12 minute read
Lake Tahoe
Lake Tahoe Grandeur in the Sierra Nevada Mountains
By Monique Reidy
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RESORT AT SQUAW CREEK
STRADDLING THE BORDERS OF CALIFORNIA AND NEVADA, LAKE TAHOE IS BEST KNOWN AS THE NORTHWEST’S WINTER WON DERLAND GIVEN ITS EXCEPTION AL SKI RESORTS. BUT AS NORTH AMERICA’S LARGEST FRESHWA TER LAKE, TAHOE IS A POPULAR RECREATION DESTINATION WITH AN ARRAY OF ACTIVITIES TO ENTERTAIN ITS 15 MILLION VISITORS EVERY SEASON OF THE YEAR. THERE ARE COUNTLESS TRAILS FOR HIKING AND MOUN TAIN BIKING, AND OF COURSE A WIDE RANGE OF WATER PLAY OPPORTUNITIES LIKE FISHING, BOATING, AND SWIMMING. AND IN ADDITION TO OFFERING HEAPS OF ENJOYABLE PASTIMES, THE REGION IS KNOWN TO HAVE THE BESTTASTING DRINK ING WATER IN THE U.S., WHICH IS IDEAL, CONSIDERING THE NEED FOR HYDRATION AFTER ALL THAT EXERCISE.
Although generally referred to as “Lake Tahoe,” the area consists of a range of communities, each with their respective attributes and attractions. Incline Village is home to some of the wealthiest people in the world, while Meyers, just south of South Lake Tahoe, is a small, quaint town that is home to longtime locals in the region. Glenbrook, on the East Shore of Lake Tahoe, is a historic, tranquil, rural community, of which only 150 acres of the town have been developed. Kings Beach, Squaw Valley, Tahoe City, Sand Harbor, Heavenly, and Alpine Meadows are some of the other towns that encircle the lake and choosing just one to visit can shortchange a traveler’s fluency of Tahoe. Here, we select two resorts that provide the best Lake Tahoe experience, offering what they describe as Dual Days; guests enjoy the mountain in Squaw Valley, California, and then the lake in Incline Village, Nevada. A scenic 40-minute drive connects guests from the Resort at Squaw Valley to the Hyatt Regency Lake Tahoe Spa and Casino.
Resort at Squaw Creek
Palisades Tahoe, which is the site of the 1960 Winter Olympics, is also the home of the Olympic Museum, and a popular spot for snow skiing, ice-skating, swimming, and trail hiking. It’s also where the Resort at Squaw Creek, one of the most luxurious Lake Tahoe hotels, sits amid sprawling meadows and an abundance of pine trees. Making the most of its surroundings, the property consists of ample picture windows throughout, offering sweeping views of Palisades Tahoe and the six alpine peaks that surround it.
Guests at the resort enjoy ski-in/skiout access to world-renowned Palisades Tahoe in the winter and Alpine Meadows, championship Robert Trent Jones Jr. golf in the summer. There are six miles of Nordic trails, a private ice rink, snowshoeing, sledding, and year-round heated outdoor swimming pools.
With 450 guest rooms, the Resort at Squaw Creek features deluxe rooms, fireplace suites and bi-level penthouses. Each room includes custom furnishings, full baths, plush robes, Keurig coffee makers and flat-screen TVs. The 200 suites feature kitchenettes with a mini-refrigerator, two-burner stove top, microwave, dishwasher, china, glassware, and silverware. The two-bedroom suites have two full baths and are approximately 1025 square feet units. Three-bedroom suites have three full baths, comfortably accommodat-
ing eight to ten people, and stretch out at a generous 1478 square feet.
Penthouse rooms offer a luxurious mountain home vibe, featuring a bi-level floor plan, a full-sized sleeper sofa, a laundry room, and a dining room area. Located on the upper two floors of Resort at Squaw Creek's Guest Tower, the two-bedroom penthouses are approximately 1100 square feet, and the three-bedrooms penthouses are 1777 square feet and feature full-sized kitchens.
In addition to all the outdoor activities available in the area, Resort at Squaw Valley’s indoor Fitness Center is open 24 hours a day for resort and spa guests. The gym offers an array of cardio and weighttraining equipment, and guests can take in the breathtaking views from the large windows that surround the space as they get their hearts and muscles pumping.
For those whose favorite sport is shopping, Resort at Squaw Creek has a promenade that features boutiques, a jewelry shop, designer resort wear, logo merchandise, children’s clothing, and outdoor gear. After a good workout of any kind, a visit to the spa is always in order.
The Spa at Squaw Creek has ten treatment rooms that feature memory foam treatment beds, a Spa Sanctuary, which is a cozy space to relax before and after treatments, men’s and women’s lockers rooms with steam and saunas in each and a Spa boutique. Spa services include signature treatments like the High-Altitude Massage, Mountain Sports Massage, or a
“GUESTS AT THE RESORT ENJOY SKIIN/ SKIOUT ACCESS TO WORLDRENOWNED SQUAW VALLEY IN THE WINTER AND ALPINE MEADOWS, CHAMPIONSHIP ROBERT TRENT JONES JR. GOLF IN THE SUMMER”
side-by-side Couple’s Massage in the Tranquility Suite. Skin treatments include the Botanical Facial, Hydrafacial, and The Refresher Facial, a 30-minute treatment for those who are short on time. Skin peels and hair and scalp treatments are also available.
Resort at Squaw Creek is a premier destination for those who love taking in and playing on majestic mountains. The hotel takes exceptional care of guests to ensure they’re comfortable, well-fed, and enjoying every minute of their stay. H
Resort at Squaw Creek 400 Squaw Creek Road Olympic Valley, CA 96146 (530) 412-7034 • (800) 404-8006 www.destinationhotels.com/squawcreek Dining on the property is an epicurean delight given the variety of options available:
Cascades•
Serving breakfast daily, Cascades features a breakfast buffet option or traditional favorites off the menu. There’s a Bloody Mary bar, Mimosas, specialty drinks, fresh juices, and made-to-order coffee drinks. The restaurant converts into a pizza parlor on the weekends with an array of handcrafted selections from which to choose.
Sandy’s Pub•
Serving classic bar fare, draft beers, and desserts, Sandy’s Pub guests munch on their meal surrounded by Ski pictures of Wayne and Sandy Poulsen, founders of Squaw Valley. Menu options include Almond Wood Smoked Chicken Wings, “Best Chili on the Mountain,” Liberty Bratwurst, and Fish and Chips.
Sweet Potatoes Deli•
A casual coffeehouse, deli, marketplace, and bakery that offers guests gourmet coffee, bagels, pastries, and breakfast sandwiches each morning. Lunch and dinner fare include soups, salads, and gourmet sandwiches.
Six Peaks Grille•
Elegant dining that includes locally sourced seafood and meat selections that is artfully prepared. Guests enjoy their hearty food which is served with a generous heap of spectacular mountain views.
Oasis Grille•
Open only in the summertime, Oasis Grill is a restaurant and poolside bar that offers everything from signature cocktails to frozen drinks and cold beer.
Resort at Squaw Creek •
Provides grab-and-go dining at Montagna Restaurant.
HYATT REGENCY LAKE TAHOE HAS 422 GUESTROOMS AND 24 LAKESIDE COTTAGES WITH FIREPLACES.
Hyatt Regency Lake Tahoe Spa and Casino
An elegant waterfront resort, the Hyatt Regency Lake Tahoe sits within the Sierra Nevada mountains at the shores of the lake. Located in the Incline Village region, it offers guests the ultimate in amenities and service. The resort is at the heart of the Tahoe playground, featuring all the seasonal activities a traveler seeks while on vacation. However, since Hyatt Regency Lake Tahoe’s 26-acre property is bustling with events and recreation built into every hotel reservation, guests need never leave the resort.
The hotel features Adventure Specialists who offer daily guided activities on and around the property. A weekly menu of events is available at the front desk and guests are welcome to call ahead of their stay to discuss preferences and options.
Hyatt Regency Lake Tahoe has 422 guestrooms and 24 lakeside cottages with fireplaces. Each feature iHome stereos, and chic alpine décor, premium amenities, and of course, the famous Hyatt Grand Beds®. Rooms vary in size and configurations and range from 400 to 500 square feet. There are six luxury appointed suite styles that include the Sugar Pine Junior suite at 550
square feet to the Presidential or Sierra Suites with a generous 896 square feet of space.
Lake Front Cottages located at the ground level feature one-bedroom with a king bed, separate living and dining areas, and a patio. The premium Beach Front One-bedroom lower cottages open to spectacular Lake Tahoe views. Also available are Lakeside and Beach Front Cottage Upper units, and some can be connected to a lakeside double to make a twobedroom suite.
All hotel guests have access to the Hyatt Lake Tahoe’s private beach where water sports can be enjoyed, or a restful afternoon on the glistening sand can be relished. The heated outdoor pool is open year-round, and can be accessed from inside the resort, so swimming can take place even on snowy days. Surrounded by stunning pine trees, the pool area is a tranquil place where guests are invited to do nothing but relax.
In the interest of self-care, the full-service Stillwater Spa onsite offers a variety of soothing massages, facials, and body treatments. H
“ALL HOTEL GUESTS HAVE ACCESS TO THE HYATT LAKE TAHOE’S PRIVATE BEACH WHERE WATER SPORTS CAN BE ENJOYED, OR A RESTFUL AFTERNOON ON THE GLISTENING SAND CAN BE RELISHED.”
Fitness buffs can visit the state-of-the-art StayFit gym day or night. Open around the clock, it features Life Fitness® Cardio machines and advanced fitness equipment.
Since Hyatt Regency Lake Tahoe sits on the Nevada side of the lake, gambling is legal and guests who enjoy its challenge and strategy can visit the Grand Lodge Casino located in the lobby. Open 24 hours a day, it features more than 270 slot machines and 17 table games.
There are seven dining options on the property, including a pub-style saloon near the Grand Lodge Casino, a fireside grill, a poolside cafe, quick take-out fare, a floating bar and a lakeside bar and grill. Each are popular with hotel guests as well as Tahoe locals who enjoy delicious food.
Cutthroat's Saloon•
Cutthroat’s Saloon is located across the casino floor in the lobby level of the hotel. Decked in in a faux silver mine décor, it offers gourmet pub food, small bites, and more than two dozen seasonal beers.
Stillwater Pool Bar & Grill•
Although closed for the winter season, the Stillwater Pool Bar and Grill offers burgers, barbeque, salads and sandwiches. It’s conveniently located poolside, so guests won’t have to leave when hunger or thirst strike.
Lakeside Beach Bar and Grill•
Located along the shores of Hyatt Regency Lake Tahoe’s private beach, Lakeside Beach Bar and Grill serves dishes such as Mahi Mahi Tacos, Pork Belly Tacos or the Grilled Shrimp Salad as well as vegan options. Frozen drinks and specialty cocktails are also on the menu and are served until 6pm.
Sierra Café•
Sierra Café at Hyatt Lake Tahoe offers all-day dining, from breakfast to late-night snacks. Vegetarian, vegan, and gluten-free options are also available. The cozy cabin décor features natural wood and stone throughout and patio seating is also available.
Lone Eagle Grille•
With a log cabin ambiance, Lone Eagle Grille offers fine dining in a social setting. Large windows overlook Lake Tahoe’s Crystal Bay, and combined with the delectable menu, the restaurant is a magnificent dining destination. Dishes include the Roasted Sunchoke Soup, Lollo Rosso and Frisee Salad, Cabernet Braised Angus Beef Short Rib, and Grimaud Farm Duck Breast. Vegan options are available upon request.
Pier 111 Bar•
Hovering over the lake at the end of Hyatt’s 275foot floating pier, Pier 111 Bar is not to be missed. Closed for the winter season, during the spring and summer it offers guests an incomparable bar experience surrounded by the natural beauty of the landscape.
Tahoe Provisions •
Tahoe Provisions offers quick meals to take out or enjoy in the guest room. Located in the lobby, this is a great option or guests who have places to go and things to do.
The staff and programs at Hyatt Regency Lake Tahoe Spa and Casino are involved in the community and actively promote local charities. Special events, such as the Halloween Howl-OWeen Dog Parade benefitting local rescue shelters, are hosted on the hotel lawn and guests are always invited to participate.
There is so much to explore in and around the property, which makes Hyatt Regency Lake Tahoe Spa and Casino an ideal getaway for travelers who seek an activityrich destination. v “Since Hyatt Regency Lake Tahoe sits on the Nevada side of the lake, gambling is legal and guests who enjoy its challenge and strategy can visit the Grand Lodge Casino located in the lobby.”
Hyatt Regency Lake Tahoe Resort, Spa and Casino 111 Country Club Drive Incline Village, NV 89451 (775) 832-1234 www.hyattregencylaketahoe.com
