Travels

Lake Tahoe and Carson City 🇺🇸🏔️

Posted by markhadland on
Rocky shoreline with large stones partially covered in snow, overlooking a calm blue lake and mountains in the background under a clear sky.
The snowy shores of Lake Tahoe.

Carter and I flew into Reno and drove to Lake Tahoe to celebrate Rhone’s 20th birthday with a few of his friends. Should be a good weekend in Rhone’s backyard to honor him.

Friday, February 20, 2026

A well-lit bar display filled with a variety of liquor bottles, featuring a striking chandelier overhead and a scenic view of snow-capped mountains through large windows.
The bar at the Edge Restaurant & Lounge, this is the place to stay.
Two maps of Marriott Grand Residence Club in Lake Tahoe showing room numbers and hotel layout, accompanied by business cards marked 'Stay Grand' on a granite counter.

Well, we were not at the Edge. Rhone had four friends, so I reserved three rooms at the Grand Marriott Residences, steps away from the Heavenly gondola. At check-in, I learned that, due to Bonvoy app issues, I had reserved six rooms total. Well, that would not work, so I remedied that, but because I booked using points, I had to call Bonvoy to get the credits back. After speaking to Perer in India, I had 600K points in my account. I started with 400K.

Two men sitting at a bar, both wearing puffer jackets, with a variety of bottles visible behind them.
A young man and an older man posing for a selfie at a bar, with a background featuring bottles and neon signs.

Rhone ws stuck in traffic getting in and what normally took 90 minutes took 5 hours. Carter and I had time to burn so we found a bar or two of course.

Two men posing for a selfie in a casino setting, one wearing a green cap and the other in a black shirt. Slot machines and a busy background are visible.
Finally the Birthday Boy arrived.
A sliced beef Wellington showing a pink, tender beef center surrounded by a golden pastry crust and a rich sauce on a plate with a creamy puree.

The birthday dinner would be at Hell’s Kitchen in Caesars, our favorite place in Las Vegas. Carter won $200 playing blackjack, so he tipped our waiter.

Saturday, February 21, 2026

Carter and I then found a wine bar and did some tasting the next day.

A bottle of Crystal Basin Cellars 2019 El Dorado Merlot wine, showcasing a black label with mountain graphics and detailed text regarding the wine's origin and alcohol content.
A bottle of Silver Ghosts Cabernet Sauvignon wine from Napa Valley 2022, displayed on a table next to a wine menu.
Brightly lit Stardust Lodge sign at night with a star design, snowy surroundings, and a 'No Vacancy' message.
Old school festive.

Next, we found Kalanis, a Hawaiian restaurant that was surprisingly great. The service was perfect, and so was the food.

A platter of sushi featuring various rolls topped with sliced fish, avocado, and lemon, served on a black rectangular plate.
Super sushi.
A gourmet plate featuring grilled fish atop a bed of mashed green vegetables, garnished with sprouts and pickled red onions, served in a creamy sauce.
Some fish.
Close-up of a gourmet dish featuring seared scallops, sautéed spinach, corn, and diced tomatoes on a plate with a creamy sauce.
Scallops
Three men posing together, one in a black hoodie and beanie, in a bar setting with bottles in the background.
Three men posing for a photo in a bar setting, with a variety of bottles visible in the background. One man is wearing a black hoodie with the text 'I Screwed The Hadburger 2024'.
The Hadlands.

Sunday, February 22, 2026

A dessert featuring a baked pie crust topped with melted chocolate, marshmallows, and crushed graham crackers.
Rhone’s friends made a chocolate pie for his birthday.
A close-up image of a pizza with pepperoni and pieces of beef on a black baking tray.
And pizza.

We all left early Sunday, as Rhone and his friends wanted to get back. Carter and I had a late flight out of Reno, so we spent the day driving around the lake and taking photos. Lake Tahoe is so amazingly beautiful. We will be back.

A panoramic view of Lake Tahoe surrounded by snow-capped mountains and lush green forests under a clear blue sky.
A serene lakeside view featuring a sandy beach, clear blue water, rocky formations, and snow-capped mountains in the background, surrounded by tall pine trees.
Scenic view of a sandy beach at Lake Tahoe, featuring snow-capped rocks, clear blue water, distant mountains, and a clear sky.
A serene beach scene featuring clear water, sandy shores, and rocky outcrops. Pine trees line the beach, with snow-capped mountains visible in the distance under a bright blue sky.
A scenic view of a sandy beach with smooth rocks along the shoreline, turquoise water gently lapping at the sand, under a clear blue sky.
A scenic view of a lake surrounded by rocky shores and evergreen trees, with snow-capped mountains in the background, under a clear blue sky.
Snow-covered rocks along the shoreline of a lake, with a solitary tree on the left, and mountains in the background under a clear blue sky.
A winter landscape featuring snow-covered rocks on the shore of a clear blue lake, with mountains in the background under a bright sky.
Rocky shoreline with boulders partially covered in snow, leading to a clear blue lake surrounded by snow-capped mountains under a sunny sky.
A serene landscape featuring large, smooth boulders emerging from clear blue water with snow-capped mountains in the background under a clear sky.
A scenic view of large rocks emerging from clear water with snow-covered mountains in the background, under a clear blue sky.
A panoramic view of Lake Tahoe surrounded by snow-capped mountains and dense evergreen forests under a clear blue sky.

Thanks for traveling with TheHad🩵

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