Have you ever wanted to fly off to a place with excellent food, calming waters, spectacular wildlife, and majestic mountains almost like a little paradise on earth? Well, now you can! Lake Tahoe may be your next perfect destination.

Visiting Lake Tahoe in April 2023 certainly had its advantages including less crowds and cheaper hotel rates. Below I have highlighted the adventures we enjoyed at Lake Tahoe, as well as some things to keep in mind when planning a magnificent trip of your own.

Here’s to making memories that will last a lifetime!

But first, did you know that Lake Tahoe is known for the filming of Top Gun Maverick and the TV show Bonanza?

Let’s go!

I flew from Raleigh/Durham, got a connection flight in San Francisco, and landed in Reno, Nevada. This airport was the most convenient to Lake Tahoe, although the second best option would have been Sacramento, California.

Reno was similar to a small town Las Vegas with its wild night life and casinos. However, if you’re like me and only want to stay in Reno for its close location to Lake Tahoe, I recommended avoiding downtown and staying at a hotel near the airport. (See below)

• Grand Sierra Resort in Reno
  • This hotel was beautiful and known for its casino. Since we visited during the month of April and during the week, we only paid $122 for the first night total ($61 each). However, I preferred the Hampton Inn & Suites Reno/Sparks (as seen below)
• Hampton Inn at South Lake Tahoe
  • This hotel at Lake Tahoe was at the perfect location. Only a couple miles from Heavenly Village and one mile from El Dorado Beach, this was the perfect spot for easy access to many of Lake Tahoe’s most famous attractions.
• Hampton Inn & Suites Reno/Sparks**
  • Although the Sierra Resort was nice the first night, I actually enjoyed this hotel more. It had less people, was quiet, and felt very safe. I loved how it was surrounded by many shops and restaurants.

• Leggings
• Shorts
• Long sleeve shirts
• Short sleeve shirts
• Bathing suit
• Tennis shoes
• Water Jacket
• Sweatshirt
• Sunscreen
• Chapstick
• Portable Phone Charger
• Snow shoes if hiking
• Any snow gear if snowboarding or skiing
• This Map and Nature Pamphlet from Amazon: HERE (I might be a nerd but I greatly enjoyed the Nature Pamphlet) (Disclaimer: “As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases.”)
• Free Map Here (I used this every day)

Day 1

Start your trip at the Scenic Overlook for the perfect views of the lake. Parking is free and lasts for 20 minutes so make sure to take as many pictures as you can during the quick visit.

Scenic Overlook

Lunch Break: Inclined Burgers

In the short 3 days I spent at Lake Tahoe, I visited Inclined Burgers twice because it was THAT good! Especially the Inclined Fries. (I dunked my fries in ranch, because the jalapeños were a little spicy). So, make sure you add this place on your list of stops. You will be glad you did!

Sand Harbor

From the Scenic Overlook, you should head south towards Sand Harbor, a very popular tourist destination. The first time I went to Sand Harbor, I only went to the main beach access. It was very cool seeing sand, clear water, and snowy mountains all together. The second time, I walked behind the gift shop (thanks to TikTok) and found the perfect swimming hole. Trust me, you will want to see both places.

Sand Harbor is one of those places you may want to visit several times in a row. The cost of parking is $15 for the day, but includes access to the beach, bathrooms, and a gift shop.

El Dorado Beach

After you have spent the day enjoying Lake Tahoe, grab some local takeout and head on over to El Dorado Beach for some spectacular views at sunset. The hotel I recommend is only one mile from this beach, so it’s the perfect place to enjoy one night – or even every night! Nothing like eating carryout with a good view! The parking was free and it was quiet in April. Definitely worth a stop to view the sunset!

Day 2:

If you stay in the same hotel that I recommend, you may do a little backtracking. However, the views will not disappoint.

I typically like to go to the farthest destination first and then slowly make my way back to the hotel. So, first I recommend traveling back up to Secret Harbor and Secret Cove.

Secret Cove

Secret Cove and Secret Harbor are close to one another but difficult to find.

The main parking area for Secret Cove was closed, which meant parking on the street was the only option. I ended up taking random wooden steps from the road down to a path that winded up and down. (I used my map app to locate the coves since I accidentally left my map at the hotel). However, I do not recommend following the path that I followed.

Instead, start your walk near the entrance of the Secret Cove parking. Even if the parking lot is closed, the pathway will still be open. So, I recommend parking on the street and starting the path from there, because the road will be straighter, easier, and less confusing. Leaving the parking lot, you will come to Secret Cove first and then to Secret Harbor.

Please keep in mind that you won’t be able to walk from Secret Cove to Secret Harbor on the beach. Instead, you will have to hike back up the mountain to get back on the trail, unless you want to swim around the large rocks in the water.

Note: This is a nude beach, so please keep this in mind and do not bring any children.

I ended up not going to Secret Cove beach, but I was able to see it from a distance. The waters were so beautiful!

Secret Harbor

This beach was very beautiful. I only saw families and no one was in the nude.

Dinner Cruise at Zephyr Cove

After a full day of hiking, swimming, and relaxing, end your day with a meal on the waters. However, I will warn you: make sure to purchase your dinner cruise tickets several weeks in advance. We were too late and were only able to take a lunch cruise. (Also, it is a little pricey so you might want to add it into your budget ahead of time).

To book the cruise, please visit: Zephyr Cove Website

If you decide to park at Zephyr Cove like we did instead of requesting pick up, I recommend getting there early to grab a park and take in the beautiful views.

The restaurant/shop area definitely had some Virgin River vibes (as seen on Netflix). However, the TV show Bonanza was actually filmed somewhere along this Zephyr cove shoreline.

The winds and temperatures can vary so I definitely recommend dressing in layers!

My friend, Ashley, and I met the nicest waiter aboard the cruise. We shared quite a few laughs together, so I decided to be “that person” and ask for a selfie.

The views during the day were so beautiful! I cannot imagine how beautiful sunset must be.

Day 3

Start your day going west towards Emerald Bay. Unfortunately, going in April does have some disadvantages including road and viewing closures due to snow. For this reason, I was not able to take pictures at the main common Emerald Bay scenic look. However, this view beside the road did not disappoint.

Emerald Bay

Please know that this drive is not for the faint of heart. There were places with no guardrails on either ride. Definitely a drive for warmer weather!

Driving a little farther up the mountain (trying to turn around), we discovered this beautiful viewpoint. Though trudging through the ice and snow in my thin tennis shoes might not have been the smartest thing I’ve ever done, the view was worth it!

Shop & Dinner at Heavenly Village

After a few busy days exploring, you have now deserved a “treat yo self” shopping extravaganza.

The Heavenly Village is an adorable shopping area full of a variety of foods, shops (like Patagonia), outdoor music, and more. And, it’s only a couple miles from the hotel.

Grab some dinner at GunBarral. I ate the Bison burger with candied jalapeño bacon, smoked white cheddar and BBQ sauce. (I dunked it in ranch, of course, and ordered a side of sweet potato fries). This is a little pricey so you may want to check the menu ahead of time.

• Grab some dessert at The Baked Bear, where you can choose from a large variety of cookies, ice cream flavors, and toppings.

As you can see, Lake Tahoe has so many amazing opportunities and fun experiences for the entire family. However, here are a few tips I recommend reviewing when planning your trip.

Although it can be so nice to experience Lake Tahoe with fewer crowds and cheaper rates, there can be a few disadvantages when visiting in April.

• Weather

The weather in April changes constantly throughout the day. In the morning, it can be very cold, especially with places being covered in snow. I was typically comfortable in leggings and a sweatshirt. I only had my tennis shoes, but snow boots would have been preferred. In the afternoon, it can be very hot and humid with a high UV index. So, make sure you are wearing lots of sunscreen, spending some time in the shade, and have shorts and a short-sleeved t-shirt for the afternoon.

• The Water Temperature

With the temperature being so drastic in the day, the waters are very frigid. You can still get in the water, but you might only want to go knee deep.

• Road Closings

Due to the snow, we were unable to go to some of the highest points at Lake Tahoe. So, if there’s a certain scenic overlook you know you want to see, you should definitely check the weather before planning your trip.

• Water Activities Closed

Unfortunately, the kayak rental shops do not open until after Memorial Day weekend, which meant we were unable to kayak. Such a bummer! However, if you find yourself in this same predicament, I really recommend taking the time to schedule the lunch or dinner cruise (as seen above). This will allow you the chance to get on the water, learn historical facts about the lake, and see it from a different angle.

Thank you for following along on my Lake Tahoe journey! I hope you enjoyed this brief overview and can now use the knowledge you have obtained to create new and exciting memories for you and your family to share now and in the future.