GloriaE

Aloha HDV - There is lots of shopping, including malls in the Sacramento area. No need to go to Reno for shopping. Also, there are casinos in Tahoe - so again no need to go to Reno if you don't want to. If you decide to skip Reno and just go to Tahoe, then Highway 50 from Sacramento is the quickest route if there is no winter storm and it is open. It is a smaller highway than Interstate 80 and sometimes it is closed when highway 80 is open during a storm. Where in Hawaii are you? I am currently in Roseville (near sacto), but my husband has been working on the Big Island for almost a year now - lucky guy! One thing about the Sacramento area you may enjoy is the rivers (Sacramento and American Rivers), which are quite different from Hawaii's rivers. In old Sacramento you could take a Riverboat ride and eat at some nice restaurants along the river, visit the train museaum and then shop at some of the malls in the area. Best wishes for a great trip to the mainland for you!

HDV

Aloha GloriaE~

I live on the Big Island also. Is your husband in construction, as there's a lot of that going on here for some time now.

Thanks for the tips on the shopping. Not sure if you know or not, but our island, well, the Hilo side, has only one mall, really sad and cannot even compare to the huge shopping malls in the mainland so I always make an effort to hit them when I'm on a trip up there. So, Sacramento has big malls? How about outlet malls?

I didn't realize there is another highway I could take directly to Tahoe as I think with all the research I've been doing, maybe we'll hang a few days in Sacramento then drive straight to Tahoe and hang around there...no need to make another long drive into Reno, perhaps?

janisj

OK - no need for Reno at all. That helps.

Yes - fly into SMF for sure. If you take I-80 to the north end of Lake Tahoe you can stop on the east side of Roseville at the Galleria. It is an upscale mall w/ Nordstrom, Macy's and all sorts of shops, restaurants. Across the street is another shopping center w/ a Nordstrom Rack (Nordstrom clearance store), Marshall's, Ann Taylor Loft and tons of other shops. If you are shopping-deprived you could spend a full day visiting both sides of Galleria Blvd. You take the hwy 65 exit off of I-80 and it is very close to the interstate. East to get back on I-80 to continue up to Tahoe.

OR - If you take hwy 50 to the south end of Lake Tahoe - just off the Folsom Blvd exit is the Folsom outlet mall. Not a huge mall - maybe 60 stores or so but there is an Off 5th (Saks 5th Ave clearance outlet), Bose, etc etc.

dmlove

Be aware that Highway 50 is NOT an interstate, which 80 is. It's a narrower, often cliff-hugging road. I hate the ride up to South Lake Tahoe on 50 because I (in the passenger seat) am way too close to the edge!

If you really want to shop, and want to do outlet mall shopping, you should probably head south of Sacramento one day to Vacaville, where you will find one of the biggest outlet malls anywhere in the US.

http://www.premiumoutlets.com/outlets/outlet.asp?id=50

janisj

the only real "edge" is over the Meyers Grade - but that one is a doozy

HDV

Ohmigosh....I didn't realize how HUGE these malls are! Wow! I'm getting excited just thinking about them and looking at the directly online! Thanks dmlove for the link!

Really appreciate all your tips and hints..if you think of more, send them my way!

Mahalo!

dmlove

janisj, it just SEEMS like it goes on forever. I hate it, more at night than during the day.

GloriaE

Aloha HDV - nice to hear from another Big Islander. My husband and youngest son (31)live south of Hilo in the Hawaiian Shores subdivision. I know the Hilo mall well! My son owns the Indelible Ink tattoo shop upstairs next to the Tsunami museaum and my husband is a salesman for Alert Alarm. I hope to be moving over in the next year. Feel free to e-mail me if you'd like with any questions about the Sacramento or Tahoe areas that I can help you with. The Galleria Mall in Roseville that is fairly new and upscale with lots of shopping nearby. If you've driven the Hamakua coast, you won't be afraid of Highway 50 as long as the weather is okay. Hope you have a great trip!

GloriaE

Aloha again - here are a few more shopping links in the Sacramento area:

http://www.ardenfair.com/

http://www.westfield.com/galleriaatroseville/index.html

So, do you live in Hilo??

I will be away from my computer until Monday, but if you have any more questions, just let me know.

HDV

Yes, Gloria, I live in Hilo.

Thanks for the links to the mall sites....they look awesome and can't wait to shop!

LoveItaly

Aloha KDV, I live in Vacaville, very close to the outlets.

If you come here and would like to meet up either for a meal or a glass of wine please let me know here on this thread.

HDV

Mahalo to you all for the great info. I have another question.

So, decided to fly in to Sacramento, spend a few days then drive to Lake Tahoe. I would love to visit Yosemite Park. How long would the drive be from Sacramento to Yosemite, then continue from Yosemite to Lake Tahoe? Any ideas, hints, or tips are greatly appreciated!

sunbum1944

I was just in Sac last weekend and I my daughter and I visited some great wineries about 20 min drive from Sac in the Clarksburg area
We visited Bogle winery and then stopped at the Sugar Mill where there are 5 different wine tasting rooms in one building - we loved the French Hill wines

Have fun

GloriaE

Aloha HDV - I am going to guesstimate that the time to drive from Sacramento to Yosemite is approximately three hours. Again, once near Yosemite you may experience winter weather problems, so that would effect your travel time. Again I am guesstimating from Yosemite to Tahoe would be four to five hours drive. I know you have seven days, but a Sacramento, Yosemite, Tahoe schedule could make for a pretty busy week in California, even if the weather cooperates. Kind of like trying to see the Big Island and Maui all in one week. Doable, but busy.