A Scenic Drive to North Lake Tahoe

After more than an hour on the road, it's time to refuel – both your car and your energy level. Fill up on gas (if needed) and get a caffeine fix at States Coffee x Bread in the charming East Bay town of Martinez. The coffee bar roasts its own beans in house and serves a variety of drinks. The creamy honey latte is a popular favorite.
While it's not uncommon for coffee shops to offer house-made pastries, this one goes a step further and bakes its own bread, so pick up a loaf to nibble on in the car. You may also opt for avocado toast, doughnuts, banana bread and other well-crafted breakfast bites.
A visit is typically well under 30 minutes, especially if taking your order to go, but it's important to account for a little extra time since lines can get long. Fortunately, there is plenty of indoor and outdoor seating.

Sacramento, California's capital city, isn't a hot tourist destination like Los Angeles or San Francisco, but it does have a charming downtown historic district with more than 50 preserved and reconstructed buildings from the mid-1800s. Much of it overlaps with the Old Sacramento State Historic Park, which is an easy detour from your road trip while passing through the heart of the city on Interstate 80.
Skip the museums and take your time wandering the streets and admiring the Victorian architecture, which dates back to Sacramento's role in the California Gold Rush. As times, the downtown area almost resembles New Orleans' French Quarter with dual-level design plans, wood framing and arched windows.
After walking by the Eagle Theater, Dingley Spice Mill Building and other sites, head to Riverfront Park, where you'll see vintage locomotives and boats waiting to take passengers out on cruises on the Sacramento River. The best views are from the Waterfront Wheel, a slow-rotating 65-foot-tall ferris wheel.

Pull over for lunch in Truckee, a small mountain town with a quirky character and walkable downtown strip. Moody's Bistro is your best bet for a meal. The bar is high-energy and the kitchen takes pride in serving clean-tasting dishes with organic, locally sourced ingredients. Heartier appetites will appreciate the bison ribeye or one of several Neapolitan-style pizzas. The outdoor patio is a great spot to soak in the atmosphere and history of downtown Truckee.
The kitchen closes at 3:30 p.m. daily to prepare for the switch between lunch and dinner. If you're running late, explore the historic district on foot (which you'll want to do after lunch anyway) and see which restaurant catches your attention.

You've arrived at Lake Tahoe! Take your first look at North America's largest alpine lake with a quick and easy hike to Eagle Rock. The trek has a steep, but manageable incline and takes about 30 minutes roundtrip with a scenic overlook of Lake Tahoe as your reward. Expect to take lots of photos.

After a scenic drive along the north end of Lake Tahoe, you'll arrive at the Hyatt Regency, the best hotel by the water in the exclusive enclave of Incline Village. The wood decor gives the resort a winter cabin clubhouse feel. Since it's on the Nevada side of the state line, there's a casino in the lobby, so feel free to try your luck with the slot machines.
Check in and get settled. You'll want to unwind in your room or at the pool before getting ready for dinner. Some ground-level accommodations have sliding patio doors, which are extremely convenient for those traveling with pets and need easy access to get outside for a walk.

The Lone Eagle Grille is technically part of the hotel, but has its own stand-alone building by the water and requires a short walk to visit – no problem since you'll be happy to take your time, enjoy the scenery and soak in the fresh air from thousands of pine trees.
The restaurant specializes in New American cuisine with a heavy emphasis on steaks and seafood with a wine list that draws heavily on Californian regions. Save room for the Baked Tahoe dessert, a modern spin on a traditional Baked Alaska.
Reservations are highly recommended.

Walk back to the hotel and turn in for the night. Your second day of travel is just as busy as the first and you'll want to be fully rested to start the morning off on the right foot.