Lake Tahoe: November 10th – 24th, 2025
South Lake Tahoe is a magical place that I had never visited before, and I can already see myself bringing my children here throughout the many stages of their lives. It’s a sweet family town located in the Sierra Nevada Mountains on the California side of the border, with plenty of family activities, casinos for adults, and kind, down-to-earth residents.
Upon check-in at The Marriott Grand Residence, I was warmly welcomed and provided with just about everything one could need for the next two weeks. I’ve personally never lived in a hotel for that long, so I wasn’t sure what to expect, but it definitely exceeded my expectations. My studio had a full-size kitchen fully stocked with all appliances (including a dishwasher, which I hadn’t lived with in almost five years), free on-site laundry, a spa, steam room, sauna, fitness center, heated pool, and an activities calendar that included yoga, stretching, and guided hikes.
The town has great transportation services, including a shuttle bus from Reno airport to South Lake Tahoe for $35, as well as Lake Link, which provides free rides throughout town. Immediately upon arrival, I scheduled a Lake Link ride to escort me to the local Whole Foods for groceries and continued using their service regularly, including trips to a local hot yoga studio. Chatting with most of the drivers and passengers, I got the scoop on the best local food and coffee spots.
One night after yoga, with a longer wait for my Lake Link pickup, I walked to a local restaurant, The Idle Hour, for happy hour food and wine. My server, Stephanie, took excellent care of me, and the timing worked out perfectly with my Lake Link pickup. Something to note: you can’t schedule rides ahead of time, and wait times can range from 25 minutes to an hour, which can make coordinating schedules a bit tricky.
The hotel offered a guided hike to Van Sickle State Park, where I learned an incredible amount of fun facts about Lake Tahoe and its surrounding agriculture. Kristen, our tour guide, had amazing energy and was a wealth of knowledge, a true representation of a resident who takes pride in her community. A few things I learned: Lake Tahoe was formed by a volcano many moons ago, which is why there are so many large boulders around, comprised of mica, granite, and quartz. The lake is enormous, 1,629 feet deep, with an elevation of 6,245 feet, and is so large it requires operation by the U.S. Coast Guard. The surrounding trees include Jeffrey, Ponderosa, and Sugar Pine trees, which are easily distinguished by their pine cones: Jeffrey’s needles point down, Ponderosa’s point up, and Sugar Pines grow very large, sometimes up to two feet. Retaining all these fun facts, I highly recommend this guided hike!
For dinner that night, after craving a slice of pizza, I went to Base Camp Pizza, and it did not disappoint! With a unique beer and pizza selection, I loved their Thai chicken curry pizza paired with a beer and sour. On another day, I did a cookie tour, sampling one from Insomnia Cookies and another from Great American Cookie in a face-off. If you know me, you know I LOVE soft-baked cookies, and this was the perfect matchup. To my surprise, Great American Cookies’ double chocolate chunk cookie came out victorious, though neither were anything to run home about. I also had lunch at Azul Mexican Grill, scoring a “little buddy” burrito for happy hour. For $9, the sweet potato option hit the spot!
On my last night in Tahoe, I had to visit Lisa Vanderpump’s new restaurant, Wolfe, which has been the talk of the town. My server, Dani, was attentive and helpful from the moment I sat down. I tried several cocktails, including the infamous Pumptini, and ended up sitting at the bar meeting visitors, locals, and kind staff members throughout the night. I closed my tab after a final round with a couple of my new friends for last-call cocktails. The food, drinks, and boozy ice cream dessert were the cherry on top of an amazing trip before shuttling to Reno for an overnight stay prior to my quick flight to Colorado for the next adventure.
Tahoe is special, with its California city-life vibe filled with trendy restaurants and casino row, combined with the Nevada nature. It’s the perfect balance for family life or a weekend getaway to rekindle romance. This small-town charm has a special place in my heart.
