South Lake Tahoe, a Piece of Heaven

If you are looking forward to a great vacation, South Lake Tahoe should be your destination. From lodging to activities to entertainment, it offers a wide array of choices fit for all kinds of people—families, students, business groups, or newlyweds.

The living accommodations vary from hotels, bed and breakfast, private home rentals, vacation rentals and cabins, campgrounds, and RV parks. For quaint and intimate setting, bed and breakfasts, like Inn at Heavenly and Black Bear Inn Bed & Breakfast will be the perfect place to stay. It is less costly without sacrificing comfort. For people who like luxury and pampering, hotels and resorts are available all over Lake Tahoe with amenities like heated pool, full service day-spa, and Jacuzzi tubs. Condos and homes are situated in the top areas around the lake. This is an alternative for families who are staying longer than usual and for those who prefers privacy and comforts of one’s home. During summer, campgrounds are just the right backdrop for those burnt marshmallows and barbecue.

Although there are many choices, booking may be a problem especially during peak seasons. For less hassles, you can make reservations online. For the townhouses, the real estate will be more than happy to accommodate your needs.

South Lake Tahoe is the best place to be, whatever time of the year it is. In winter, they offer skiing and snowboarding. It is, after all, North America’s largest concentration of ski and snowboard resorts. From November until April, the place is filled with tourists seeking fun and adventure in snow.

In summer, they have activities like golf, boat-riding, and hiking to keep you occupied. Lake Tahoe is the home of Edgewood Tahoe Golf Course where the 18^th annual American Century Championship Celebrity Golf Tournament. More than 75 stars in sports and entertainment visited and loved the golf course.

With the breathtaking mountain view of South Lake Tahoe, weddings and honeymoons are made unforgettable. Chapels, ministers, coordinators, and photographers are handy to make that walk-in-the-aisle truly a memory to cherish. One of the famous hotels in the area, 3 Peaks Resort & Beach Club has a Romantic Lake Tahoe Vacation Package including champagne, romantic dinner, and a dance cruise. Newlyweds will surely go back to Lake Tahoe for their second honeymoon.

If you are one of those people who lives during the night, your nightlife is not going to suffer while staying in Lake Tahoe. Good music, grilled food, friendly bartenders, well-stocked wine cellar, chilled beers—you can find these in the local bar and restaurants. There are specials once in a while like dinner/dance cruises and karaoke.

If you are not the bar type, entertainment still would not be a problem. Casinos are open all days of the week providing first-class entertainment like annual Summer Outdoor Concert Series. Montbleu Resort Casino & Spa has a theatre house featuring movies old and new.

You won’t worry where to eat your next meal. There are over 100 restaurants in the South Lake Tahoe area. Whatever you are craving, be it Italian or traditional Mexican, it’s just a short walk away from your hotel.

Of course, before going home, shopping is a must for souvenirs, mementos, and postcards. For this task, Tahoe Emporium boasts stores offering local, regional, and national brand names. From clothes to sports equipments to books, you will find what you are looking for. The stores are conveniently located near resorts and hotels.

Vacation is something all people are looking forward to. It is like a much craved dessert that you would want to savor bite after bite. South Lake Tahoe has all the ingredients that will satisfy even the most fastidious appetite there is.

For more of Lake Tahoe, check out Lake Tahoe, Tahoe.

What to Bring When Going to the Beach

You have been stressing over your work to the point that you are suffering from a bloated stomach. You snarl at your officemates for no valid reason. You think of resigning at least twice a day. Well, if you are feeling this way, maybe it is time for you to look for another job. Or maybe it is high time you take a break from your desk and all the paperworks piled on top of it. When three cups of coffee are not enough to perk you up, you better file a vacation leave soon. Put your worries in a box and bury it. Go to a place you have never been before and rediscover yourself. With the clear water and soft sand, there is nothing more peaceful than a day or two at the beach. You may want to consider a tropical destination for your sabbatical.

Since you are going back to your work at some point, make the most out of your getaway. I will leave the choice of beach to you. With all the beaches around the globe, that’s not something I want to get myself into. What I am going to help you with is the packing. I get it. You are excited to go to the beach. I’m all for it. But before you actually go, let me check your backpack. I just want to be sure that you got the essentials.

Sunscreen. Getting a tan is part of the beach experience. Getting skin cancer, on the other hand, is not the plan. You want to look like you’ve been kissed by the sun not burnt to the toes. If you don’t like lotion, don’t pass it as an excuse. There are those which are sprayed on. By the way, SPF 30 is considered the minimum. Leave SPF 15 to ChapStick.

Sunglasses. The sun seems bigger and brighter in a beach setting. Unless you want the glare of the big yellow ball on your eyes, get a pair of shades. The darker the glasses the better. It protects your baby blue eyes and you look cool with one. Yes, it’s like hitting two seagulls with one Frisbee.

Beach towels. If you think the hotel you are staying at gives every guest a brand new towel, you are in for a rude awakening. You do not want me to go on about the hazards of sharing a towel, would you? You cannot possibly enjoy a vacation if you are infected with some sort of fungi. Although it is big compared to other beach items, do not even think of leaving home without one.

Swimsuits. You are planning to swim, right? I mean, you are going to the beach after all. Although skinny dipping has its merits, it is best if you include a swimsuit or two in your luggage. It is one the legal ways I know to flaunt your assets. If you are worried about your stretch marks or bulgy stomach, that’s what cover-ups are for.

Binoculars. How can you enjoy the view without a good pair of binoculars? No matter how good your vision is, you better cover all your bases. Check out the lifeguard at Station 1. I can go on and on about the boons of binoculars.

Water to drink and food to eat. There is a huge difference between the crystalline water and potable water. Bring your own mineral water or Perrier or whatever it is you drink to quench your thirst. Oh, and don’t forget the cooler with ice. Drinking warm water while you are in a warm setting is unheard of. If you are going to get thirsty, it’s natural you’ll get hungry too. Pack your favorite meal, fruits, and chips.

Beach ball and Frisbee. Let’s get physical. Don’t be a slouch the whole day. Get your muscles moving. Beach volley ball and Frisbee are cool ways of making acquaintances.

Camera. You are having the time of your life. You definitely want to capture it. Bring your trusty digital camera, along with the batteries, and shoot away. The water, the sunrise, the sunset, the lifeguard… They can work as cheap but tasteful postcards. And photos can be evidence that, once in blue moon, you know how to let loose and have fun.

All set? Then off you go. If, by any chance, you forgot something, there are always shops near the beach.

Check out Folly Field Beach and Edingsville Beach when you are looking for the next beach to discover.