Tahoelodging

Lake Tahoe Lake Front Vacation Rental

Phylise — Tue, 10 Aug 2010 23:54:20 +0000

Tahoe Keys 267, a 3 bedroom, 2 bath updated LAKEFRONT condo available as a vacation rental. Full Lake Tahoe view, right on Lake Tahoe. All Tahoe Keys properties are on the water, Tahoe Keys 267 is the only one on the Lake. Only 10 condos on the Lake Tahoe with lake front access. As a vacation rental, this is the place to be.

Todd Borg and Tahoe Heat

Phylise — Mon, 09 Aug 2010 19:32:42 +0000

In addition to various venues of theater and visual arts, Tahoe is also home to various writers. One of our favorites is Todd Borg, who writes mysteries set in Lake Tahoe. While it’s fun to read about locales known to most Tahoe residents, the stories themselves are first-rate, completely captivating, and hard to put down.

Todd’s last book, Tahoe Silence, won the prestigious Ben Franklin Award in 2009 for Best Mystery of the Year. This was Todd’s second Ben Franklin Award, the first being won for Tahoe Blowup in 2002.

His latest book, Tahoe Heat, came out the first of August. Private investigator Owen McKenna is again featured assisted in his mystery solving by his Great Dane, Spot. It’s a must read. So get yourself a copy at any regional bookstore, any Red Hut, or Master Framing Gallery. It’s a must read!!

Going ons. . .

Phylise — Fri, 06 Aug 2010 20:18:33 +0000

One of the great things about Tahoe in the summer is the amount of quality music and theater that is performed all around the lake.

Tonight is Stevie Nicks on her ‘This is Not a Tour” tour. I still have her Rumours album, having had to replace it from numerous playings. She performing at Harvey’s Outdoor Arena. Call 1.800.768.8208 for more information or ape.concerts.com for tickets.

Tomorrow night, August 7, is Michael McDonald performing at Northstar. Boy, there’s a great voice. And in a great setting. Call 530.583.3101 for more information.

Shakespeare is alive and well at Sand Harbor. ‘The Complete Works of William Shakespeare (abridged)” is presented by the Lake Tahoe Shakespeare Festival and runs until August 22. You can’t beat the setting of Sand Harbor. The play is too much fun and the setting makes it unique. For more information visit the website at www.laketahoeshakespeare.com or call 1.800.747.4697.

There is also the Valhalla Arts, Music and Theatre Festival at the historic Tahoe Tallac site. The Tahoe Improve Players take the stage at the Boathouse Theater on Tuesday, August 10. Bison, a 5-piece bluegrass band, performs on Wednesday, August 11, and on Thursday, August 12, Durga with Liz Broscoe will perform. Durga is a performance story based on the evolution and migration of people and drums.

Kit Night, a favorite painter, starts in the Artist-in-Residence series in the Twin Cabins on Friday, August 13 – 19, from 10 am – 4 pm.

Parking is available from 11 am – 3 pm. Not much time but the Tallac site is a great bike ride or walk. For more information, call 530.541.4975 or visit www.ValhallaTahoe.com

Celebrity Golf . . . .

Phylise — Tue, 13 Jul 2010 00:04:29 +0000

Officially known as the American Century Championship, celebrity golf week (known to the locals) is about ready to start. The first sign is the sound of corporate jets flying in. This started on Sunday. The Tahoe basin is small enough that when jets fly, it really reverberates throughout.

The second sign is a line of SUV limos’, with darkened windows, that go through town from the airport to the casinos.

Although the locals enjoy this event, we like seeing shots of Tahoe on TV, the people who really get into it are the second home owners. Many of them come up to volunteer for the event. I mean, why not? They don’t have to pay for lodging and they get to rub elbows with the likes of Mike Jordan, Charles Barkley, Ray Romano, Tony Romo, Bode Miller, and Jason Kidd.

It should be a great event at a beautiful golf course in a beautiful time of year. Tickets can be purchased at tahoecelebritygolf.com or daily at the front gate.

Outdoor Concert Series 2010

Phylise — Thu, 17 Jun 2010 22:05:31 +0000

Harvey’s/Harrah’s has announced their outdoor concert series for 2010 and it looks great!

Saturday, June 19th 7 pm: Chicago/The Doobie Brothers Prices $49.50 – 99.50 plus fees

Saturday, July 10th 7 pm: Sugarland.

Saturday, July 16th & 17th 7 pm: Rascal Flatts

Sunday, July 25th 8 pm: Elton John with Band Prices $95.50 – $235.50

Friday, August 6th 8 pm: An Evening with Stevie Nicks Prices $49.50 – $159.50

Saturday, September 11th 7 pm: Chickenfoot

Tahoe Bike Month May 24 – June 5, 2010

Phylise — Fri, 28 May 2010 23:12:37 +0000

Celebrate Tahoe Bike Month! Saturday, June 5 is the Tahoe Bike Day Parade & Festival.

Decorate your bikes and join in the fun with family and friends at the Ski Run Marina.

9 – 12 CHP Bike Safety Check and Rodeo for Kids

12 Noon Official Ribbon Cutting Ceremony

12:30 pm Bike Parade

1-5 pm Bike Festival

5 – 7 pm Wine, Bikes & Song

For more information visit www.Tahoebike.org

Renaissance Faire Returns!

Phylise — Fri, 28 May 2010 22:18:15 +0000

The Valhalla Renaissance Faire returns to Camp Richardson’s Wood in South Lake Tahoe. To be held two weekends, June 5 – 6 and June 12 – 13, promises to be a great time for the entire family.

The first weekend will cater to a younger audience. Wizards, faeries, and elves will enchant the streets of the market village, spreading magic and fantasies throughout the shire. The second weekend pirate and barbarian hordes will invade the faire.

The Knights of Avalon will be showcased on the first weekend while the Knights of Mayhem will kick up the energy on the second weekend.

Jesters, magicians, bards, 100s of costumed actors including Shakespeare and Queen Elizabeth, swords and live battles, kids games and shows on all four stages will complete this memorable and fun experience.

Tickets are $17 for adults, $12 for seniors, military and ages 13 – 17, and $7 for children 6 – 12. website: http://www.valhallafaire.com

It’s spring!!!

Phylise — Thu, 13 May 2010 19:37:59 +0000

Spring has finally arrived in South Lake Tahoe. You can tell because the daffodils and tulips are up and starting to bloom, not necessarily because of the lack of snow. In fact, we’ve had an abundance of snow this year, the snow pack was measured on April 30 to be at 144% of normal. A storm arrives at the beginning of every week like clockwork. And then it’s gone the next day, with the weather warming up by the weekend. Spring is always a roller coaster, weather wise.

The amount of snow is good for the Sierras and the lake. The rivers are rising and the wildflowers will be beautiful and plentiful. Any dent in the drought will help keep the trees healthy. Despite the snow, spring is here. Yahoo. .

Glaciers in Tahoe

Phylise — Wed, 31 Mar 2010 23:15:02 +0000

Glaciers are alive and well in Tahoe. A smaller version of alpine glaciers, they can be found next to most driveways. The glaciers advance and retreat like the Perito Moreno in Patagonia or the Aletsch in Switzerland.

Ok, these aren’t actual glaciers. And these are just seasonal, not permanent, but the formation is similar. The snow is thrown on top of other snow due to removal from the driveway, it compacts and forms snow ice . With each storm, more and more snow is added to the top and furthers the compaction. But they’re fun to watch. It’s like looking at an outdoor climate chamber.

Those who live in town have lost their glaciers, those of us who live at a higher elevation than lake level still get to experience the ebb and flow. Due to last nights storm, the glaciers are currently flowing. It will continue like this for a while, until the sun gets higher in the sky, the earth gets warmer, and spring takes over.

Winter Driving

Phylise — Thu, 04 Feb 2010 21:02:45 +0000

As I sit here and watch it snow, it seems like a good time to talk about winter driving. Thousands of people come to Tahoe every winter and drive like idiots. For some reason, the thought that there is snow, or worse ice, on the road and that it would be a good idea to adjust their driving, never crosses their mind. As a result, we have numerous accidents, some fatal, that never need to happen if people would just think.

Some tips.

Don’t tailgate. Leave enough room between you and the car in front of you. Stopping on snow or ice takes longer. If you slam on the brakes, there is a very good chance your brakes will lock, your tires will slide and you will probably spin out and hit some innocent bystander. When you’re driving at night in a snow storm, it is really hard to see if you are the lead car. It’s even more difficult with someone’s headlights shining in the rear view mirror. So if you are behind a car, give them some room.

Give yourself time to stop. This really goes with the above. Tap the break gently several times to avoid spinning or your brakes locking. Start stopping early.

Drive the appropriate speed for the conditions. Snow packed roads are better with speed than ice covered roads. Snow pack can take 35 – 40 miles an hour (if it’s daylight and you can see) but ice, ice is really deadly. You can spin out in a heart beat. So slow it down. Be careful around curves. 20 – 25 miles an hour should be ok. Don’t think, ‘oh well, I have 4 wheel drive, I can do anything.’ No, you can’t do anything. Ice doesn’t care about 4 wheel or all wheel drive. You’re going to land in the ditch, or worse, the same as any other car.

At the same time, don’t drive too slow. That’s dangerous too. Driving 15 miles an hour is a great way to back up traffic and cause hazardous conditions. If you’re nervous about driving in the snow or ice, don’t. Stay home or go with someone else.

Don’t try to beat the berm. When the main highway through Tahoe gets plowed, the plows put the snow in the middle of the road, or the left hand turn lane. And then it gets removed later. I can not tell you how many times we watch drivers trying to beat the berm by driving over it and get high centered. There they sit, spinning their wheels trying to get off it. And then they have to be rescued from their stupid decision. Traffic backs up, drivers get angry, accidents happen. The plows make an opening somewhere along the middle berm so that people can turn left safely. You may have to scope it out a bit, you may have to back track a bit, but it will be shorter in the long run.

Look at your tires. Good tires make a HUGE difference when driving during hazardous conditions.

Bottom line: Pay attention. Be sensible and courteous when driving in the snow. It’s not really going to cost you anything and it could save your life.