I spent last weekend in South Lake Tahoe to celebrate a friend’s wedding. It was an intimate Jewish ceremony (Simcha) that I was incredibly thrilled to be a part of! Before the wedding, I spent the day around town finding good food, visiting old-town vintage shops, exploring the lake, and taking in the beautiful weather.
Some of my favorite restaurants from this trip are:
- Driftwood Cafe – they whip up a delicious breakfast! They serve breakfast/brunch food from morning til 3pm and always have a line outside their door. It helps to get there early or order something to go (which I did). I got the Loaded Waffle, which was so good, it’s the only way I’ll ever eat waffles again.
Golden brown waffle loaded with yogurt, granola, and bananas
- Cafe Fiore – a quaint Italian cafe that’s perfect for a small group. It has a dim, intimate setting and they’re known for their eggplant crepes (with smoked salmon) and fresh fish.
- Naked Fish – awesome sushi
With the water trailing behind me...
Taking the driver's seat
All good food aside, there was, of course, the breathtaking lake to explore. I rented a small speedboat with a friend and took it to Emerald Bay, west of Lake Tahoe. The view was amazing and the boat ride was fantastic… It was good to know there’s no speed limit in the water!
Driving the boat was a total adrenaline rush. The faster we went, the crazier the ride got (bumping against the waves wasn’t too comfy, I must admit), but there was just the right speed where we cruised through the lake without crashing into the waves. It was perfect! We had to be careful we didn’t hit rocks on our way to the shore though — that was probably the trickiest part.
Approaching Emerald Bay
I also rode up the Heavenly Gondola, taking me to the peak of the mountain overlooking the entire city and lake. Heavenly? You bet.
It's chilly up here!
The wedding itself was a beautiful ceremony. The couple couldn’t have chosen a better spot than a porch overlooking Lake Tahoe during sunset on a breezy autumn evening. It was picture perfect and such a heartwarming experience. I wish them all the best and will look back at this weekend with nothing but fond memories.
