Leave the car at home, get there by boat

July 4, 2014 by trudilee

By Tim Hauserman

Summer in Tahoe is a beautiful thing. We’ve got the gorgeous blue skies. And day after day of Goldilocks temperatures. There are endless opportunities for recreation whether it is mountain biking at Burton Creek State Park, paddleboarding over to Emerald Bay, or just hanging out on the beach and throwing rocks into Carnelian Bay. The only problem is that during July and August, it can get a bit crowded up here, causing you to spend time in a car instead of doing all the fun things you would rather be doing. A solution is available that gets you where you want to go without having to drive, and as a double bonus, you get there by cruising out on the sparkling waters of Lake Tahoe. It’s The North Lake Tahoe Water Shuttle.

The water shuttle runs 7 trips a day with stops at Garwood’s in Carnelian Bay, Tahoe City Marina, West Shore Cafe, and Obexer’s Marina. The boat holds 12 passengers and 8 bikes. The cost is $10 per passenger ($7 for kids). You can make reservations online at www.northtahoewatershuttle.com or call 530-581-8707. Service continues until September 21st, with the two evening trips cancelled after Labor Day.

What makes for a perfect Shuttle day? Start out by riding your bike to your favorite shuttle stop. Let’s say you ride to Garwood’s, and perhaps you get there early enough to get prepped for the day with the signature drink, the Wet Woody. Then bring your bike on board and either venture all the way to Homewood, or get off in Tahoe City and ride your bike through town. After checking out a few stores, and lounging on a bench at The Commons, perhaps a leisurely ride along the West Shore bike trail is in order. You could stop for a snack at Sunnyside, grab a sandwich from Obexer’s Market or splurge on lunch at the West Shore Cafe, before taking a relaxing boat ride back to your starting point. It’s all good, including the nap when you get home.