I love that area, Suzie. Bridgeport is one of my favorite small towns. I agree it's a lovely drive between SLT and Lee Vining. The eastern side of the Sierras is sheer and awesome.

This is becoming a saga - and here was my comment that you have apparently misread - or misunderstood.

"LOL. Missing what scenery between SLT and Topaz lake? Beautiful downtown Minden and Gardnerville?"

Please correct me if I am wrong on my geography/your concerns - but is not the Walker River Valley - and also Bridgeport - south of Topaz Lake - furether along the drive to the Tioga Pass?

So if the travelers left SLT early - and stoppped at Topaz Lake to have breakfast and see the sunrise - they could later in broad daylingt see all that the Walker Valley and Bridgeport have to offer, right?

Although I should add that they could keep going past Topaz Lake and have breakfast overlooking Mono Lake.

I think everyone should take 100% of whatever Tomsd says and do that because he is the <b>only</b> one of us who has the best ideas. Then when everyone takes 100% of his recommendations he will be validated and feel better about himself.

Seriously Tom, is there something wrong with you that you have to derail every thread that you post to, turn it around and make it about you?

Suzie: Look in a mirror. You continually throw out wrong info - and then try to cover it up.

And when asked questions - you never answer them. You just duck them with some snarky comeback.

In any event - Maggie - I think you now hopefully have a better idea of the various routes/options and can consult with your DH and "muggle" your way through. :)

Was thinking a bit more about your drive in/around Lake Tahoe - as it brings back so many great memories of ski trips in the winter and also summer trips to the Lake.

First of all - coming from Reno - I would suggest you take I-80 west and the 89 south turnoff (see the map below) toward the lake - which goes by Squaw Valley (all told - under an hour from Reno) - and you could drive into that beautiful valley/ski area for a quick tour/cup of coffee. http://www.squaw.com/

If you wanted a truly panoramic view of the lake - take the tram up - or you can even do that at South Shore at Heavenly Valley. http://www.skiheavenly.com/?cmpid=PPC116090494

Continuing on to the deep blue Lake - while driving "down" both sides is very beautiful - I think the drive along the east side might offer the best views - and if you have time - beyond King's beach and Crystal Bay - check out "Millionaire's Row" by Incline Village. Actually - the places go for a wee bit more than a mill now.

http://www.tahoecam.com/tahoeinfo/tahoemap.html

And at the border - you pass by the fabled Cal-Neva Resort/Casino - which Frank Sinatra used to own/frequent in the early 60's. http://www.calnevaresort.com/ and http://www.calnevaresort.com/histori...oe-resorts.php

Have rolled the dice there but never dined at their restaurant - which I believe has a very nice view of the lake. Actually - they do serve lunch there - at the Lakeside dining room. http://www.calnevaresort.com/pdf/Lunch-Menu-2011.pdf

The other side of the lake - the west side - is also a very pretty drive - and beyond Homewood ski area - is also a nice residential area by the lake - where I believe they filmed part of Godfather II. http://www.imdb.com/media/rm4131815680/tt0071562

When you get to SLT - after you are settled in/whatever - you might also drive up the west side a bit to beautiful Emerald Bay (20 minutes? from the "Y") - and visit the fabled Vikingshome, or at least look down on it from the overlook before you get there http://www.vikingsholm.org/ .

And there some nice beaches along the way. http://www.tahoe.com/2011/08/03/lake-tahoe-beaches-map/

During the summer - in the shallower/sandy water - it's warm enough to swim - or at least take a refreshing dip. :)

<<<Continuing on to the deep blue Lake - while driving "down" both sides is very beautiful - I think the drive along the east side might offer the best views - and if you have time - beyond King's beach and Crystal Bay - check out "Millionaire's Row" by Incline Village. Actually - the places go for a wee bit more than a mill now. >>>

You can drive directly from Reno to Incline via 395/431 (instead of taking 80), then head west around the lake from Incline to Kings Beach, continuing on to Squaw Valley, etc., all the way to the South Shore. The views of the lake near Incline Village are astonishing, and the estates on the lake are amazing (of course, a "wee bit more than a mill now" is a vast understatement -- we rode our bikes along the lake recently and stopped to look at the brochures for some houses for sale -- $35 million is just one that pops into my head!)

The view from the top of Heavenly (in South Lake Tahoe) is the best in Lake Tahoe (IMHO).

I was in Tahoe the last two days - which is why I didn't answer Tom's ridiculous comments - anyway I don't suggest a drive around the lake at this time as there is some road work on the west side between Tahoe Pines and Hmewood. The road is reduced to one lane and each direction must wait while the other direction goes. I also DO NOT reccommend driving 80 at this time as there is miles and miles of road work going on and though I drove at night the daytime drive is very obviously goign to be slow going as lanes are reduced and truck traffic is super slow. This is in both directions.

I drove to Tahoe on 50 and it was great.

Tahoe was so hot today and there was like no one there on the west side but lots of people when we boated into Camp Richardson - we left quickly. Just don't enjoy the south side this time of year.

<i>Tomsdon Jul 9, 12 at 5:00pm


Suzie: Look in a mirror. You continually throw out wrong info - and then try to cover it up.

And when asked questions - you never answer them. You just duck them with some snarky comeback.</I>

Complete lie. I have never thrown out wrong information, and then try to cover it up. I challenge you to make citations.

I always answer questions that will help Fodorites make better decisions about travelling. I don't answer personal questions from fruitcakes. Anyone can post links they have Googled.


I'm done. assisting you with getting threads closed so I will, from hence forth, not address you. I do however feel sorry for any traveler who follows some of your hairbrained suggestions.

suzie: It really is sad - huh? :(

(<i>any</i> of us could post about places we either haven't visited in decades, or haven't visited at all, and fill in the blanks w/ google searches. But we don't)

Nice to hear it's warm in Tahoe - with presumably no humidity.

And summer driving anywhere in the West can experience some delays due to roadwork. So what of you are held up for a few minutes: Chill a bit and enjoy the scenery.

For the record - every place I discuss I have visited - and most of them in the past few years.

And - you never did answer the Q as to whether or not you had ever been to the Oakland-Coliseum BART station, or respond to my comment that there really is not much to see driving from South Lake Tahoe and on through the little towns of Minden-Gardnerville. It's really after getting further south to Topaz Lake where the scenery starts to get more interesting, and from there on down to Mono Lake.

BTW - I can only hope jan follows your lead. :)

There is major roadwork on 80 between Truckee and Auburn, but NOT between Reno and Truckee.

As for the roadwork on the west side of the lake, it was pretty bad on Friday - we biked right past all the cars The backup ( being stopped waiting for your side to go) was probably 10 or 15 minutes. There was also a lot of traffic in Tahoe City - just a lot of people, but it was the end of the holiday week.

sf7: Good update. I had suggested going down the east side initially - and yes, as you also noted - one could come over from Reno via Mt. Rose, and be further down the lake, whatever the travelers want to do.

One can also still go partway up the West side from the South Shore/Y - and see Emerald Bay/Vikingshom, and the beaches inbetween - if one has time of course.

And yes, the lake view from the top of Heavenly Valley at SLT cannot be beat.

Suzie- I copied your Tahoe recs from several years back and take them with me up there every summer!

Thanks Michelle. Yesterday I decided I no longer enjoy Camp Ricahrdson and I think Baldwin Beach is long and wide and sandy but it's a desert. It was so hot yesterday, high of 86 ugh!, that the thought of being on a beach with no trees was too much.

Everyone was in the water but it was quiet everywhere we went except Camp Richardson.

Super popular all over the lake now is paddle boarding. All ages and all abilities. I was concerned about all the people doing it who did not wear a life vest. You are out beyond the swim bouys, competing with the boats - though yesterday not many were out- and the water is so cold that if anything happened to you - bonked your head, etc, - you'd really need that life jacket.