Lake Tahoe on a budget
 

Help! Due to some unexpected expenses our planned anniversary trip to South Lake Tahoe in August is now going to be on a budget. The accommodations are already paid for so we're okay there. I'm looking for recommendations on some good, reasonably priced, local restaurants (please, no chains) and one really good place to splurge on for our anniversary. We'll be in SLT for seven days.

"Reasonably priced" is a relative term. Can you provide a budget range for meals that you think is reasonable?
Something like -
Breakfast - $2 - $3?
Lunch - $5?
Diiner - $10 per entree?

Will you have a fridge available in your accomodations so you don't have to eat out every meal?

We'll have a full kitchen and normally don't go out for breakfasts unless there is a "can't miss" place to go. I would say up to $10 for lunch and $20 for dinner. We'll be cooking dinners some nights. For lunches we'll either eat out or take a picnic lunch on a hike. We'll spend more on a lunch if we plan on cooking that night. We'd like to find a lunch place that we can eat outside and look over the water.

Are your prices per person, including tax and tip?
"Up to $10 for lunch and $20 for dinner".

Try The Beacon Bar & Grill for "Rum Runners" out on the beachside deck.
http://www.sunnydayguide.com/laketahoe/index.html

They would be excluding tax and tip. I've been reading other posts and Evans seems the place to go for one really nice meal. What type of food do they have and what is their range of prices?

Josh's at the Horizon has a really great lobster dinner for around $15. Josh's has a very nice atmosphere as well. It's in a casino but it's not too cheesey or anything.

Here is a link to Evans website, so you can get a general idea. I have a reservation for Sunday 7/29, so I will let you know afterwards how it was.

http://www.evanstahoe.com/

Oh you don't have to wait until 7/29 for the Evans review. I have been there many many times. It's always fabulous.

Becky, thanks for the link. Evan's looks perfect for our anniversary night. Can't wait to read your review also. Has anyone tried their sister restaurante, the Cantina? My husband can smell Mexican food five miles away. The menu looks good and is in the price range for a second dinner out. Josh's sounds worth checking out also. I can't cook lobster at home for $15.

Jolee, i checked the Horizon's web page and the lobster special has gone up to $19.95, but it's still 2 tails.

I had posted on another thread about the $8.95 prime rib dinner at the Timberhouse Restaurant in the Lakeside Inn. Maybe our expectations were low, but we found it to be really good. (We were there during Xmas break, so every other restaurant had a 2+hour wait) We were expecting wilted salads and over-boiled veggies, but everything was surprisingly fresh. It's just a casino-coffee-shop type place, so the ambience is not ideal, but during the summer, you might be see the lake during dinnertime.

Enjoy!

Thanks everyone for your suggestions. I'm leaving in a couple of days and know the trip will be wonderful. Suzie, I may be mistaken but a while back I thought I saw a posting from you on another forum for good hiking trails in the area. I can't seem to locate it now. If you did have one would you please repost it?

Here's a list of some hikes:


Hikes to take from South Lake Tahoe are the Moraine Trail, which is a fairly easy hike of 1 mile (one-way). It’s a relatively flat trail through the forest and along the shore of Fallen Leaf Lake. Take Highway 89 north approximately 3 miles from South Lake Tahoe to Fallen Leaf Road. Continue approximately 2/3 of a mile to Fallen Leaf Campground. Drive through the campground and park just before campsite #75 on the right. There is no fee for day use. Look for the trailhead sign near the parking area.

Another hike is Angora Lakes, though the area south of the lake was affected by the fire you should be able to hike to the lake. It is an easy hike, and hikers are rewarded with several lakes. I know in the summer you can rent rowboats or just swim and lay around on the sandy beach. It’s only ½ mile and the scenery when you get there is great. The lake is surrounded by cliffs and giant rocks. Take Highway 89 north approximately 3 miles from South Lake Tahoe to Fallen Leaf Lake Road and turn left. Turn left at the first paved road. Continue to Forest Service Road 12N14 and turn right. Watch for bicyclists along this road. Continue past Angora Lookout to the road's end at the parking lot.
Continuing north on 89:
Vikingsholm at Emerald Bay – short side hike to Eagle Falls or Cascade Lake & Falls
http://www.vikingsholm.com/
Eagle Falls / Eagle Lake Trail starts at Eagle Falls Picnic Area, highway 89 across from Emerald Bay. Permits are required on this hike and a self-registration station is at the trailhead. The hike is only about 2 miles round trip to Eagle Lake (only about 1/3 mile to the falls); the terrain varies from steep to flat and crosses beautiful Eagle Falls on a steel footbridge.
Emerald Bay - Vikingsholm Trail starts at the parking area on the north side of Emerald Bay, on Highway 89. It's a wide, well-maintained trail, but fairly steep, about 2½ miles round trip. At the bottom of the trail is a picnic area, as well as world-famous Vikingsholm, a replica of a Scandinavian castle.
Cascade Lake & Falls – Turn into the Bayview Campground across from Emerald Bay Inspiration Point, drive to the end and park at the trailhead. Take the trail that veers left. Spectacular views of the 200-foot high falls and Cascade Lake can be seen from this short trail.
Further north on 89 you can find DL Bliss – nice beach but very hard to get into during the summer so if you go get really early start. You can HIke form BLiss all the way around to Emerald Bay. See views normnally only seen by boaters.
On the north shore:
When you arrive at the state line, you can take a brief detour to see the old fire lookout. Turn north on Reservoir Road, which is next to the Biltmore. Then turn right onto Lakeview Ave. Continue on this road, if it forks stay left and do not turn onto Tuscarora. It will bend back before you reach the parking area for the short walk to the lookout. The lookout provides you with really beautiful views of the area and lake.