Date nights are a ritual that my husband and I have made a priority, especially since having kids. Between working full time, finding time for self-care (like working out or skiing) and taking care of the kids, it would be easy to let our relationship slip to the back burner.

Date nights are about reconnecting with each other, and keeping our sanity. The other benefit is exploring new restaurants and hang-outs in the area.

This past Saturday night, we started out by grabbing a glass of wine at the Coachman Hotel. I am in love with this property. It’s been completely updated and has a modern boho vibe to it. When we arrived, we were greeted with outdoor fire pits, which are available for guests to roast s’mores.

Both guests and the public are invited to enjoy their lobby, which serves Stumptown Coffee by day and unique wine and beer by night. I ordered the Banshee Mordecai blend and we sat in a cute little couch in the corner overlooking the room. There were families playing board games and groups of friends enjoying something crisp after a day out on the slopes. We felt like we were on vacation for a moment … we can’t wait to go back!

For dinner, we tried X Crows (Ten Crows) restaurant inside the new Hotel Becket. It was packed! We snagged the last table and were promptly greeted by a server. The menu is really awesome. It’s a modern take on barbecue, but with the items you would expect on a traditional menu.

We loved the ambiance, which was super hip and lively. It was a great date spot! We ordered the house-made fried pickles and black-eyed pea hummus to start. For our main courses, my husband ordered the brisket and I ordered the fried chicken sandwich, which was amazing! The chicken was crisp and the sauce was spot on. I will definitely order it again.

We were really happy — Ten Crows hits the nail on the head when it comes to both ambiance and food. It has outdoor seating too, which we imagine will be packed to the gills come summer.

We intended to try the new ice cream sandwich place, The Baked Bear, for dessert, but we were stuffed after all that food at dinner. If you haven’t heard of it, it’s located over in Heavenly Village and they make ice cream sandwiches out of cookies, brownies or doughnuts. Yum! On second thought, though … it’s probably a good place to take the boys.

Not every date is this packed … some nights we go to a movie or we just grab a glass of wine at Revive Wine Bar. Whatever we do, we always enjoy it and always look forward to our next night out.

It’s also great for the kids, as they love having a babysitter come over to play and show off for. Best part? The kids are sound asleep by the time we get home, which is a win in my book.

What’s your favorite date night out in Tahoe? I’d love to hear.

Natasha Schue is a mom of two boys, wife and a full-time working, young professional. You can read more about her family adventures on her blog schuelove.com or follow her on Instagram @schuelove. You can send questions or comments to schuelove@gmail.com.