Summer is heating up in the Tahoe Sierra and people are flocking to campgrounds, parks and beaches. On a midweek afternoon, parking lots on the West Shore are already full. Luckily, past Emerald Bay, the alcove dirt lots leading to quieter trails still have some room.
I pull into one of the small dirt lots across from Baldwin Beach’s entrance, equipped with my Tahoe Longboard, wireless speaker, snacks, sunscreen and portable camp chair. On this borderline-hot Tuesday afternoon, I pushed 1 mile southeast on the Pope Baldwin bike path before entering Camp Richardson Historic Resort & Marina. A big log ring to the left of me next to the bike path looked like the perfect place for groups at the RV park across the street to share ghost stories and roast s’mores. The Historic Hotel is also a great place for groups.
As I was pushing my board through the campground, families were eating lunch on checkered-tablecloth-covered picnic tables in front of their small trailers; tents laid temporarily abandoned as their owners were likely out hiking the nearby trails or lounging at the beach.
Past the Richardson House, general store, deli, ice cream parlor, coffee and confectionary shop, and Mountain Sports Center with a line of bikes waiting to be leased out, the 84-site lakeside Badger’s Den campground is about half full — on the other side of Highway 89, the Eagle’s Nest campground hosts 34 additional campsites.
As I was pushing my board through the campground, families were eating lunch on checkered-tablecloth-covered picnic tables in front of their small trailers; tents laid temporarily abandoned as their owners were likely out hiking the nearby trails or lounging at the beach.
Between Badger’s Den campground and the Historic Hotel, Jameson Beach Road leads down to Lake Tahoe, ending at The Beacon Bar & Grill. A cashier at the road’s entrance collected a $10 fee and friendly hosts greeted guests in front of the bustling restaurant. The summer menu consists of starters, salads, sandwiches, burgers, seafood tacos and ribs. It also provides a slew of cocktails and beers on tap; its most famous drink is the Rum Runner punch, made of a blend of tropical fruit juices topped with a rum floater. You can buy bottles of the non-alcoholic mix online to use in smoothies, marinades and even drizzled over ice cream to enjoy that flavor of Tahoe at home.
In the middle of summer, The Beacon was packed, but the crowds were less the farther I went down the beach. On one side, a gang of Canada geese and ducks hung out by the Valhalla Tahoe’s pier, and on the other side a full-service marina rents out water toys and takes people on Rum Runner cruises. Even though it was a bit windy, it didn’t deter the kayakers, paddleboarders, sunbathers and boaters from being on the lake.
I posted up in a circle of picnic tables under some pines adjacent to The Beacon, facing the refreshing lake. A woman in a magenta shirt sat quietly, engrossed in her beach read. She had a content smile on her face as she flipped through the pages; the bright multifaceted lapis water served as our backdrop. I felt like this was the perfect place to write, far enough away from the noise yet close enough to Big Blue to be able to look up and feel instantly relaxed.
“We think this water is colder than the Pacific Ocean; it is so cold!” two ladies exclaimed as they approached the woman reader sitting at the picnic table ring. They all chuckled and talked about hiking to Cascade Falls.
When I got a bit hungry, I headed back over to The Beacon and eventually found an open seat at a table next to the bar. I glanced over at the Wild Berry Truly on tap yet opted for the restaurant’s new Cucumber Mint Press that came highly recommended from Anthony, my friendly waiter. I also ordered the Richardson House Salad with chicken and the special Rum Runner sauce that tastes like Thousand Island dressing.
“It’s 75 degrees, not that windy on the lake. I love this place,” a guy next to me told someone on the phone as Anthony delivered trays of Rum Runner punches all around me. I nodded my head in agreement, paid my bill and skateboarded the mile back to my car.
Feeling relaxed, refreshed and as if I were on a staycation, I realized that I spent a solid four hours at Camp Richardson and wasn’t ready to go. Noticing that there were a few campsites left, I vowed to come back with my tent, sleeping bag, bike, skateboard, hiking boots and paddleboard — not forgetting, of course, my camp chair. | camprichardson.com
