If you have never visited Lake Tahoe in the spring, I highly suggest putting it on your bucket list. This May I was invited on an all expense paid trip, to experience the luxury of the all new 2016 Kia Sorento with gorgeous Lake Tahoe as our setting. My hosts from Kia were wonderful, attending to every detail of my travel and accommodations. I can’t wait to share all the details of this adventure with you!
As soon as I stepped off the plane at the Reno/Tahoe airport, I knew I would love it here. The air was crisp, not to cool and nothing like the heat of Texas. Upon receiving our luggage at the airport, our drivers were waiting to greet us and direct us to our vehicles beginning the scenic drive to The Ritz-Carlton, Lake Tahoe where we would be staying. To say that it was a great first impression would be an understatement.
If you’ve ever stayed at a Ritz-Carlton property you know the service is unparalleled. Over the course of our adventure, Kia proved that they have marked a similar course for their clientele. After we checked in to our rooms to freshen up and unpack our things, we met up for light conversation, a few games, and Marshmology.
Marshmology is a signature event of the Ritz where you can learn about the history of the marshmallow and s’more ingredients from The Ritz-Carlton Marshmologist while enjoying complimentary gourmet s’mores. Think marshmallow flavors like passion fruit, tarragon, and caramel. Our group may/may not have been waiting patiently to be first in line.
After enjoying an assortment of gourmet confections. We returned to our rooms to dress for dinner and regroup to embark on the first of our adventures together: a food adventure at Restaurant Trokay, in downtown Truckee, California. Every member of the staff treated us as though they had extended a personal dinner invitation to us that evening. From pairing to presentation, during several courses, every detail was suburb. The best way to describe our meal comes directly from the Trokay website “Some places need to exist so that you can rediscover what is real. So that your sense of possibility is restored, so that you stop thinking that there is nothing new in the world and nothing left to learn. Trokay is that kind of place.” I have to say that Trokay brought me to a new place of adventure and excitement for cuisine as an experience.
The next morning after breakfast and coffee (always, coffee.), we paired up with our drive partner and selected our favorite Kia Sorento to explore the roads of Lake Tahoe for ourselves. 
Meet my drive partner & friend, Heather from It’s a Lovely Life– she’s one of my favorites!
The luxury we had experienced on this trip transitioned right into the sleek, sophistication of the Kia Sorento chosen for our drive that day. One of my first thoughts was that it was spacious without being overwhelming. Definitely a vehicle my entire family could feel comfortable in but also one I would want to drive everyday.
We took just a moment before we got on the road to quickly pair devices to play our road-trip playlist because, well, music…. I can personally vouch that the Kia Sorento will be able to keep up to any expectations of great sound. (Let’s just say a selection of our playlist was “worldwide”)
I had always heard lake Tahoe was absolutely beautiful and I was finally getting a glimpse of what everyone had been talking about. The water is so pure you can see through it.
You can feel the sun warm your skin while enjoying the view of a snow capped mountain range.
We stopped several times along our drive to take it all in. It was one of those times you just wanted to soak in the moment so that you can relive it again. I’m not a person typically moved by nature but this was perfection.
Halfway through our route we stopped for coffee (always, coffee!) and to switch drivers. When I was driving I had hardly noticed how winding and curvy the roads were. The drive was so smooth and seamless in the Kia Sorento that the twist and turns weren’t even a consideration.
Although our drive was several hours, the luxury of the Sorento and the beautiful scenery never got tiring. We both agreed that we could have easily driven this route all day.
Once we arrived back at The Ritz-Carlton, we were immediately welcomed to a refreshing lunch on the patio to recharge for our next outdoor adventure.
We were given the opportunity to choose between hiking and kayaking. Although I had never kayaked, (& frankly, scared to death that I would topple into the freezing lake water, in front of everyone!) I choose kayaking. I confess there was a lot of decision making and dialogue that occurred before I finally committed to my chosen adventure. I was unsure at first but I was brave and am so glad I did. It was a huge success! I even completed a challenge to switch kayaks in the middle of the lake. 
Definitely a memory I will never forget and sharing it with friends made it even more special.
We had a great time of driving and adventure that day but there was still more adventure to be had. We were told there was a special surprise for us at dinner. We kept trying to get hints and clues to figure it out but none of us could have guessed what was in store.
We were introduced to the Chef of The Ritz and handed official Ritz-Kia aprons. Then it was announced that we would be competing in our own Iron Chef event. We had 1 hour to devise, prepare, and present a meal worthy of the head chef’s approval. You know, no pressure. Actually it was one of the most intense and creative competitions I have participated in.
It was so interesting to see how different people took on roles that you wouldn’t have expected. Some immediately took charge. Some were the best at assisting and anticipating needs before issues arose. Others kept the mood light so the the pressures of cooking didn’t make anyone overheat. I have never felt an hour pass more quickly. Before we knew it the hour had passed and we were presenting our creations. We would be judged on the same scale the chefs at The Ritz-Carlton are judged upon. Eeek!
While Chef judged our creations, we were guided to another fantastic meal outside under the canopy of the tallest trees and a starlit sky.
While our team wasn’t announced as the overall winner, I loved the experience of working with several unique personalities and seeing their strengths come together under pressure to create something fabulous. That’s what life is all about!
I made a few quips about this being the spot of my “next” vacation home. You just never know. I love adventure and this was one I would do all over again. I have a feeling my travels will lead me back here very soon. I mean, who isn’t looking for a little bit more of this in their life?!
Interested in learning more about getting behind the wheel of the 2016 Kia Sorento like the one I drove? Check it out here, Facebook, & Twitter.