Archive for 2015
By Tim Hauserman
Looking for a way to quickly immerse yourself in the Christmas spirit? Then head to the 11th Annual Magical Memories festival at the Resort at Squaw Creek in Squaw Valley. It begins with the Gingerbread Village Unveiling and Grand Tree Lighting ceremony on November 25th, and continues all the way through until Bloody Mary breakfast on New Year’s Day. If you have never seen the Gingerbread Village at the Resort, it cannot help but get you excited for the holidays. The amazing gingerbread houses are made right on site at the resort.
The Resort is holding family-friendly events, food and drink specials, holiday dining, ice skating, and live music throughout the Thanksgiving to New Year’s period. There will be a Thanksgiving Dinner, Breakfast with Santa’s events every weekend from Thanksgiving until Christmas, and Christmas Eve and Christmas Day Dinners.
You can also dine for a cause at the Resort at Squaw Creek by joining in the Dine Out for the Truckee Tahoe Humane Society on December 10th, and Dine Out for the High Fives Foundation on December 17th.
New Year’s Eve and Day at the Resort at Squaw Creek brings a series of potential options for revilers. You can go full bore at the New Year’s Eve Grand Celebration with dinner, live band, dancing and champagne (the earlier you reserve your spot the lower the price). Or you can skip the food and go for the 9 pm admission to the party to get you through the end of the year in style. For the kids, there is a Teen’s Night Out New Year’s Eve bash for those over 13 years old, and a Kid’s Night Out Bash for those between 4-12 years old.
Need a way to ease into the New Year after all that partying? Hit the Resort’s Bloody Mary Breakfast on January 1st.
For information on all the events, go to squawcreek.com
Wishing you and yours a wonderful, happy and safe holiday! Thank you for joining us at Lake Tahoe/Truckee and me, Lynn Richardson, Your Friend in High Places.
THINK OF ME, LYNN RICHARDSON, FOR ALL OF YOUR LAKE TAHOE AND TRUCKEE REAL ESTATE NEEDS!
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Controlled burn near Meeks Bay
By Tim Hauserman
The Meeks Bay trail is one of the easiest and most popular routes into Desolation Wilderness. At just ten miles south of Tahoe City, it is also the closest trailhead into Desolation if you are coming from Truckee or North Lake Tahoe. While the five mile tromp into Crag Lake is certainly a worthwhile endeavor, Meeks Bay can also be a perfect locale for an easy walk before the snow gets too deep.
I headed out on the Meeks Bay trail on a brisk Saturday afternoon. The first mile is almost level, and follows the sandy surface of an old dirt road. In about a mile, the dirt road reaches a junction. The trail into Desolation Wilderness heads uphill on single track to your right, and the the road continues straight ahead and stays in the meadow.
From this junction, if you go straight, the road peters down to trail, and soon reaches the remains of Camp Waisu, a former girl scout camp. All that is left now is the concrete foundation of the main building, and a few ancient latrines with all the walls and roof gone, but the seats still proudly waiting for a posterior to come along.
If you stay on this trail, you soon reach Meeks Creek. You can turn around here, or cross it and follow the creek downstream back towards Lake Tahoe. Tucked up against the north facing moraine of the edge of the valley, this side of the valley is moister and more lush than the main trail.
On my trip, a controlled burn was in the process and the valley was full of smoke. I passed several smoldering dead trees and the smoke gave off a fun, eerie feeling. I should have come here on Halloween. Eventually, the trail hits a dirt road, which then meets a paved driveway, which bring you to dirt trail and back to the highway, just a 100 yards south of the main trailhead.
To get there: Take Highway 89 (West Lake Blvd.) 10 miles south of Tahoe City, the trailhead is on your right at the big turn in the highway.
Controlled burns help keep Tahoe’s forests healthy
THINK OF ME, LYNN RICHARDSON, FOR ALL OF YOUR LAKE TAHOE AND TRUCKEE REAL ESTATE NEEDS!
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By Michelle Portesi
Rainbow Orchards and Cider Press
As the weather turns colder and we’re nearing the holidays, plan on a trip to Apple Hill for the freshest picked apples, home made apple pies to die for, fresh pressed apple cider and just about any other item you can make with apples!
My friend Aimee and Emu courtesy of Bedrock Emu Works.
Many venues have craft fairs and gift shops too and for the kids, some even have farm critters to pet and feed. For the adults, there is plenty of wine tasting along the way. Some Orchards also have extensive open air markets to buy local produce and wares of every sort. And most fun of all, watch apples being pressed into cider…then buy a gallon or two! (Or more! You can freeze it! I could have kicked myself last year for only buying a half gallon!)
You’ve never tasted cider this good!
Christmas Tree Farm, Apple Hill, CA
As the apple season winds down, the Christmas Tree season winds up. You can visit many Christmas Tree Farms to pick out that perfect holiday tree.
Stop for lunch …or maybe a just eat dessert first! Apple pies, apple turnovers, apple fritters, you name it, they’ve got it!
Caramel Apple Pie, YUM!!! Honey Bear Ranch, Apple Hill, CA
If your sweet tooth desires something other than apples, there are fudge shops and candy stores as well. You’ll not be able to hit every place in one day, so plan your route. Check the links below for maps, which Orchards and shops are still open, and their hours of operation. The handy grid also tells you what they sell and/or provide.
For more information on Apple Hill growers and shops, go to these links.
General Info: www.applehill.com
Map: www.applehill.com/wp-content
Grower Info: http://www.applehill.com/fruit-growers/
THINK OF ME, LYNN RICHARDSON, FOR ALL OF YOUR LAKE TAHOE AND TRUCKEE REAL ESTATE NEEDS!
Share this: Lynn Richardson, Your Friend in High Places
YOUR FRIEND IN HIGH PLACES 