south LAKE TAHOE
This summer we took a family trip to Lake Tahoe, which is truly one of the most beautiful places I have ever been to. It’s an absolute must-have destination on your list of places to visit. With all the places to go to in the world, I don’t know if I would have made it here if it wasn’t for my little brother. He recently relocated to the area with his wife to be closer to her family and raise their brand new baby girl! Meeting her made this trip all the more special. And it wasn’t just the Taravellas. My other brother, dad and uncle met up too! It was so nice to finally have a family reunion once we were all vaccinated and felt safe to travel.
Lake Tahoe is INCREDIBLE and the most photogenic. I mean, I took these quick shots with an iPhone and it’s not even capturing all the beauty. We stayed at Edgewood Tahoe Resort in South Lake Tahoe, Nevada. (My brother lives 20 mins away in South Lake Tahoe, California. The state line is drawn down the middle of the lake. ). The details of this resort were top notch: a glass of Veuve upon arrival, games set up on the lawn, the walk-up beach, complimentary s’mores and blankets at sunset, gas-lit fireplaces in every room… It was definitely the retreat I was looking for and needed.
My brother took us on mild, kid-friendly trails. One of which led to an incredible waterfall, Glen Alpine Falls. (And in case you’re wondering, we drove most of the way to get to that altitude). All the waterfalls I have ever seen in my life have been very calm and in tropical settings. This one was wide and robust in a rugged domain, yet gentle enough to create pools of natural water. The girls asked if they could take their shoes off and relax their feet in the water. Seemed no biggie we were being cautious — until splash! Harlow falls in. Completely soaked. Luckily I wore a sport bra that day and gave her the sweatshirt that I no longer needed.
We took another hike later on. This one was in the back of his in-laws neighborhood that took us through a meadow and past a giant tree, that seemed to be disfigured by a lightning strike. We referred to this tree as the “cool tree” on the duration of this hike, so I don’t know it’s real name or if it has one. This trail then led us to a quaint ice-cream shop that was across from a general store and a charming bar-and-grill restaurant called the Beacon. The restaurant was exactly what we needed. It was super relaxed and made the perfect retreat after a ling hike (or walk rather). Plus, we may have overshot the distance of it all with our kiddos because they rode our shoulders majority of the time. So when we ended our journey with a round of the Beacon’s famous Rum Runners — it was most deserving. Nothing like as sweet, rum daiquiri to top it all off, completely in Nola fashion. And since the restaurant is on the beach, we watched the sun set while the little ones playing in the sand.
We had originally made a boat reservation for our family day, but with the drop in temperature, it was much too chilly for us southern folks. The nice thing about Edgewood is they have a heated pool adjacent to the lake with an unobstructed view, along with an enormous hot tub (for lack of a better word). So we just relaxed. Just the 4 of us …and Shia Lebouf by the pool. Haha, yup! My claim to fame is he actually was next to us the entire time and said I have adorable kids. I’m one of those people who act too cool for celebrities even though I’m dying on the inside of excitement.
Where we stayed…
Edgwood Tahoe Resort
This was the perfect spot for us. Close proximity to everything - hikes, restaurants, shopping, activities - but above all, the lake! You can’t trade that view for anything! Every morning I would go sit out on the beach, drink my coffee and just sit to breath in all the fresh air while the geese settle into the water. So peaceful. (And if it wasn’t for those kids) I could sit for hours.
This resort is mostly known for its world-class golf course. I’m not a golfer, obvi, but Aaron is. Although not a diehard to golf by himself. But the course costs many celebrity golfers as well as celebrity championships. The weekend after our stay Justin Timberlake was hosting an event. That would have been fun! With an altitude of above 6,200 sf, the course is surrounding by incredible vistas. So I wanted to see them. I took the girls on the walk along a pedestrian sidewalk adjacent to the course, before I came upon a sign that said golfers sidewalk only. Whoops!
This resort was topnotch and I enjoyed every detail even down to the heated vessels used to keep your room service warm on the wheeled in cart. My one complaint about this resort would be the goose waste on the beach. So many geese = so much poop! Seriously, there was so much that you were confined to your chair in fear of stepping in it. And it’s not completely noticeable at first because it’s semi buried, but it’s there. (Look closely at first picture.) I don’t know if it’s the mating system, but it was extreme and they really should be raking it.
And if you happen to use the AMEX Fine Hotels + Resort benefits program, this resort is on the list! I LOVE finding hotels through this program.. You get $100 credit, late 4pm checkout, room upgrade upon arrival and comped breakfast for 2 every day, as well as 5x points on your card for the cost of the stay as well as $200 credited towards your card at the end of the year.
Next year in 2022, they will be revealing their villas with even more private amenities. Perfect for families!
180 Lake Parkway, Stateline, NV 89449 www.edgewoodtahoe.com
The girls very much enjoyed their “breakfast in bed”. The girls gifted me breakfast in bed with Aaron once for Mother’s Day. So ever since it’s been a major highlight to be able to do this.
Every morning after coffee, I’d enjoy a mimosa while the girls drank hot chocolate and fresh whip cream.
Recommendations for traveling to South Lake Tahoe:
Stay on the lake. To wake up to the view if this beautiful scenery will be an experience that will stay with you forever. The best fit for my family was Edgewood Tahoe Resort, a luxury resort in South Lake Tahoe. But another option I was interested (although in North Lake Tahoe) is Hyatt Lake Tahoe Resort. It was a significant price difference, but all the amenities that I was looking for was still intact, just the location wasn’t where I needed to be.
Fly into Reno. The flights are cheaper and the drive in is remarkable! Very scenic as you drive through the mountains - particular for this little swamp girl who’s used to no elevation change whatsoever.
Plan for all weather conditions even in summer. We arrived at a time in the year where the weather conditions were anticipated to be perfect. However two weeks before our arrival, there was a random snow blizzard that came through that dropped the temperatures to 35 degrees. Thankfully it climbed back up by the time we arrived, but it was still chilly. Apparently, this drastic weather change is indicative of Lake Tahoe summer weather.
Hit the trails. We loved Glen Alpine Falls! We were limited with the kids on how much we can do and how far we could go. So we missed a chance on Emerald Bay which is incredible and a must have. Check out the trails and their logistics here to better plan your trip.
Heavenly Lake Tahoe. We were unfortunately a week shy of Lake Tahoe officially opening for summer. One place is worth revolving your trip around was Heavenly Lake, a ski resort but in the summer offers gondola rides with views to the top of the mountain as well as a slew of activities for kids — like roller coasters through the mountain! Edgewood is literally walking distance
Plan a boat ride. (Weather permitting.) There are so many remote beaches along the lake’s shores that would make for a beautiful boat ride. We had one planned, but unfortunately had to cancel due to the cold weather and choppy winds.
Bring the kiddos. This is definitely a family friendly destination!
There’s so much to see! You won’t get to see it all, so plan to come back. It’s definitely a reoccurring destination that you can’t check off once.
