Help with logistics Sacramento/Tahoe/Carson City
 

Hey y'all,
We didn't take our New Year's get-away, but thanks for the links and help with my last post.

Now DH and I are considering a visit to CA/NV, hoping to cross off two more U.S. capitols on our list. We're also thinking of going to South Carolina and New Mexico, but the Calif./Nevada trip would be a two-fer as far as capitols go.

Anywho, most likely we'll travel Feb. 12-17. I was thinking we could stay the first night in Sacramento, visit the capitol, and then drive to Tahoe for two or three days with a visit to CC to see the capitol.

Does this sound logistically feasible? Which area in Lake Tahoe would you suggest we search for lodging?

Thanks in advance!
CDG

This is very doable in the short amount of time you have. We did the same thing, visit each state's capitol over the years. Had to take a cruise ship to get to Juneau! LOL

Carson City is very easy to visit from Tahoe, and the capitol building has always been one of my favorites.

We stay at the Hyatt in Incline Village on the north shore, NV side every year. It's in a beautiful area surrounded by trees, and right at the lake.

Just ask if you have any questions.

If you have a few extra hours in Carson City, it's worth the drive to Virginia City and a lot of history.

Make sure you take into consideration that the weather may prevent you from driving over the Sierra.

Thanks MBnancy! That's so cool. You must have tons of pics from your visits to the capitols!

boom-boom - We love history! Well, obviously. This is a great suggestion!

TTess - Yeah. As I was reading posts last night I got to thinking about the road conditions and how they could truly prohibit our journey. I would imagine in February there's a fairly good chance we may see some snow.

Chicago, be sure and rent a vehicle with snow tires from Sacramento.
They don't allow chains on rentals.

They keep the roads cleared as much as possible, but check with Caltrans before starting out. The rental desk should also have current conditions. In many years of renting and driving in the snow, we have never been stopped or held back, but good to be preparred.

http://www.dot.ca.gov/hq/roadinfo/

If you rent a FWD or AWD vehicle you should have no problems. I live in the Sacramento area and go to Reno all the time (we will also be up there for President's Day weekend). I have never been stopped to put on chains with our FWD vehicle. If a FWD vehicle needs chains, CalTrans/Highway Patrol usually shuts down I80.

Don't forget to visit Old Sacramento. Check out www.oldsacramento.com

Carson City also has a really interesting museum that used to be the mint where silver from Virginia City was made into coins. That's the "c" on collector coins.

Chances are you'll have no problem getting over the Sierra. I've traveled over the Pass for decades and many times, in foul weather. Sometimes, we've been forced to turn around due to weather, even with a 4wd. Other times, it's taken us 14 hours. It can be beautiful and nice or it can be a treacherous nightmare. Take it from a veteran Tahoe visitor but have a great trip!

Well with the number of days you have it's unlikely that you'd be prevented from making the trip. If it's snowing you may have to drive in the snow using hte appropriate vehicle or chains or you could wait out the storm. Even with the recent dump of snow the difficulty wasn't that big a deal as loing as you didn't try to travel during the stormy part. Friends drove to SLT on Friday night between storms and didn't have any problems. Lots of people drove over the wekend between storms after the road was plowed. Just keep your eye on the forcast and contact CalTrans for the road status. If Caltrans closes 80 then it's only closed for hours not days.

Does CalTrans have a hotline or website to check?

Ok. Wait. That's the link MBnancy posted... Never mind...

The week you've chosen would be much better than the next week for Tahoe lodging rentals, because it's "ski week", with most of the kids out of school.

Tahoe resorts will be booked fully from about 2/16- 2/24. Plan accordingly IMHO.
:)>-

Who gets a ski week? Is that a bay area thing. I guess the nearer you get to Tahoe the less likely you are to get a ski week!!! ;)

Suzie, I know-- we live in Colorado and we don't get Ski Week! But my sisters live in the Bay Area, and that's what they call it.
:)>-

I know what you mean. My sis who lives on the peninsula gets a ski week. I guess if you are close enough to go every afternoon you aren't gonna get a week are you? Boo Hoo!