to Tahoe for many of you. Reno, Nevada’s second city, is an understated Las Vegas, with a lot less glitz and glam. But it’s gotten younger in recent years and has a number of great places to see. We love The Depot, a great place for food and beer, and Hub Coffee Roasters for a quick stop. All driving around Lake Tahoe is pretty but using Nevada State Route 431 – known as the Mount Rose Highway – is a particularly gorgeous way to get to Incline Village.