Springtime in Tahoe

Springtime in Tahoe

The spring season in Tahoe this year is going to be especially long. It’s time to find the thrill in doing multiple activities in one day!
  

Morning activities start with something on the snow like snowshoeing, nordic skiing or downhill riding at Squaw Valley extending the seemingly endless winter. A great place to explore via snowshoe or Nordic ski right now is Mount Rose Meadows. Located off Mount Rose Highway (HWY 431) between Incline Village and Mount Rose Ski Resort. This area offers a wide open meadow with rolling terrain with room to explore in any direction. For a mellow adventure, stay in the flat meadow. For more of a challenge head to the edge of the meadow and up the rolling hills into the thick pine trees. As you rise to the top of the mountain, a great Lake Tahoe view will reward your hard climb.

Mid-day, its time for lunch. If you are heading off the snow at Mount Rose, head down into Incline Village to T’s Mosquite Rotisserie where you can find delicious tacos and the meat is cooked right in front of you in the wood-fired rotisserie. Another option is on the other side of Incline Village at the bottom of the Tunnel Creek trail. Tunnel Creek Café offers a casual atmosphere full of people beginning or finishing their adventure of hiking, running, biking or beaching. It’s a happy place to be. They offer a selections of salads, sandwiches and beer for a mid-day meal or snack.
   

Afternoon activities are easy to find at the lake. Relax on the white sand beach of Sand Harbor located just south of Incline Village or keep the body moving and go out for a paddle board or kayak across the crystal waters of Lake Tahoe. Waterman’s Landing located in Carnelian Bay is a great spot for paddle board, kayak or canoe rentals (note that they are only open on weekends till after Memorial Day).
 

Night time in spring can bring very cold evenings. It’s best to pick the inside choice when you go out to eat, even though when you first walk in the outside looks appealing. Eating in Tahoe during this “shoulder” season is quite pleasant. Reservations are now always necessary and the service and food is top tier. If you are still over on the Lake from the days adventures, try Christy Hill in Tahoe City. This is a very intimate dinning room and usually hard to get reservations. The food is always outstanding. If you are back in Truckee for the evening, try downtown’s newest restaurant, Old Town Tap. Their menu caters to shared plates. Start with the little gems salad and finish with the bacon and eggs pizza.

You really can have it all in one day in one place. The trees are budding, the daffodils are starting to pop up and the snow is in perfect corn condition. So, what are you waiting for? Summer or winter? Come to Tahoe now and you can have both!

Katie Tyler

Realtor®

BRE 01442453

c 530 277 1012 

Snowshoeing

Snowshoeing

With a fresh layer of snow falling and a small break in the storm mid-week, its a great time to get out in the peaceful white forest.  You are going to need some snowshoes of course to keep you afloat in all of this fluffy powder.  The options are really endless.  Head out in any direction and create your own path through the fresh snow or head to a nordic resort where the trails are groomed and mapped out for your adventure.  Pack a lunch and go for an all day excursion or go for just an hour.  Go by yourself, bring your four legged friends or a group of friends.

Getting started is easy as equipment is relatively inexpensive to buy or rent.  If you go to a  resort there are rentals available  on site.  If you want to venture out in the woods and need equipment, stop by Tahoe Dave’s in Truckee, Tahoe City or Squaw Valley for a full set up.  This will include the snowshoes to strap to your own snow boots or you can rent boots as well.  Trekking poles are also helpful in keeping your balance. 

 A good place to start if you want the freedom of the forest and fresh tracks is really out your back door wherever you might be in Tahoe.  A destination you can try is Martis Valley or at the top of HWY 267 at Brockway Summit.  For Martis Valley, park on either side of HWY 267 in Martis Valley.  On the North side of the road is Martis Valley Road and more reliable for parking.  On the South side of the road is a pull out for the Martis Creek Wildlife Area that is not always clear of snow.  From there, head towards the Northstar Mountain.  The views up to the mountain and the open air of the meadow around you give you chance to explore.  Be on the lookout as there are creeks and other various snow obstacles to look for.

At the top of HWY 267 is Brockway Summit and Lake Tahoe Snowmobiling company has their machines staged there.  From here you can follow a snowmobile track for easier walking or head towards Lake Tahoe for some unbelievable winter views of Big Blue.  Be aware of the weather before you go, things can change fast. 

For resort snowshoeing, Royal Gorge on Donner Summit or Northstar California have an array of trails that that are exclusively for snowshoers along with access to groomed trails.  Groomed tails make it a lot easier to walk on the big wide frames so you can cover more ground with less effort.  At Northstar, take the trail up to Sawmill Lake and take a hot cocoa break in the train caboose.   

Northstar also offers group twighlight snowshoe tours. The tour starts at 5pm and lasts for about 2-2.5 hours.  The group will meander through the forest with stops around a fire pit to listen to live acoustic music, smores and hot cocoa.  The tour ends in The Village at Northstar where there are plenty of options for dinner or more activities. 

Skiing has surely been at its best this year but if you want to take a break and get out  in the beauty and silence of this winter wonderland, snowshoeing is a great experience. 

Katie Tyler

Realtor®

BRE 01442453

c 530 277 1012