Lake Tahoe Things to Do in Winter

In the 1960s and '70s, South Shore had the Sahara Tahoe, and Elvis Presley was a regular performer there. In the '80s, it became the High Sierra, and in the '90s it was known as the Horizon. Fast-forward to the present and we now have the Hard Rock Hotel & Casino, the newest of the Stateline resorts. The showroom is now known as Vinyl, an intimate venue for live entertainment. Dining includes a classic steak room, an oyster bar right alongside the casino floor and a hip new restaurant called Fire Break, an indoor-outdoor venue with a nod to Heavenly’s out-of-bounds area. There is a fitness room and seasonal outdoor pool, and of course the atmosphere is pure rock ‘n’ roll, with memorabilia along the walls as far as the eye can see. The destination resort is now dog-friendly (less than 60 pounds), with pet-friendly rooms and a welcome bag of treats and toys for dog guests. Dogs are not permitted in the restaurants or casino.

With its easy location in the center of town, Kings Beach State Recreation Area makes enjoying the sandy shoreline of Lake Tahoe simple. The park itself is free and offers day use of a few miles of sandy beach, public bathrooms, a children's play area and barbecue grills. There are boat, Jet Ski and paddleboard rentals available as well. Parking costs $10 for both cars and trucks. Dogs are not allowed in the summer. In the winter the bathrooms and other facilities close down, but the beach opens to walkers and dogs, as long as they are on a leash. The park hours are from 6 a.m. until 10 p.m.

The Mountain Golf Course in Incline Village is set in a rolling hillside – with an elevation change of about a hundred feet – that reminds you why this town is named Incline. The Robert Trent Jones Sr.-designed course winds its way through a forest of old-growth pines and cedars with a couple of creeks running through. Usually open May through October, the 18-hole, par 58 course of about 3500 yards has 14 par 3 holes and four par 4 holes. The family-friendly Mountain Course is affordable and non-intimidating to the novice, hosting fun events throughout the summer such as Nine & Wine Thursdays, Thrill & Grill shotgun tournaments and Sunday Family Fun Days with shorter yardages and free golf for kids younger than 18. They’ve got a large chipping and putting practice green and a golf shop stocked with gear, apparel, souvenirs and club rentals. When you’re ready for refreshments you can grab something from the beverage cart when it passes by or check in at the Clubhouse after winning a round. Their snack bar has indoor and outdoor seating and serves lunch, beer, wine and cocktails and has a humidor stocked with cigars. In the winter, when the Mountain Course covered in snow, the sloping greens make for the perfect sledding runs.

If you enjoy the serenity and fun that the state parks provide in the Lake Tahoe area, then you must thank Sierra State Parks Foundation. Founded in 1973, the foundation is a nonprofit supporting seven different parks around the basin: D.L. Bliss State Park, Donner Memorial State Park, Emerald Bay State Park, Kings Beach State Recreation Area, Sugar Pine Point State Park, Tahoe State Recreation Area and Washoe Meadows State Park. The association assists in various ways, including improving the visitor experience as well as providing staff, volunteers, funding and partnership to the parks in our beautiful region.

Are you ready for a little pampering? Get yourself down to the Stillwater Spa at the Hyatt Lake Tahoe and prepare to relax. The philosophy of the spa reflects the tranquility of the natural surroundings, incorporating the clear waters of the lake and the pure mountain air balanced with the elements of earth and fire in treating your body, mind and soul. Massage styles include deep tissue, sports and hot stone therapy performed in one of their 16 treatment rooms with alpine views. Other body treatments include detoxing mud or herbal wraps, wellness scrubs and facial treatments. Hair, nails, waxing and airbrush tanning are performed in their salon. Choose from several packages with a combination of services including a couple’s treatment for you and your honey in a fireplace suite. Or maybe you just want to relax, take a steam and a sauna and sip a cup of herbal tea.