South Lake Tahoe Archives - Page 2 of 3

Illusion Fusion Starring Alex Ramon: Magic Show Review in South Lake Tahoe

June 21, 2012 by The Mom Jen 6 Comments

I’m no stranger to the casinos when we head to South Lake Tahoe. I love a little gambling time, and of course love it in those few times I hit a jackpot. When I was young, my parents would travel to Tahoe with me and I’d hang out in the casino arcade while they gambled. On our recent trip to the Sierras, our kids had the best of both worlds, they got to come with mom and dad to the Horizon Casino to both watch a fabulous show AND got their time in the casino arcade like I used to!We had the opportunity to watch the magic show, Illusion Fusion starring Alex Ramon in The Golden Cabaret room of the casino resort.

“Illusion Fusion”, a brand new, high-energy theatrical show stars Award-Winning Master Magician Alex Ramon & Friends, featuring mind-blowing illusions, slight-of-hand close-up, and unique, never-before-seen magic that defines the word “art”.

I love magic, I love being mystified and I was excited our kids could attend this family-friendly show! While we lined up next to the slot machines, the kids watched wide-eyed as the bling and ca-ching of the one-arm bandits enticed them. Once in the show room, we found our seats front-row and my husband and I were nervous. When we’ve gone to see comedians or other shows that often have audience participation, we tend to stay back a bit because we are both very shy. The show opens with this handsome young man, Alex Ramon who resembles television’s Jimmy Fallon and immediately the kids, and my husband and I are intrigued, interested, and awestruck from the first trick. Ramon’s beautiful assistant Meghan is involved somehow in about half of his tricks and illusions and here are a few photos of our favorites:

The oohs and ahhs were 100% real coming from us especially seated so close. I’d hope I could key into how the trick was really done, I just couldn’t! I’d try to think okay something’s holding her back, but they why didn’t her legs hang?? Mind-blowing.

Alex Ramon is charming, funny, and so entertaining! Using tricks with modern technology like the iPad really got the kid’s attention and then using so many audience members in the show was really smart to keep everyone on their toes. We laughed, we gasped, we questioned gravity and science, it was so cool!

If you’re lucky to see the audience-participation wedding ring trick, that’s worth the money right there! All in all, a fabulous time was had by all. We did not get chosen to go on stage though Alex Ramon jokingly says, “I still can see you if you look away!” ha ha! If you have really young kids like 3-6 years old, I would recommend they nap during the day, the show does start late for the little ones! All kids’ tickets for Sunday night shows are free with a paying adult and all kids’ tickets every night are good for a $5 arcade card in the casino, it’s a super great deal!

TICKETS
Illusion Fusion staring Alex Ramon will run this summer 6 nights a week, with shows nightly at 8p (Dark Wednesdays) in the intimate setting of The Golden Cabaret inside the Horizon Casino Resort . Doors open at 7:30pm, Show starts at 8pm and is about 1 hour and a half long. Tickets are available online at www.ticketfly.com, or by calling the Horizon at 775-588-6211.

$24.95 per person, with FREE tickets on Sundays for guests 12 and under (one free ticket with each paid adult). Also, all guests under 12 receive a FREE $5.00 pre-loaded arcade card for every show!

Become a Facebook fan for prizes, contests and giveaways, www.facebook.com/IllusionFusion and follow on Twitter @AlexRamonMagic and @FusionShow.

We were sent tickets for honest review, we paid for our extended family to join us. All opinions are 100% our own.

Lake Tahoe Accommodations: Marshall Trail Rental Home Review

June 18, 2012 by The Mom Jen 6 Comments

Tahoe in the summertime is gorgeous. After school got out, baseball season ended, and the girls finished up their dance recital, we packed up and headed to South Lake. There are so many options when visiting Tahoe as far as accommodations; camping, hotels, motels, rental homes, condos, and more! There were going to be nine of us total, two families staying this time, so we looked into Tahoe rentals near the stateline so we could maximize our extra-curricular options. There are so many great homes, Lake Tahoe Accommodations has a wide selections and we stayed at the Marshall Trail property just above Pioneer Trail. Upon arrival to Lake Tahoe, we were in about 2 hours before check in. We were greeted at the main office located at the Y with a lovely bottle of merlot and news that we could check in early!

We were eager to check out the place so we grabbed the keys and headed over. Just a 7-10 minute drive, we drove up to a 6 year old beautiful home that backs up to the forest. With garage door opener, we drove into a clean garage that enters to the bottom floor of this two story home. Just inside the doors from the garage is a washer and dryer, perfect for families staying 3 or more days. We packed for 2 nights, but we were happy to know we had the option to wash if need be. Just beyond the laundry is a sitting room with a comfortable sofa that converts to a bed, chair, coffee table and television. This is nice especially with two families, it’s like you’re own place within a home!3 of the 4 bedrooms are found on this floor (one with bunk beds) as well as a full bathroom. The center room adjoins the bathroom through a second door for added privacy. Family that stayed downstairs claimed the temperature was perfect with the heat set on 65 even on the cool 30 degree nights. I worried it would be cooler downstairs. Each room had sufficient bedding plus extra blankets/sheets/pillow cases in the closet along with a full set of bedding for the pull out sofa. Our only negative was the mattress on the pull out bed downstairs. The coils were very prominent, but with placing the comforter and a blanket on top of the mattress, my two youngest kids were finally comfortable. There is also a sleeper sofa upstairs though we did not use it.Heading upstairs, you reach a landing where the front door resides along with a bench to keep sweatshirts, purses, shoes beneath. The windows and glass front door allow lots of light throughout this area and are really pretty for the decor. Also, the carpet in all the bedrooms and downstairs is so soft, and so clean! We’ve stayed in rentals before where you walk barefoot and your feet are black, definitely not the case here. The tile and the hardwood in the rest of the house is beautiful just goes well with the overall beauty of the home.Upstairs you have the main living area, kitchen, dining area, Master bedroom and bath, a half bath, and the deck with the hot tub. The grand windows all around let in the beautiful light from outside and give warmth to the area. The modern kitchen is fit for a professional chef, the granite counter tops and stainless steel accessories are gorgeous with the light flooring and dark accents. My husband would love to replicate the plank dining table that is surrounded by windows that oversee the forest beyond.Did I mention that every room/bedroom in the house has a television, perfect for families with kids for sure when you just don’t want to watch cartoons all vacation! The view from the deck was lovely and so peaceful. The home backs up to the forest for great walking paths and my husband found that there was a good 30 minute bike trail nearby that he and my son utilized (mostly downhill, I did pick them up at the bottom so they didn’t have to climb the steep incline back to the house!) The entire family will love the hot tub, we opened it up and it was hot and clean and ready for us! The kids used it for a bit during the day, while the adults loved it with the stars and trees high above at night. Also, different colored night lamps thrilled all of us!Finally, my favorite, the Master bedroom. Ultimately, everyone having their own space is so special when we’re on vacation. It’s like the comforts of home while you’re away and the master in this house was stellar. It was huge, with lots of windows and light, had a desk to do some work on, along with the ambiance of the fireplace/heater and luxurious bathroom. The four poster bed was lovely and uncovered which was nice to get the effects of the ceiling fan at night. The jacuzzi tub and tiled large shower was icing on the cake when both romance and privacy is concerned. If I only had to leave the room to eat would be fine, relaxation at it’s finest in this room!We would rent this home again in a heartbeat. Also, our experience with Lake Tahoe Accommodations was wonderful, we’d be happy to try another vacation rental property of theirs on a different part of the lake! If you’re heading to Lake Tahoe, visit their website, or head into their office in South Lake and rent this property or others!

Lake Tahoe Accommodations
2048 Dunlap Dr., Suite 4
South Lake Tahoe, CA 96150
www.tahoeaccommodations.com
530-544-3234

Our stay was hosted in exchange for this honest review plus other social media requirements. All opinions are 100% ours.

Our Lake Tahoe Weekend Getaway Sans Children

September 19, 2011 by The Mom Jen Leave a Comment

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: Lakeshore Lodge & Spa Review

September 13, 2011 by The Mom Jen Leave a Comment

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.

The Red Hut Cafe, South Lake Tahoe

January 3, 2011 by The Mom Jen Leave a Comment

The Red Hut Cafe is too great to pass up when you’re in South Lake Tahoe! With 3 restaurants open now, the newest location on Hwy 50 and Ski Run Blvd is now serving dinner! A family run establishment around since 1959, the Red Hut has been know for it’s famous waffles and has a fountain where the soda jerks can put on great show while making an Old Fashion Sundae or Root Beer Float!

Upon entering the restaurant you get a old-time 50’s diner feel, yet you know when you are in Lake Tahoe when you look up and see the full-sized ski-lift chairs as decor, it’s simply awesome. The red and black seats and booths match the red and black of the ski lift chairs and add a modern color scheme. (Photo to the left is the lift seat outside the restaurant). The soda fountain is adjacent to the restaurant as well as a gift shop.

The staff is as friendly as can be and we were treated to speaking with one of the owners, Kelly Gardner who took time while we awaited our meal to give us some history of the restaurant. As we watched her that night, she took time to go around to all the tables and speak with the patrons, it was a great way to touch base with clientele and assure return customers for sure. The atmosphere feels so homey, and you feel like part of the family and not just a number.

There were a number of dinner specials available, all coming with a salad which was fresh and crisp and just enough not to fill you up before the main course. Luckily for the little ones, the breakfast and lunch menus are offered all day as well, the pancakes are huge and delicious especially for a four year old! My husband had a chicken parmesean sandwich which was cooked perfectly and tasted like pizza in a bun he said! I had the spaghetti and meat sauce with french bread, and it tasted so homemade, the flavor was amazing! My daughter and son had burgers that were HUGE and cooked perfectly, maybe next time they will share.

Since we visit often over the course of the year, I’m looking forward heading back to The Red Hut for one of those delicious desserts! Check out the menus (dinner menu is not online yet) and visit when you get the chance!
We were treated to dinner thanks to the owner. The opinions are our 100% honest tried and true experience.