I don't ski or snowboard — or drive an SUV — so a trek to Lake Tahoe in the winter months isn't practical for me. Looking forward to warmer weather, however, I'll be eager to revisit areas such as Squaw Valley and Tahoe City in nearby Northern California.
During day trips from South Reno last summer and fall, my family was impressed by the region's history and natural beauty. Squaw Valley drew worldwide attention as the setting for the 1960 Winter Olympic Games.
Today, the Village at Squaw Valley incorporates many familiar elements and symbols of the Olympics. And it's a veritable paradise for those who love snow sports, hiking and biking.
Yet even for non-athletes, the Village at Squaw Valley offers a lot to see and do, with a variety of restaurants, bars, boutiques and special events. On one of our visits last year, there was a fair featuring art, music and wine.
Since we'd already eaten lunch elsewhere, we mostly just moseyed around and took in the spectacular scenery.
Afterward, we took a short drive to Tahoe City. The downtown area is just a few blocks long, but the highlight here is Commons Beach, a public park where you can stroll, free of charge, along the shore of glistening Lake Tahoe.
Discovering this park was a real perk. On earlier excursions to South Lake Tahoe, we learned that getting close to the water, unless you were a hotel guest or member of a private club, was nearly impossible. In general, Tahoe City is more rustic and laid back than South Lake Tahoe or the Stateline, Nevada side of Lake Tahoe, where casinos and nightclubs abound.
Squaw Valley and Tahoe City are about an hour's drive from South Reno, primarily via I-80 West. The Mt. Rose route is quicker but not for the faint of heart. Unless you're comfortable navigating hairpin turns at a very high altitude (often with no guardrails), do yourself a favor and take the sissy route.
For more information about Squaw Valley, visit http://www.squaw.com/ .
To learn more about Tahoe City, visit http://www.visittahoecity.org/ .
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