Terrific Truckee
A City for All Seasons
It’s hip, fun, and versatile
Dawn Bonner
From dog sledding to fine dining, with luxury shopping for unique items and everything in between. All you need to decide is—What’s your
pleasure?
Truckee, Calif. has much to offer every season of the year. Do you love winter sports and adventure?
Did you know you do not have to travel to Alaska, or the Antarctic in order to Dog Sled? Truckee has two companies that offer dog sledding tours. Sierra Sled Dog Adventures offers four, seven and 18 mile tours ranging from 45 minutes to three hours long. Contact number is 530.412.3302.
Wilderness Adventures Dog Sled Tours are one hour long and they have three sleds available, so larger groups can go together. During the week they offer the opportunity to learn how to mush your sled with the expertise of an experienced musher guide. These tours last two to two and a half hours and cover about 15 to 20 miles. For more information and photos visit Wilderness Adventures Dog Sled Tours. For romantic rides, both companies offer moonlit dog sled tours.
Skiing
Skiing is hot at Sugar Bowl, Northstar, TahoeDonner, Squaw Valley, Alpine Meadows, Boreal and Royal George. You can rent skis or bring your own equipment. Snowshoeing is available at Coldstream or Donner State Park. Let’s not forget the other many ways there are of sliding down the mountains; such as, snowboarding, sledding, saucer riding, tubing, and tobogganing. There are several areas in and around the Truckee area to get equipment and lanes down the mountain. Boreal Mountain Resort for saucers, call 530.426.3666 for details. Northstar-at-Tahoe has a tubing only hill, 530.546.866 for details. You can choose fresh powder tours, all day tours, and go for 200 miles around the national park forest.
Snowmobiling
Snowmobiling is popular in Truckee, rentals and personalized guided tours are available at Cold Stream Adventures, call 530.582.9090 for details, or Eagle Ridge Snowmobile Outfitters 530.546.8667 for details. You can choose fresh powder tours, all day tours, and go for 200 miles around the national park forest.
Shopping
An important sport, good any season, is shopping. Great news for the discriminating shopper; you will love Old Truckee downtown. The stores are varied, superb and unique; it is a shopper’s heaven. The shopping experience runs the gamut, with hand blown vases and bowls from the masters all over the world, to hand carved wooden bears. From furniture, antiques, and furs, you can find it all in Truckee. There are pet boutiques, specialty children’s clothing stores and fashionable men’s and women’s clothing stores.
Courtesy Truckee Chamber of Commerce Two views of Old Downtown Truckee, Calif.
The Pharmacy is a remarkable store to visit. The furniture fixtures are gorgeous, rich wood floor to ceiling armoires with unique Victorian lamps scattered through out, create a luxurious ambiance. The store carries every kind of soap and lotion imaginable, and specialty lines of lingerie and exquisite, one of a kind bedding. The silks are butter soft. Every inch of the two story shop is worthy of your time.
Downtown Old Truckee shopping experience is pleasurable and easy. Large wooden and brick sidewalks, flanked with benches and flower pots are welcoming. Beckoning to the laden shopper with a spot to rest, people watch, and bask in the gentle sun-rays.
Parking is plentiful and old town style (no parallel parking), making it easy for you to tuck your purchases into the vehicle and then continue shopping. There are also two pay for parking public lots.
Billy McCullough owner and designer of incredible
food at Dragonfly, this restaurant may become
one of your only reasons for visiting Truckee.
Photograph © Dawn Bonner |
Local’s Great Secret, Dragonfly Restaurant
Enjoying world class cuisine is great any time of the year, as well. One of the locals’ best secrets in downtown Truckee serves food that is so delicious, it is orgasmic and addictive. Dragonfly restaurant is a must do for lunch and/or dinner.
Chef Billy McCullough, owner of Dragonfly cooking up orgasmic delectables.
Billy McCullough is the chef, owner, and creator of the divine culinary creations. McCullough’s recipes have appeared in many places, including Bon Appetit magazine.
The food is influenced by East—Thai, Indian, Malaysian and Japanese nuances. The menus for lunch and dinner are kept small so the food is guaranteed to be fresh.
Healthy is the way Dragonfly chooses to go, by flying in fresh seafood daily from all over the world and purchasing produce daily and locally. McCullough is a master at sauces, deep frying, and pan searing. The ingredients the team at Dragonfly combines create a feast that is unforgettable. The dinner menu and ambiance is entirely different than the lunch time menu. Both are enjoyable and delicious.
McCullough credits his entire staff, from the hosts, to the wait staff to the kitchen assistants in keeping the food fun, fresh and festive. The décor is elegant, Zen like and artistic. Everything about Dragonfly works. Locals and weekenders say this is one of their favorite eateries in Truckee. In the summer and on warm winter days, you can dine on the outside balcony which overlooks Truckee and the mountain with a beautiful view. Dragonfly is located upstairs at 10118 Donner Pass Road #B.
Sweet Shop
Downstairs from Dragonfly is the Sweet Shop,which offers homemade chocolate confections. Stop in to sample some of their sugar free haystacks for a late night treat. Mmm, melt in your mouth chocolate, yet they are so light, there is always room for a haystack. Sweet Shop mails its delectable delights all over the country with a simple phone call: 888.248.8840.
Since this city has so many different options, you may like to stay for a night, week end, or longer. And again, in the accommodations area, Truckee does not disappoint.
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Lost Trail Lodge is off the grid, creating a very speial experience.
Photo Courtesy Truckee Chamber
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Off the Grid
Lost Trail Lodge is a distinctive lodge,since the 3700 square foot retreat is completely off the grid; gaining its power from solar panels and some propane. The retreat is stocked with pots and pans, guests are responsible for bringing in their own food, or having meals catered. The lodge recommends snowshoeing in or skiing in, making your stay unlike any other. Though rustic, no phones, televisions, etc., the lodge does have Jacuzzis and a view of the Sierra’s that is pristine. You can also rent vacation homes right on Donner Lake, or stay at one of the 10 hotels and motels in town. Or, experience one of several bed and breakfast inns.
Water Things
Truckee is located at the west end of Donner Lake and because of this, summer time water activities abound. You can rent: Kayaks, canoes, paddle boats, windsurfers, water bikes and 14 foot sailboats at Donner Lake Water Sports, 530.582.1999. Lessons are available for any of these activities. A romantic evening could entail a full moon canoe cruise offered at the Marina.
Fishing
Do you love fishing? The lake and river streams have trout, salmon and kokanee; just be sure to have a current fishing license. Fishing guides and boats are available for charter, if needed.
Beach volleyball games are popular in the summer, along with Hawaiian Luaus and beach parties. You can also picnic and hike the trails in Donner State Park, about a quarter mile from Downtown Truckee.
**There is no poison Oak in the forest because of the high elevation.
For the Disabled
If you are disabled, fear not, you too can have a fabulous time in Truckee with summer sports. A membership with Disabled Sports USA, Far West and $20 will get you an adapted cycle, lessons and a trail to ride on. Family and friends can join you with their own bikes. Disabled Sports USA, Far West offers white water rafting, sailing, waterskiing, just to name a few more options. You can reach them at 530.581.4161.
Horse Lovers
On behalf of the horse lovers, there are equestrian centers around the lake where you can rent horses. There are also trail and wagon rides, and Saturday BBQ’s, all offered at Northstar Resort Stables, call 530.562.2480.
How to Get to Truckee
Truckee is located 12 miles north from Lake Tahoe and 40 miles west of Reno, Nevada. If you are flying into Truckee, the Reno Airport is the closest airport. Sacramento International Airport is 100 miles east of Truckee, and is the second closest airport to Truckee. By car, Truckee is 200 miles east of San Francisco, located off Interstate 80 at the West end of beautiful Donner Lake.
Truckee is a spot you can go back to again and again to experience something new and different. From the quiet of the wilderness to the lushness of the
city’s offerings, everyone can find something they love to do in Truckee.
