The California 49ers of 1849 had one thing on their mind; find gold and get rich! The land from the southern Sierra to the northern Sierra was picked over and well searched for that precious golden metal. Today, there is still gold in the hills but there is also much more. A number of the old mining towns have seen an increase in prosperity because of the increase in tourism. The mines have long since been shut down and now quaint and … [Read more...]
Gold Country, CA – Lodging
Some of these mining towns are relatively small so lodging is limited. Some of these hotels listed below are historic. The prices vary somewhat depending on the season. Prices subject to change without notice. Our readers often email us concerning a specific property. If we hear anything specific about a particular hotel we will be sure to mention it here. These towns are alphabetized. All Phone Numbers unless otherwise noted are 209 area … [Read more...]
Spokane, WA – Helena Montana
Helena is the capital city of Montana. At about 31,000 people it is one of the smaller state capital cities in the USA. Helena was founded by four prospectors from the state of Georgia in 1864. The city was first named, Last Chance Gulch. The miners were tired of finding little gold on their travels and the gulch, now downtown Helena, was where they struck it rich. Helena became a territorial capital in 1875 and a state capital in 1889. The name … [Read more...]
Lake Tahoe, CA
Lake Tahoe, The Lake, is the jewel of the Sierra Nevada's. At 6,226 feet above sea level Lake Tahoe is the largest alpine lake in North America. It is 12 miles wide, and 22 miles long. The Lake has a surface area of 191.6 square miles. The average depth of The Lake is 989 feet, while its deepest point is 1,645 feet. This is the third deepest lake in North America. Lake Tahoe contains about 40 trillion gallons of water. To put that number in … [Read more...]
Lake Tahoe, CA – History
John C. Fremont was the first explorer to see Lake Tahoe. He "discovered" it in 1844. For many centuries before Fremont came the Lake Tahoe Basin was a summer home for bands of Washoe Indians. Lake Tahoe had spiritual meaning for these Indians and they held sacred ceremonies along the shore line. Tahoe got its name when explorers tried to interpret the Washoe word, "Da-ow-a-ga" which meant edge of the lake. The name Tahoe became official in … [Read more...]
Lake Tahoe, CA – Event Calendar
This is only a small sampling of the events that occur throughout the year. Many ski resorts have events planned throughout the ski season. January -Winter Celebration at Heavenly Ski Resort. Event includes ski races, fireworks, & ice sculpting. February -Cross Country Ski and Food Festival at Northstar at Tahoe -Snowfest Winter Carnival has been held annually since 1982, events and activities for families on Tahoe's … [Read more...]
Lake Tahoe, CA – Shopping
There are quite a few excellent shopping center in the Lake Tahoe area. Some of them are listed below, some with descriptions. A good listing of malls in the Reno area is: www.newtoreno.com/malls.htm Tahoe City Boatworks Shopping Mall is one of my favorite places to hang out in Tahoe City. They are located at North Lake Blvd, and Highway 28. This Mall is located right next to The Lake and the Boatworks Marina. Often times after shopping I … [Read more...]
Lake Tahoe, CA – Parks
Burton Creek State Park is over 1,800 acres and is Tahoe's second largest state park. There are over 12 miles of fire roads for either hiking or biking. This park is open for day use only and is located on Highway 28 just three miles north of Tahoe City. For more information call Phone (916) 525-7982. D.L. Bliss State Park is located 8 miles south of Tahoma on Highway 89. This is a 1200 acre park with 5 miles of hiking trails and 168 … [Read more...]
Lake Tahoe, CA – Gambling
We always enjoy going to South Lake Tahoe for some late night gambling. We have had good luck playing the slots at Planet Hollywood. The restaurant there tends to be quite crowded but once you are seated you are surrounded by movie memorabilia. Check out Cindy Crawford's high school yearbook photo. Whenever we are in Tahoe we always frequent Harrah's Hotel and Casino but Montbleu, nearby, is of similar caliber. We have a soft spot for Harrah's as … [Read more...]
Lake Tahoe, CA – Skiing
When Tahoe is mentioned many people think of ski resorts. Lake Tahoe has many, many ski resorts, serving the beginner skier all the way to the expert skier. The next two sections include Ski Resorts separated by Downhill and Cross Country. See the Attractions section for more information on summer activities at the winter downhill ski resorts. Here are three phone numbers that may be of some help in determining the weather … [Read more...]