Hot Spots on the South Shore of Lake Tahoe

The best places to eat and play on Lake Tahoe's South Shore are neither in the casinos at Stateline nor inthe popular Heavenly Village, but just a short distance off of the beaten path. Here are a few of my favorite finds from my visits to South Lake Tahoe:

Best Breakfast Under $5: The Taberna at Lakeside Inn and Casino
Less than a half of a mile east of the main casinos in Stateline, Nevada is a smaller casino named the Lakeside Inn and Casino. The Lakeside Inn prides itself on catering to the locals. And the locals are drawn to the Lakeside Inn for its good food at great prices. Downstairs at The Taberna, authentic Mexican breakfasts are cooked daily. My husband ordered the chilaquiles and I ordered the oat bran pancakes with creme de leche. Both were out of this wold delicious and only $2.99 each! The Timber House restaurant upstairs also serves a selection of $2.99 breakfasts along with a prime rib dinner for $8.95, neither of which we have had an opportunity to try but eveyone we talked to highly reccomended.

Best Daytime Activity: Renting Bikes or Cross-Country Skis at Camp Richardson
Camp Richardson lies between South Lake Tahoe and Emerald Bay and is centrally located to several of Tahoe's best beaches, historical landmarks, and trails. Whenever we go to Tahoe, we love to rent bikes at the rental shop in Camp Richardson for a half day and explore the area on wheels. Our favorite stop is at Taylor Creek where there is a short walking trail to a stream profile where we can view life below the surface of the stream in a unique way. The stream profile is especially cool when the salmon are running. During the winter, we rent snow shoes or cross-country skis and travel along the snow covered beaches for a gorgeous view of Lake Tahoe.

Best Evening Activity: Sunset Cruise from Zephyr Cove
Dinner, dancing, and an amazing spot to watch the sunset in Lake Tahoe are all included in this cruise package. The cruise leaves from Zephyr Cove and tours Emerald before returning to Zephyr Cove. The entire ride is truly fun and truly beautiful. Zephyr Cove is five miles east of the casinos at Stateline.

Best Dinner: Scusa! On Ski Run
We went to Scusa! On Ski Run because we had a coupon for a free appetizer (Scusa Garlic Bread) that we found in a local tourist guide and we count ourselves lucky that we thought to make reservations, because people were standing outside waiting for tables. Which, of course, isn't unusual, except for the fact that it was only about 8 degrees outside. The inside was cozy, with a lot of romantic corners, and the menu was classic Italian supplemented with creative chef's specials. Our dinners were delicious and the service was impeccable. Needless to say, we will be returning on our next vacation to Tahoe--with a reservation, of course! Scusa! On Ski Run is located on Ski Run Boulevard.