Slip yourself a Gar Woods Wet Woody and forget the worries of the day while relaxing and peering out onto Lake Tahoe.

Take a drive up to Lake Tahoe for a lovely lunch on the patio at this wonderful restaurant bar and grill. Have the beautiful blue waters of Lake Tahoe shimmering behind you as you sip on a “Wet Woody“. This restaurant is a favorite of Northern Nevadans and Northern Californians alike.

This restaurant is one of the few restaurants with seating on the water in Lake Tahoe and one of the only to have a boat dock for boaters dock their boat. It’s a nice luxury if you happen to have a boat to cruise Lake Tahoe.

Gar Woods is known for the Wet Woody, which is a rum cocktail. There is a traditional Wet Woody, but they offer an extensive menu of signature cocktails, including about 20 different kinds of “Wet Woodies”.

Gar Woods is an excellent lunch option with the girls, a nice Summer date night with your hubby, a banquet or event a wedding reception. With picturesque views and great food and drink, you can’t go wrong at Gar Woods.

Where: Carnelian Bay (North Lake Tahoe)

What: Yummy drinks and food, great for date night or lunch with the girls.

Need to know: You can book a table using a website called “Open Table” (also available as an app on iPhone and Android)

Extra Extra: check out the live webcam on their website to see Tahoe anytime you want to http://www.garwoods.com/webcam.html

Website/Contact Information: www.GarWoods.com Gar Woods Grill & Pier, 5000 North Lake Boulevard, Carnelian Bay, California 96140, tel. 530.546.3366

Jen Schmidt is local Reno, Nevada photographer for Jen Schmidt Photography that captures the essence of life.

It was 2009 and I had a precious 12 week-old baby that was just itching to be professionally photographed. I began my search as any 21st-century mother would do, by pleading on Facebook if anyone knew of great photographers in the Reno-Tahoe area. I was given a list of recommendations that sounded great, but after some research and some obvious no’s (my brother’s girlfriend likes to take photos, etc.) I decided to ask my all-knowing mother if she knew of anyone in town. As luck would have it, she did.

Her name is Jen Schmidt and she had just left her job at the Reno Gazette Journal to start her own business, Jen Schmidt Photography. I checked out some samples of her work and they were just what I was looking for, so I gave her a call. Fortunately, Jen’s schedule was open and she was able to pencil me in the following week.

The session that followed was everything I had hoped for. Before Jen arrived, I had given her an idea of what I wanted. Since it was late November and I wanted to take photos of my son without him channeling the little boy from A Christmas Story, I opted to take photos inside. I wanted a few of him sleeping, him awake, if possible, and some cute mommy-baby photos. Jen understood this implicitly and directed me right away. The resulting shots were stunning. In our 1.5 hour session, Jen got about 200 photos of baby C and me, including my all-time favorite pose of the hand heart and baby feet. In less than two weeks, she came back with a completed CD filled with professionally-proofed shots. Now, looking at my three year son, I am so incredibly grateful for the time Jen put into her work to help capture my son’s fleeting moments of babyhood. I knew we would use her as our go-to photographer again, which we did the following year.

Now, I know, with digital SLR cameras and photoshopping techniques, nearly everyone considers themselves a photographer. But, let’s face it, owning a fancy camera does not a photographer make. There is an innate skill involved. It’s the ability to capture a natural smile, and gentle kiss, an emotional moment that makes photographs become so much more than a staged backdrop with an equally staged grin. Jen has this ability, in spades. She is a master of her craft and, in the three years her photography business has been in existence, has gone on to do weddings, proposals, senior photos, family outings, baby shots and births, birthdays, political events, sporting events, commencement ceremonies, and even boudoir sessions. Jen literally does it all.

Jen’s fees are worked out prior to her sessions, depending on how long you want your session with her to last. For me, the price was incredibly reasonable ( I was pleasantly surprised, actually) and with that I got the right to reprint my photos, something you may not receive when you opt for a photographer that gives you prints rather than digital copies.

I cannot rasp rhapsodies enough about Jen and her service. Her photography skill eclipses her years. With the holiday season fast approaching, if you are looking for a professional photographer that will give you beautifully-proofed candid images of you and your family (or whatever your needs be), I highly recommend Jen Schmidt Photography.

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Adventures at Apple Hill means apples, apple fritters, apple doughnuts, caramel apples, fall wreaths, pumpkins, arts and crafts, children laughing, smiles, memories made on a fall getaway and best of all, apple butter…

Apple Hill is one of my favorite locations on the planet. It was one of the places I truly missed when my family and I moved to the Washington, DC metropolitan area. Now that we’re back in Reno, we get to enjoy all the splendor that Apple Hill has to offer; year after year.

When we were kids, Christine and I would have our own adventures at Apple Hill with our respective families near Placerville, California in Camino, California. These trips are still an amazing source of happiness for me to look back on with my brother and parents. Now that we are back in Reno, Nevada after being away for many years in Washington, DC, we have the chance to once again indulge in all things Apple Hill and have new adventures at Apple Hill. This time, however, it is different. We have children to share the experience with.

Just when September rolls around, my mood changes dramatically. It starts with the John Ascuaga’s Best in the West Nugget Rib Cook-Off and the smell of sweet barbecue filling the air during Labor Day weekend and continues through the end of December. The smell of pumpkin spice, the color of fall foliage (can’t say that much of the color change happens in Reno and you need to get into the mountains to see it), fall decorating, Halloween, Thanksgiving and the end of year holidays. Each of these are reason enough in themselves to have a happy (inner)child the last four months of the year. I can honestly say, deep down, that my heart is happy after my recent visit to Apple Hill yesterday with my family.

Apple Hill, in case if you are unfamiliar, is a series of farms, sellers, wineries and Christmas tree farms who sell their fall harvest crops to the public. Some locations are open year-round, but most are only open from September onward through December. Each month has its own activities and specialties and that is why we are separating our posts about Apple Hill into three parts to cover September, October, November and December equally. This post will cover September.

In Apple Hill, every place you visit can have apples and everything you can make with apples from apple fritters, apple doughnuts, apple vinegar, apple juice, apple cider, huge apple pies and my favorite, by far, apple butter. If you haven’t tried it, apple butter is a butter you can put on toast and enjoy like a jelly or jam. Just writing about it is making my mouth water. Don’t worry, I picked up a jar for myself and I intend to indulge after I finish this post.

Yesterday, we got a late start and could only visit three or four locations by the time we got there around 2:30 PM. Most locations close at 5:00 PM each day. When there are over 80+ locations to visit, it’s definitely worth it to get up early and head over to Apple Hill. If you get your fill of apples, you can always make a stop at a local winery in Apple Hill or at the Jack Russel Brewery for a wine tasting or beer in between your tour of the area. Even though you may be in and out of the car all day, each location is a new adventure and our kids didn’t mind the constant in and out during the day.

The places we visited yesterday were High Hill Ranch, Kids Inc. and Boa Vista Orchards. Each of these locations is filled with its own atmosphere.

Choose Your Own Adventure…

Starting at High Hill Ranch (#1 on the map), this location is a complete stop in itself. This location has everything from shopping for produce such as apples, to a walk-up dining option (I had a half bbq chicken meal), a fishing hole that you can pay to rent a fishing pole and buy a license to catch fish from (this could be your young child’s first fishing experience; something I am partial to since working for the American Sportfishing Association on KeepAmericaFishing), an arts and crafts vending fair, hay rides, a fudge factory for your sweet tooth and much more. This place has it all.

Our kids were staring at the fishing pond the entire time we were there. They wanted to play near it and interact with the other kids who were either playing nearby or fishing in the pond with their parents.

Next, we stopped at Delfino Farms (#5 on the map). Delfino Farms, formerly known as Kids Inc., although it doesn’t boast that its former namesake was from a hit Disney television show from the 1980’s, it did have plenty of activities to do for kids that were fun. This location had a corn maze ($2 is all we paid for both our kids to go through it), an apple orchard you can walk through, a pumpkin patch, a grassy hill for a picnic and a bluegrass band was playing while we were there. The location also had face painting and again another place to buy apples and everything made of apples.

Our final stop of the day was to pick up the holy grail of foods from Apple Hill, apple butter. We also got something else I need when we visit Apple Hill, apple cider.

Boa Vista Orchards is a great location and a place you must stop while visiting Apple Hill. Not only for the good food, but for the arts and crafts and stuff you can purchase and take home with you. Their apple pies are enormous and have the appearance of a mound when you purchase them in the frozen food area. Also, their apple cider has no comparison to any other apple product I have tasted off the Hill.

Even though these were the only three stops that we could make during our visit yesterday, it was more than enough to satisfy my yearning for fall and to visit Apple Hill. We’ll be back more than once this season as it is only a two and a half hour drive from Reno, Nevada. It is a must-see fall destination if you live in the area. It’s a place where memories are made, bellies are filled and the harvest is bountiful. I highly recommend a visit for your own adventures at Apple Hill.

Nothing beats a day at the beach. Of course, the nearest ocean is roughly 230 miles west of us in Reno, making a day trip rather more of an epic journey. But don’t despair beach buns; Northern Nevada offers many beach day-aways, starting with the world-renown Lake Tahoe. Here is a break down list of things to do in Lake Tahoe from an insider’s perspective.

Please select an area of Lake Tahoe:

Things to do in Lake Tahoe: North Shore

So you’re hanging on the North Shore

Incline Village

Tahoe’s North Shore offers some incredible beaches when it comes to things to do in Lake Tahoe. In Incline Village, there is Ski Beach, which features large grass areas, a playground, a boating ramp, and volleyball. Farther west is Incline Beach, and right before you enter Incline Village is Burnt Cedar Beach, which offers the most as far as family-friendly fun. The only problem is that the beaches are for residents of "Incline" and their guests, so make sure to get in with the locals before you plan your next beach outing.

Crystal Bay/Kings Beach

Things to do in Lake Tahoe: West Shore Hangouts

Tahoe City/Tahoe Vista

Keep driving down Hgwy 28 to reveal the beaches of Tahoe City and Tahoe Vista, including North Tahoe Beach. This stretch offers a large covered gazebo that plays host to everything from birthday parties to weddings and everything in between.

Commons Beach

Located in Tahoe City, Commons Beach features a playground and plenty of shore access. There are also plenty of benches, BBQs for picnics, and local shopping.

Meeks Bay

Meeks is a favorite along the West Shore since it has a large shoreline, plenty of amenities, and close access to the 2.6-mile Lam Watah Trail.

Things to do in Lake Tahoe: South Shore Style

Emerald Bay

Zephyr Cove

Zephyr Cove is one of the largest beaches on Tahoe. This huge resort offers plenty for the entire family, including water sports and crafts, picnic and dining, and plenty of local shopping in our list of things to do in Lake Tahoe. It is also the launching pad of the paddlewheel boats the M.S. Dixie II and the Tahoe Queen! Nothing like cruising the lake on these beautiful boats. If you’re lucky, you may even catch a speech by Mark Twain.

Things to do in Lake Tahoe: East Shore Serenity

Sand Harbor

One of my personal favorite public beaches of Lake Tahoe is Sand Harbor in this list of things to do in Lake Tahoe This large stretch of beach has boat access, sandy shoreline and rocky terrain for the daredevils in the family, and a certain calm that only the East Shore and its unyielding topography offers. While food is available at the beach kiosk, it may behoove you to pack a picnic as this side of the lake has no easily-accessible stores and restaurants. Finally, every Summer, the Lake Tahoe Shakespeare Festival talks place at dusk at Sand Harbor.

Beach like a local on the Eastern Shore….

There are a lot of large and beautiful public beaches around Lake Tahoe, but they suffer from the same affliction most public beaches in the Summer do…crowds. If you are interested in a true Tahoe experience, among things to do in Lake Tahoe, that doesn’t involve paying to park, we have some great suggestions you may not find in your guide book. Be forewarned, these secluded stretches of sand come at a cost of a 10-20 minute hike down to the water. There are no large parking lots either, so drivers should be ready to park along the side of the road and hike down.

Not sure where a particular beach is? Don’t fret; the lakeside route is guaranteed to be littered with paths that will take you towards the waters edge.

In order of beaches driving east on Hwy 50 outside of Incline Village towards the South Shore, these beaches are:

Hidden Beach

Immediately outside of Incline Village. This gem is a beautiful stretch of private sand that is also one of the few beaches that is dog friendly. Feel free to float a kayak or paddleboard off its inviting shores.

The Rocks

Immediately before you reach Sand Harbor. The name says it all. This beach is really a lot of picturesque water-worn rocks strewn along the shoreline. While they may seem inviting to jump and dive off of, please do not attempt. There are many hidden rocks beneath the water that can cause serious injury.

Chimney Beach and Whale Beach

Past Sand Harbor on the about 5 minute from the intersection of Hwy 28 and Hwy 50. About a 15 minute hike from the top of the road to the water, Chimney Beach and Whale Beach are another secluded area with plenty of rock formations and a small sandy stretch.

Things to do in Lake Tahoe:
And here’s your randomism for the day:

You want some fun facts about Lake Tahoe?

• Lake Tahoe contains an average of 37 trillion gallons of water with an estimated depth of 1,645 feet. It’s hard to imagine, but that is enough water to cover a flat surface, the size of California with 14 inches of of sweet alpine H₂O. If you did ever manage to drain Tahoe, it would take around 700 years to fill back up again. Learn more.
• Also, “Tahoe” is a mispronunciation of the Washo Indian word dá’aw for lake, so Lake Tahoe is technically Lake Lake. Talk about originality.

So you want some more information?

Sometimes an article just can’t give you all the detailed information you need to make a day of it. If you’re hungry for more, check out these great links we found with detailed information on some of the beaches mentioned above

So, what do you think? Did we cover everything or would you add something to complete this list of things to do in Lake Tahoe from an insider’s perspective? Let us know. Leave us a comment below.

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