Touring Lake Tahoe: Beaches, Parks and Hikes, Lake Tahoe, California

With it’s seventy-two miles of shoreline, expansive lake, and equally majestic mountains, Lake Tahoe has it all! I hadn’t been back since I was a kid, so our little family decided to take a spontaneous trip to check out the beauty of Lake Tahoe.

We chose to visit during the end of September when the peak summer season had died down. Because the crowds were minimal and the beaches less populated, we really got to experience Tahoe in its unadulterated form: pristine beaches, well-kempt trails, and stunning vistas!

With only three weeks to pull this spontaneous trip together, Airbnb or HomeAway options within our frugal budget were limited. We were hoping to find something around $125/night that would accommodate our family of four. Luckily, there were several last minute resort deals in South Lake Tahoe near Stateline, the border of California and Nevada.

We booked a Junior Suite at 3 Peaks Resort & Beach Club (via expedia.com), complete with a king size bed, a living area with pullout couch, and a kitchenette. The total for three nights was $390.

I was very pleased with the accommodations, although check-in time was later than I’d ever experienced before (check in starts at 4 pm). They had a heated pool and jacuzzi which was especially nice after a long day exploring the lake! And, to top it off, the resort was centrally located to many family friendly attractions. ...... (follow the instructions below for accessing the rest of this article).