Lake Tahoe

We stayed in an Airbnb in South Lake Tahoe, as South Lake has a bit more to do than the North Shore. On our first day in town, we always love to go to the downtown area, also known as Heavenly Village. The village is full of unique shops, ski shops, restaurants, a movie theater, and even an ice rink! We usually love to browse the unique boutiques and galaxies that Tahoe boasts, with gorgeous art and goods made inspired by the mountain and lake. Downtown is also where all the big casinos are, across the street in Nevada. We spent a couple hours perusing the shops and got some hot chocolate at a coffee/cookie shop.

We then went to try our luck at the casinos (a tradition for us) and spent another couple hours playing the slots and at card tables. Depending on the time of year and day, the minimums to play will change. They are cheaper midday and during the week and non-holidays. If you’re not a gambler, the casinos usually have arcades, bars, and movie theaters as well. After that, we headed to our favorite spot for dinner or lunch -The Beacon (Unfortunately now permanently closed) . It’s RIGHT on the lake and has famous “Rum Runner” drinks, and a heaping plate of famous nachos. We never miss a trip to the beacon, and at sunset it’s absolutely gorgeous! You can sit on the patio and walk down to the dock for pictures, even in the winter. That evening, we started a board game tournament with the ones provided in our airbnb. Most have games and we always set up a trip-long tournament - another tradition.

We were here mostly in the winter time, and you can't go to Tahoe in the winter without skiing! Even as a beginner, each mountain offers lesions and beginner runs to get learning. Our favorite mountain on South Shore is Sierra Resort, as it’s independently run and cheaper than the big name resorts, but still a great mountain. Another option is Heavenly Resort, and with your lift ticket you get access to the gondola that takes you all the way to the top for incredible views. Heavenly also has a Nevada side and a California side and is a super big mountain. After a full day of skiing until about 3ish, we headed home to cook dinner one night and hopped in the hot tub after for sore muscles. On the second day, we headed to another dinner spot we like called Villa Roma. It’s not the best Italian you’ve ever had, but they have an awesome buffet salad bar and a ton of dinner options that you cant really go wrong.

We take a day off from the slopes to usually do something else. This time, we opted for horseback riding. In the winter, some stables are still open, but there is definitely less availability, so book in advance. It was a two hour ride through the woods and near the lake and it was so relaxing and fun. No need for experience prior. Other activity options include snowmobile rentals (so awesome, there’s a few companies in south lake) or finding a good hill to go sledding or make snowmen on.

For lunch, there’s a few breweries located in the village that offer a fun vibe and reasonable pricing. In the early evening, we headed up to the north shore (about a 45 minute drive) to the Hyatt. It sits right on the north side of the lake overlooking the entire thing, and at sunset it’s absolutely stunning. They have a beach and bar where you can get drinks and just sit to watch the sunset if it’s not too cold, or you can sit inside. In the summer, it’s even more amazing with lake-beach vibes and swimming. You don’t have to be a guest to go there! We just love the spot. On our way home, we went to a magic show at one of the casinos. There are always some type of entertainment shows that go on at the casinos and you can check them out on the website and see if anything sparks your interest. The show we saw was awesome, and a fun alternative to the bars.

There is a ton of hiking around Lake Tahoe, and it doesn't get much more gorgeous. Of course, depending on the season, some trails may be off limits and you definitely need to dress for the weather. We did a moderate 4 mile trail around the lake and brought a picnic lunch to eat. We started mid-morning and finished early afternoon. We went back to the cabin for some decompressing time before our evening plans. We booked an Escape room experience for the whole family and competed against each other. It was an absolute riot, and the winners got free drink tickets for a bar nearby. Naturally, we went to said bar and used the tickets and more and spent most of the evening there, at the casino, or other bars nearby. They are all within walking distance. Escape room was another welcome alternative to traditional nightlife and something fun for the whole family or your group to enjoy.