Cedar Glen Lodge

The mid-range Cedar Glen Lodge is an inviting, old-fashioned hotel with a fantastic location across the street from Lake Tahoe, where the property has a small beach. Its 17 cabins were built in the 1950s and the 14-room lodge building went up for the 1960 Winter Olympics. The property changed hands a few times over the next half-century, until the current owners, Alan and Martha Bryan, purchased it in 2010. The couple has overseen a head-to-toe restoration, installing new heaters, sidewalks, and energy-efficient outdoor lighting, and updating pool equipment, floors, and kitchens. Though it is constantly undergoing behind-the-scenes modernization, the property retains every bit of its original midcentury lakeside-lodge charm.The family-friendly property has a motor lodge-style layout, with a U-shaped arrangement of buildings surrounding parking spaces and a lawn with a putting green, ping-pong, volleyball, barbecue grills, picnic tables, and fire pit, where nightly s'mores are prepared (weather permitting) and guests can mingle with one another and the owners. The heated pool, hot tub, and sauna are nice perks, especially during the chilly winter months. 

Cedar Glen Lodge is located in the town of Tahoe Vista at Lake Tahoe, on North Lake Boulevard. Several businesses and restaurants are within walking distance, and a grocery store is within a five-minute drive. From the hotel, it is a 14-minute drive to Incline Village, and about a one-hour drive to Reno-Tahoe Airport or a two-hour drive to Sacramento International Airport.Lake Tahoe is one of the premier four-season destinations in the country, offering a beautiful combination of clear skies, heavy winter snows, and the blue lake waters backed by the picturesque Sierra Nevada Mountains. Tahoe is an outdoor-lover's paradise offering activities such as camping, fishing, kayaking, white-water rafting, rock-climbing, golfing, hiking, mountain biking, skiing, and snowboarding.With winter snow often measuring 300 to 500 inches annually, the ski resorts at Tahoe are among the most reliable and exciting in the country. Known for steep vertical drops, open bowls, and some challenging terrain (along with family-friendly runs), Tahoe's collection of ski resorts draws thousands each winter. Despite the snowy conditions, the area usually gets more than 300 sunny days a year. But because of the snow, a four-wheel-drive vehicle is recommended here in winter.Lake Tahoe is divided across California and Nevada, with 70 percent in California. Because of this, Tahoe is generally spoken of as two distinct areas, North and South Lake Tahoe. South Tahoe is known for its gambling (which is legal in Nevada) and nightlife, while North Tahoe is generally quieter with more of a "mountain personality."When traveling to the area there are some things to keep in mind: The elevation of the lake is more than 6,000 feet, and the ski resorts surrounding the lake have runs that begin at 10,000 feet. Be careful when engaging in physical activity before acclimating, which usually takes a couple of days, as the thin air means the body will need to work harder.Also, black bears have become a persistent problem around Lake Tahoe. They often break into parked cars and empty buildings looking for food, and are even sophisticated enough to recognize coolers and other signs of food by peering into windows. It's best to remove all food, toiletries, and anything else that may stimulate a bear's keen sense of smell from your vehicle while staying overnight at Tahoe. No locked door or window will stand up to a hungry bear looking for free Cheetos or a sandwich.

The Cedar Glen Lodge offers 17 cabins and 14 rooms with a mix of amenities. Each cabin is unique -- some have extras like fireplaces and ThermoMasseur tubs -- but decor is consistently rustic (reclaimed wood and pine furnishings). Unlike many lodges, though, updates are constantly being performed so that things never get too dated. All cabins have kitchens with gas-burning stoves and ovens, custom cabinetry, and granite countertops. Lodge rooms lack the full kitchens of the cabins, but they do have microwaves, mini-fridges, and coffeemakers.All rooms have flat-screen TVs with cable, outdoor sitting space (upper-floor rooms in the hotel lodge have nice lake views), slippers, and free Wi-Fi. Bathrooms have refillable Gilchrist and Soames bath products.

For a 31-unit cabin property, Cedar Glen offers quite a few solid amenities. It is across the street from Lake Tahoe, but has a small dedicated beach for guests that offers lake access. In the heart of the property is a recreation lawn with a heated outdoor pool, sauna, and whirlpool. The lawn also has a putting green, volleyball, and ping-pong, plus picnic tables and barbecue grills. There is a fire pit at one end, where the hotel holds evening campfires with s'mores (weather permitting).The hotel also provides free continental breakfast daily, consisting of hard-boiled eggs, cereal, pastries, bagels, yogurt, and fruit. Breakfast is served in the cozy lobby, which has a stone fireplace and a wine bar with lake views. Conference and business facilities are available, and Wi-Fi is free throughout. The hotel has a handful of pet-friendly rooms, available at a per-pet, per-night fee.