Living in Northern Nevada for the last 12 years, I hear about Carson Valley Days every year, and I…read morefinally understand why. Residents of the Carson Valley are super passionate about their community and the rich heritage of the valley and this event celebrates it all and activates the entire community. There's a big parade with participants from the local community and businesses, a carnival and more all across a series of days. With all of the summer events in Reno, it never really made it to the top of my list, but living kinda in between the two cities and with the whole pandemic and crowds in mind we opted to check it out this weekend and I'm glad we did. We missed the parade but made it down for the carnival and my kiddo had a blast. It was his first carnival and he was wide eyed from the moment we arrived, full on sensory overload! I will say it's not cheap, but it is a lot of fun. The ride tickets are $1.50 each or they sell an all you can ride wristband that goes all day and into the night or you ca. Buy 24 tickets for $30, which is what we did. Most rides were 3-4 tickets, so it made for a fun day for the kid. The games are a total rip at $6 a play, but you are almost guaranteed to win a prize so it's good for kids. We didn't really get into the food or explore the vendors so I can't comment on that, But all in all a good time had by all.

We love love love the Carson valley days festival and parade. They town does such a great job…read moreorganizing everything. The local business do a great job with their floats. It's nice to see that they clean everything up so quickly and most people are very respectful and put their trash where it belongs.

Soo much history packed into this museum (that happens to be in the courthouse)…read more The volunteer/ front desk guy was so knowledgeable and passionate, was fun to learn the historical details from him.

This museum closes late fall for the winter so plan ahead. It has lots of different rooms with…read morevarious display's including the Pony Express, the Emigrant experience and family life as well as law enforcement. The staff is very friendly and helpful and your entrance fee here also gets you into another museum in Gardnerville. There are 2 floors to explore.

The people here love what they do. They were excited to explain any object you had a question about…read morein the museum, true local historical enthusiasts. You can't get much for free entertainment nowadays, and this spot delivered an hour of educational entertainment. Make sure to purchase something at the front desk to help support their efforts.

We came by last Saturday to check out the  Western Days event at the History Museum Complex. It was…read morea cute mini festival with a few merchandise and food vendors, activities for kids, live music, and access to the Lake Tahoe History Museum and 1930's Log Cabin... all free of charge. It was cool seeing the horse drawn carriage rides happening throughout. And we purchased some sage, and bird whistles for the nieces and nephews back home. We even checked out the Tahoe Art League Gallery, which was right next to the History Museum, and they had some pretty impressive pieces. Event parking was unclear/nonexistent, even for such a small festival. Nothing too exciting, but if interested in seeing old artifacts (slot machine, S.S. Tahoe miniature, weapons, etc.) and learning about the history of Lake Tahoe, they cover it pretty well in the history museum, especially for such a small space.

We love taking our ten year old daughter to clay class. The environment is friendly and pleasing…read more The kids have a great time while making works of art.

An outstanding community art studio run by two incredible LTCC art instructors. This is the type of…read morelocal business Tahoe needs--a space that promotes creativity, the arts, and positive social connections.

100 years ago South Lake Tahoe was once home of an extravagant five star hotel and gambling casino…read moreon the California side of the lake! The Baldwin Museum depicts through pictures and film the life of real estate tycoon Elias Baldwin. Elias "Lucky" Baldwin built a resort for the wealthy from San Francisco and Virginia City, right on the shores of Lake Tahoe between 1880 and 1909. He had lookouts on the road, whenever the sheriff came to town, and the gambling disappeared in a wink of the eye, for the time being! He was a real estate magnate owning what is now the Brentwood area of Los Angeles, along with the area around Montebello, and the Santa Anita Racetrack. He was the first president of the Pacific Stock Exchange. In 1909 Elias Baldwin's luck ran out. With his death, Anita Baldwin inherited the $20 million estate ($2 billion dollars in today's money!), and gave her daughter Dextra Baldwin six acres of land on the shores of Lake Tahoe. After his death, oil was discovered on his lands, becoming the Montebello oil fields, the richest oil field on the west coast. The Baldwin hotel burned down in 1914, and the remains of the foundation can still be seen today. Dextra ordered the building of the Baldwin mansion in the early 1920s. It was completed in 1924, and is one of the finest examples of simple rustic architecture for that period of time. It was used as a summer home, and complimented by a number of guest cabins nearby on the estate, all on the Lake. Some of the cabins are visible through a wire door, others only through the windows. We can go through the bottom floor, with the huge stone fireplace, and the deer trophy mounted half way up. No access to the top floor. The museum is on the bottom floor, with black and white pictures of Anita, Elias, and Dextra. There is a life size mannequin dressed as Elias in the museum, along with the home vault, real hunting rifles, and a phonograph player, among the other items of the era. Anita eventually ordered the casino razed to the ground in the 1920s, again with the foundations still visible today. I guess she didn't win enough money at gambling! Actually she had it torn down as the casino lost money, had high maintenance costs, and dumped raw sewage into the Lake -she was an early environmentalist. Dextra passed away in 1967, with the Baldwin mansion and cottages eventually being willed to the government. The Baldwin family could afford to give it to the government, as legacy of the family, due to their immense holdings in real estate and oil. Too bad we all don't have such families!

Out of all the stores in South Lake Tahoe this is by far my favorite. I love their wooden maps. I…read morebought one for my husband as a wedding gift as we got married in Tahoe and were staying at the Grand Resort. The map is so intricate and even has an alcove of where we got married on it. I have seen other maps that are encased in glass. Now looking back I wonder why they didn't offer that option to me as an upgrade. I would have totally jumped on it as the delicate map wouldn't collect dust like it does now. They had a tahoe girl sweater that caught my eye this time. I loved the softness of it and the white color. What was a turn off was the length it was just too short. In the winter I don't want my tummy hanging out. I want to keep it nice and warm with the rest of me. They also have a nice selection of soaps that always catch my eye. I love homemade soaps and these look locally made. One day I'll cough of the money for a bar or two. I was going to get one for my gf as a gift, but I don't know if she loves soaps as much as i do or if she just goes for the soft soap on a bottle. I'll have to ask her then next time I see her. Last time I bought a paper pop up flower display for my gf's retirement gift. It was so fun as it was beautiful and never dies. I hope she liked it as much as I did. One thing that caught my eye last time I was there was a fleece blanket with a map of South Lake Tahoe on it. It was soft on the map side and fleece on the back side. It looked so cozy warm. I would have totally gotten it if not a month before I had gotten one from Alaska that had a map of Alaska on it. This blanket will make someone a great gift. I hope you enjoy this store as much as I do and take home a piece of South Lake Tahoe with you.

On Tahoe Time is one of my favorite stores in Heavenly Village. Located next to Starbucks and…read moreacross from Base Camp Pizza, it's one of those places that's worth walking through even if you don't plan on buying anything. Think of it as an art gallery mixed with a modern gift shop, filled with thoughtfully curated home décor, unique keepsakes, and Tahoe-inspired finds. We were welcomed as we walked in, which was a nice touch considering how busy the store was. The candles are always my favorite, and I make it a point to check out their beautiful wood-carved Lake Tahoe maps and canvas artwork every year. They have a great selection of pieces that can add a little Tahoe charm and sophistication to your home. Everything feels intentionally selected, and despite fitting so much into the space, the store never feels cluttered or overwhelming. One of my favorite surprises this visit was their expanded hat selection. They had trendy designs, Smokey Bear hats, and national park-inspired apparel that stood out from the typical souvenir shop offerings. It felt like they had something for just about everyone while still staying true to the Tahoe vibe. I'll definitely be back for another candle, sticker, or hat. And one of these days, when the budget and wall space allow, I may finally bring home one of those wood-carved maps. If you're looking for a unique Tahoe gift--or something for yourself--this is absolutely a store worth stopping into.

Erin (founder of High Vibe Society Artisan Collective) has created a great space for local artists…read moreand for people like me who love being creative but need a place (and help) to achieve greatness! We took an acrylic painting class which was well thought out and our instructor John was very helpful, he gave great feedback throughout every stage of the painting process and I look forward to attending future classes. 'All in all' a fun evening out and glass of wine and snacks always goes down well when being expressive through painting. Highly recommend going to a class or just stopping by the artist space to see the beautiful pieces that are being created. Thank you Erin and John, we'll definitely be back!

Great times! Needed a little artistic inspiration & attending this class was a nice push to pick…read moreup a brush (and a mimosa) again. It was so rewarding to be encouraged by a knowledgeable instructor and surrounded by other positive people at my level. Plus the location is awesome, the High Vibes Art Society space is full of unique local art on display and affordable gifts to select for loved ones.

Zephyr Point is such a peaceful and beautiful spot in Lake Tahoe. The views are absolutely…read morebreathtaking -- crystal-clear water, mountain scenery, and the perfect place to just slow down and take it all in. I spent this trip here for a spring retreat with classmates, and it was the perfect setting to connect, reflect, and recharge. The area is well-kept, quiet, and has that calm, refreshing Tahoe energy. Whether you're here for a retreat, a walk, or just to sit by the water, it's hard not to feel grounded and inspired here. Definitely one of my favorite serene spots in Tahoe!

If you can get in, this is a great place to spend time in Tahoe. The cabins are nice and well…read moreappointed. The staff is responsive and helpful. Parking can be a challenge and some cabins require long walks and even some long stairs. They do have shuttles and the staff is always offering rides. The beach area is wonderful and there are so many places to wander. My only experience is with Hubbard Lodge and a couple of the cabins, but I would recommend this place to anyone holding a spiritual retreat or other special occasion.