Fox News recently named Tahoe one of their "Top 6 Romantic Destinations for Valentine's Day" and it's easy to see why because there are SO many romantic things to do here for every price range. Whether it's skiing, shopping, getting a massage, or just walking on the beach and enjoying the scenery there are romatic options for every price range available here.
1. A Walk on the Beach
Tahoe boasts some of the most beautiful strolling beaches in the US. If your idea of romance is a walk along a deserted beach with great scenery, Tahoe has plenty of options. Among my personal favorites are Lakeview Commons / El Dorado beach in California, which has a lovely, recently completed stone ampetheatre along with almost a mile of beach with views of the mountains and the skyline at Stateline. Another great choice on the Nevada side is Nevada beach which features a campground, dog park, history trail, and a beach so long you can actually walk all the way to zephyr cove. 2. Sternwheeler Cruise
For the rest of this winter the Tahoe Queen is offering shuttle service to Northstar-at-Tahoe on the north shore for $59 round trip. (Discounts available if you have a Northstar ticket) The glass bottomed boat cruise features continental breakfast on the way out and an apres ski party atmosphere (with optional food and drinks at an extra charge) on the way back. Check out Clark Vandeventer's great blog for his experience.
If you're not interested in transportation and just want a cruise, you can catch a scenic cruise along the best sites on the lakeshore on the M.S. Dixie II from Timber Cove marina in Zephyr cove. Check out their page at ZephyrCove.com for more information.
3. Carriage Ride
When I put out a question on twitter looking for Valentine's Day ideas, @TahoeJason had this great suggestion:
Almost any weekend or holiday in Tahoe you can catch a fairy-tale style horse-drawn carriage from the front of Embassy Suites all the way around Stateline, and if there's snow you can also go riding in a one-horse open sleigh in the open field across from Edgewood. (Check out this video of my dog reacting to the horse-drawn carriage for a good laugh) For prices and more information visit SleighRide.com.
4. Outdoor Activities
As anyone who watches my channel knows, Tahoe has an embarrassment of riches when it comes to outdoor activities, and they're all fun to do as a couple. We're a destination for both summer and winter hiking, as well as snowshoeing, stand-up paddling, and, of course, skiing. All of the major ski resorts have specials on for Valentine's day but the real can't miss special this year is at Squaw Valley on the north shore, which is offering access to it's Olympic class ski facilities for just $14 per person on February 14th. Also check out the deals at Heavenly Tahoe, Northstar-at-Tahoe, and Kirkwood.
5. Heavenly Village
There are many shopping opportunities all around Lake Tahoe, but my personal reccomendation for couples shopping on the south shore is Heavenly Village and the Crescent-V shopping center across the street. Heavenly Village offers safe gondola access access to Heavenly's awesome slopes as well as public art installations, an ice-skating rink, a very new and non-crowded 8-plex movie theatre, as well as an assortment of shops and restaurants, including the ever romantic Sealed with a Kiss
Boutique. While you're there, stop by the Serenity Spa for a 50-minute couples massage for just $135.
Also check out the Crescent-V fashion center across the street, where you can do an art walk between 4 different art galleries including works by Jon Paul, Marcus Ashley, and the Wylan gallery. There will be meet the artist events scheduled for Valentine's day and for most weekends where you can meet the person who made the art. Also in that center you will find great sports shops like Tahoe Sports LTD for him, and a selection of women's fashion shops like Sidestreet Boutique for her.
6. Romantic Dinner with a Lake view
Tahoe has a wide selection of dinner spots with lake views. If you find yourself on the north shore, I reccomend the West Shore Cafe (next to Homewood ski resort) or Jake's On the Lake in Truckee, who will have live music and specials for Valentine's day.
On the south shore, you can dine on the water with a view of the beach and the boats coming and going at Riva Grill at the Ski Run Marina. (Reviews) If you're looking for something a little more impressive, go to Friday's Station at the top of Harrah's for dinner a little before sunset. Not only does Friday's Station have the most incredible sunset views in Tahoe, they also have the most attentive service in town -- Your glass will never go dry! (Reviews) If you can't get in there, another good choice for a romantic sunset dinner is the Chart House up on Kingsbury grade. It's a ways up the mountain from South Tahoe, but the view is awesome and they make excelent fish. (Reviews) WHERE TO STAY?
There are a lot of choices for accomodations in Tahoe for every possible taste and price range. It really depends on what your priorities are. If you want a luxury hotel experience and still be where the action is, you can't go wrong with ANY of our local casinos. You can make a reservation for a lakeview room at any of Harvey's, Harrah's, Montbleu or the Horizon and get a great view with proximity to gambling and entertainment at any of them. If you still want to be downtown but you don't want a casino hotel, try Embassy Suites.
If you're looking for "romantic accomodations" with themed suites, spas, and music in the room, plus easy access to skiing and boating, there is a Fantasy Inn near ski run, as well as a Secrets near Stateline; if you're looking for a less expensive option with a lot of the same ammenities that's still centrally located (though not quite as close to the action) I reccomend the Tahoe Chalet Inn, which is about halfway between ski run and Stateline.