South Lake Tahoe is Next Level!

Sep 26

After spending a few days touring around California, we found ourselves in South Lake Tahoe—and it was absolutely incredible!

We started our day at Emerald Bay State Park, and here’s my first tip: get there early. Parking fills up fast, and you’ll want time to enjoy the views without the crowds. Our first stop was the overlook, which gave us that perfect panoramic shot of Emerald Bay and Fannette Island.

From there, we headed to the Eagle Falls Trail—an easy, scenic hike with gorgeous views and plenty of photo ops. Afterward, we continued on to the Vikingsholm Trail, which winds down to the lakeshore, the historic castle (currently under construction), and the visitor center. The views are absolutely breathtaking—though the steady incline back up will definitely get your heart pumping!

Luckily, we knew exactly how to refuel. A good cup of coffee fixes everything, right? We stopped at Free Bird Chai Coffee Shop back in town, and their pistachio latte was exactly what we needed to wrap up the day.

The entire experience was a solid 10/10—South Lake Tahoe, we’ll definitely be back!

☕ Trip Breakdown

Location: South Lake Tahoe, CA
Main stops: Emerald Bay State Park, Eagle Falls Trail, Vikingsholm Trail
Hike distance:
- Eagle Falls Trail: ~1 mile round trip
- Vikingsholm Trail: ~1.7 miles round trip (steep incline on return)
Best coffee stop: Free Bird Chai Coffee Shop
Must-try drink: Pistachio Latte
Bonus tip: Arrive early at Emerald Bay to snag parking and enjoy the overlook in peace before the crowds roll in.