Christmas trip to Gold Country: Q on distances & day trip to Lake Tahoe
Dec 20th, 2012, 08:42 AM
#21
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Just so you know, as far as casinos go, the better casinos are not at the lake. They are Thunder Valley on the border with Roseville & Lincoln off 65 and Red Hawk in Shingle Springs off 50.
I'd skip the train idea unless you want to spend an overnight since you can't go up and back in one day. The Cal Zephyr does not appear to travel between Auburn & Truckee so you'd have to take Amtrak Capitol Corridor down to Sacramento or drive up to Colfax to catch it.
I'd skip the train idea unless you want to spend an overnight since you can't go up and back in one day. The Cal Zephyr does not appear to travel between Auburn & Truckee so you'd have to take Amtrak Capitol Corridor down to Sacramento or drive up to Colfax to catch it.
Dec 20th, 2012, 02:27 PM
#22
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Thanks. We aren't interested in doing an overnight, visiting casinos, or anything involving a separate train trip -- looking for a pleasant 'Sunday drive' experience, with a couple stops to eat. We will have Christmas Eve and Christmas Day for driving around from our base in Auburn.
I'm not hugely worried about congestion in Auburn. We've spent recent Christmases in Carmel and in Sonoma and found no problems. Tahoe is a different kettle of fish, of course.
The current forecast for Placerville over the holidays is entirely above freezing, except for a dip to 29 degrees on the night of the 24th. Looks like 40s in the area during the day. I'm guessing snow won't be an issue along Rte. 49.
I'm not hugely worried about congestion in Auburn. We've spent recent Christmases in Carmel and in Sonoma and found no problems. Tahoe is a different kettle of fish, of course.
The current forecast for Placerville over the holidays is entirely above freezing, except for a dip to 29 degrees on the night of the 24th. Looks like 40s in the area during the day. I'm guessing snow won't be an issue along Rte. 49.
Dec 20th, 2012, 05:15 PM
#24
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Are you looking for restaurant recommendations? I live in El Dorado Hills, adult son works in Placerville and we frequents the entire area. Let us know if you need some recommendations.
There are several nice wineries in the Auburn and Placerville area. If you are interested in visiting any of them I can recommend a few.
Along Hwy 49 on the way to Placerville is Marshal Gold Discovery State Park. It is where gold was discovered by James Marshall at Sutter's saw mill. The saw mill is still there along with several buildings. It is worth a short stop.
There are several nice wineries in the Auburn and Placerville area. If you are interested in visiting any of them I can recommend a few.
Along Hwy 49 on the way to Placerville is Marshal Gold Discovery State Park. It is where gold was discovered by James Marshall at Sutter's saw mill. The saw mill is still there along with several buildings. It is worth a short stop.
Dec 20th, 2012, 10:09 PM
#26
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I would recommend going to Nevada City/ Grass Valley. The towns are just 5 miles apart and only about a 30 minute lovely drive from Auburn. It is vey scenic and Nevada City is so well preserved. They really decorate for Christmas and have a fun holiday parade. I would call the chamber of commerce or visitor center to find out about restaurants that might be open. The townspeople are very friendly. There is a wonderful movie theater in old downtown Grass Valley, built in 1942 and fairly well preserved. There are live theater productions in both towns also. All very quaint. We've gone twice this year and loved the area.
The elevation at Nevada City is under 2500 ft, it would be less likely to have snow, but if it does snow, it might just be a light dusting. There are beautiful drives nearby, further on Hwy 49 or to the old former town of Bridgeport ( see the covered bridge at the state park there) or drive out to the Lakeview area.
There is also a level walking trail that follows the old flukes from gold mining days. It is wide and flat and wheelchair accessible with benches along the way.
The elevation at Nevada City is under 2500 ft, it would be less likely to have snow, but if it does snow, it might just be a light dusting. There are beautiful drives nearby, further on Hwy 49 or to the old former town of Bridgeport ( see the covered bridge at the state park there) or drive out to the Lakeview area.
There is also a level walking trail that follows the old flukes from gold mining days. It is wide and flat and wheelchair accessible with benches along the way.
Dec 21st, 2012, 03:12 AM
#28
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Grass Valley is pretty - and if you can't get to Tahoe - would be nice.
Just checked the 10 day weather report again for Tahoe - and it looks like the 25th is still the only clear day. Looks like it might be a break between storms?
http://www.weather.com/weather/tenda...+USCA0584:1:US
Just checked the 10 day weather report again for Tahoe - and it looks like the 25th is still the only clear day. Looks like it might be a break between storms?
http://www.weather.com/weather/tenda...+USCA0584:1:US
Dec 21st, 2012, 06:22 AM
#29
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Ah, Nevada City sounds like it might be a perfect outing.
Yes, I'm interested in hearing about local restaurants. We are not looking for formal, dress-up places -- casual family restaurants are more our style. For context -- we had a lovely Christmas-Day lunch last year at a seafood place on the Santa Cruz pier. We had a nice Christmas Eve 'big meal' a few years ago at The Girl And The Fig in Sonoma. I'm particularly interested in places in Auburn that would serve big waffle-y breakfasts (not necessarily on Christmas Day).
Apologies for my ignorance -- but if there's been heavy snow in preceding days in Lake Tahoe, or Squaw Valley, wouldn't chains be required even if it were not actively snowing at the time?
Yes, I'm interested in hearing about local restaurants. We are not looking for formal, dress-up places -- casual family restaurants are more our style. For context -- we had a lovely Christmas-Day lunch last year at a seafood place on the Santa Cruz pier. We had a nice Christmas Eve 'big meal' a few years ago at The Girl And The Fig in Sonoma. I'm particularly interested in places in Auburn that would serve big waffle-y breakfasts (not necessarily on Christmas Day).
Apologies for my ignorance -- but if there's been heavy snow in preceding days in Lake Tahoe, or Squaw Valley, wouldn't chains be required even if it were not actively snowing at the time?
Dec 21st, 2012, 06:26 AM
#30
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Not sure if there is heavy snow coming in or not.
Even if they have put on chain controls - sometimes they can clear the road for a while - and all traffic goes through - and then later - if it snows again - chain controls go up once more.
The quaint old town of Folsom has some nice restaurants, as I guess Auburn would too.
Even if they have put on chain controls - sometimes they can clear the road for a while - and all traffic goes through - and then later - if it snows again - chain controls go up once more.
The quaint old town of Folsom has some nice restaurants, as I guess Auburn would too.
Dec 21st, 2012, 06:29 AM
#31
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BTW- if I read this right - there are no chain controls on at the moment on I-80.
http://www.dot.ca.gov/cgi-bin/roads.cgi
http://www.dot.ca.gov/cgi-bin/roads.cgi
Dec 21st, 2012, 07:46 AM
#33
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I would not try to get into Tahoe in between snowstorms. There is always residual snow on the ground not to mention ice after a big storm. You need a few days with sun/warmer temps to really clear the roads. It would still be risky to travel without chains.
Dec 21st, 2012, 09:15 AM
#37
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You are absolutely right, I don't! Really looking forward to the trip.
Elnap29, thank you for suggesting I check events in Nevada City: looks like they have a 'Victorian Christmas' event on all over town on the afternoon of Sunday, December 23rd. I'm not sure that we will go to that (timing, crowds, etc.), but it sounds like it'd be a lovely town to visit the next day.
Elnap29, thank you for suggesting I check events in Nevada City: looks like they have a 'Victorian Christmas' event on all over town on the afternoon of Sunday, December 23rd. I'm not sure that we will go to that (timing, crowds, etc.), but it sounds like it'd be a lovely town to visit the next day.
Dec 21st, 2012, 09:55 AM
#38
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Nevada City Victorian Christmas is really nice. It goes on during the month of December so the 23rd isn't the only night but it is the last. If you are concerned about crowds then do go later as the cute town is dressed up. Easy to get there from Auburn.
http://www.nevadacitychamber.com/cel...ian-christmas/
http://www.nevadacitychamber.com/cel...ian-christmas/
Dec 21st, 2012, 01:29 PM
#39
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Not sure what you're looking at, Tom, or when you looked, but chain control is definitely on. From the CalTrans website:
[IN THE NORTHERN CALIFORNIA AREA & SIERRA NEVADA]
CHAINS ARE REQUIRED ON ALL VEHICLES EXCEPT 4-WHEEL-DRIVE VEHICLES WITH SNOW
TIRES ON ALL 4 WHEELS FROM 3 MI EAST OF GOLD RUN (PLACER CO) TO THE
NEVADA STATE LINE
[IN THE NORTHERN CALIFORNIA AREA & SIERRA NEVADA]
CHAINS ARE REQUIRED ON ALL VEHICLES EXCEPT 4-WHEEL-DRIVE VEHICLES WITH SNOW
TIRES ON ALL 4 WHEELS FROM 3 MI EAST OF GOLD RUN (PLACER CO) TO THE
NEVADA STATE LINE
Dec 21st, 2012, 01:36 PM
#40
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Well the snow didn't come in until later. At 7:30am it hadn't started snowing yet. I guess that proves that weather & road information isn't valuable until the moment it's needed. The OP shold have the CALTRANS road info number and web site handy for up-to-date info.
