South Lake Tahoe now has Venetian gondola service in the Keys

Imagine gliding through the water while a gondolier serenades you and a loved one as you enjoy wine and the nearby sights. You may have pictured a scene in Venice, Italy, but this is now a reality in Lake Tahoe with new South Shore business Tahoe Amore, a Venetian gondola company offering tours through the Tahoe Keys.

Tahoe Amore will celebrate a ribbon cutting with Tahoe Chamber on July 16 at 4 p.m. in the Tahoe Keys Marina.

Tahoe Amore owner and operator Drew Sainte Marie brought a bit of Venice to Lake Tahoe with Tahoe Amore after 13 years of working as a gondolier in Long Beach, California. Sainte Marie regularly vacationed in the Tahoe region and recognized the elements needed of a place that could have a Venetian gondola.

“You can’t do it just anywhere,” Sainte Marie said. “I had no idea I’d actually be the one to put a Venetian gondola in Tahoe, I just thought that I should!”

A year and a half ago Sainte Marie learned of an individual who started a new gondola operation and he began preparing to launch a similar operation in Lake Tahoe.

“Venice, Italy screams elegance, romance, beauty and a culture that stands alone – and so does Tahoe!” Sainte Marie said. His goal is to blend the traditions of Venice with the beauty of Tahoe.

Sainte Marie operates Tahoe Amore with the intention to eliminate the stress of his customers with entertainment including stories from the gondolier while they enjoy their own wine as they float through the Tahoe Keys. Sainte Marie provides several options to increase the romance factor including chocolate strawberries and scattered rose petals. However, Tahoe Amore offers more than just romance – in fact, Tahoe Amore may accommodate up to six people per gondola ride, which makes it a great alternative for a girl’s night out, bachelorette parties, double dates and families.

Celebrate Tahoe Amore and meet Sainte Marie at the ribbon cutting on July 16. For more information about Tahoe Amore, visit www.tahoeamore.com.