We arrived in Tahoe around 4:30pm, just in time for a gorgeous sunset over the lake before we checked into our hotel. The sunsets over Lake Tahoe never disappoint, and we planned our entire drive up with that in mind. The beach around the lake was covered in a foot or so of snow, creating the perfect spot for snow angels and snowball fights. As the sun dipped below the mountains, the snow and sky turned the most amazing purple pink color. It might have been the most gorgeous sunset I’ve ever seen and the perfect way to start our trip.
Our itinerary included three days of skiing, snowboarding, ice-skating, snowmobiling, and snowshoeing. That’s a lot of “snow” activities and we were so lucky that Tahoe South has seen so much snow this year. As Los Angeles beach bums, the thought of trading in our 75 degrees and sunny December weather for actual WINTER weather was thrilling. We were really looking forward to putting on our snow suits and playing in the soft white snow each day.
Where we stayed:
We booked a room at Montbleu Resort, Casino and Spa. This was our first time staying in a major hotel rather than a cabin we rented. We were excited to be closer to town so we could enjoy some of the nightlife that we had heard and read so much about (sushi, breweries, vodka and wine- need I say more!?). Another advantage of being in town was how quickly we could get up on Heavenly each morning. We could roll out of bed and be on the slopes in 15 minutes.
Our room was a signature suite with a huge open floor plan. The bathtub could easily fit three people in it (seriously!) and I loved the big open shower. The design is kind of Mad Men meets cabin meets casino, if that makes sense, and was really perfect for our stay.
This hotel also has a casino so, after the slopes and before dinner, we tried our luck at a few slots and games. With a hot toddy in our hands, this was an awesome way to unwind each afternoon.
We’ve also stayed at Base Camp Hotel (super cute with a more hipster vibe) and Lake Tahoe Vacation Resort, a more upscale experience lakeside. Full list of hotels, resorts and cabins can be found here.
What we ate:
The first night we stopped for sushi at The Naked Fish. We started with the Maui Wowie. A local favorite, this roll had tempura softshell crab and avocado (with a secret house spicy sauce), topped with tuna, crab and sweet soy sauce. It was SO. GOOD. We also ordered the Hot ‘n Wild, Lion King and Red Tiger rolls. Don’t they have the most fun names for sushi rolls that you’ve ever heard? I ordered some hot sake just as the snow started to really fall down outside (perfect for warming up the insides before braving the cold).
We grabbed a Thai Chicken Curry and BBQ pizza from Base Camp Pizza on afternoon for lunch. I loved the live entertainment and open-air patio. Even while the snow was falling down outside, it was awesome to be uncovered and warm, but still open to the outdoors.
Jimmy’s at the Landing is known for a more upscale experience, which we decided would be perfect for a late breakfast one morning. The outdoor patio has several fire pits that overlook the lake; the perfect setting for drinking a hot cocoa and taking in your surroundings.
Other great breakfast spots were Driftwood Cafe (a loaded waffle – need we say more?!) and Red Hut Cafe. There are several Red Hut’s located throughout Tahoe South and they fill up quickly.
Coldwater Brewery & Grille has great food and thirst quenching brews. We ordered a flight so we could try several house beers. The perfect spot for an afternoon meet up.
With over 40 beers on tap, McP’s Taphouse and Grille is another awesome spot for a post-adventure chill session. If beer isn’t your thing, try the Irish coffee, a taphouse speciality.
Our nightlife of choice included a stop at Cabo Wabo Cantina and Himmel Haus. They are very different experiences as Cabo Wabo is great for dancing the night away and Himmel Haus is awesome for relaxing with a huge beer. We lucked out with Himmel Haus’ Monday open mic night and wish we had brought our guitar to join in on the fun.
What we did:
The short of it: we tackled Tahoe South. We skied, we snowboarded, we snowmobiled, we snowshoed. Basically, if the activity has the word snow in it, we did it. Oh, we went ice-skating too.
If you’re planning a visit to Tahoe South and ski or snowboard, do yourself a favor a buy a ski pass online before you arrive. They promise the cheapest prices and you get to skip the line the day of: win/win. Also, the pass to Heavenly includes unlimited access to Heavenly Mountain and Kirkwood (my favorite on-mountain experience that I’ll explain later), plus access to Northstar. Heavenly has 97 runs and 4,800 skiable acres that crisscross between the California and Nevada border. It is also located right in the village and the center of Tahoe South, so it’s super easy to get to.
In complete contrast there is Kirkwood Mountain, located about 40 miles southwest of Tahoe South. It is described as raw, remote and magical and I couldn’t agree more. It’s definitely out of the way so has way fewer people on the mountain. The terrain is rougher, too, and I mean that in the most awesome way – this is the hardest skiing I’ve ever done. It provided a challenge that I hadn’t had before with skiing and because so, is easily my most favorite mountain now.
I highly suggest checking out some of the winter hiking/snowshoeing options. If the weather is nice (like on a bluebird day) this makes for the most magical photos of the lake, especially if you’re looking down from the mountaintops. Vagabond3 tip: Make sure to check out the snow report to ensure the hikes are safe.
This post is sponsored by Travel Mindset and Tahoe South. You can check out my photo slideshows of my trip on Travel Mindset’s Tahoe South Experience Page. That page includes Spencer Spellman and Pete Halvorsen’s trip tips too!
