Travel Journal: Lake-Town Retreats

By Melinda Page

Lake towns have a charm all their own. More relaxed than beach resorts, they offer simple pleasures, such as dangling your feet over a dock and wading into calm waters. Take the whole family along on one of these luxurious lake retreats.

Courtesy of Lake Tahoe Visitors Authority

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Lake Tahoe

Perhaps the most beautiful lake in the country, Lake Tahoe is a 22-mile-long expanse of crystal-blue water ringed with a series of beaches and surrounded by small towns perfect for biking, hiking, and shopping.

Spend your time at the North Shore's Moon Dunes Beach, which is rarely crowded. Bring your beach chair and go for a swim in the clear waters (you can see down to 75 feet), then warm up with a fire in one of the fire pits on the beach. Water sports are abundant with multiple outfitters for each sport (check out the options at www.gotahoenorth.com). You've got to get out on the water to truly appreciate the mountains encircling the lake, so don't forgo a cruise on the Tahoe Gal (www.tahoegal.com; tickets start at $18 each for adults and $12 each for children).

Back on land, rent a bike for a pedal along the six-mile-long paved bike path that runs along the shore of the Truckee River. You can take the path all the way to the Squaw Valley USA ski resort, home to the 1960 Winter Olympics, then ride up the mountain in the resort's cable car, which takes you to High Camp. Go ice skating or swimming. (www.squaw.com, use of swimming lagoon is $12 per person).

When you're hungry, head to Gar Woods, which has a menu full of classics like burgers and steak salads (www.garwoods.com).

Stay the night at the Rustic Cottage Resort. Its 19 cedar cabins are just across from Moon Dunes Beach (www.rusticcottages.com; rates start at $64 per night).

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