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 RECREATION

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 BUSINESSES

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. Aprés 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 PEOPLE

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 PLACES TO EAT & DRINK

Best Appetizers 1. Fresh Ketch 2. Riva Grille 3. Aprés Wine Company Best Bakery 1. Sugar Pine Bakery 2. Safeway 3. Raley's Best Place for Breakfast 1. Ernie's 2. Bert's Café 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. Aprés Wine Company 3. Café 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 Café 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 Café 2. Edgewood 3. Café 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 Café 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. Aprés Wine 2. Edgewood 3. Blue Water Bistro Best Place for Lunch 1. Freshies Restaurant 2. Sprouts Natural Foods Café 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 EXPERIENCES

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. Aprés Wine 2. Café 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

BEST REASONS TO LIVE HERE

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!