A Summer Break in Lake Tahoe
Summer is just flying by and I cannot believe it's half over already. Thanks to vaccines for Covid-19 we've been able to see our families (hosting many of them at our new house various weekend) and take a few trips. We are planning a big renovation to our house this year so only budgeted one big trip for 2021. Friends of ours, from the San Francisco area, invited us to meet them in Lake Tahoe for a week of lake side activities, outdoor patio dinning, and snuggles with their new baby. We quickly agreed that this was the perfect trip for our 2021 adventure. We flew in & out of Reno, NV and spent a few days in the city, exploring all that has grown since the last time we were there (wow, in 2006)! The below is a mashup of the things we did on our week+ vacation, condensed into a long weekend itinerary for next time.
Day 1:
Arrive at the Airbnb and check out our surroundings. It's gorgeous up here and a world away from NYC. PS. None of the houses have air conditioning so bring lots of fans.
Head to dinner on the water. You are here to see Lake Tahoe after all. We recommend Sunnyside Restaurant and Lodge for it's delicious food and sandy beach.
After dinner, it's time for drinks. Bust out the local brews and do some taste testing back at the house.
Day 2
Wake up early and hit the beach. It's a busy weekend so you'll want to get there early.
Skylandia State Park is a beautiful wooded area with ginormous California redwoods and plenty "be mindful of bears" signs. If you look closely, you'll see a few fairy houses and gnomeville.
Dinner on night two is Gar Woods. The views are spectacular and you can't beat the notorious wet woody cocktails.
End your night with a vibrant sunset, complete with a rainbow.
Day 3
Time to visit Tahoe City so put on your running shoes and let's head downtown. The bike and walking path into town is the perfect combination of exercise and nature walk. The fields are truly stunning.
Lunch is at Commons Beach at the Tahoe City Farmers Market. Grab a smoothie, a pastry, and a piping hot cup of coffee. Load up on fresh fruit and veggies. Tonight we're cooking dinner on the grill at the house.
After shopping for produce, it's time to shop for souvenirs. The shops on North Lake Blvd are filled with beautiful home décor, gorgeous flowers, the cutest knickknacks, and must wear clothing. In my 20s I collected shot glasses. In my 30s I collected magnets, and now, in my 40s, I'm onto collecting Christmas ornaments. (I'll finally have a full sized tree one of these days) There were so many perfectly Tahoe ornaments in each of the shops, it was impossible to buy just one (I finally settled on two). I also loaded up on cloth napkins and cookbooks while our friends gifted us lake life koozies, Tahoe stickers, and custom wine/bourbon glasses. If I had an extra suitcase I would have filled it with tea towels, wine stoppers, Tahoe photo books, blue & white bowls, handmade jewelry and lots of bathing suits! More on my favorite shops later.
After a day in town, head to the pool for a quick dip and lounging with a beach read.
Day 4
Back to the beach because this is the best part of a Lake Tahoe adventure. I didn't paddle or kayak, but Matt was a SUP super star. Our friends had blow up paddle boards and these are truly the best invention for people who travel with the sporting equipment. By the end of the trip, we were pros at getting the boards to and from the beach.
Dinner on the last night is another beautiful spot on the water. Relish in a seafood feast at Jake's on the Lake. Matt had herb crusted lobster tails while I enjoyed the macadamia nut crusted halibut with forbidden rice (OMG, that rice was so good!). The restaurant has a tree house vibe on the outside and then opens up to a gorgeous patio in the back, over looking the marina. A beautiful spot to end your time in Lake Tahoe.
If you have more time to spend in the area, take a day trip (or two) to nearby Truckee. The small pioneer town is loaded with charming shops, A+ breweries and even world class restaurants. We really enjoyed our time there as well. Boy does it feel good to be traveling again (even if it is in small doses!).
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