A Cozy South Lake Getaway At The Black Bear Lodge

During the last week of September, Liam and I took a weekend trip to South Lake Tahoe to get away on our “official” anniversary day. Originally we’d planned a simple date-night dinner to commemorate our anniversury. You see, we had just taken a trip to Mexico City to celebrate 6 years of being together (see that adventure here), but you can never OVER celebrate when it comes to love so… off on another adventure we went! Our weekend escape was spent at the cozy Black Bear Lodge in beautiful South Lake Tahoe.

Liam and I left early on what felt like a summer day in San Francisco and entered a crisp wonderland of fall colors during our drive on US – 50 E. I had never experienced so many vibrant colors during the first 2 weeks of fall, but then again, I had never taken a drive through the California/Nevada mountains during this time of year. It was absolutely breathtaking! I’m told the colors are even more vibrant during the middle and end of October, so if you’re looking for a beautiful drive with some awesome scenic views, I highly recommend a trip.

After many pit-stops and photo opts., we found ourselves at our newly discovered hidden gem – the Black Bear Lodge. Nestled on the outskirts of downtown South Lake Tahoe with its gorgeous mountain setting surrounding the property, this rustic Bed & Breakfast was soon to be our home-away-from-home for the rest of the week!

Upon entering the lobby, Liam and I were greeted by the lodge’s lovely owner, Rachel, and her beautiful snow white dog, Lola (the lodge mascot and unofficial lobby cuddle buddy ;)). The two gave us a detailed tour around this gorgeous property! Rachel explained to us that she and her husband had recently purchased the B&B in the early spring and opened the doors after renovations in May. It was during this tour that Rachel explained owning a B&B with her husband was a longtime goal of theirs, so they treasure every moment spent working together on it!

This rustic B&B showcases massive hand hewn logs in its main lodge which is accompanied by a 30+ foot, handcrafted river rock stoned fireplace – known to be one of the tallest fireplaces in South Lake Tahoe! The vaulted ceilings within the main lodge had me in “awe”!  There are five cozy guest rooms located in the main cabin as well – all of which have their very own fireplace. Outside is a gazebo surrounded by beautiful pine trees and a jacuzzi underneath it for guest to enjoy.   You can also find a cozy little nook upstairs with board games and books to enjoy, and don’t forget about breakfast served hot and fresh every morning! You might even be lucky enough to have Lola join you while you dine ;).

The property also includes four intimate cabins of varying sizes (with fireplaces inside!) located behind the main lodge with a hot tub gazebo resting around the beautiful pines and rustic decorations for guests to use. Each cabin has its own private patio as well! Liam and I were fortunate enough to call one of the cabins “ours” during our romantic getaway :).

My favorite part of the stay at this adorable B&B was the cozy decor. Every inch of the property was absolutely charming in its own little rustic way. From the main lodge with all of its antique tools, sleds and hanging antlers, to the cozy feels we got while enjoying time in our cabin. There were even journals in each room for guest to sign and leave their adventures on paper for both the lodge and next guest to read. It was awesome being able to read the adventures of others while curled up next to the fireplace – talk about a good read! I especially loved that the lodge supported local artists in the area by showcasing their art and crafts for guests to purchase. We ended up walking out of their with a pair of their signature ceramic Black Bear Lodge mugs and a couple of t-shirts. This lodge was picture perfect!

One of the many reasons we booked our stay at the Black Bear Lodge was the close proximity to hikes, only walking distance from the property, along with several other outdoor activities. It was also close to some amazing eateries as well (try Edgewood Restaurant for a romantic evening!). Equally important to us was to feel relaxed and distanced from our every day city lives. We were far enough away from the hustle and bustle of the South Lake strip with all of its commercial shops and casinos, but not so far that we couldn’t engage in indoor activities (shopping!) as needed. We had the best of both worlds right at our feet during our stay at the Black Bear Lodge!

 Thank you Black Bear Lodge for sponsoring this post!

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