Travel.Food.Wine.Family.Life
Headed to the Sierras last weekend. It’s been such a dry winter, the only snow on the ground was manufactured for the ski resorts.
In the sun, kids played with short sleeves and no coats. So strange.
Across the street from our cabin, the lake awaited.
Still and beautiful.
Though ice cold.
The beach full of flat rocks perfect for skipping.
Water crystal clear.
Wouldn’t you know it…
…only hours after we left. The snow fell.
There’s always next time.
My husband is the big time bike rider in our family. He’s loved mountain biking for as long as I’ve know him and for years prior to that! Every year for the past 8 we’ve gone to Lake Tahoe for our summer vacations and his bike comes with us. He’s biked the Tahoe Rim Trail almost all the way around the lake and many other great trails, but never on the Tahoe City side. As much as he wishes the 5 of us could all take on the rocks and ledges he can, on our last trip up to Tahoe we all took a leisurely ride along the Truckee River on a paved path!
With our stay at the Granlibakken Lodge we were able to get free bike rentals for the day. With 3 of us being of perfect height for the one-size-fits-all bikes, my son managed to make the bike work for him even if his legs were a tad short. Also, my five year old couldn’t be left behind so the lodge came up with an ingenious solution: use a trail-a- bike! While one of us drove to the bike shop, the others rode the bikes over to Olympic Bike Shop to get our addition. After a few minutes and a wrench, my daughter was ecstatic to know that she could be a big girl (no training wheels), go on the bike ride, and even have the option to coast along when she got tired. We were all a bit jealous!Another fabulous thing about the start of our day was that my near-teen had NO whining or complaining about the trip, she accepted the plan and went with it, I could cry happy tears!
So we planned out our path which for all our sakes minus my husband’s had to be short and sweet. We left the lodge and headed toward town (the bike shop first) and then did a quick u-turn and down the road along the Truckee River. The colors of the trees were amazing this fall day and the weather was just about 62 degrees and ideal. No one was sweaty, it wasn’t freezing, and the smiles on everyone’s faces just made my heart melt. We stopped for a break near the river and skipped rocks, played a bit in the water, and just took in the mountain air.
We hopped back on the bikes and headed back toward the bike shop and then took a turn toward the lake and to Commons Beach. Due to construction, part of the bike path was closed but we did ride a fair way down and took in the amazing scenery. It was at this point where we parked our bikes and sat down for a picnic lunch. Pre-packed from the kitchen at the Granlibakken Lodge, we had turkey sandwiches, chips, bottled water, apples, a granola bar, and a cookie and let me just say everyone ate everything! Bike riding sure works up an appetite and that meal was scrumptious for a bag lunch! To my younger kids’ delight there was a playground on the beach to enjoy while we sat and chatted. My parent who were staying in South Lake drove up and met us for lunch. My oldest was still smiling and I was so proud that she was such a trooper!
If you can get up in the mountains, try a fall bike ride along the Truckee River and Lake Tahoe . This experience renewed my faith in exercise, nature, and family fun that is for sure!
Thanks to Granlibakken Lodge and Olympic Bike Shop for the bike rentals, trail-a-bike, and bag lunches to make our day amazing!
Located about 5 hours from home in a picturesque valley minutes from the lake and south of Truckee, Granlibakken is a year-round spot for business or pleasure. The resort encompasses 74 wooded acres with the sweet sugar pine scent filling your senses as your explore the grounds. 5 tennis courts, outdoor heated pools (wading pool for kids)/spa and saunas, nature trails, bike rentals, a ropes course, and a par course will keep your family active all year, with cross-country skiing, practice ski hills, and a snow play area in the winter. With over a dozen ski areas within 30 minutes, this is a wonderful choice for your next vacation.
Lodging
With many choices such as bedrooms, studios, or suites, our family of 5 stayed in a Granlibakken’s townhouse with two bedrooms and loft that fit us all perfectly! 
With a full living room and comfortable seating, the family had the chance to enjoy a movie in, rest after a long day in the mountains, and feel the openness of the floorplan. Just above the adjacent dining room and kitchen, the loft with a queen bed was a perfect spot for my near-teenage daughter. Her own television, desk, and door (!) kept all her belongings in one spot and gave her just enough privacy that she needed.
The townhome had the most incredibly comfortable furniture. The seats around the dinner table were soft leather and the couch was super cushy, with warm sherpa blankets in the closets, the 35 degree nights were snuggle time! The view from the back patio (with table and chairs) is in the above bottom right picture. The fall colors were amazing and the quiet about the resort made for peaceful evenings and great morning walks!
The townhome amenities were just like home, decor was beautiful for a mountain residence, art and modern touches surrounded us. The granite countertops in the kitchen were gorgeous, I was happy to warm up to tea in the evening, during the summer fans are available in the closets. Two full bathrooms were enough for 5 of us and bonus for the 3 flatscreen televisions, all were equipped with their own Blu-ray player!
Dining
Eating family style in the dining area reminding me of my college days, more especially this weekend because a group from UC Davis was holding a conference on the grounds and many had their UCD sweatshirts on! The food was delicious and served buffet style in the morning, lucky for guests this meal is included in your stay! Think bread pudding, quiche Lorraine, cheese blintzes, breads, pastries, cereals, eggs, pancakes, bacon, fruits, yogurts, and so much more! I’ve never seen my kids eat so much!
Dinner was just as abundant and delicious. The buffet is different each night, there are themes, Mexican (sometimes with Mariachis included!), Italian, BBQ, and more, salads are always available, vegetarian options too! Prime rib, NY steaks, chicken, red pepper coulis, stuffed zucchini, baked potatoes, bread, soups, there is no need to leave the grounds during your stay with the offers on site!
Lighthouse Spa
Remember when I said the resort area is quiet and peaceful, why not build on that thought with a spa treatment from Lighthouse Spa. The Spa at Granlibakken offers three relaxing treatment rooms, including an area for multiple treatments and parties, a cozy waiting area and a refreshing outdoor deck in the midst of the Sierra. You’ll love the experience of a blissful retreat for all of your special occasions, weddings, or wellness weekends. I had the amazing opportunity to have a reflexology treatment on my feet. Never done this in the past I swore I never would fall asleep and with the music so calming and low, the perfect temperature of the room and the view of the ski hill out my window, I admit my masseuse said I was OUT! After coming too, I felt the relaxation overflow, that light-headed feeling of being rested and calm. We talked about the stressors my body expressed and ways to deal with them. Why I haven’t treated myself more often to spa treatments is beyond me, everyone needs to do it at least every few months! The Spa offers:
• Massage Therapy
• Skin Care
• Manicures & Pedicures
• Body Waxing
• Body Therapy & Healing Treatments
• Ayurveda Health & Wellness
I asked my masseuse to tell me how much she loved her job and she says she especially loves it when another masseuse pays back in trade and she gets her turn! I don’t blame her!
Our stay was hosted for two nights, including two breakfasts, one dinner, and a spa treatment (I did pay gratuities). All opinions are our own.
A few weekends ago my husband and I took a weekend getaway to Lake Tahoe without the kids. It was a nice time to reconnect the 4+ hours in the car, chatting, listening to music, and relaxing, plus doing some activities we wouldn’t normally do around the lake!
Something we could easily do with the kids, but they would probably grumble through it is take a scenic hike. We decided on hiking at Emerald Bay down to Eagle Falls and Vikingsholm Castle. This trail starts at Eagle Falls Picnic Area, highway 89 across from Emerald Bay, and with a requires a $7 hiking permit you can pay for at the trailhead. The hike is only about 2 miles round trip to Eagle Lake (only about 1/3 mile to the falls), the terrain varies from steep to flat and crosses beautiful Eagle Falls on a steel footbridge.
The road you hike down is gravel then paved, wide, and easy to manuever. There are tons of spots to stop and get some shade and even water to cool down (not to drink). We went about 9am and with the sun coming out, it can get pretty warm. The views are gorgeous, you can even see the Tahoe Queen come cruise through.
Once at the bottom you can tour Vikingsholm Castle, one of the finest examples of Scandinavian architecture in the western hemisphere through a paid guided tour. You can dip your toes in the lake, take a tour through the Visitor’s Center and Museum, or hike over to Eagle Falls (if you didn’t divert first like we did). The dirt path on the falls is rocky and only slightly steep at the most, it’s a perfect photo spot once you reach the top! The walk up doesn’t seem to be too tough, but remember you are in higher elevation, it takes some energy out of you! Take water and a protein bar. After exploring for a while we were back up to the car by noon.
After a visit to the hotel hot tub and a shower, my hubby and I decided to walk over to Tahoe Bowl. One of our favorite local hangouts, we’ve taken the kids here to burn off some steam. In this case, being alone, we skipped the bowling and enjoyed the Blue Dog Pizza located within the bowling alley and also enjoyed some beer and sports in the bar! Luckily we were within walking distance from our hotel, so it made it a safe trip!
With plenty of activities just across the stateline, my husband and I decided on a bit of gaming and more fun. With casinos like MontBleu, Harrah’s and Harvey’s Lake Tahoe, you can try your hand at lady luck, see a show, listen to music, and like me maybe win a few dollars ($30 total, better than losing!) With that extra money in hand we were excited to do what we like best, laugh! Later that evening, we called up the Improv at Harvey’s Casino and booked tickets ($30 each) to see some comedians. I was so excited to hear Dat Phan was performing, we had watched him win the reality show, Last Comic Standing in it’s first season, plus two other comics.
The show was hilarious, an hour and 45 minutes worth of laugh to tears comedy. A waitress comes to take drink orders during the show if you wish, and the theater is personal (be careful if you sit in front, you’re bound to get “teased!” and seats comfortable. For an additional $10 you can get a booth with friends!
Just outside the theater you’ll find the Hard Rock Cafe restaurant and stage. Saturday nights at about 10-10:30 you’ll get live music on the stage (classic rock that night) and with ample seating and dancing you can have a ball! We decided to share a late dinner and dessert, so our table was in great view of the action. We hung out until near midnight and it was a fun filled day for sure!
The next morning we were excited to go back to a wonderful place to eat, The Red Hut Cafe.
Sunday mornings are busy, go early and get your name in! We met some friends from Sparks and waited about 40 minutes for our table, but it was worth it, the food and service are great!
There are a million things to do in Tahoe, we love it and go back as often as possible any season of the year!
All opinions are our own, we were not compensated in any way for this post.
South Lake Tahoe is beautiful year-round. I’ve been going since I was 8 years old and when you first step out into the mountain air, the delicious smell of sugar pine just floods my senses with memories. Skiing and sledding in the winter, boating and mountain biking in the summer, it is a location that everyone can enjoy! We were lucky to head up last weekend, to say goodbye to summer and hello to fall and the weather was exciting, warm nights, warm days, thunder, lightning, hail, rain, we got a little of all seasons in 3 days.
With all the wonderful places to stay, we had an amazing experience at the Lakeshore Lodge & Spa. Known as the only all lakefront property, you can stay here with all the amenities you look for and enjoy in a world class resort for an affordable price with location, location as a primary catch. We stayed in a lakefront, 1-bedroom condo that opens up to the lake out the back patio. You have a concrete patio with table and chairs, a bit of lawn, sand, then 20 steps to the water, our Saturday morning view was stunning.
In our condo, you have all you need to prepare and cook a meal on your own as well as clean up. A dining table for 4 is adjacent to a living area with plenty of seating, an ultra comfortable couch that opens to a bed, as well as a wood burning stove for those cool Sierra evenings. Our sliding glass doors offered a unmatchable view of the lake, the surrounding mountains, and the property’s pool and spa. The bedroom is small but efficient with a king bed, chair, dresser and tv. Our bathroom would work well for couples or a family with separate toilet/shower and vanity area separated by doors. For a couple the condo was all we needed to enjoy our lover’s getaway.
Each morning in a 3 hour window, you can head to the lounge adjacent to the lobby and enjoy muffins, pastries, juice and coffee, included in the price of your night’s stay. Also in the lounge you will have access to a computer and printer to find your favorite local activities or learn about your dining selections. A daily newspaper is available as well as reading material to check out. The pool and spa offer a gorgeous setting out onto the beach, a volleyball court, and the lake beyond. After a 2.5 mile hike, my husband and I took a dip in the hot tub mid-afternoon to relax our muscles. Also onsite is the Elements Spa offering full-service facials, a redwood dry sauna, massage therapy, renewing body treatments, and packages for you, a group of girlfriends, or as a couple.
Groups (family reunions), business meetings, weddings, and retreats can be hosted at the Lakeshore Lodge in the private meeting room. We witnessed a wedding party and wedding on site as we lounged on the private beach. It was so beautiful and the privacy of not having the public allowed on the beach makes the location appealing and personal. The two times over the weekend we strolled and dipped our toes in the lake there was maybe only a handful of guests around! Picnic tables and barbecue grills are available making your stay feel like home as much as possible. The grounds are kept nicely as we constantly saw maintenance keeping the property up, even sweeping the sand and grass areas with a broom!
Lakeshore Lodge is within walking distance to Safeway on Hwy 50, the bowling alley, plenty of great dining areas and directly behind a CVS pharmacy for all your needs. Just a 5 minute drive to the stateline, and 15-20 minutes from our hike at Emerald Bay, it’s really an ideal location. Lodge rooms can be found for under $100/night, some with kitchens, and the condos are 1 and 2 bedroom, even one with a personal hot tub within. I had only one concern is that on ground floor, I heard each footstep, door closing, and kitchen noise of my upstairs neighbor, late at night and early in the morning. If you are a light sleeper like I am, ear plugs may help. Check out the Lakeshore Lodge, perfect and roomy for couples and families or girlfriends, you’ll enjoy your next Tahoe stay to the fullest!
Our stay was hosted in exchange for an honest review.
