Lake Tahoe Sojourn

In the Sierra Nevada Mountains lies the third-deepest lake in America and the 10th-deepest in the world, Lake Tahoe. It is a glistening gemstone in the wilderness filled with clear water and alpine trees. This is a lake that is claimed by both Californai and Neveda, and it is stunning no matter which direction you look at it from.

It is a 7 and a half-hour drive from Los Angeles, but what a drive! Of course, you can fly for $150 and be there in under two hours (stop in Reno and find your way to the lake).

We opted for the slow ride through the 395, with visits to Bishop, California, Lone Pine, Mammoth Lakes, Mono Lake, and finally South Lake Tahoe. Our destination is the Hyatt Regency in Lake Tahoe, with its spa and Casino. And just like that, we arrived. This is the weekend before the 4th of July, and there is a buzz about it. Dogs—to be sure, this is a dog-friendly hotel—and staff friendly!

WE HAVE ARRIVED

The hotel sits across the street from the lake, but it is a short walk to the lakeshore.

There is something to be said about what must be called “lodge style.” It is a rustic and rugged style built of wood and stone. It’s heavy and solid, and if anything can be called lodge style, it is the famous Lone Eagle Grill, which is one of the restaurants in the Regency. With vast views of the lake and at night, the open-air pits along the boardwalk provide a unique, romantic setting. The menu is also rustic, as it offers up Duncan Ranch Elk Strip Loin or Grilled Ra King Salmon Filet. Venture out a little further, and one can end up at Pier 111 Bar, which is a 275-foot suspended pier over the lake. And it is beautiful and the perfect place to mingle. Our first activity is the fine art of axe throwing, a newly appreciated sport that requires the throwing of a heavy axe at a target from a distance. It is not an easy sport, and as this is summer, it soon requires that we find shade in the verdant courtyard of the hotel.

After the strenuous axe-throwing workout, it is a good time to visit the Stillwater Spa, which offers facials, body treatments, and massages. All treatments spring from a sense of renewal and calm, and the physical Spa itself is testimony to this notion. But adventure calls once again, and we are drawn to the lake shore, where an afternoon yoga session is about to begin. In the distance, on a floating pier, is the unique Pier 111 bar. Located at the end of the floating pier, it is home base for speedboat adventures and, of course, cocktails. Back at the hotel itself, the large outdoor pool is one of four different pool areas. The large pool has a winding waterway that leads into the hotel itself. It is summer, the weather plays easy, and a night swim turns out to be a good idea. Another day, another activity.  As the sun sets on the lake, we take to our kayaks and head out into the lake, where the shoreline grows smaller. It is a fun fact that the name Larry Ellison is often mentioned. Ellison is the CEO of technology company Oracle, and he is rich. It is his property, Cal Neva Resort & Casino property, which is a 13-acre property that occupies much of the view from the kayaks. (Rumor has it he has sold the property.)

YOGA, LAKESIDE

There is nothing quite like doing yoga by a lake.

The lakeside yoga event series is hosted by DJ JOOLZ and local yoga instructor Alexandra Farrar. There is music, there is sand, there is water, and there is Yoga. DJ JOOLZ is spinning out quiet vibes as Alexandra Farra leads a group of 25 through the various yoga positions. It’s all for a good cause, as the suggested $10 donation will benefit Incline Elementary School’s “Step Up for Stem” program.

The lakeside yoga sessions  take place on September 14, and September 28, with registration beginning at 5 p.m. and the classes starting at 5:30 p.m. Following the classes, attendees are welcomed to relax and unwind at The Nest Bar and Grill for a post-yoga happy hour.

We venture around the lake on bikes, with the Regency as our starting base. The Alpine air, the clear skies, and the trails along the lake provide a unique opportunity to see the lake from a many angles.

As all things must come to an end, it is time to pack it up and leave all this behind, with regret—so many unique experiences were offered, we felt like we had scratched the beautiful surface.

Hyatt Regency Lake Tahoe Resort, Spa and Casino