If you’re staying in one of our South Lake Tahoe vacation rentals and are looking to have a meal out, but want to stay off the beaten path, I have a great suggestion for you.  El Papagayo Grill & Cafe is one of the South Shore’s true hidden gems.  This Mexican restaurant is located on Highway 50 in the town of Meyers (adjacent to South Lake Tahoe) near the agricultural checkpoint.  It is unique due to the fact that it is mostly organic and the food is incredibly fresh and delicious.  The menu is quite simple with all of the classics, I highly recommend their Baja Fish Super Burrito.  They also serve breakfast plates and burritos until 12pm.  Open year round, they have ample seating indoors and ample seating outdoors during the warmer months, and you can top it all off with a beer from their large selection!  Be sure to check out their daily specials at the front counter for some delectable additions to the regular menu!

Phone: (530) 577-3344
No Website

If you’re looking to add a little excitement to your South Lake Tahoe vacation, snowmobiling is a fun activity that the whole group can enjoy.  There are numerous companies in town that offer snowmobile rides of all levels.  Sierra Mountain Sports offers self-guided or track tours at both the Lake Tahoe Golf Course and Edgewood Golf Course (home of the annual American Century Celebrity Golf).  Lake Tahoe Adventures offers guided tours in the scenic Hope Valley located in the Pine Nut Mountains.   Zephyr Cove Resort also offers guided tours in a very scenic environment, the Tahoe Rim Trial.  Most companies offer clothing rentals for all ages.

Many people who stay in South Lake Tahoe vacation rentals are visiting Tahoe for the overall experience, including art and culture. Downtown South Lake Tahoe has numerous art galleries, especially in the Village Center (located a couple of blocks from the casinos on the California side). The galleries offer paintings, sculpture, jewelry, glass art, photography and much more. There are also a few restaurants and clothing stores if you’d like to make a day of it!

If you’re looking to add some “fun in the snow” to your South Lake Tahoe vacation, and you’re not into skiing or snowboarding, Heavenly has a great tubing hill at Adventure Peak (at the top of the Stateline Gondola).  New this year, the tubing hill has five lanes of fun and is over 500 feet long with a 65-foot vertical drop!  Riders must be more than 40 inches tall to ride.  And while you’re up there enjoying the sun and snow, you can also enjoy a bite to eat at the Smokehouse Grill at Adventure Peak!

The cost for the tubing hill is $30 per hour and you will also need to purchase a ticket to ride the Gondola.

If you are staying in one of our South Lake Tahoe vacation rentals during this upcoming President’s Day Weekend, or any time during February, here are some fun events to add to your vacation agenda:

February (All Month, Wed – Sun)
Carnival Cabaret
Horizon Casino Resort
Wednesday through Sunday at 8pm. $10 special on Wednesdays. Carnival Cabaret will leave you breathless with our country’s most popular divas. Performances by three of the country’s top female impersonators, bringing to the stage such tributes as Cher, Bette Midler, Dolly Parton, Reba McEntire and many others.
Phone: 800.683.8266

February 13
Kevin Nealon
MontBleu Resort Casino & Spa
Don’t miss this Saturday Night Live front man in action. Tickets $25/$40/$50 (+ $2 Facility Fee), Doors at 8pm, Show at 9pm.
MontBleu Events Page

February 14
Valentine’s Day Dinner Dance Cruise
M.S. Dixie II
Departing from Zephyr Cove Marina, 6:00 PM, Enjoy live music and dancing.
Phone: 800.23.TAHOE

February 14
Valentine’s Dinner
The Beacon Bar & Grill
Phone: 530.541.0630

February 16
Mardi Gras Party at Blu Nightclub
MontBleu Resort Casino & Spa
Saturn Rising, Live Band 10pm.

February 19
The Third Friday Gallery Art Walk at the Village Center
Raleys Village Center Every third Friday of the Month from 4-7 pm: Friday, March 19, 2009 4-7pm. Wine and Hors d’ oeuvres served. South Shore’s Village Center is The Place for art lovers to visit! Located just a block from the casinos and next door to the Heavenly Village just beyond Stateline, Nevada. With treasures such as handcrafted jewelry, Tahoe landscape photography, and original and limited edition paintings, this new Art Center of South Lake Tahoe “has it all.” Many of the galleries feature live artist demonstrations and serve wine and hors d’oeuvres. Participating Galleries –Are all located at: 4000 Lake Tahoe Blvd. South Lake Tahoe, CA 96150: Untamed Art 530-544-7099 Suite #3 – www.signaturegalleries.com, Marcus Ashley Gallery 530-544-4278 Suite #23 – www.MarcusAshley.com, Wyland Galleries 530-541-7099 Suite #3 – www.signaturegalleries.com, Sun Art 530-544-1341 Suite #27 – www.sunartgallerytahoe.com, Jon Paul Gallery 530-544-4269 Suite #18 – www.jonpaulgallery.com and Artifacts 530-543-0728 Suite # 18.

February 19
Les Claypool
MontBleu Resort Casino & Spa
The legendary Primus front man returns to MontBleu for an epic one night performance. Tickets: $29.50 General Admission (+ $2 Facility Fee), Doors at 8pm, Show at 9pm.
MontBleu Events Page

February 20
G. Love & Special Sauce
Harrah’s Lake Tahoe
Harrah’s South Shore Room, 7:30 PM. General admission show. 21 years and over.
Show Website

February 23
Wines of France Tasting
Après Wine Company
Burgundy, Bordeaux, the Rhône & Loire…ooo la la! Tu., Feb. 23 at 6pm. $25. Tastings include 5 wines with appetizer pairings. Discounts on wines tasted: -10% on 1-5 bottles, -15% on 6+. RSVP 530-544-WINE (9463)
Visit Website

February 25 – 28
The North Face Masters of Snowboarding
Kirkwood
Professional and up-and-coming snowboarders from around the globe gather at Kirkwood for the final stop along the tour of The North Face Masters big mountain competition to battle it out in the legendary terrain of The Cirque, home to the resort’s most challenging cliff drops and chutes. Male and female snowboarders over the age of 18 years are welcome to participate in the event and can register online.

Many of our Lake Tahoe rentals back to, or are very close to, US Forest Service land which is a great area to do some snowshoeing.  It’s a wonderful way to get a more “closeup and personal” experience with our High Sierra scenic beauty, and it’s a pet friendly activity too.  There are numerous trails around the Tahoe Basin (for all levels of expertise) if you’re feeling a bit more adventurous, and Kirkwood offers lunchtime, sunset and full moon snowshoeing treks if you would feel more comfortable having a guide.

If you staying in one of our Lake Tahoe rentals, or anywhere else on the South Shore this month, here are some fun event ideas for you to add to your agenda!

January 4 – January 8
College Week Discounted Ski + Snowboard Lift Tickets at Sierra Resort
Break out of the library and hit the hill! During College Weeks, college students can receive a $54 lift ticket at Sierra-at-Tahoe® Resort when they present a current college photo I.D. at the Sierra Ticket Office. So bring your friends out and ski or ride for cheap! College Week Dates: January 4 – 8, January 11 – 15, March 22 – 26. March 29 – April 2, and April 5 – 9.
Sierra at Tahoe
Phone: (530) 543-5614

January 9
MC Hammer
Harrah’s South Shore Room, 7:30pm
Harrah’s Lake Tahoe
Event Page

January 9
National Winter Trails Day & Free Guided Snowshoe Hikes on the Tahoe Rim Trail
The Tahoe Rim Trail Association will be hosting a FREE event on Saturday, January 9th 2010 at Tahoe Meadows on the east side of the Mount Rose Highway. The event begins at 10am and will feature free guided snowshoe hikes for all ages and abilities and free Starbucks hot chocolate and snacks. In addition, family snowshoe hikes will be offered and youth programs during the day. This event kicks off the TRTA FREE guided Snowshoe Treks for the winter. Check our Calendar of Events for dates and locations each Saturday through March.
Visit the Website
Phone: (775) 298-0012

January 13
Snowshoe Cocktail Races at The Beacon Bar & Grill
Run around the track, wearing snowshoes, carrying a tray of “drinks”. The person who finishes first..and spills the least..WINS! Have fun and win prizes. Race starts at 7:00 PM. The races are free to participate in.
Visit the Website
Phone: (530) 541-0630

January 16 & January 17
Tower of Power
Harrah’s South Shore Room, 7:30pm
Harrah’s Lake Tahoe
Event Page

January 23
Snowbomb Slopestyle Competition at Kirkwood
Snowbomb comes in and holds registration the morning of the event and runs the event with the help of Kirkwood staff. It is a one day event with awards at the end of the day, around 4pm.
Kirkwood Mountain Resort
Tollfree: (877) KIRKWOOD

January 23
Air Supply
Harrah’s South Shore Room, 7:30pm
Harrah’s Lake Tahoe
Event Page

January 30
Chubby Checker
Harrah’s South Shore Room, 7:30pm
Harrah’s Lake Tahoe
Event Page

Located in the heart of the Heavenly Village shops is an outdoor ice skating rink.  It’s a great way to add an old-fashioned activity to your Lake Tahoe vacation agenda!  Enjoy the music, lights, and the wonderful winter ambiance of South Shore’s only outdoor ice-rink.  In the summer, the ice rink transforms into a mini golf course, perfect for the entire family.  Skates are available for rent, and they are open daily.

Tahoe weather the morning of December 7th.

With around 2 feet of fresh snow left behind from a nationwide storm, more is on the way later this week!  This is great news if you have reserved a Lake Tahoe rental during the month of December and plan to ski or snowboard.  It’s also great news for the kiddos for sledding!

If you are planning on staying in one of our Lake Tahoe rentals this holiday season, and are looking for a traditional holiday adventure, the U.S. Forest Service, Lake Tahoe Basin Management Unit is offering permits for the public to select and cut holiday trees in the Tahoe Basin.  There are numerous designated areas for cutting, and many different types of trees to choose from, so you’ll be sure to find your own special tree.  And it’s a great activity the whole family can enjoy!  Permits are only $10 (limit 2 permits per family), and you can can use them up until December 24th!  In addition to the traditional experience, you will help contribute to reduce over-growth and hazardous fire fuels that have built up over years of fire suppression.  Removing excessive amounts of small trees from the forest will help create a healthier forest over time, so you will be helping the environment too!

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