A Weekend Getaway in Lake Tahoe

Memorial Day Weekend was wonderfully spent celebrating my friend Paul’s birthday over at Lake Tahoe. But actually, I had to work both Saturday and Sunday morning, so I joined everyone else a day late and decided to solo staycation for an extra day afterwards too. Tahoe is really so lovely in the summer. See a glimpse of the fun below:

I met everyone at King’s Beach for some relaxation. Actually, it was perfect timing since I opened my car door at the exact second my friends were walking down the street right next to me. So beautiful here!

 

After some picnicking and volleyball, we headed to the cabin, an adorable A frame in Alpine Meadows.

Featured in Sunset mag back in the day. And adorable Maximus!

Dan’s gift for Paul: Game of Thrones wine?!

Happy Birthday Paul!

Piñanita… we didn’t actually destroy it. Too cute.

And then they all headed to Chik Fil A, but I went to do the Eagle Rock hike I missed out on the day before!

Then, I went to go grab some watercolor paper since I had filled my last journal and needed a restock. The perfect arts & crafts shop, Atelier, was up in Truckee. One of each thing, all the things, please!

Next, a visit to Sand Harbor.

I had packed myself a picnic and sketched and dined atop a lovely rock, watching the tourists go by. The second painting was over on the other side of the park.

Then it was time to head to my lodgings for the night over in the tiny town of Dutch Flat.

Hello, adorable airbnb! My host was so wonderful, and I got up in the morning and had a leisurely breakfast and tea out on the porch. I sketched her house as a gift to her, and she was delighted.

The cutest electric teakettle. It’s British, if anyone wants to get me one.

A little jaunt around the town of Dutch Flat. It was a gold mining town, and so named for the early German (Deutch/Dutch) families that settled here.

The most adorable plant shop.

I wish I had bought this one. If I ever pass through this town again, I’ll come back and pick something up. And the second photo below is an original Chinese Adobe home. There were 3500 Chinese in this area in the 1850s, and there was a Chinatown here until the 1930s.

Hearse House jokes!

 

Bye Dutch Flat! Such a lovely little stay.

 

I stopped by Auburn on the way home. So many cute little historic railroad and mining towns along the I-80 corridor.

Florida-shaped exposed brick.

And a Chinese Joss House, which is now a small museum.

Thanks for inviting me along to your birthday celebration and inspiring this little mini staycation Paul! Can’t wait for the next adventure.

Anna Wu is a wedding and portrait photographer based in San Francisco. She compulsively documents and blogs all of her daily adventures. Follow her on instagram and view more of her professional work at annawu.com.