California 89 is home to some very special places, and we may be bias, but there is nothing quite like Lake Tahoe. There are so many reasons to love Big Blue. From the crystal clear blue waters, 275+ days of sunshine and endless outdoor adventures, it’s no wonder Lake Tahoe holds the heartstrings of so many. It's a pretty hard place to beat -- summer or winter. So, today we wanted to take this opportunity to shine light on our favorite reasons why our love for Truckee/Tahoe runs deep: 

Endless Sunshine

Photo : Paul Hamill

California sunshine reaches far past the beaches of Southern California. In the Sierra Mountains, we experience over 275+ days of sunshine a year, providing endless bluebird ski days in the winter and countless days to hit the beach in the summer. Always bring a pair of sunglasses and a hat. Beanies are the choice of headwear in winter and come summertime, it's all about the 5-panel strapback. This cotton cap is soft, comfortable and perfect to block out all of that California sunshine. 

Natural Beauty 

Photo : Paul Hamill

Truckee and Lake Tahoe are known for their natural beauty. Home to the Tahoe National Forest, Lake Tahoe and Donner Lake, this rich alpine environment supports endless ways to take in the sights. Lake Tahoe being the largest alpine lake in North America, it is one of the clearest bodies of water in the world due to its depth, granite composition and low watershed rate. When visiting Truckee and Lake Tahoe, you can keep keep Tahoe Blue by:

• Hiking only on existing trails
• Clean up after your pets
• Don’t litter
• Use reusable water bottles
• Ride a bike or take the local bus
• Drink Tahoe Tap
• Take the North Lake Tahoe sustainability pledge

If you're looking to get in some exercise and bag peaks, check out our snowshoe/winter hike blog for suggested hikes in the area this winter.

Unique Towns

Photo : Paul Hamill

Did you know North Lake Tahoe is made up of 12 unique towns all with their own personality? Whether you want to hit the Nevada towns of Crystal Bay and Incline Village and experience high-mountain gambling or relax and kick back in laid back ski towns of Tahoe City and Truckee, you can explore each unique community throughout your visit. So don’t just stick to one place, hop in your car and explore all that the region has to offer. Catch our apparel store in Downtown Truckee as well as our sister store California 89 Home. Here, you'll find mountain modern furnishings for your home. 

Extraordinary Adventures 

Heading to Truckee Tahoe? Looking to try something new? No problem, we have you covered! Whether you want to try a new human powered sport, like skiing or kayaking, or you want to hit the trail systems for hiking or mountain biking, there is something for everyone to enjoy. Below are some of our favorite activities:

• Try downhill skiing at one of our 12 resorts. Looking for a small ski resort that has extraordinary lake views - Homewood Mountain Resort has you covered.  Interested in trying something bigger, we recommend hitting the slopes at either Northstar California or Palisades Tahoe.
• Experience the lake - whether that is on the lake or above the lake. We recommend renting a paddle board (or snowshoes) and taking a guided tour from Tahoe Adventure Company or if you are visiting during summer time, hit the water with Tahoe Sailing Charters.

Protecting & Enhancing Lake Tahoe for generations to come

We believe in the power of this big beautiful lake to bring joy, spark adventure and peace to anyone in its presence. That’s why we donate $1 from every purchase of our Love Blue Collection to the Tahoe Fund who believes in investing and caring to preserve this natural wonder for generations to come. Since 2014, we've donated $9,600 to fund projects that help support long-term restoration and enhancement of Lake Tahoe.

So go ahead. Grab that long sleeve tee or hoodie to proudly show your love for Big Blue and know that your purchase helps protect your favorite natural treasure.