If all that poops you out, you can doze in the sun on a sandy beach, then take in cocktails or dinner at a selection of eateries that serve everything from full-course gourmet meals to black bean burritos. And despite all the action for those who crave it, even when it's crowded by local standards, the West Shore, four to five hours by car from most of the Bay Area, remains a relatively tranquil place. Stay on Highway 89 and head south. You'll cross the Truckee River at Fanny Bridge, named after what you see of the tourists who often line the sidewalk on the lake side to ogle the monster rainbow trout awaiting handouts. On the South side of the inlet lies the old Gatekeeper's Cabin, currently a museum of Tahoe memorabilia and an impressive Indian basket collection.
Admission is free.
As you leave Tahoe City, you'll notice the bike trail that parallels Highway 89 for most of the distance between Squaw Valley and Sugar Pine Point State Park. At times, the trail crosses the highway or is just a lane on the highway, but most of the way it's a wide, smooth path that gets plenty of use by skaters and runners as well as bicyclists. If you want to ride from Tahoe City to trail's end and back, there's a parking lot on the west side of Highway 89 about a quarter-mile south of Fanny Bridge. You can rent bikes at several points along the trail. Camping is available at the U.S. Forest Service's William Kent Campground on the west side of the highway, and there's a picnic area and beach on the lake side.