It’s almost Valentine’s Day, and the Tahoe-Truckee area is one of the most fun places you can go for a romantic getaway. Here are some of my favorite romantic things to do here!
Watch the sunset from the Donner Lake docks. We have been having incredible sunsets lately, and the public piers on Donner Lake is one of the best places to see it. Bundle up, pack a blanket, bring thermos full of Hot Toddy, and enjoy the incredible view. For more great places to see the sunset, check out my blog post here and here.
Have dinner at Cottonwood Restaurant. My favorite spot for a romantic dinner in Truckee is Cottonwood Restaurant. Situated on a hill overlooking historic downtown Truckee and the Truckee, you can’t beat the view. My tip is to get a reservation on the early side, so you can watch the sun set from their deck or out the picture windows. Other great restaurants for a romantic dinner are Jake’s on the Lake in Tahoe City, Moody’s Bistro & Beats in Truckee, and Artemis Lakefront Cafe in South Lake Tahoe.
Go snowshoeing! Snowshoeing might be the ultimate winter outdoor date activity. It’s fun and active, but you’re not too out of breath to have a conversation. I’d highly recommend Chickadee Ridge, especially this winter since there’s still enough snow. For other snowshoe hikes in the area, check out my post here.
Taste wine at the Pour House. Just off of the main street of downtown Truckee is a gem of a wine shop, the Pour House. It’s a funky little place that’s always pouring delicious wine. Dean and Christa, the owners, will have a great suggestion at any price point, plus you can stock up on gourmet cheese and other snacks. Pack up a picnic to take snowshoeing or to the Donner Lake docks! If you are taking wine to go, I highly recommend the Silipint silicone wine glasses – you don’t have to worry about glass and there’s no weird taste like metal glasses have. Other great places for wine in the region are Uncorked in Truckee, Squaw and Tahoe City and Revive Coffee and Wine in South Lake Tahoe.
Go for a climb at a climbing gym. Is there anything more romantic than climbing? When you’re belaying someone, you literally have their life in your hands. Also, spotting someone while bouldering can just be an excuse to get a little handsy. While climbing isn’t much of a winter thing in Tahoe-Truckee, there are a couple of great climbing gyms in the area – Blue Granite Climbing Gym in South Lake Tahoe and High Altitude Fitness in Incline Village.
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and shorts. My favorite running shorts are the 
and the 
for about a year, and I’m now a huge fan of gravel biking. I use mine for a bunch of things – bike commuting, riding mellow mountain bike trails, and true gravel grinding. There are miles and miles of gravel roads in the Truckee area. If you’re looking to do some exploring, I’d recommend checking out the 
. It’s more comfortable than my mountain bike helmet when I’m leaned over the bars. I also wear really basic mountain bike shoes, like the 
. For longer rides, I’ll add a saddle bag, like the 
. Greyson has the 
as a gift, and I love it. It’s held up well, it grips well on the ground and my hands don’t slip. Since it’s made from natural rubber, it doesn’t off gas that gross plastic smell, even when brand new. For leggings, I really like the 
. If you’re visiting the Truckee area and looking for a yoga studio to visit, I highly recommend 