4 Best Hotels in Lake Tahoe, California

Known for decades as Sorensen's Resort, this 165-acre Eldorado National Forest complex with an on-site restaurant has a woodsy summer-camp charm. Most cabins have kitchens or kitchenettes and wood-burning stoves or fireplaces. There are also several yurts and tent and RV spaces. The resort sits on the edge of the highway, which allows it to stay open in winter—a boon for skiers—but in summer, request accommodations away from the road. Pets are allowed in some rooms for a daily fee.

The clean, spare lines of the Gravity Haus's wooden exterior evoke a modern European feel; energy-saving heating, cooling, and lighting systems demonstrate a commitment to sustainability; and rooms in the three two-story satellite buildings are understatedly sexy, with Merlot-and-camel color schemes and mod-Italian overtones. Not all bathrooms have tubs, but small refrigerators and flat-screen Smart TVs count among the amenities. Check the hotel's website or ask when you book about the outdoor-sports trips the staff arranges. Some pets are welcome in ground-floor rooms for a fee.

Perched at the edge of a semiprivate beach that's less than a half-mile from Heavenly Village, The Landing provides luxe rooms and resort amenities in a prime location—removed from, but close to, the Stateline action. Choose among seven room types; all have heated marble floors, stone fireplaces, a balcony or patio, a wet bar, and a sitting area. Some rooms have partial or unobstructed lake views. The sleek on-site restaurant and lounge, Jimmy's, serves upscale California cuisine and is popular with locals.

Stylishly rustic, this two-story, cedar-sided inn fulfills the yearnings of Bay Area sophisticates for laid-back luxury thanks, in part to rooms that have sumptuous beds with down comforters, high-end bath amenities, iPod docks, and hooded terry robes to wear to the outdoor hot tubs. The bar is a happening après-ski destination, and the namesake restaurant is superb. PlumpJack may not have the bells and whistles of big luxury hotels, but the attentive service makes it worth considering. Not all rooms have tubs, so if it matters, request one.