Lake Tahoe- Need I Say More?!

See the Improv at Harrah's, Catch a Movie at the Horizon, take a boat ride on Lake Tahoe.

Boat alternatives: Ride on the Harrah's power boat...or celebrate an anniversary with an evening dinner cruise on the Tahoe Queen, they will even play a dedication song for you if you ask.

Drive around the lake - a tough place to find is the fire tower on the north side of the lake - it's easier to climb then a hill and great elevated site for photo opportunity.

Best Boutique Shop - Sidestreet Boutique in the Sizzler Shopping Center...have a cappincino and enjoy the variety. It's not big but has some unique items.

Several times a year there are Craft Fairs set up outside the Horizon. July 4th and Labor Day are the best.

Quick Tips:

Best low cost Prime Rib: Lakeside Casino Restaurant.

Golfing in the Basin is ho-hum, but there are some nice places in Carson Valley. Sierra Ranch is our favorite.

Heavenly has great skiing but there are some really great alternatives to it - Sierra at Tahoe and Alpine Meadows are just two of them.

Best Way To Get Around:

Rent A Car or SUV - it allows you drive around the lake at your pace and soak in all the beauty.

The bus and shuttle service is excellent and available as an alternative from Harrah's and other local casinos.

You can walk almost anywhere around town.

Best Things Nearby:
Heavenly Ski Resort - has gondola down to lifts Casino's in town with free shuttle service

Best Things About the Resort:
Great Spa, great exercise room, nice selection of weekly activities, great views. Has its own concierge to make reservations for golf, shows etc.

Resort Experience:
This highrise accomodates with nice appointments and excellent amenities. If you don't like the high rise arrangement you might not like it. Has a great view, underground parking, and gated security.

• Unit Type: 2 Bedroom
• Activities: Excellent
• Amenities: Excellent
• Unit Satisfaction: Very Good
• Family Friendliness: Very Good
• Service: Very Good

Best Things Nearby:
Heavenly Ski Resort, Casinos in town, Lake Tahoe!

Best Things About the Resort:
THE VIEW... best views of Carson Valley around.

Resort Experience:
Nice 2 bedroom accomodates each set of 10 units have access to private hot tubs on the roof. You have access to all the activities of the Ridge Tahoe without the high rise accommodations, washer and dryer in every unit, fireplace and 2 baths for convenience.

Harrah's offers free shuttle service with pickup right outside the units.

• Unit Type: 2 Bedroom
• Activities: Excellent
• Amenities: Excellent
• Unit Satisfaction: Very Good
• Family Friendliness: Excellent
• Service: Very Good

The American River Cafe offers Harrah's quality food without the cost of the full buffet. I like everything I've had on the menu - the wonton soup, the BBQ sandwich, the burgers and full meal menu. We never seem to have room for dessert as the portions are so big.

The restaurant has good service and a cute decor with a real flowing river and water falls.

There are great pies for dessert, chicken pot pies are excellent and there is a daily special menu available and a nice salad bar. A little pricey for what it is but convenient for local timeshares.

It is a Charthouse. The food is excellent, the view is excellent. Really excellent fine dining.

Lake Tahoe is not known for its seafood, so if you would like decent seafood the Charthouse is the place.

Everything is great on the menu. If you like it (I don't, but I even eat this), their Sourdough Bread is the best. Turkey with gravy and stuffing and their prime rib are two of my favorites. Meals include soup or salad and potato and vegetables. They have very reasonable prices. Not the usual casino environment. Usually a short wait to be seated, their service is good with a friendly wait staff.

If you don't want to fight the crowds on fireworks nights - you can have a limited view while eating your dinner.

It's small but friendly. Stop in for a Cappacino and lunch. TV is available to entertain the spouse. Unique clothing and jewelry. They have sidewalk sales several times a year, a wide variety of boutique-type clothes - not your usual Marshall-Fields type stuff. Small to women's sizes so everyone can shop here. They have cute purses and accent pieces which aren't cheap, but not untouchable either. A trip to Tahoe is not complete for me without a stop in this shop.

Drive back into the the Silver rush days of the 1800's. Wooden sidewalks and original saloons from the time. Take the train ride around the town, but most of all just get out and walk. Even the back streets have history. Stop and read the historic sign posts along the way to get a feel for the times.