Luvs2travel

Staying at private home in Reno 8/5 - 8/12. Looking for feedback on our proposed agenda:

Sat 8/5: Long trip from NY to SF - drive to Reno (suggestions on best/most scenic route?)

Sun 8/6: Tahoe - tram ride to Heavenly Valley/hiking.

Mon 8/7: Friends arrive - leisurely drive around Lake Tahoe, stopping at Emerald Bay. Evening - picnic supper/Shakespeare Festival

Tues 8/8: Late afternoon rafting on Truckee River. Recommendations for dinner - casually dressed from the day?

Wed 8/9: Lake Tahoe - Sand Harbor for relaxing beach day

Thurs 8/10: Spa Day at Walley's Hot Springs Resort in Genoa; Res. made for sunset dinner at Lone Eagle Grille-Lake Tahoe

Fri 8/11: Homewood Fine Arts/Crafts Festival; catamaran sail on Lake Tahoe

Sat 8/12: Drive to Sonoma Valley for the day/early evening - back to SF by 9-10 p.m. Recommendations on scenic wineries esp.Pinot Noir) for picnic lunch and casually-dressed dinner?

I've had a few good suggestions so far, but would appreciate added ideas in context of my full itinerary.

Thanks in advance!!

janisj

Your tix are probably already bought/paid for, but just in case, open jaw into Reno (or even Sacramento) / out of SFO would be better. The drive from SFO to Reno after a long flight will be really tiring.

Forget about scenic - just get there. I-80 is plenty scenic enough after about Colfax. What time do you land. One saving grace is you are doing this on a Sat (Friday would be really bad) but still count on 4 hours minimum. Could be longer. Basically you will have heavy-ish traffic all the way from SFO to Auburn.

Your basic plans for the week are just fine - no really jam packed days but you will be in the car a lot - the commute over from Reno to Tahoe is not just a quick jaunt. And driving around the lakeshore on any august day will require patience.

You are doing a lot of repeat visits. For instance you are hitting Incline Village/Sand Harbor 3 different days. You might want to re-think grouping some things.

As for somewhere to eat after rafting (are you rafting out of Tahoe city or kyaking in downtown Reno? ) I'll assume Tahoe City. Tahoe City and Truckee both have several really good places but you should just play it by ear and see what you are in the mood for after being on the river.

Neopolitan

That drive around the lake is indeed a very long haul, especially in heavy seasonal traffic.

I'd consider a visit and tour at Thunderbird Lodge. You need to reserve in advance, but I think you can do it on their website. Really interesting and a nice break from the drive around the lake. Maybe it could be timed in the afternoon before hitting the Shakespeare Festival -- which is sooo much fun, by the way.

http://thunderbirdlodge.org/tours.html

FainaAgain

Driving around Tahoe, make a stop at Squaw Valley, the site of the Winter Olympic games.

pat

Just a thought. Hot August Nights is usually the first week in August in Reno. Check with your friends to see what`s going on. You are lucky to stay in a private home, as hotels rates sky rocket during Hot August Nights. It`s the biggest celebration all year in Reno and Sparks.

freethepress

For something a bit different and to get back into the mountains, I'd suggest a hike into Desolation Wilderness. Best entry point is probably Echo Lake, just off Highway 50 and only a 15 minute drive from So. Lek Tahoe. You can take a "taxi boat" from the marina there to the end of the lake (it's really 2 lakes) -- very scenic. A good day hike would be into Lake Aloha -- about 2 hours each way. Pack a picnic. At the Echo marina there's a little store with provisions.
This is not an arduous hike but you walk through a lovely mountain meadow with wildflowers and there are lots of views and other little lakes around. You're higher than Tahoe and can look down on the big lake. Very popular -- you won't be alone by any means even if you are in a wilderness area. Avoid weekends. But this is very doable in a day from Reno.

Luvs2travel

Sorry for the delay in acknowledging the great feedback offered!

Indeed, flying into Reno would've been easier - but fares were more expensive, and connecting flights were impractical (either too short or much too long.) We figured if we had to spend more $$ and time, better to do so enjoying added sights along the way. (No doubt, we'll 'crash and burn' once we get to Reno night one!)

As JanisJ points out, we'll be in the car a lot - may try to combine a few activities at Tahoe, but several are kind of 'stand-alones.' With that in mind, a few final questions:

* We arrive in SF on Sat at 10:15 a.m. - does this minimize drive time/traffic?
* How long is the drive from Reno to Tahoe - most trips planned mid-week vs. weekend
* How long is the drive around the lake - and besides Tahoe City, where should we expect most congestion?

I lived in Homewood for a short while many years ago, but never experienced summers on the lake...

Thanks again for all your advice - you guys are THE BEST!!

Luvs2travel

OOps - just re-read my last post. I meant to say connecting flight layovers were too short or long (obviously, flight time is the same!!)

janisj

10:15 on a Sat. is about the best you could get. Traffic can still be bad in spots but at least no commute mess.

You need to count on 45+ minutes from Reno to Tahoe if you take the Mt Rose Rd over the summit to Incline Village. BTW at least one of your drives to the lake should be over this route because the views at the top are AMAZING.

Reno to Tahoe via 80 to Truckee is about an hour.

And if you take 395 and hwy 50 it will take 45-60+ mins depending on how much traffic you run into in Reno and Carson City.

The drive around the lake is hard to estimate - since almost no one does it all in one drive w/o stopping and traffic can add lots of time in some places. It is just about 75 miles. Plus there are strictly enforced speed limits in lots of places. So count on 2 hours absolute minimum.

Suzie

Besides traffic in Tahoe City expect a bunch at South Lake Tahoe as you hit the casinos if you are drivng from the north/Incline or after Safeway/Denny's if driving from the west side.

Day 1 you are driving from Reno through Carson City and then to South Lake Tahoe to take the Heavenly Tram. This will take about 90 minutes. A nice hike besides Echo Lake would be to Angora Lake. Beautiful area surrounded by walls of granite:

Take Highway 89 north approximately 3 miles from South Lake Tahoe to Fallen Leaf Lake Road and turn left. Turn left at the first paved road. Continue to Forest Service Road 12N14 and turn right. Continue past Angora Lookout to the road's end at the parking lot.

Day 2 drive from Reno to Tahoe via 80 west to 267 to Kings Beach (under 1 hour) turn right and then drive towards Emerald Bay. You will pass lots of good lake views. From Emerald Bay you can drive to sotuh shore and then up to Sand Harbor for the play.

Day 3. Reno west on 80 to 89 south in Truckee to Tahoe City - about 1 hour. You can have a great dinner on the deck at Sunnyside Resort just south of Tahoe City. Lots of peole boat in so there is a variety of casual dress. Or you can go really casual and eat at the Brdgetender right in Tahoe City near Fanny Bridge. They moved it to teh west side of the bridge but it is visible form the road. If it's not late enough and you'd rather be closer to Reno after dinner then you can go to Garwoods. Another favorite lake side dining with fab food. Here's a link to a coupon for rafting:

http://www.truckeeriverraft.com/taho...841/direct?c=1

Day 4 - 395 to 431/Mt Rose to Sand HArbor under 1 hour.

Day 5 Leaving Genoa and taking the Kingsbury Grade 207 you can drive north around the lake to Incline Village where the Hyatt is located. Just under 1 hour.

Day 6 Take 80 to 89 south in Truckee and drive to Homewood.


You are repeating some of these drives several times. Are you at all interested in reworking?

Luvs2travel

JanisJ and Suzie,

You came through with flying colors - much more information than I had even hoped for - and the coupon for rafting is so appreciated!!

As it turns out, we may re-work one of the days (Sun) since friends arriving Mon feel they'll be too jet-lagged to join us. We'll therefore probably do the tram ride/hiking - and drive around most of the lake afterwards, knowing we'll see the balance in conjunction with other activities. Since we'll just be taking it easy that night, we won't be frazzled if we hit traffic along the way. BTW, great ideas on where to go for hiking, Suzie - will definitely follow your suggested route!

This will leave us free Mon until we head off for the play.

Rest of the time will probably remain as is. Though I know there's a lot of overlapping, I'd much rather be in Tahoe than Reno (no offense to anyone from Reno!) Bear in mind, too, that we're from NJ where traffic is a constant reality - and where I drove more than 1 hour each way to work every day for years. Driving this length of time to such a scenic area doesn't seem so bad

Again, many thanks for your extremely helpful feedback - I'll be sure to post a trip report on my return which I hope you'll read and enjoy!