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If Lake Tahoe is “The Jewel of the
Sierra,” then Tahoe City is a sparkling facet on that precious
gem. Located on The Lake’s northwest shore, Tahoe City has been
enjoyed by visitors for its abundant natural beauty and
recreational opportunities for well over a century. The City has
evolved over the years from a rustic resort area to what it is
today; a charming town on The Lake with dozens of specialty
shops, restaurants and attractions, catering to both tourists
and locals alike.
Don’t miss First Fridays,
the first Friday of every month from 5 and 9 p.m. when Tahoe
City restaurants and shops are open and offer special discounts,
live music, wine tasting, and more. Look for balloons in front
of participating businesses. For other event information, visit
www.visittahoecity.com,
www.mytahoevacation.com or call (530)581-6900.
With over 300 days of sunshine per
year on average, visitors can enjoy many pleasant days in Tahoe
City all year-round. Whether you have as little as a few hours,
a day, or preferably more, Tahoe City is a “must-do” while in
Lake Tahoe. Here are just two samples of the many things you can
do on a typical, beautiful summer day in Tahoe City.
Day One:
First, charge up your batteries
for a full day in Tahoe City with a hot Illy coffee drink or
Numi tea and a breakfast burrito at the Tahoe Dam Café at
the west end of town. The Dam Café offers fresh pastries,
bagels, sandwiches, salads and smoothies--all with organic
produce and a personal touch.
 After
breakfast, cross the street through the “Y” island (where routes
89 and 28 meet) and have a look at the Tahoe City Dam on the
Fanny Bridge. The Fanny Bridge is so-called because on any
given day, passers-by will see a row of “fannies” leaning over
the bridge looking for fish in the rushing water below.
 Grab
some sunscreen at Squaw Valley Sport Shop, providing one
stop shopping for outdoor sports gear year-round. In the summer,
they have rafts, kayaks and bike rentals. They also carry
bathing suits, sport clothing, life jackets, wetsuits and, and
new this year: camping gear. Squaw Valley Sport Shop also has a
wide selection of sunglasses, sport paraphernalia and gift
items. In the winter, they carry lots of ski and snow equipment
and clothing that goes on sale all summer long.
 Head
up North Lake Blvd. (rt. 28) and stop in the Visitor’s Center
for a few brochures.
Just next door, the North Tahoe
Arts Center “draws” you in. The Art Center features exhibits
by local artists as well as out-of-town artists. It also has a
wonderful gift shop filled with affordable art, jewelry and gift
items hand-crafted mostly by local artisans.
 Walk
along to the street entrance to Commons Beach, and take
the stairs down to the park on the edge of the scintillating
blue water of Lake Tahoe.
Next, you might like to take a
tour or a peek in the window of the Watson Cabin
Museum.
The cabin, built in 1908, is the oldest building in Tahoe
City.
Now that you’ve had your history
lesson, come back to the present and get ready for some great
shopping.
You’ll be amazed at the
number of independent shops, eateries and sports stores along
North Lake Tahoe Blvd. as well as in the Lakehouse Mall,
Tahoe City Marina and Mall, Boatworks Mall and the
Lighthouse
 Center.
James Harold Galleries,
in the Boatworks
Mall, features artwork from around the world. The gallery
carries glasswork such as vases and stemware, paintings,
leather, acrylic and bronze sculptures and many other beautiful
and whimsical works of art.
 Now
that you’ve worked up an appetite shopping, have lunch at the
famous Rosie’s Café. Inside you will find a rustic and funky décor, with
antique sports equipment, elk antler chandelier and other Tahoe
memorabilia. Or, enjoy a spectacular view of The Lake from the
front porch. There is so much history in the restaurant and the
bar; the bar itself is over 50 year old, and bartender, Dennis
Loo, has been pouring drinks for the last 25 years (try the
Ramos Fizz). Rosie’s serves breakfast, lunch and dinner.
 Next
door to Rosie’s, check out Mother Nature’s Cabin
Fever, a nature-inspired furniture, gifts and home wares
paradise. Cabin Fever meets the needs of locals, visitors and
second homeowners alike, providing rustic mountain-style
furniture, fixtures, artwork and whimsical accents, such as
their extensive collection of bear accessories.
As you walk on, you will find a
collection of shops and restaurants including Fiamma, Lake of
the Sky Gallery, Tahoe Gifts, Java Stop and Coyote’s and
Porter’s Sports.
 Now,
recover from all that shopping therapy with a little sports
therapy; hit some balls at the scenic Tahoe City Golf Course.
Established in 1917, the 2,700-yard, 9-hole course boasts views
of and greens that break towards The Lake. The Old Tahoe Country
Kitchen and Par Bar are open for breakfast and lunch every day
of the week.
After swinging the club until
twilight, you’ll want to freshen up before dinner. But don’t
dilly-dally, because a wonderful dinner awaits you.
Experience Wolfdale’s for
its “cuisine unique.” Owner and chef, Douglas Dale, opened his
elegant Asian-fusion restaurant 27 years ago, that continues to
please diners today. Although Asian cuisine strongly influences
the menu, cuisines from around the world are also incorporated.
Wolfdale’s has many “greats” - food, wine list, service, views
of the lake and indoor and outdoor dining.
Day Two:
Before enjoying a day of water
sports, start with a hearty breakfast at the Sawtooth Ridge
Café. This cozy café is open for breakfast and lunch, and
serves breakfast all day. The Sawtooth serves affordable
home-style breakfasts, salads, soups and sandwiches, with
vegetarian options and daily specials.
After breakfast, stop in the Tahoe
City Marketplace, Aspen Grove Foods or the Tahoe City Pharmacy
just a few doors down to stock up on water, sunscreen or
anything else you need before hitting the water.
Tahoe City Kayak,
just east of downtown Tahoe City, sells and rents kayaks for
half or full days from spring until fall, when it becomes a ski
consignment. Or, rent a kayak by the hour at nearby Bristle Cone
Beach. Maps, lessons and guided tours are available.
After kayaking, you may want to
soothe those sore arm muscles at Massage on the Lake, and don’t
forget to check out Bolam Galleries next door.
Before lunch, check out the shops
at Cobblestone East with its handful of boutiques
including Tahoe Rug Studio, Square Spotted Blue and Goldstrike
Jewelry.
 Duck
into Maison Rustique, unique gifts and accessories for
the home. The shop features items such as American-made pewter,
decorative pillows, whimsical signs, designer jewelry and
designer-inspired sunglasses, chenille robes (an Oprah
favorite), baby gifts such as Petunia Picklebottom diaper bags
and Illume candles in brilliant colors and luscious scents of
fresh fruit, vegetables and flowers and more. Furniture
displaying the merchandise may also be purchased. Maison
Rustique is also in South Lake Tahoe.
 Just
a few storefronts down from Cobblestone East is the
Cobblestone Center, filled with more boutiques such as
Mountain Casuals, Gundy of Scandinavia, Dragonfly Designs,
Scandia Down Shop, Ruffles and Ruffnecks, Painted Rock Pottery
and Rainbow Bridge. Find out what film is playing at Cobblestone
Cinema in case you have time for a flick later.
Three Dog Knit.
Knitting and crocheting is “hot” again. Owner, Judy Souza,
opened her cute, colorful knitting and crocheting store in the
Cobblestone Center a year and a half ago. Three Dog Knit
features unique yarns, including specialty and novelty yarns,
wools for winter projects and summer accessory yarns as well as
patterns, books and classes
(Beginners, Beyond Basics and Knitting in the Round).
You will find still more shops,
restaurants and services along North Lake Tahoe Blvd., including
Blue Agave, Alpenglow, Pete ‘n Peter’s, Wanda’s Flower Shop and
Solstice.
 The
Bridgetender, another Tahoe City institution, is across
the street from the Fanny Bridge. Burgers, salads, fish and
chips and tacos are among the casual fare served along with a
huge selection of draft beers.
 If
you’re lucky, you might get a table outside.
Cross the street to the
Gatekeeper’s Museum, chronicling Tahoe history from its
Native Inhabitants through the logging era to the establishment
of tourism. Don’t miss the special exhibit of Dat-so-la-lee
baskets at the Marion Steinbach Indian Basket Museum
through October.
 Time
permitting, take a rafting tour of the Truckee River with
Mountain Air Sports, located just behind the River Grill in
the parking lot across from the Tahoe City Dam.
This is 5 miles of scenic rafting
that is gentle enough for the whole family with just enough
white water to make it exciting.
 After
rafting, you’ll be ready for Happy Hour on the deck of the
River Grille. Have dinner at the River Grill before leaving
Tahoe. Chef Lew Orlady, formerly of Sunsets, has a new summer
menu featuring gourmet California cuisine, fish and seafood
specials.
Tonight, for an elegant dinner in
a casual setting, try the Black Bear Tavern, just west of
downtown Tahoe City on highway 89 south. The Black Bear is an
old pine log and stone lodge, featuring a delicious menu of wild
game, seafood, steaks and chops. For a true Tahoe experience,
you are welcome to dine with your dog on the deck.
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