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August 29th, 2010
It was a cold one but visitors (who read the North Tahoe Weekly) and tons of local tribes showed up at the Truckee Ampitheater for the first ever Family Day. There was an awesome Bike Rodeo which was totally safe but had just enough height to keep the 2-year-olds’ parents on the run.
 Truckee Bike Rodeo The setting, as always, was perfect. The Ampitheater occupies a peaceful nook along the Truckee River right near downtown Truckee. Local musician Todd Wees gathered quality, kid-friendly bands like his own and entertained for hours while rainbows, sun and bit of afternoon rain kept everyone guessing. There was an awesome bounce house, the best strudel you’ve ever tasted and some local brews for those who could add to 21. Family Day in Truckee - put it on the late-August calendar for 2011 because it was good ole fashioned hoot.
 Family Day - rockin'
Tags: truckee family day
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August 29th, 2010
Yes, we had a very light snow on the highest elevations last night. Someone told me this is the earliest snow in 10 years and I’m believing - I must have been asleep for a few years because I don’t remember August snow in Tahoe ever!
 New Snow High above the Truckee River If you’re a typical Californian you long for long summers and warm temps. Well, don’t worry we’ll back into typical August temps by Tuesday but you can still brag about the craziness of Golden State weather by letting all those East Coast hurricane chasers know that we already have powder…
A random look at some of Truckee:
 Ever seen this place?  Island in the Stream
Tags: tahoe snow
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August 27th, 2010
Just a quickie to show you what a Tahoe full moonrise looks like. The last three nights have been Sublime Magnificence!
 Moon Peek  August Moonrise
Tags: lake tahoe moonrise, moonrise, tahoe moon rise, tahoe moonrise
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August 21st, 2010
Then do what the locals do: instead of anything-priced activities you can head over to the North Tahoe Regional Park, an all-outdoors make-your-own-fun zone. It’s huge, has tons of offerings and is also right near two of the nicest, sandiest, public beaches in all of Tahoe (one is also a boat ramp).
 Free Tennis in Paradise Super young ones can slide, steer and stair-step all over the nice-sized playground. Another adjacent one is great for 3-6 year olds. There are 5 nice tennis hardcourts, three are lighted. Remember those 70’s exercise deals called Par Courses, well there’s a really nice one of them as well and it’s in great shape.
 Frisbee Golf 'Hole' You’ll also find soccer and baseball fields, an artificial surface multi-sport field and generally lots of mowed grass. There’s a volleyball court, hiking and biking trails, a community nursery and a Boy Scout camp. New this year is a real deal frisbee golf course. And on top of it all, the place is never crowded plus it’s got a tranquilo, far-off Tahoe lakeview.
 Artificial Tahoe Turf So if you want to keep the Vacation Vacuum out of your pocket, head over to the Regional Park - oh, and I lied a little bit: it costs a few bucks to park…
Tags: north tahoe regional park, tahoe frisbee golf, tahoe par course, tahoe playground
Posted in Summer, Tahoe hikes, Tahoe outdoors | No Comments »
August 17th, 2010
Kayaking, especially in California, is now considered an ‘old school’ activity. Why? Stand-up paddleboarding has pretty much buried it in a wake of coolness with which the sit-down paddle sport just can’t touch. Pics of Lair Hamilton shralping 20′ waves in Hawaii make a day on a kayak seem like an hour trying to move a picnic bench.
But there’s a reason that kayaks became so popular in the first place and they will always be used by many with staunch enthusiasm: they are a silent, easy way to transport oneself across pretty large swaths of beautiful terrain. They’ll also maintain good participant numbers because millions of un-cool people in the East will swear by them for decades. In Tahoe we see people arriving with kayaks from the Maine, Florida, the Midwest and even from our own state. People rig them with fishing set-ups, sails, mini-motors, etc. They are definitely an expression of some folks’ individuality.
 North Tahoe Kayakers Most of us don’t own kayaks, however, so we rent them. Thankfully, all along Tahoe’s shores there are places to pick up them up. The closest to Granlibakken is in Tahoe City but but if you want to venture further out, you won’t drive more that a dozen miles without passing an opportunity to gliiiiide. Give it a shot - then try Stand-up paddleboarding. Judge for yourself which is better - or maybe they’re both just fun ways to explore another beautiful day on Tahoe….
Tags: kayak tahoe, paddeboard tahoe, tahoe sup
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August 16th, 2010
Summer is family reunion season at Granlibakken. Sons, daughters, sisters and brothers come together to join parents and grandparents, aunts, uncles and more. Our all-inclusive per person rate and variety of accommodations make annual reunions at our family-owned property a possibility year-after-year and for families both big and small.
A sample agenda could include nature walks or more advanced hiking along the trails of our 74-acres; a special themed BBQ with a swim beforehand in our pool; a fun tennis volley with siblings; even ping-pong can be arranged. And activities off-property can also be arranged, like a cruise on Lake Tahoe, a float down or leisurely bike ride along the Truckee River. Granlibakken’s professional staff will help make your gathering perfectly suited to your families interests.
Granlibakken’s accommodations facilitate gathering in one space, together in a condo. Or if perhaps family members would prefer more space, separate lodging rooms are more appropriate. In either case, you can all come together first thing at Granlibakken’s hot, full, all-you-can-eat breakfast buffet.
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August 12th, 2010
Squaw Valley’s High Camp is one of those crazy attractions where the periphery activities seem to change every 5-10 years but the core ones, and especially the setting alone, keep it high on the list of Favorite Activities up here in the Big Blue Basin. The bungee tower is a relic of itself and a time when ‘rad’ was king; the golf range petered out once the county told owner Alex Cushing he’d have to use biodegradable balls (at a buck a pop); and the Michael Jackson video that was filmed up here never made it off the cutting room floor.
 Squaw Mountain Bike Park (photo courtesy SVUSA) BUT, High Camp is still among the best-skiing peaks in the nation; the meadow up top is still an amazing place to hike; the swimming lagoon is still massive; and the Olympic-size ice rink is still the world’s best outdoor building for hockey. This year, though, additional activities have been added to the mix spicing up an already delicious treat. Here’s a look at what’s on tap:
Mountain Biking is back! This hasn’t been available at Squaw since the late ’90’s. Fifteen miles of trails from intermediate to expert take you near some of the best skiing on the hill - pretty cool to see your favorite ski spots from a bike in August…
Tennis - also back! It hasn’t been open in eons either but these two incredibly-sighted courts are back on the list and if you like smacking yellow-y in different locales then book ‘em now and get ready for your fastest serve and slowest feet ever (elevation 8200′ tends to speed some things up and slow others down…).
 Paintball at Squaw (photo courtesy SVUSA) Paintball, buckaroos: Have yourself an old fashioned, Western shootout along Silverado Ridge. That’s no newly fandangled name for some throw-away spot at Squaw. Silverado is a favorite of the mountain’s most notorious skiers because of it’s unwieldy terrain and danger factor. Paintball takes place on a safe zone above the scariness but you’re still perched on top of…an abysssss.
Disc Golf - Yes, hippies can rejoice. They can fork out good dough to chuck a frisbee around Squaw’s 18-hole course on top of the mountain. There are 3 beginner hole up at High Camp and the other 15 wind down into the Shirley Lake area.
So there we have it: Swimming, hiking, ice skating, mountain biking, tennis, paintball, disc golf, an Olympic Museum, lots of eating options, and a Cable Ride, too. This place rules and it’s only a few short minutes from Granlibakken…
Tags: high camp, high camp paintball, squaw bungee, squaw disc golf, squaw hiking, squaw ice skating rink, squaw mountain bike, squaw mountain biking, squaw paintball, squaw swimming, squaw tennis, tahoe tennis
Posted in Squaw Valley, Tahoe outdoors | No Comments »
August 9th, 2010
Yes, yes I know that if you’re from California you’re not accustomed to seeking out historical sites within the state. This is the New Coast - the brave new world where you were either a profit seeker, treasure hunter or just plain ole crazy enough to move All The Way Out. Well I’m hear to simply let you know that there are a few places right in Tahoe City to pique your interest: The Watson Cabin and the Gatekeeper’s Museum.
 Watson Cabin Tahoe City (photo from North Tahoe Museums) The Watson Cabin was built by Tahoe City’s first cop - Robert Montgomery Watson. The highest peak above town also bears his name, as does the beautiful reflection-pond near that summit (a great bike ride, incidentally, and also a fun semi-offroad adventure for anyone with a Jeep). The cabin stayed in the family until the late 1970’s when the North Lake Tahoe Historical Society purchased it. They do all sorts of little events that are very kid-friendly so keep an eye on their calendar.
The Gatekeeper’s Museum is beautiful building located right at the headwater of Tahoe’s sole outflow, the Truckee River. This is a really cool place to just meander - there are some placards if you feel like reading, some lawn for windsprints, a gorgeous rocky shore with a neat angle on Tahoe, oh and a museum! They showcase Washo Indian baskets, clothing, history exhibits of the resort boom, etc. The Truckee River outflow gates are right here and you can walk along the glass-lined structure where you’ll see the now-non-human-powered crank that winds the gates up and down.
 Gatekeeper's Museum, Tahoe City (photo from North Tahoe Museums) If you get into these places and want some more, check out the Ehrman Mansion down at Sugar Pine State Park and then reward yourself with a historical beverage at the old bar on Chamber’s Landing pier…
Tags: chambers landing, ehrman mansion, gatekeepers museum tahoe, tahoe history, watson cabin, watson cabin tahoe
Posted in Lake Tahoe Events, Summer, Tahoe City, Uncategorized | No Comments »
August 5th, 2010
I’m not sure if it’s because I somehow became a little more refined since my last birthday or it’s because we had such a late (and great) ski season, but this is the most abundant crop of wildflowers I’ve ever noticed in Tahoe.
You can see wildflowers in any sloppy backyard, unimproved road culvert and lovely meadow, the likes of which appear to have been stolen from the best hiking guide books. The most opulent of Tahoe’s wildflower scene is probably the lupin. These statues are really neat because down at lake level you’ll see them blooming over a foot long, but take a walk to locations higher up (like Paige Meadows directly accessible from Granlibakken via the Tahoe Rim Trail in our back 40) and you’ll see that these hardy veggies shrink in size with substantial elevation gain. On the upper Mt. Rose Meadows you’ll see these babies at around 9000′ and they’re 1/3 of the size. It’s a very cool way to witness Mother Nature at her smartest - and it appeals to those who’ve never hiked a day in their lives because the flowers’ size is reminiscent of those mini-corn cobs found in any self-respecting casino buffet line.
For more info and actually accurate florsal information, surf a little online, visit the Tahoe City Library and grab a book on the subject or get jumpstarted with this link.
By the way, this post was so-named in reference to Fleur du Lac - the former Kaiser Estate in Homewood; incidentally this was the site for some of the scenes in the movie Godfather II.
Tags: tahoe wildflower hikes, tahoe wildflowers
Posted in Summer, Tahoe hikes, Tahoe outdoors, Uncategorized | No Comments »
August 1st, 2010
Tahoe might not be the Atacama Desert or Hawaii when it comes to stargazing, but it’s pretty darn good. We get a black sky (especially when Squaw’s not open for night skiing) unlike many other places. Our elevation seems to be juuuust enough to be above the haze, both natural and manmade, that skew so many other night skies. One of my favorite things to do on a calm, moonless night here (besides see a band) is to find a pier with a second story on the end. Get up there and look all around - then peer down into crystal clear, jet black Tahoe. Star reflections will stare back at you with that ethereal glow that only comes from peaceful water-swish.
A different way to get a great perspective on the night sky is by going with someone who actually knows what’s above us. The man around these parts is Tony Berendsen from Tahoe Star Tours. He does his thing all over Tahoe and there are a few upcoming that you should check out if you’re here:
August 5, 2010: The Milky Way Rises Over Lake Tahoe
Activity: Star Tour Kayak
Time: 7:00pm-10:30pm
Cost: $65 per person
Where: Tahoe Vista Recreation Area
August, 12, 2010: Squaw Valley Family Campout on top of the Mountain! (inquire with Squaw to find out if they have a star expert in attendance)
August 12, 2010: Deep Sky Wonders and the Perseid Meteor Shower
Activity: Star Tour Hike
Time: 7:00pm-11:00pm
Cost: $65 per person
Where: Tahoe Vista Regional Park
Tags: atacama desert stars, star tours, tahoe star tours
Posted in Lake Tahoe Events, Summer, Tahoe City, Tahoe outdoors, Uncategorized | No Comments »
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