What's New in Lake Tahoe?
By: Cam Schilling
Thus far, this winter leaves a lot to be desired. Where is the snow? It could all turn to whiteout winter conditions overnight, but when? I will say that I don’t miss all the shoveling that last year required, but something just doesn’t feel right.
There’s plenty to do and see around here on any given day, but the lot of us are twiddling our thumbs a bit. Something I’ve learned from living in Tahoe is that you can never go wrong by simply trying something new. Activities, shops, restaurants – the current scene in Lake Tahoe is flourishing with new things to do and places to see.
Do a snow dance, have a pray for powder party, and in the meantime, check out something new on the south shore.
Try Something New:
Lake Tahoe Epic Curling
Did you know that we just built a brand new curling rink right here in South Lake Tahoe? What started as a local club with a strong following has ended up being one of the coolest new things to do around the lake. Kind of like shuffleboard, kind of like bocce, but definitely it’s own sport and tons of fun to be had. They even have a clubhouse complete with a bar.
Ski Bikes
It’s a tough call as to what Tahoe adventurers enjoy more: riding powder in the winter or ripping through brown pow on a bike. Of course, someone figured out how to combine both into one extreme winter sport, and now we have Ski Bikes. The current state of Tahoe skiing may not be something to write home about (looking at you Colorado), so why not give this a try while winter is ‘slow’?
Still, want to hit the slopes? Consider strapping into something new – are you a skier? Try snowboarding. Boarder? Grab some skis and point ‘em downhill.
New Dining:
Gastromaniac
Wow. This is some of the most authentic Italian food I’ve had in a while, certainly one of my favorite dining experiences over the past year. Their pasta is all homemade and you can taste the difference. Don’t even get me started on the pizza – the tastiest sauce and the crust is crispy perfection (no shame in ordering four).
Thai on Ski Run
Love me some Thai food, just know that when they say spicy they mean it. This is a great option if you’re catering to some selective diets as they have many vegan and vegetarian options.
Shangrila Himalayan Kitchen
Come here for specialty Indian/Nepalease cuisine, with a great selection of traditional Nepalease, Indian and Halal dishes in an upscale atmosphere. Tasty dishes are impressive enough, the presentation complements that and you will definitely have leftovers.
New Shops / Services:
Botanical Arts Company
I’d prefer to have a home decked out with plants rather than random art or knick-knacks. If you’re like me, you’ll want to spend some time in this place. It’s a succulent & cactus jungle from wall to wall, stop in and they’ll even teach you how to not kill your plants.
High Mountain Greenery
Another plant haven, this one with less succulents, more vines, and hanging plants. I hopped from one shop to the other and each taught me more than I could have hoped for. Here they’re always cloning and propagating plants and will even teach you how to do it on your own – join them for a Valentine’s Day Workshop.
Big Vista
Big Vista is a nice change of pace from the other typical village shops. It’s such a cool retail store, but even better with a focus on sustainable materials and responsible practices. This shop in particular is really cool because they sell all their own original graphics. Step away from the tourist t-shirt shops and grab a one of a kind piece.
