Away from the Ski Area

December 21, 2014 by trudilee

By Tim Hauserman

Sure Tahoe ski resorts are a big winter attraction for folks visiting this area. I mean there is really very little that is more fun than skiing…but if you want to try something else away from the ski areas while you are at the lake, here are a few suggestions:

Spend the day in Tahoe City: Stroll the sidewalks and check out some of the unique shops in The Cobblestone. Catch a movie at the Tahoe Art Haus and Cinema (tahoearthauscinema.com) Go wine tasting. Beer tasting. Or food tasting. Head to the Commons Beach and walk out onto the rocky shoreline. Stroll behind the Truckee River Dam and study the chart which shows the lake level over the last 100 years. It will make you a bit heartened that while the lake level is low now, it will go up. Then hit the Gatekeepers Museum next door, which has an amazing Indian basket collection and bear display.

Don’t forget about the lake. Our favorite piece of Big Blue takes a back seat to the snow in the winter, but she is still there. Don’t let her get lonely. You can drive around Tahoe in just a few hours, or take your time, by stopping frequently to enjoy Tahoe’s quiet winter ambiance. Then again, instead of looking it, you could get on it. Join a year round sport fishing expedition. While it might be colder then the summer, the winter is a great time to be chasing the precious fishies, because you might just have the lake to yourself.

Make your way to Incline Village and go to the Tahoe Science Center on the Sierra Nevada College campus. Exhibits include a replica of a research boat, biology lab and docent led tours. Then grab a burrito at the famous T’s Rotisserie and go bowling.

Take a winter hike on snowshoes. No lift ticket or trail pass required. A few good spots include Page Meadows, Blackwood Canyon and Meeks Bay on the West Shore, and Brockway Summit and Tahoe Meadows above Incline.

Go back in time by taking a sled dog tour or a sleigh ride.
dogsledadventure.com, sleighride.com

Climb high up in the trees and have fun on the zip lines at the Tree Top Adventure Park at Granlibakken. northtahoeadventures.com

Whatever you do…Enjoy Lake Tahoe and Have a very Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year!