I had known Lake Tahoe for skiing, and had been here a few times before in the winter - knowing the place only as covered in a layer of snow, below freezing temperatures, and snowy lake shores - and I had no idea what to expect of Reno and Tahoe in the summer when we visited the area with Visit Reno Tahoe in June. But after a few days - I think the summer here is even more fun and with so much more to see and shoot! Our Instagram guide will keep you busy with beaches, adventures, local favorites, and a few hidden gems!
1. Sand Harbor Beach
The waters of Lake Tahoe are unlike almost any other lake in the world - vibrant, blue, and crystal clear. On calm days, you can see right through to the sandy bottom and the wide, white rocks underneath; and Sand Harbor is one of the best places to see it all. Sand Harbor is a Nevada state park. Seasonal morning vehicle reservations and entry fees apply; check Reserve Nevada for the current rules before driving over. The way the cove wraps around here has great vantage points to show the mix of bright blue water, mountains, and pine trees. The wooden walkway here wraps around from Cove to Cove creating a lot of nooks to hike down to and make it look like you're all alone with. You can also rent kayaks, boats, and paddle boards from the main beach here!
Where To Stay Nearby: Hyatt Regency Lake Tahoe Resort - Stay in Incline Village on Tahoe’s north shore, a short drive from Sand Harbor and the east-shore viewpoints.
What To Do Nearby: Sand Harbor guided kayak tour - Paddle from Sand Harbor with a guide for a water-level perspective on Tahoe’s clear coves and granite shoreline.
2. Virginia City, Nevada
Virginia City is an old Mining Town, that sprang up with the discovery of silver in the 1860's, and is a true slice of the wild west. This city is just a 35 minute drive from Reno, and feels like a whole other world. The main stretch of the town is full of Victorian buildings, historical sites and museums, and a tour train, a Wild West theater shows, vintage shops, and gigantic candy stores. This has a totally different vibe than the city of Reno, and the nature of Tahoe, and was one of my favorite places in the area. And this one is easy! Every corner here is a photo op. If you’re into history, like me, read more about the town here.
3. Playa Art Park, Reno
Reno is the closest city to Burning Man, and as the festival grows, has become somewhat of a hub for the art and production it takes to put it all together. Playa Art Park has a collection of sculptures from past years' festivals that you can run through, climb on, and discover - with the right angle, it's almost like being at Burning Man itself. This heart sculpture was our favorite to play on, but the giant kissing mural directly behind us was absolutely stunning. See the exact location here.
Where To Stay Nearby: Whitney Peak Hotel - Stay downtown beside the Reno Arch, with the hotel’s climbing facilities and riverfront nearby.
4. Food Truck Friday, Reno
Food Truck Friday brings food vendors to Idlewild Park during its summer season; check the organizer’s current dates and hours. When I was living in NYC, we would spend every Saturday morning checking out the food stands at Smorgasburg, so I thought I knew food trucks, but this event is MASSIVE - and stretches through the park seemingly endlessly. We found everything from BBQ Ribs and chocolate covered fruits to giant poke bowls (pictured here) and cold-pressed juices. We had so much fun eating our way through the night here!
Where To Stay Nearby: Renaissance Reno Downtown Hotel & Spa - Stay beside the Truckee River at the hotel that houses Bundox Bocce.
5. Bonsai Rock
This cove along Highway 28 on the East side of Lake Tahoe is a bit of a trek down, but isn't too bad as long as you are wearing actual shoes (and not flip flops like we were.) The cove gets its name from a bonsai tree growing out of one of the biggest rocks above the water here, but is known for its perfectly clear water (the best we saw in Tahoe!) We saw a few small sail boats pull in to the cove here for the afternoon, and the shoreline makes a beautiful photo stop; do not jump into unfamiliar water. There is parking right at the trailhead, which is marked here on google maps.
Where To Stay Nearby: Hyatt Regency Lake Tahoe Resort - Stay in Incline Village on Tahoe’s north shore, a short drive from Sand Harbor and the east-shore viewpoints.
What To Do Nearby: Sand Harbor clear-kayak tour - Explore the east shore by clear kayak, with the route and stops dependent on lake conditions.
6. The Hub Coffee Roasters, Reno
Our experience in Reno showed us that the city is a real mix - the old Casinos and downtown, and the newer neighborhoods, cafes, and restaurants that look like a whole new city. The Hub Coffee Roasters was one of our favorite spots - located in the cutest neighborhood that looked a little more like Connecticut than Nevada, right along the tree-lined path of the Truckee River. The cafe is built into an old brick home, and has all of the beautiful lattes, chocolate croissants, and big picture windows you could ever need for a morning photo.
Where To Stay Nearby: Renaissance Reno Downtown Hotel & Spa - Stay beside the Truckee River at the hotel that houses Bundox Bocce.
7. Rock Climbing The Whitney Peak Hotel
This outdoor rock wall has you literally hanging right over the iconic Reno City Sign, and is a striking outdoor climbing wall! At 164 feet tall, you actually scale the entire side of the Whitney Peak Hotel. When you look down it's a dizzying view, but an incredibly fun and challenging experience - and looks unlike anything else we have ever seen. This was one of our highlights in town, and is definitely worth a stop!
Where To Stay Nearby: Whitney Peak Hotel - Stay downtown beside the Reno Arch, with the hotel’s climbing facilities and riverfront nearby.
8. Bundox Bocce, Reno
A converted old casino on the ground floor of The Renaissance Downtown Reno hotel, Bundox Bocce was a huge surprise for us! The space here is huge, with indoor and outdoor Bocce courts, shuffle board, games of Skee-Ball, and an outdoor event space. I love a bar with activity, and especially loved all of the glowing lights, bright colors, and photogenic tiles.
Where To Stay Nearby: Renaissance Reno Downtown Hotel & Spa - Stay beside the Truckee River at the hotel that houses Bundox Bocce.
9. Mount Rose Highway, Scenic Look-Out
This stopping point between Reno and Tahoe is definitely worth the stop! The Mt. Rose Highway Scenic Overlook is a pull-off on Highway 431, with an amazing view of the lake and the valley, and a large placard showing you exactly what areas and mountains you are seeing. We found that if you walk just left of the main platform, there are beautiful views from the designated overlook; stay within permitted areas.
Where To Stay Nearby: Hyatt Regency Lake Tahoe Resort - Stay in Incline Village on Tahoe’s north shore, a short drive from Sand Harbor and the east-shore viewpoints.
10. Secret Cove Hiking Trail
There is no lack of hiking trails in Tahoe, and unfortunately we didn't have the time to check them all out, but even the simpler hiking trails to the coves and beaches are mountainous, stunning, and full of giant trees. A quick hike through the woods here had us passing bridges over a creek, and surrounded by giant pine trees.
Where To Stay Nearby: Hyatt Regency Lake Tahoe Resort - Stay in Incline Village on Tahoe’s north shore, a short drive from Sand Harbor and the east-shore viewpoints.
11. Reno Brew Bike
The most fun way to get around the city with a group! The Brew Bike will take you from bar to bar as you pedal your way through downtown - and cause quite a bit of a scene. We got our whole group on the bike here, blasted music, and had a ton of fun cruising through the city. A really fun experience, especially close to sunset when the late sun makes the entire bike glow. Check them out here!
Where To Stay Nearby: Whitney Peak Hotel - Stay downtown beside the Reno Arch, with the hotel’s climbing facilities and riverfront nearby.
12. The Downtown Strip
Reno is known first for its casinos, and its original tagline, the biggest little city in the world. The Downtown strip of casinos, buffets, and neon lights, isn't as large or as decadent as Vegas, but is an iconic part of the city, and is worth a stop - plus neon always looks amazing on camera!
Where To Stay Nearby: Whitney Peak Hotel - Stay downtown beside the Reno Arch, with the hotel’s climbing facilities and riverfront nearby.
13. Hidden Beach, Lake Tahoe
Having previously only seen the lake here in Winter, I was blown away at how clear and blue the water was in summer. Sand Harbor (our #1 pick) and Hidden Beach are two of the area’s most gorgeous spots. While not technically hidden, see it here on google maps, the beach here has everything you could ever want to see - from white sand to the classic washed rocks and plenty of wildflowers and trees.
Where To Stay Nearby: Hyatt Regency Lake Tahoe Resort - Stay in Incline Village on Tahoe’s north shore, a short drive from Sand Harbor and the east-shore viewpoints.
What To Do Nearby: East Shore Trail self-guided e-bike ride - Pick up an e-bike and explore the paved East Shore Trail’s lakeside viewpoints at your own pace.
14. The Street Art of Reno
One thing that surprised us about this city, was that street art, sculptures, and murals are everywhere and around every corner. You can walk through downtown to discover them on almost every street - or check out this incredible mural map to find exactly what you are looking for. Pictured here is Playa Art Park, but beyond this one corner - the street art is really everything in the city, and is a growing part of Reno's identity.
Where To Stay Nearby: Whitney Peak Hotel - Stay downtown beside the Reno Arch, with the hotel’s climbing facilities and riverfront nearby.
15. Reno Renaissance Hotel
This freshly redone, former casino hotel has completely revamped its image and every area of the hotel looks brand new and 100% ready for photos. This hotel houses Bundox Bocce - but also has a gorgeous restaurant with a terrace overlooking the river, candy-colored bicycles to borrow, a wall in the lobby where you can make your own souvenir dog-tags, and a rooftop pool with even more wall murals.
Where To Stay Nearby: Renaissance Reno Downtown Hotel & Spa - Stay beside the Truckee River at the hotel that houses Bundox Bocce.
16. Chimney Beach, Lake Tahoe
There are number of stunning coves along the Nevada shoreline of Lake Tahoe, and every one has a bit of its own unique twist. Chimney Beach is named for a large fireplace and smokestack Chimney that sits in the middle of the sand on the beach here - all that is now left from a cabin built on this shoreline 100 years ago. There is a gorgeous, wooded, half-mile hike from the parking lot down to the beach here, and even better views down at the end. Find the exact location on google here.
Where To Stay Nearby: Hyatt Regency Lake Tahoe Resort - Stay in Incline Village on Tahoe’s north shore, a short drive from Sand Harbor and the east-shore viewpoints.
What To Do Nearby: Private East Shore boat tour - Depart from Tahoe Keys Marina in South Lake Tahoe for a private captained cruise along the lake’s southern east shore.
17. Truckee River Banks, Reno
Running right through the center of town, the Truckee River gives great natural viewpoints to the entire city of Reno. You can raft the rapids, right in the middle of the city, walk along the river promenades, or climb down the rocks and trees along the river and look like you are completely out of the city altogether!
Where To Stay Nearby: Renaissance Reno Downtown Hotel & Spa - Stay beside the Truckee River at the hotel that houses Bundox Bocce.
Get Inspired:
All aboard the Brew Bike! The best way to make a ruckus as you cruise around town.
Chimney Beach
Swinging through Playa Art Park
Burning Man Vibes.
Skee-Ball at Bundox Bocce.
Secret Coves on Sand Harbor.
Western vibes in Virginia City.
Getting splashed on Chimney Beach!
River views just outside The Hub Coffee
The delicious goods at Food Truck Friday.
How can you go wrong with a lake this beautiful?
And Mountain views for days!
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