A Toast to Tahoe
Lake Tahoe is all about one-of-a-kind experiences... Read Article
Have you done your holiday shopping yet? It seems hard to believe, but the holidays are just weeks away! Although this is an exciting time, there are many added activities such as shopping, cooking, decorating and traveling that can add stress to your daily life.
I’m here to help you get through the shopping portion of holidays with a guide of local businesses and vendors that offer unique gifts for everyone to enjoy. From handmade toys and crafts to fine art prints to custom jewelry to clothing that’s stylish and cozy, the Tahoe-Truckee region offers a plethora of places to find the perfect gift for your loved ones. Below is just a taste of what you'll find on the local shopping scene. For a full rundown of Tahoe shops, click here.
Toys
Tahoe Kids Trading Company
Located in South Lake Tahoe, Tahoe Kids Trading Company carries unique, high-quality new and used toys, clothes, arts and crafts, accessories and gear. They pride themselves in being the “find everything you need, and more” store for kids of all ages. Here, you can find high-quality, safe and sustainably made toys that inspire learning and creativity, including puzzles, games, dolls, play sets and more.
Location: 2314 Lake Tahoe Boulevard, South Lake Tahoe
Toy Maniacs
Family-owned and operated, South Lake Tahoe’s Toy Maniacs provides a large selection of RC toys, educational kits, models, kites, puzzles and more. Toy Maniacs has a vast collection of RCs including cars, planes, boats and drones, and the staff has a passion and extensive knowledge about the products. They also offer free wrapping services.
Location: 2180 Lake Tahoe Boulevard #3, South Lake Tahoe, CA
Jack + Emmy
Specializing in showcasing organic, sustainable and USA-made children’s clothing and accessories, Jack + Emmy brings a modern and whimsical aesthetic for everyday wear. Jack + Emmy prides itself in carrying brands from new and small businesses such as Ryan & Rose, Billy Bibs, Little Sleepies, Oliver and Rain, and more. This shop also sells a great selection of well-made toys for education and play, including books, dolls, trucks, arts and crafts supplies, puzzles and games, stuffed toys, infant toys and a whole lot more.
Location: 10191 Donner Pass Road, Truckee
Find one-of-a-kind Tahoe-inspired jewelry at Bluestone Jewelry. Photo Credit: Bluestone Jewelry.
Jewelry
Bluestone Jewelry
With locations in Tahoe City and Truckee, Bluestone Jewelry is a place to find high-quality Tahoe-inspired collections, unique jewelry, glassworks and fine art. The family-owned establishment also offers exceptional custom designs and restorations. The Truckee location has a wine section.
Tahoe City Location: 495 North Lake Boulevard, Suite 170, Tahoe City
Truckee Location: 10046 Donner Pass Rd #3, Truckee
Steve Schmier's Jewelry
Steve Schmier’s Jewelry has been a trusted destination for locals and visitors to the region for more than 40 years. Providing custom in-house fine jewelry, including their best-selling Lake Tahoe pendants plus high-quality collections from trusted artisans, Steve Schmier’s knows that jewelry isn’t just an expression or fashion statement, but an heirloom investment that can be enjoyed from generation to generation.
Location: 760 North Lake Boulevard, Tahoe City, CA
Wandering through the shops at Palisades Village is a fun family activity! Photo Credit: Palisades Tahoe
Something for Everyone
The Village at Palisades
The Village at Palisades has it all. After a full day on the slopes, wander the cobblestone walkways for some shopping and apres. With a variety of storefronts and vendors, you’re sure to find the perfect gift for the skier or snowboarder in your life. Each store, from Patagonia to The North Face to Parallel Mountain Sports, carries high-quality and trusted apparel and equipment. While the stores at Palisades are mainly apparel and gear-centric, they also have restaurants, specialty shops, and galleries. Want to give someone a relaxing spa treatment? Check out Lather and Fizz Bath Boutique. Looking for a gift for an art aficionado? Browse through originals and prints at Talbot Fine Art Gallery and Gallery Keoki. The possibilities are endless!
Location: 1750 Village East Road, Olympic Valley, CA
Mountain Hardware and Sports
Mountain Hardware is your one-stop shop for alpine-inspired home decor, hardware, grills, fishing and camping gear, apparel, accessories and a lot more. Along with high-quality products and exceptional customer service, they also provide on-site gift wrapping, pickup and delivery services, fishing licenses, key cutting, and help with DIY home projects.
Location: Locations in Truckee, Incline Village
Give the gift of Tahoe photography by local legend Chris Talbot. Photo Credit: Talbot Fine Art Gallery.
Fine Art
Talbot Fine Art Gallery
Chances are you’ve seen Chris Talbot’s photography before. His award-winning photography featuring iconic and lesser-known destinations in the region adorns the walls of hotels, restaurants, galleries and gift shops. Visit his gallery for some creative inspiration, and a chance to bring some of the Tahoe-Truckee region home with you with the purchase of original prints and postcards.
Location: 889 Tahoe Boulevard, Suite C, Incline Village
Create a box of handcrafted, ethically made luxury chocolates from Dorinda's. Photo Credit: Dorinda's Chocolates.
Food and Beverages
Dorinda’s Chocolates
Dorinda’s multi-award-winning handcrafted chocolates are sure to add some joy to your palate and gifting experience. Sourcing fair-trade, all-natural premium quality ingredients, you can trust that every piece of chocolate you purchase is not only delicious, but also crafted with an ethics in the forefront. From chocolate bars to custom gift boxes to chocolate of the month club memberships, you can find the perfect gift for your chocolate-loving loved ones here! Plus, Dorinda’s also sells luxury bath and body products as essentials to elevate your self-care experience.
Location: 10091 Donner Pass Road, Truckee
Tahoe Oil and Spice
At Tahoe Oil and Spice, you can taste-test almost every product before you make your purchase. With a variety of healthy, high-quality olive oils, balsamic vinegars, honey, jams, spices and teas, you’re bound to find the perfect gift for your loved ones who have a passion for the culinary arts. They also provide pre-made and customizable gift baskets just in case you can’t decide on one product!
Location: 10091 Donner Pass Road, Truckee
Find unique, high-quality wine and cheese products at The Pour House. Photo Credit: The Pour House
The Pour House
Wine and cheese are a passion at The Pour House, and it’s evident from the moment you walk in. Their mission is to bring you joy with their unique and premium-quality curated products from local and international producers.
Location: 10075 Jibboom Street, Truckee
Dart Beverage Center
Operating in a building that was previously in a large wine warehouse, Dart Beverage Center is Tahoe’s largest liquor and tobacco store. They pride themselves on providing a large variety of quality beers, wines, liquors and cigars for every preference and budget.
Location: 148 U.S. Highway 50, Stateline
Zander’s The BottleShop
Zander’s not only offers an exceptional collection of champagnes, wines, beers, spirits and mixers, but also hosts tasting events and educational mixology workshops. Their helpful and knowledgeable Spirit Guides are there to help you find the best craft beers, wines and ingredients for crafting your cocktails. They also provide an online ordering service for pickup and delivery.
Location: 12047 Donner Pass Road, Suite B1, Truckee
Grocery Outlet Bargain Market
Locally owned and operated, Grocery Outlet provides affordable and high-quality groceries, produce, wines, flowers, home and garden supplies, holiday decorations and beauty products. There’s something for everyone here, and you can’t beat the prices!
Location: Locations in Incline Village and Truckee
Mountain Hardware and Sports has everything you need for your mountain lifestyle. Photo Credit: Mountain Hardware and Sports.
Sports Gear & Apparel
The Village Board Shop
The Village Board Shop has been one of South Lake Tahoe’s go-to spots for rentals, demos, gear and apparel for more than 40 years. Focusing on sustainability and empowering the action sports community, The Village Board Shop proudly features the highest quality products for sale and rentals to provide athletes with the best gear and experiences on and off the slopes.
Location: 3542 Lake Tahoe Boulevard, South Lake Tahoe
Create memories and art at the Hot Spot! Photo Credit: The Hot Spot.
Experiences
The Hot Spot
If you like to give experiences instead of things, give the gift of art with a gift card to The Hot Spot, Tahoe’s premier pottery and canvas painting, candle-making, mosaics, garden art and crafting center. Their workshops are perfect for solo artists and larger events such as birthdays, office parties, bachelorette parties, holiday events and team building.
Location: 475 North Lake Boulevard, Tahoe City
For a full list of Tahoe experience gift ideas, click here.
A gift card is the perfect gift for the foodie in your life. Photo Credit: Za's Lakefront.
Restaurant Gift Cards
After a full day of skiing, snowboarding, sledding, skating or wandering around the town, you’ll definitely have grown an appetite! The Tahoe-Truckee region has a wide variety of dining options to satisfy every palate. From no-frills diners to upscale multi-course gourmet meals, there’s something on the menu for all ages, culinary tastes and budgets. A gift card to one of our regional restaurants is the perfect option for the foodie in your life, and with more than 400 places to choose from, it’s almost guaranteed you’ll find a spot they will not only love but want to revisit!
Click the link to see the full list of restaurants.
About the Author Kirsten Alexis
Kirsten is an outdoor adventure enthusiast, writer and photographer. You can typically find her hiking, paddleboarding, cross-country skiing and checking out new spots to share in the Tahoe Donner region. She has been lucky to call Tahoe her second home since she was a child and aims to inspire people to experience Tahoe and fall in love with the beauty and adventurous spirit of the region through her blogs and content. 
