Archive for the ‘Lake Tahoe’ Category
By Michelle Portesi
Situated off the main road at the south end of Fallen Leaf Lake is the trail to the old Glen Alpine Springs Resort. A vacation destination of a bygone era, still standing today are several buildings designed by the famous San Francisco Architect Bernard Maybeck (1862-1957) designer of the San Francisco Palace of Fine Art. While some buildings are already boarded up for the winter and therefor more difficult to appreciate their beauty, what is unusual about these buildings is their great expanses of glass windows supported by metal frames and stone buttresses.
One of the buildings at Glen Alpine Springs. This one is boarded up for winter, but you can still take a peak inside.
Building without the snow covers.
I was hoping to get some shots of fantastic fall color as the drive in has massive stands of aspen, but as our drought has taken its toll on our fall color display this year, I’m hoping for that massive El Nino to show up to remedy the situation for next year. Still, the drive in was lovely as the one lane road meandered past gorgeous high country horse pastures and the shores of Fallen Leaf Lake. This is a seasonal lake, as the road isn’t plowed once the snow flies, and the intimate, limited development of the area reminded my friend and me of the movie ‘On Golden Pond’. In fact, so much so, we both said it simultaneously!
Boat docks at Fallen Leaf Lake
Once you near the south end of the lake, the road splits, and the sign to Glen Alpine Springs is clearly marked. A ways up you will find a parking lot and the beginning of the trail head. While not a long trail, much of it is on an incline and the ‘road’ such as it is, is very rocky. Be warned. This is no trail for flip-flops. Hiking boots are strongly suggested.
The trail does flatten out in areas through heavily forested glens, passing streams, and even a waterfall that still has water this late in the season, and it’s all worth it. Once you stumble onto the remains of Glen Alpine Springs Resort, you’ll have plenty to explore. The resort, once the site of supposedly health inducing natural soda springs, the gazebo still houses the terminus of the small, brackish, iron filled bubbly water. No, I don’t recommend drinking it!
Trail to Glen Alpine Springs
Dining Hall at Glen Alpine Springs.
Interior of the Dining Hall
From there, you can continue along the trail to many back country lakes. We didn’t realize it at the time, but there is another falls to the left of the parking area. Next time…
Hike it now, as the road around Fallen Leaf supposedly closes at the end of October.
If you are driving to your destination along the west shore, be sure to stop at PDQ Market in Tahoma along the way for some awesome sandwiches to take on your hike. My favorite is the pesto bread with roast beef and pepperchinis.
For more information and history about Glen Alpine Springs, go here:
www.sierranevadageotourism.org/content/glen-alpine-fallssprings-trail
laketahoe.com/content/glen-alpine-springs-resort
Dining Hall at Glen Alpine Springs
Fall colors at Glen Alpine Springs
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THINK OF ME, LYNN RICHARDSON, FOR ALL OF YOUR LAKE TAHOE AND TRUCKEE REAL ESTATE NEEDS!
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By Michelle Portesi
Your headquarters for your Fall Harvest Table decor.
So you’ve bought your new home at Lake Tahoe, Truckee or Soda Springs and your furnishings just don’t fit the style of your new digs, or worse still, you’ve got no furniture at all. Or maybe with fall, the nesting bug has hit you hard and you’re feeling the need to update and refeather your nest. What to do….what to do…
Located in the Boatworks Mall in Tahoe City is the marvelous, long time local home furnishings store of Hemmings and Jarrett. Touting ‘From the Rug to the Chandelier…and Everything in Between!’, this store has something for everyone. From furniture to sumptuous linens, lighting. accessories and dish ware to unique and seasonal gifts, you’ll need to take at least 3 turns around the store to see it all. Don’t see what you had in mind? No worries, they can special order furnishings as well, featuring manufacturers such as Stone County Ironworks, Wesley Hall, Renaissance Iron, American Leather, Lee Industries and more.
What I myself as a designer really appreciate is that their offerings aren’t the same old, same old, ‘Pinecones and squirrels and bears, Oh My!’ While they do have a lovely selection of those as well, it’s nice to see more elegant and diverse styles of mountain furnishings. Do you prefer a Country French twist with a Tahoe vibe? Or how about what we designers at Tahoe jokingly call ‘Tuscahoe’ (Tuscan Villa meets Old Tahoe). Lakefront Beach Style? Frank Lloyd Wright inspired Craftman? Whatever your tastes are, they’ve got you covered. (And Realtors may be interested in a few purchases for staging those especially nice prime pieces of real estate or for gifts for clients as well.)
Beds, linens, artwork and more!
Centerpieces, table linens, florals, elegant plates and glasses…
Hemmings and Jarret also has fun and eclectic gifts for every occasion. While I was there, they were all decked out for Fall and Halloween. Fun! Fun! Fun! The displays are always gorgeous and inspiring. Or make your own with their generous supply of high end silk floral offerings, candles and ribbon. I have a lovely centerpiece of fall colored nasturtiums that I still love many years later.
Halloween decor galore!
Owned by Terry and Chris Beye, they are also very active in support of local charitable events. When I was there, they were closing early for the local event ‘Girls on the Run’. They are also contributers to The Boys and Girls Club, North Tahoe Boosters and The Hook Golf Tournament.
Stop in today to get inspired for your new indoor decor.
Hours:
Winter – Open daily from 10 am -5 pm
Summer – Open Daily from 10 am – 6 pm.
530. 583.0408
760 North Lake Blvd, Tahoe City, CA 96145
hemmingsandjarret.com
THINK OF ME, LYNN RICHARDSON, FOR ALL OF YOUR LAKE TAHOE AND TRUCKEE REAL ESTATE NEEDS!
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By Tim Hauserman
For a number of years I was perfectly content to get my “be out on a lake” fix via kayak. You get a nice workout, while enjoying the quiet beauty of paddling along one of our gorgeous mountain lakes. I saw a lot of paddleboarders, but when I tried it I felt tippy and my feet hurt, so I went back to my bulky but still manageable one person kayak.
Then, it seemed that paddleboarders were everywhere, and if I wanted to play with friends I better get one. I went out a few times on borrowed boards, began to get the hang of it, and dove in and purchased one. While I’m still a bit timid and feel off balance, I love the feel of the board. I love the stroke of powering your way through the water which is similar to paddling a canoe. I love that the boards are lighter and easier to maneuver then kayaks, and I especially love being able to look down through the crystal clear Lake Tahoe and Donner Lake water to the bottom of the lake. It feels like flying.
The key for me to having fun paddleboarding is to consider the conditions before going out. You want glassy calm waters and as few boat wakes as possible. Which is why, I’ve been having so much fun this fall. If you get out in the morning mid-week you often can paddle for an hour without getting assaulted by a monster boat wake.
So what do you do when you have the time to get out but the wind has come up or the lake is full of boat wakes? The solution is obvious. Kayak. Each tool has it’s place in your quiver of Tahoe toys. Now you just have to find room for it all in your garage.
Where to Go:
Lake Tahoe: Similar to a kayak, it is best not to have to carry your board too far. Here are three public choices on Tahoe’s North and West Shore that give you that opportunity:
Waterman’s Landing at Carnelian Bay: In addition to easy access, they rent boards, give lessons, and have food and restrooms.
William Kent Campground Beach: Next to Sunnyside. A very short walk…IF you can get one of the prized parking spots that are also coveted by Sunnyside patrons or employees.
Hurricane Bay: Four miles south of Tahoe City, just park along the road walk 100 feet and you are on your way.
Donner Lake: Pick your public pier or access point along the lake’s North Shore.
THINK OF ME, LYNN RICHARDSON, FOR ALL OF YOUR LAKE TAHOE AND TRUCKEE REAL ESTATE NEEDS!
lynnrichardson.net
Share this: Lynn Richardson, Your Friend in High Places
YOUR FRIEND IN HIGH PLACES 