Tahoe in February is bound to be snowy, so pack up your dog and bring your cross-county skis, snowshoes and boots for daytime and retreat to your cozy cabin at night. The area is rich in cabin and cottage hotels, many dating to the 1930s-1950s and imparting a rustic, “old Tahoe” feel. But fear not that “rustic’ means creaky plumbing and saggy mattresses; our favorite DogTrekker retreats are comfortably furnished, and the hot water never runs out.
On the North Shore, the elegant, two-story Cedar Glen Lodge is surrounded by a cluster of smartly renovated cabins with rates starting at $99 for a studio and running up to $269 for a two-bedroom, two-bath unit with full kitchen and stone fireplace. There’s plenty of room for you and your dog to warm up by the outdoor fire pit, and while dogs aren’t allowed in the Rustic Lounge or wine bar, humans will relish the restaurant’s highly regarded cuisine and lake views.
On the South Shore, Spruce Grove Tahoe Cabins is a cluster of seven cottage abodes on fenced acreage with plenty of room for Lucy to stretch her legs. Cabins are decorated in a vintage theme and have fully equipped kitchens to help you save on your dining bill. The Ski Run Boulevard location is within walking distance of the lake and just down the hill from Heavenly Mountain Resort. Rates start at $169, and most cabins sleep four—plus dogs, of course.
We have many other cottage-hotel favorites at the lake, including Rustic Cottages on the North Shore, Fireside Lodge B&B in south Lake Tahoe, Tahoma Meadows B&B Cottages on the West Shore and Zephyr Cove Resort on the lake’s Nevada side. A bit farther afield, Sorensen’s Resort at Hope Valley, a beautiful area for outdoor recreation, is a well kept cluster of historic log cabins with a highly regarded restaurant and quick access to cross-country ski and snowshoe trails.