It’s Snowing in Truckee

Posted on January 22, 2012 by admin

Now that it is finally snowing in Truckee for the 2011-2012 ski season, it is time to plan your trip to the hill.  Here are links to some of the ski resorts.

If you are going to ski and stay at Northstar, check out this great rental agency for vacation rentals right in the Village at Northstar:  www.North-StarVacationRentals.com

Squaw Valley – Location: On Hwy 89 between Tahoe City and Truckee; Number of Trails: 30+ including single black diamond; Lodging: Olympic Village Inn, Squaw Valley Lodge, Plump Jack Inn, Resort at Squaw Creek, time shares and vacation rentals; Restaurants: Plump Jack, Mamasake, Auld Dubliner, Fireside Pizza and more; Other things to do: ice skating, cable car, climbing wall, sky jump, snow tubing; Website: http://www.squaw.com/

Northstar-at-Tahoe – Location: On Hwy 267 between Tahoe City and Truckee; Number of Trails: 30+ including black diamond; Lodging: Luxury Condos, Ritz Carlton, Hyatt Residence Club, vacation rentals; Restaurants: Mikuni, Rubicon Pizza. TC’s pub, Chocolate Bar, Earthly Delights; Other things to do: ice skating, tubing, bungee trampoline, cinema; Website: http://www.northstarattahoe.com/

Boreal – Location: On 80, 10 miles west of Truckee; Number of Trails: 30+ including single black diamond; Lodging: Boreal Inn; Restaurants: Cafeteria only; Other things to do: tubing, snowboarding park; Website: http://www.rideboreal.com/winter/index.html

Tahoe Donner – Location: Tahoe Donner development, Truckee; Number of Trails: 10+ including single black diamond; Lodging: vacation rentals, ski lease; Other things to do: sledding, community center; Restaurants: The Lodge, Pizza on the Hill; Website: http://skitahoedonner.com/home

Alpine Meadows – Location: On Hwy 89 between Tahoe City and Truckee; Number of Trails: 30+ including double black diamond; Lodging: Stanford Alpine Chalet, River Ranch , time shares and vacation rentals; Restaurants: Meadows Cafe, Gordon Biersch BBQ, Spoon Cafe, Treats Cafe ; Other things to do: Tubing ; Website: http://www.skialpine.com/

Posted in Skiing in Tahoe, Truckee California, Vacation Rental, Winter Activities | Leave a comment

Stocking Stuffers, Holiday Gifts in Tahoe

Posted on December 8, 2011 by admin

Lather & Fizz is one of my absolute favorite stores!  Check out all the fun stocking stuffers and unique gifts you can buy for friends, family and as corporate gifts!

 

Posted in Shopping in Truckee Tahoe | Leave a comment

Skiing in the Tahoe Area

Posted on September 13, 2011 by truckeemom

When you mention Lake Tahoe, most people think of one thing: skiing.  With so many ski mountains in the area and one of the highest snow falls in the US,  it truly is a skiers paradise.  How could I possibly post about things to do in Truckee without giving some details about the ski resorts.  Without further ado, here is a brief description of the downhill resorts in the area and what they have to offer:

Squaw Valley – Location: On Hwy 89 between Tahoe City and Truckee; Number of Trails: 30+ including single black diamond; Lodging: Olympic Village Inn, Squaw Valley Lodge, Plump Jack Inn, Resort at Squaw Creek, time shares and vacation rentals; Restaurants: Plump Jack, Mamasake, Auld Dubliner, Fireside Pizza and more; Other things to do: ice skating, cable car, climbing wall, sky jump, snow tubing; Website: http://www.squaw.com/

Heavenly – Location: South Lake Tahoe; Number of Hills: 30+ including double black diamond; Lodging: Marriott Grand, Forest Suites, Embassy Suites and many many more within walking distance; Restaurants: Driftwood Cafe, Fire and Ice, Wolfgang Puck express; Other things to do: Casino, gondola rides, ice skating, tubing; Website: http://www.skiheavenly.com/

Northstar-at-Tahoe – Location: On Hwy 267 between Tahoe City and Truckee; Number of Trails: 30+ including black diamond; Lodging: Luxury Condos, Ritz Carlton, Hyatt Residence Club, vacation rentals; Restaurants: Mikuni, Rubicon Pizza. TC’s pub, Chocolate Bar, Earthly Delights; Other things to do: ice skating, tubing, bungee trampoline, cinema; Website: http://www.northstarattahoe.com/

Boreal – Location: On 80, 10 miles west of Truckee; Number of Trails: 30+ including single black diamond; Lodging: Boreal Inn; Restaurants: Cafeteria only; Other things to do: tubing, snowboarding park; Website: http://www.rideboreal.com/winter/index.html

Tahoe Donner – Location: Tahoe Donner development, Truckee; Number of Trails: 10+ including single black diamond; Lodging: vacation rentals, ski lease; Other things to do: sledding, community center; Restaurants: The Lodge, Pizza on the Hill; Website: http://skitahoedonner.com/home

Alpine Meadows – Location: On Hwy 89 between Tahoe City and Truckee; Number of Trails: 30+ including double black diamond; Lodging: Stanford Alpine Chalet, River Ranch , time shares and vacation rentals; Restaurants: Meadows Cafe, Gordon Biersch BBQ, Spoon Cafe, Treats Cafe ; Other things to do: Tubing ; Website: http://www.skialpine.com/

Mt. Rose -  Location: On Mt Rose Highway between Incline Village and Reno; Number of Trails: 30+ including double black diamond; Lodging: Reno or North Tahoe; Restaurants: Timbers, Senor Barascas, View-B-Que, Pit Stop, Timbers, Winter Creek Lodge, Lodgepole Cafe; Website: http://www.mtrose.com/

Diamond Peak – Location: Incline Village; Number of Trails: 30 including single black diamond; Lodging: Incline area resorts; Restaurants: Snowflake Lodge, food court, Lodge Pole BBQ, Phatty’s, Tahoe Taco’s; Other things to do:  Casino nearby; Website: http://www.diamondpeak.com/

Squaw Valley, Northstar, and Heavenly all have villages at the base of the mountain which have other fun things to do in Truckee including lots of shopping and mini golf.  Also note that Northstar and Heavenly are affiliated, you can get an epic pass which allows you access to both mountains.  Check out their websites for more info.

This is about downhill skiing but cross country skiing is another fun thing to do in Truckee.  In addition to the resorts above there are many smaller cross country only ski areas, they deserve their own article.

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Fifty Fifty Brewing Co. Eclipse Release Party

Posted on September 1, 2011 by truckeemom

We’ve come a long way baby!  From a stopover town with one stop light and a small grocery store to an awesome vacation destination with it’s own brewery.  Yes, it’s own brewery!  The Fifty Fifty Brewing Co. opened it’s doors a few years ago in one of the newer buildings on Brockway Rd.  Since then they have been serving up delicious food and homemade brews to locals and tourists alike.  This year they are having an Eclipse release party to showcase their Eclipse barrel aged stout varieties.  With only 100 tickets to sell and all the beer you can drink (until they cut you off), if you’re looking for things to do in Truckee, this should surely hit the spot.

The particulars:  The party is on December 8th starting at 5pm.  Tickets are $100 per person and only 100 are available.  You have to email the brewery to put your name on the list, they then they randomly draw out names until all the tickets have been sold.  You can only request 1 or 2 tickets and it doesn’t matter what time you email them.  All emails are entered into the system equally, it is not first come first serve.

What you get: Samples of all 7 Eclipse varieties, extensive gourmet snacky foods, a souvenir mug, a chance to purchase any of the varieties you taste, and 15% off Fifty Fifty merchandise.  This year’s beers include: Elijah Craig 12 yr barrel, Four Roses single barrel, Rittenhouse Rye barrel, Elijah Craig 20 yr barrel, Brandy barrel blend, Buffalo Trace barrel blend, and Brewmaster’s Grand Cru blend.

Why go:  Why not go?  If you love beer and want to have a great time, bring your favorite drinking pal and sign up for the ticket lottery.  Of course, if you hate drinking then it’s probably not the place for you.

If you’re just up for the weekend, the brewery has worked with some of the local hotels to get discounts for people attending their event.  They are also putting together a Brewmaster’s dinner on Friday night at the restaurant Stella next door.

Stop by any time for lunch or dinner.  The extensive menu features all kinds of appetizers, including bar staples like nachos and wings.  Lunch and dinner offer salads, sandwiches, burgers, and a wide variety of entrees.  The bar always serves IPA, Porter, Pale Ale and Golden Ale; other beers are added on a seasonal basis.

For more information visit their website at www.fiftyfiftybrewingco.com.  They have all the details including a frequently asked questions section.  If you can’t get your hands on some tickets it’s still a great place to eat, drink and be merry.

Check out their calendar for other cool things to do in Truckee.

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After School Kids Activities in Truckee

Posted on August 23, 2011 by truckeemom

The newly build Truckee Recreation Center is a great resource for moms looking for after school activities to do with their children.  Overseeing many of the local parks and the community pool, the rec department is full of fun activities for your little ones. Take a look at their fall/winter brochure to see all of the upcoming programs they have scheduled.  You can also go to their website www.tdrpd.com to sign up for email alerts when they add classes or the classes fill up.

Look to the Truckee Recreation Center for birthday party space and events – the cool new building has rooms for rent and a climbing wall.

Keeping your kids active is a fun and healthy way to keep them happy.  Instead of coming home from school and plopping down in front of the TV, try these awesome activities:

Soccer/Football -Getting your kid active is so important.  Being part of a team builds character and helps children learn valuable skills.  If you’re looking for a sport play check out AYSO or Youth Football.

Jiu-Jitsu – If your child is more of a loner or you don’t want the time commitment that comes with a team sport - check out Jiu-jitsu.  A performance style martial art that promotes non violence, the Charles Gracie Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu provides classes for kids as young as 4.  Check out their website for more info on this kickin’ sport and what they offer for kids.

Swimming – Visit www.truckeeswim.com for info on the Truckee Swim Team.  An indoor pool makes this a year round sport, the team has 4- three month training sessions.  For younger kids the 45 minute - 2 day a week classes are a great way to get any child comfortable in the water.  A major plus when you hit the beach in the summer

Skiing – In the winter, pop out of the pool and hit the slopes with a ski team.  Having the desire to help every person learn how to ski, the Truckee ski team offers budget friendly programs as well as all levels of instruction from beginner to competitive racing.  Growing up in the area and not at least learning how to ski is just crazy.

Dancing – The kick step and Roger Rabbit were awesome in our day, but it’s probably best to leave the dance instruction to professionals.  Inner Rhythms Dance Studio teaches hip hop, ballet, jazz, tap and more to children from 3 and up.  For a full list of classes and events visit their website, and let the hammer dance die in peace.

Tahoe Donner – This community offers more than just a cool pool and private beach.  Each season they have a calendar of events that includes tennis, equestrian and aquatic camps.  This fall sign up for Kids Night Out, an evening of crafts, snacks and a movie, Wii night at Pizza on the Hill or Family Movie Night every Friday.

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Vacation Rentals in Tahoe

Posted on August 18, 2011 by truckeemom

Thinking of taking a trip to one of the most beautiful places on earth?  With skiing, hiking, swimming, gambling, spas, big shows and a community focused on art, you’re making a good decision.  Nestled in the Sierra Nevada mountains, Tahoe offers clean air, stunning scenery and more stars than you even knew existed.

Some advice, try to stay at least a week to fit in everything the area has to offer.  In my opinion, the best place to stay is at a vacation rental in Tahoe.  As such a popular tourist destination, many people own second homes in the area and rent them out when they are not using them.  These houses are a nice way to stay in the area with all the conveniences of a home.

With a variety of bedrooms and square footage, a vacation rental in Tahoe fits the need of every group of travelers.  There are smaller condos for people traveling as couples or chalet style lodges large enough to house a family reunion (and of course smaller houses if you are having a family reunion and don’t want to stay with your family).

A vacation rental in Tahoe will come with a stocked kitchen which includes dishes, utensils, pots, pans, mugs, glasses, towels, a coffee maker, and any other items that the owner has decided would be useful.  Check your accommodations before going to the grocery store, make sure there’s a microwave if you need one, or the appropriate baking dishes for the items you may pick up.  Side note: if you decide to bake, remember that you are at high altitude and find recipe adjustments.

Bedrooms come with linens, blankets and pillows.  Everything will be clean when you get there: sometimes you have to put the sheets on the beds; usually you have to strip the beds when you leave so the cleaners know which beds have been used. When looking at houses, don’t just look at number of bedrooms and sleeping capacity, check out the configuration.  Many people add a pull out couch or bunk beds, lots of people are ok with these, some find them objectionable.

Many houses in Tahoe have a spa.  This is certainly something to check out, especially in the winter when it’s cold out and you will most likely be playing in the snow during the day.  If it doesn’t have one on property, see if it has an association with either a pool or spa.  Be prepared, there is often a charge for use even with a guest pass so make sure you factor the costs in.  Also check out if there is transportation.  Some locations have a shuttle that runs from the houses to the ski resort and clubhouse.

There are many locations, close to town, close to skiing, completely remote, in California or Nevada.  Make a list of the things you want to do then find the location that works best for you.  If you’re traveling in the winter, don’t forget to check if it has a covered garage or you’ll spend a significant amount of time clearing off your car.

 

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Michael Bolton Featured at Lake Tahoe Music Festival

Posted on August 15, 2011 by truckeemom

Nestled at the bottom of the renowned Northstar ski resort, the recently renovated Village at Northstar is hosting this years Lake Tahoe Music Festival.  In its 29th year, this spectacular series of performances will be capped off by beloved artist Michael Bolton.

The festival benefits local communities with various charitable programs like the Tahoe Truckee Youth Music Program, which provides free music instruction and instruments to kids in third through fifth grade.  Its a great way to give back to the community while enjoying an unforgettable evening under the stars – truly one of best things to do in Truckee.

Releasing his first album in 1975, Michael Bolton has had eight top 10 albums and two number one singles with “How Am I Supposed To Live Without You” in 1989 and “When A Man Loves A Woman” in 1991.  He has received awards from the American Music Awards and the Grammy Awards.

Many of the shops at the Village are promoting discounted pricing during the shows and the restaurants are serving up special menus.  Beer, wine, pizza, sushi, tapas, hot dogs, waffles, and more will be available for purchase.

Northstar is located just 7 miles from Truckee on Hwy 267 towards Lake Tahoe.  If you are visiting or a local and looking for things to do in Truckee, the Village at Northstar is a great place start.

Event information:

August 25th, doors open at 5:00pm, show starts 7:00 pm

$70 Assigned seating, $45 General Admission

Rain or shine

 

 

Posted in Art in Tahoe, Lake Tahoe Events, Northstar Activities, Truckee Activities, Truckee Events | Tagged , , | Leave a comment

Sign up for Soccer with AYSO

Posted on August 12, 2011 by truckeemom

Do you live in the Tahoe area, or are staying long term and looking for things to do in Truckee?  Why not get your kids some exercise by signing them up for AYSO soccer.  Children 5 and up are welcome to join the youth soccer league which promotes a fun family friendly environment while helping your child build skills and learn teamwork.  But you better get on the ball because the season starts September 10th.

Are you a parent or a referee looking to get involved?  The club is also looking for coaches and referees.  Of course there are so many things to do in Truckee that you may wonder if you have the time to coach your kids soccer team.  With a little time management, you can hike, swim, kayak and help shape the future.

Now, sit back, relax and watch your child try to score a goal.  Win or lose, just don’t be one of those parents..

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Shakespeare on the Lake

Posted on August 9, 2011 by truckeemom

In its 39th season, Shakespeare on the lake has become one of the best things to do in Truckee.  The stage is set up in Sand Harbor, a sandy beach in Incline Village with the stunning backdrop of Lake Tahoe and the Sierra Nevada mountains.

Great for kids of all ages, bring a blanket and a picnic, sink your toes into the cool sand and be prepared for an awesome night under the stars.  This years production of Twelfth Night runs nightly through August fifteenth.

A couple of things to remember:  Dress warm, get there early, and bring food you can eat easily in the dark.

On a budget and looking for things to do in Truckee with your kids?  The Young Shakespeare Program starts August 1st and provides a free interactive family friendly adaption of the Twelfth night.  These morning performances are sure to please even the pickiest of youngsters.  O, had I but followed the arts!

Posted in Art in Tahoe, Lake Tahoe Events, North Lake Tahoe, Truckee California, Truckee Events | Leave a comment

Trails and Vistas

Posted on July 21, 2011 by admin

Have you ever been to Trails & Vistas?

It is a really fun event, especially for kids.  Imagine taking a hike in North Lake Tahoe and along the way seeing art in nature.  The hikes are 2 1/2 miles and they are guided.  Each tour holds a maximum of 30 hikers and yes, it sells out every year.  During the hike, you will come upon live art, dancers and installation art.

It is a very unique experience and one I highly recommend especially for kids.

This year, Trails and Vistas will be on September 17th and 18th 2011 at Spooner Lake in Lake Tahoe Nevada State Park.

Posted in Art in Tahoe, Lake Tahoe Events, Truckee Activities, Truckee Events, Truckee Hikes | Leave a comment