Lake Tahoe side trip suggestions
 

We are going to Lake Tahoe, staying close to the Olympic Village, in the fall, with another couple, all of us 'young' seniors. I'm looking for suggesions for side trips while out there. We're especially interested in Nat'l Parks, but are open for all suggestions. Thanks!

Where is Olympic Village?

Utahtea

Squaw Valley. I don't know of National Parks that are close.

I assume that you'll be at the Olympic Village at Squaw Valley...

Here are a few things that I'd do...

1) Spend a day or half-day in Truckee, CA. Nice small town with nice shops and restaurants.

2) Go to the CalNeva... a classic old casino with the CA/NV boarder running right down the middle of the resort.

3) Go to Vikingsholm (http://www.vikingsholm.com/) Neat old house, great location, some good light hiking.

4) Go to South Tahoe one day. You can take in the casinos, ride the tram to the top of Heavenly (the classic view of the Lake). There is a nice hike and a restaurant at the top).

Nevada State Parks
http://parks.nv.gov/lt.htm

I think the CalNeva lodge is neat. It used to be owned by Frank Sinatra. JFK and Marilyn Monroe stayed there. You used to be able to rent there cabin. I stayed in JFK's cabin.

Am I missing something or isn't Lake Tahoe 300 miles from Squaw Valley?

That's going to make a day trip to Lake Tahoe kind of on the impossible side.

I'm confused as to what LoisL wants.

Utahtea

Squaw Valley is in North Lake Tahoe.

Yes utahtea, you ARE confused!!! LOL LoisL, the other suggestions are very good. Just driving around the Lake is a very nice way to spend a day. You can stop in Emerald Bay and visit Vikingsholm, can get to South Shore and check out shops, casinos, have lunch...but there are also a lot of places to stop and have lunch along the way. The Hyatt at Incline Village is a nice place to eat, very pretty setting and nice hotel. Truckee is good and you might enjoy having dinner there one night. They have some really good restaurants there. You could also go over the hill, HW 50 into Carson City and then up through Silver City to Virginia City from there. Virginia City can be a bit hokey but get beyond that and it's loaded with history. The silver from there built much of San Francisco and also helped fund the Civil War. Lots of names common to VC and SF...Sutro and others. You could also take a drive on HW 89 toward Sierraville and Quincy. Funky little towns, you are driving through the National Forest, very pretty scenery, and would make for a relaxing day.

Oh, also meant to add: they run the ski lift at Heavenly Valley at South Shore in the summer. Have no idea what the cost is to go up, but you can get a fabulous view of the lake and surrounding area from up there. Have a fun trip.

Utahtea, The Squaw Valley that is being discussed here is wayyyyy more well known than the one you are thinking of. The Squaw Valley near Tahoe was the sight of the 1960 winter Olympic Games. The flame is still lit at the entrance to the valley. Recently the village has been really built up with new condos and shopping. They were still skiing there this past weekend.

The fall months in Tahoe are fantastic especially Sept.

If you do go over the mountain to visit Virginia City, make sure you also go to Bodie, a well preserved ghost town. If you drive around the lake, check out Lucky Baldwins place, homes there were built around the turn of the century.

Suuuuuuuuzie,
We went up to Squaw last Octoberish for a wedding at Plumpjack.

Mrs Kal and I said to ourselves "And why haven't we been back here in over 20 yrs?"

Took the tram all the way to the top and had a great view of Lake Tahoe and the whole valley.

Plumpjack is a nice place to stay...good restuarant, too.

Take a short drive down to Donner Lake ("Donner Party of 40...Donner Party of 40") and then up old Hwy 40. GREAT drive with good views! But watch out for rock climbers and bicyclers!

Kaaaallllll – Love Plumpjacks. We had some really great food. Was there for an anniversary and stayed in the Squaw Valley Inn. They upgraded us to the junior penthouse and it had a baby grand piano. Neither of us play, so it did us no use but we thought it was a pretty great experience.

About Bodie – Yeowww that would be quite the drive. It’s about 2 hours from Virginia City to Bridgeport and then from Bridgport to the turn off to Bodie is 6 or 7 miles from Bridgeport and then 13 miles on a dirt road. It’s not that it’s not worth the drive it’s just you should know what you are getting into before you commit.

(In my best Pepe LePew accent)
Oui Oui but I bet you made beautiful music together anyway! ;-)

Another suggestion: if you hit HW 50 and go over the hill to Carson City and the hang a right on HW 395, and I think it's the next signal light..turn right on Jacks Valley Rd. and you will have a beautiful drive out to the little town of Genoa. It used to be a a stop for the Pony Express in the old days. Neat little shops, some good restaurants, and Wally's Hot Springs. They have a restaurant, hot and warm mineral pools, and spa treatments. If the timing is right in the fall, they have whats known as the Candy Dance there. It started out with the towns people making and selling candy to raise money to run the town and now it has grown to a huge craft fair. They still make and sell candy but it goes really fast. They really DO have a dance. You can also reach Genoa by going down Kingsbury Grade but some people don't like that. It's very steep and winding, two lane road. HW 50 is a much easier drive..four lane HW from the Lake down into Carson.

Wow! Great suggestions! I love history, so all the scenic small towns and stops mentioned sound great, as do scenic drives. Our friends want to drive to Nappa Valley from there. Is that do-able? They also mentioned San Francisco. I'm guessing it should be another trip. We are only going to be there for a week to ten days.

Lois,

If you make the trip to Napa, I'd plan to spend the night. Also, be careful to time your driving to avoid the weekend rush. Sacramento would be a possible daytrip if you are adventurous. Carson City and Reno can also be fun.

Lois, I really think Napa would be too far for a day trip. You would be exhausted I think and not be able to appreciate it. As much as I think you'll enjoy getting out and about, I was thinking that this was to be a vacation, not a marathon...ya think? Don't know how far you have to travel, but Napa and the surrounding area is for sure a trip in itself. Hope you enjoy your time.

Don't forget darling little Truckee!

Graeagle is a nice drive too.

Thanks to all for the advice. I intend to print this out and bring it along, so I don't forget any of the spots. I've never been steered wrong on this site! [no Kal, I certainly won't forget! You've given me great advice before!] I do agree that Napa would not make a lot of sense. Our friends are 'new' at traveling, but they'll catch on quick. They do want to relax, while getting in as much as possible. This gives us plenty to work with.

Napa would be too far (we've done it from Tahoe, not worth it), but the Gold Rush country has wineries all its own. Plus it's apple country! What could be more perfect for fall?

We're taking some good friends out there this fall also (their first trip west of the East Coast). I went to a private school in Sutter Creek way back when, and there are some good Gold Rush things around there as well.

Here are some links from my vacation collection:

http://www.applehill.com/

http://www.discovergold.org/GrapeEsc...ns/amador.html

http://goldcountry.winecountry.com/wineries/

http://goldcountry.winecountry.com/wineries/

http://www.placerville-downtown.org/

http://www.visit-eldorado.com/placerville.html


We're arriving in very late September, staying until mid-October. When will you be there? That is a fantastic time of year to go.

Thanks guys for setting me straight!

We have done Bodie as a day trip from Lake Tahoe and it's very do-able!

Utahtea

Depending on exactly when your trip is - Vikingholm is closes for the season Labor Day weekend.

Bodie is doable as a day trip - but you are north of the North end of Lake Tahoe so you'll have to ad 45 - 60 extra drive time.

Virginia City makes a good day trip.

If you go to Cal Neva, try to take a tour of the tunnels Sinatra built so he, the Rat Pack, the Kennedy brothers and Marilyn Monroe could get around and up to the show room w/o being seen. It is hokey (Marilyn's ghost etc.) but otherwise based on fact.

Truckee has good shopping and restaurants.

Whatever you do - DO NOT attempt a day trip to Napa - it will be a 4 hour drive each way - and a lot longer if you travel through Sacramento at rush hour or any time on a Friday or Sunday.

The entire area is Tahoe National Forest - but not a "National Park" per se. LOTS of CA and NV state parks, though

Alohaa jj!

I guess Sir Paul and Heather won't be dropping by Truckee and jamming with the locals at Moody's anymore, yah?

Probably not :)

Missed them by 1 day a couple of years ago . . . .

It has been several years since we visited Lake Tahoe but we were busy the whole week without side trips. We did visit Truckee.

D.L. Bliss State Park has a nice beach and great hiking--the Rubicon Trail is beautiful. There were lots of enjoyable hikes in the area.

Riding bikes along the West Shore bike path--lots of fun, places to stop for lunch. Rented bikes in Tahoe City and rode down to Sugar Pine Point State Park.

Visit Sand Harbor--our favorite place to swim--beautiful place with huge rock boulders--our kids (and my husband) had a great time jumping off them and into the water. The water was just too cold for me.

My husband and son played golf at Incline and a great nine hole course called Glenbrook. The views on the course at Glenbrook were great.

We rented a boat one day at Zephyr Cove--fun to get out on the water.

We did drive up to Echo Lake for the views and to hike a bit. It is a beautiful lake and I think this is where we took a little boat to the trailhead.

Lindainohio's suggestion of Sand Harbor is an absolute <u>must</u>

It is w/o question the prettiest place on the Lake. Sand dunes, amazing rock outcroppings on the lake's edge, tourquoise colored water, trails through the rocks, big beach. Just an amazing place.

Wow! What great responses from everyone! I've been without a computer for over a week, and came back to such wonderful information. I'm absolutely eliminating the Napa option, after reading all the advice. Regardng Sand Harbor, it sounds beautiful, even though we will be there after the swim season. I have no doubt we'll never be able to get to all these spots, but we'll give it our best shot. It's great to have so many good suggestions before getting out there. Thanks to all!