SOUTH LAKE TAHOE, Calif. - We really wanted to make this Best of Tahoe™ something special.
For one thing, it's the 16th anniversary of the contest. For another, the economy as of late has been challenging. We feel it's more important than ever to highlight the people, businesses, places and things to do that make the south shore a great place to call home.
Well, here is the final result of all our efforts. We have succeeded in making this contest truly special-and "we" doesn't only mean those of us who were buried in ballots here at the Tribune. We mean you, our readers. You turned out in droves to vote this year-we received 1,412 eligible ballots during our voting period. That's a lot of you, and we appreciate it. After all, it's not an easy task to sift through almost 115 categories - yet you did. Thank you.
Of course, the reputations that made so many businesses and individuals finalists in the Best of Tahoe™ 2010 reader poll are also the culmination of a great deal of effort - days, months or years of great work by the businesses and people who are finalists in each category. Congrats to all of the honorees and runners-up in this issue on your much-deserved honors. Your hard work and efforts make the South Shore a great place.
Welcome, everyone, to Best of Tahoe™ 2010 as chosen by our readers. Cheers to all of you, and to another year of bests!
Best Bike Trail
1. Camp Richardson
2. Mr. Toad's Wild Ride
3. The Flume Trail
Best Boat Cruise
1. MS Dixie II
2. Tahoe Queen
3. Woodwind II
Best Campground
1. Camp Richardson
2. Fallen Leaf
3. Nevada Beach
Best Place to Cross Country Ski
1. Kirkwood
2. Spooner Summit
3. Hope Valley
Best Fishing Charters
1. Tahoe Sport Fishing
2. Mile High
3. 4-Reel
Best Fly Fishing Guides
1. Tahoe Fly Fishing Outfitters
2. The Sportsman
3. Alpine Fly Fishing
Best Golf Course
1. Edgewood
2. Lake Tahoe Golf Course
3. Bijou
Best Place to Hike
1. Mount Tallac
2. Fallen Leaf Lake Trail
3. Eagle Falls Trail
Best Marina
1. Tahoe Keys
2. Ski Run
3. Zephyr Cove
Best Place to Ski/Snowboard
1. Heavenly
2. Sierra at Tahoe
3. Kirkwood
Best Place to Picnic
1. Pope Beach
2. Reagan Beach
3. Nevada Beach
Best Art Gallery
1. Marcus Ashley
2. Jon Paul Gallery
3. Wyland
Best Auto Repair
1. Norm's Auto
2. KC's Auto
3. Anything Gas
Best Bank
1. El Dorado Savings
2. Wells Fargo
3. US Bank
Best Bike Shop
1. South Shore Bikes
2. Whatta Bike
3. Sierra Cycle Works
Best Place to Buy Wine
1. Grocery Outlet
2. Apres Wine Company
3. Cork & More
Best Carpet/Floor Center
1. Alpine Carpet
2. Champion
3. Summit
Best Casino
1. Lakeside Inn
2. Harrah's
3. Harvey's
Best Clothing Store
1. Sidestreet Boutique
2. Savvy
3. Ross
Best Day Care or Childcare
1. Kindertown
2. Lake Tahoe Sitters
3. Under the Magic Pine Tree
Best Day Spa
1. Shannon's
2. Harrah's
3. Elements
Best Dry Cleaners
1. John's
2. One Hour
3. Bobby's
Best Electronics Store
1. Radio Shack
2. Accurate Audio Video
3. Frank's TV & Electronics
Best Florist
1. Thran's Flower Shop
2. Enchanted Florists
3. Safeway
Best Garden Supplies
1. Nel's
2. Aspen Hollow
3. K-Mart
Best Gas Station
1. Fox Gas
2. RoadRunner
3. Tahoe Tom's
Best Green Business
1. 968 Park Hotel
2. Svadhaya Yoga
3. Sierra Sports in Round Hill
Best Grocery Store
1. Safeway
2. Raley's
3. Grocery Outlet
Best Gym
1. Sierra Athletic Club
2. Push Gym
3. Kahle Recreation Center
Best Hair Salon/Barbershop
1. Sessions
2. Heaven Scent
3. Just Kutz
Best Health Care Facility
1. Barton Memorial Hospital
2. Stateline Medical Center
3. Alpine Family Practice
Best Jewelry Store
1. Simpson's
2. Round Hill Jewelers
3. Gold Store
Best Pet Grooming
1. Pawfection Pet Salon
2. Four Paws
3. Dog Wash of Tahoe
Best Shopping Center
1. Village Center
2. The "Y" Outlet
3. Heavenly Center
Best Ski/Snowboard Shop
1. Sports Ltd.
2. Shoreline of Tahoe
3. Powder House Rainbow Mountain
Best Place to Get a Tattoo
1. Lake Monster Tattoo & Body Piercing
2. Mush's Underground Tattoo
3. Cosmic Creations Tattoo and Art Gallery
Best Tire Store
1. Ken's Tires
2. Les Schwab
3. Lilly's
Best Video Rental
1. Video Library
2. Blockbuster
3. Red Box
Best Wedding Chapel
1. Chapel of the Bells
2. Lakefront
3. Harvey's Chapel
Best Attorney
1. Robert Huckaby
2. William Cole
3. Lori London
Best Bartender
1. Mark Zernickow, Fresh Ketch
2. Dave Paradise, Mo's Place
3. Lenea Moulton, The Cantina
Best Building Contractor
1. Borek Construction
2. Goodyear & Sons Construction
3. K&K Services
Best Car Salesperson
1. Robert at Cardinale
2. Chris at Cardinale
3. Derek at Cardinale
Best Chiropractor
1. Borges Chiropractic
2. James Kane
3. Adam Spindler
Best Dentist
1. Kevin Cassidy
2. Katherine Jones
3. Randall Acevedo
Best Doctor
1. Dr. Patrick Martin
2. Dr. Brooke Martin
3. Dr. Allison Monroe
Best Financial Advisor
1. Weldon Wulstein
2. James Nealis
3. Colleen Karcher
Friendliest Casino Employees
1. Lakeside Inn
2. Harrah's/Harvey's
3. Mont Bleu
Best Hair Stylist
1. Kathy at Sessions
2. Brian at Simplicity
3. Brenda at Sessions & Amanda at Heaven Scent (tied)
Best Insurance Salesperson
1. Jon Hetherton
2. Erik Watada
3. Linda Wilkins
Best Landscapers
1. Aspen Hollow
2. Ryan Zebo, Z's landscaping
3. Tahoe Outdoor Living
Best Lake Tahoe Community College Professor
1. Beachy Orr
2. Sarah Pierce
3. Mike Spina and Steve Fernald (tied)
Best Local Band
1. Lavish Green
2. Cool Black Kettle
3. Blue Turtle Seduction
Best Massage Therapist
1. Lydia Weed at Zen Massage
2. Coco Maliya at Shannon's Day Spa
3. Teresa Bertrand at Body Works
Best Mechanic
1. Karl Channel at KC automotive
2. Steve Curtis at 5 Star Automotive
3. Tony at Tony's Auto
Best Optometrist
1. Bill Downey
2. Mark Lehman at Lake Tahoe Eye Care
3. Richard Leland Kahn at Lake Tahoe Eye Care
Best Pet Groomer
1. Ashley Luna at Pawfection Pet Salon
2. Dog Wash of Tahoe
3. Four Paws Grooming & Boarding
Best Personal Trainer
1. Eufay Wood
2. Rhonda Beckham
3. Jeff Miller
Best Plumber
1. Ed Senior
2. Apollo Plumbing
3. Doug Nixon
Best Pharmacist
1. Doug Mundy at Tahoe Valley Pharmacy
2. Garnett Carlson at Raley's at the Y
3. Adam Schwein at Safeway at Bijou
Best Photographer
1. Brenda Rogers
2. Amanda Martyn
3. Dirk Yuricich
Best Roofer
1. Summit Roofing
2. AAA
3. Rick Wood
Best Ski Instructor
1. Dan Meeks
2. Ellen Johnson
3. Matty Hellman
Best Teacher
1. Melissa Berry
2. Amanda Miller
3. Barbara Coultier
Best Veterinarian
1. Dr. Monroe at the Sierra Veterinary Hospital
2. Alpine Animal Hospital
3. Dr. Carl Kelly
Best Volunteer
1. Nola Berry
2. Chris Horton
3. Sue Anderson & Heather Kovac (tied)
Best Waiter/Waitress
1. Shad Ward at Bistro Danielle
2. Beth at Bert's
3. Toni at Lakeside
Best Wedding Planner
1. Tahoe Party Planners
2. Lori Cramer at Sierra Weddings
3. Karen Estes at Simple Tahoe Weddings
Best Appetizers
1. Fresh Ketch
2. Riva Grille
3. Apres Wine Company
Best Bakery
1. Sugar Pine Bakery
2. Safeway
3. Raley's
Best Place for Breakfast
1. Ernie's
2. Bert's Cafe
3. Red Hut Waffle Shop
Best Brunch
1. Edgewood
2. Forest Buffet at Harrah's
3. Red Hut Waffle Shop
Best Buffet
1. Forest Buffet at Harrah's
2. Hunan Garden
3. Montbleu Buffet
Best Burgers
1. Burger Lounge
2. Izzy's Burger Spa
3. Big Daddy's
Best Catering
1. The Cork & More
2. Lake Tahoe Catering Company
3. Fat City Food Company
Best Cocktail
1. Lakeside Inn
2. Beacon
3. Riva Grille
Best Coffee Shop
1. Ernie's
2. Alpen Sierra Coffee Company
3. Starbucks
Best Chinese Food
1. Hunan Garden
2. Mandarin Garden
3. QQ Express
Best Date Spot
1. Blue Water Bistro
2. Apres Wine Company
3. Cafe Fiore
Best Deli Sandwiches
1. Beach Hut Deli
2. Tahoe Keys Delicatessen
3. The Yellow Submarine
Best Desserts
1. Freshie's Restaurant & Bar
2. Red Hut Soda Shop
3. Evan's American Gourmet Cafe
Best Dining for Kids
1. McDonald's
2. Denny's
3. Chevy's Fresh Mex
Best Fast Food
1. Taco Bell
2. Jack-in-the-Box
3. McDonald's
Best Fine Dining
1. Evan's American Gourmet Cafe
2. Edgewood
3. Cafe Fiore
Best Happy Hour
1. Lakeside Inn
2. Steamers
3. Chevy's Fresh Mex
Best Ice Cream
1. Cold Stone Creamery
2. Red Hut Soda Shop
3. Sno-flake Drive-In
Best Italian
1. Tep's Villa Roma
2. Passarretti's
3. Scusa
Best Meat/Seafood Market
1. Overland
2. Safeway
3. Raley's
Best Meal Under $5
1. Barton Mountain Cafe
2. Taco Bell
3. McDonald's
Best Mexican Food
1. Cantina Bar & Grill
2. Jalisco's Taqueria
3. Mazatlan
Best Milkshake
1. Sno-Flake Drive-In
2. Zephyr Cove Restaurant
3. Burger Lounge
Best Outdoor Dining
1. The Beacon Bar & Grill
2. Riva Grill On the Lake
3. Freshies Restaurant & Bar
Best Pastry/Bagels
1. Rude Brothers Bagel & Coffee Haus
2. Safeway
3. Alpen Sierra Coffee
Best Pizza
1. Lake Tahoe Pizza Company
2. Bob Dog Pizza
3. Pizza Hut
Best Place for Dinner
1. Timber House, Lakeside Inn
2. Edgewood
3. Freshies Restaurant & Bar
Best Place for Glass of Wine
1. Apres Wine
2. Edgewood
3. Blue Water Bistro
Best Place for Lunch
1. Freshies Restaurant
2. Sprouts Natural Foods Cafe
3. Timber House, Lakeside Inn
Best Restaurant with a View
1. Edgewood
2. Chart House
3. The Beacon Bar & Grill
Best Salad Bar
1. Tep's Villa Roma
2. Chart House
3. Forest Buffet at Harrah's
Best Seafood Restaurant
1. Fresh Ketch
2. Chart House
3. Off the Hook
Best Sports Bar
1. Lakeside Inn and Casino
2. Mo's Place
3. Steamer's Bar & Grill
Best Sunday Brunch
1. Forest Buffet at Harrah's
2. Edgewood
2. Riva Grill On the Lake
Best Sushi
1. Off the Hook
2. Naked Fish
3. Sushi Pier
Best Thai
1. Orchid's
2. Thai One On
3. Thai Delight
Best Customer Service
1. Sidestreet Boutique
2. Lakeside Inn and Casino
3. Sierra Sports in Round Hill
Best Casino to Find the Loosest Slots
1. Lakeside
2. Harvey's
3. Harrah's
Best Place to Watch a Sunset
1. Edgewood
2. Nevada Beach
3. Reagan Beach
Best Place to Take a Date
1. Apres Wine
2. Cafe Fiore
3. Blue Water Bistro
Best Place to Get Married
1. Edgewood
2. Chapel of the Bells
3. Emerald Bay
Best Place to Stay the Night
1. Lakeside Inn and Casino
2. Fantasy Inn & Wedding Chapel
3. Harrah's Lake Tahoe
Best Annual Event
1. Fourth of July
2. Celebrity Golf Tournament
3. Renaissance Faire
1. The lake!
2. Outdoor recreation
3. It's beautiful
other responses from our readers ...
It's the best place on earth!
All of the above!
Let me count the ways ...
100's of reasons!
The people
Small town life, big time entertainment!
