We're discussing a potential trip to Lake Tahoe during the last week of August or first week of September (me + wife + 3 year old). Has anyone been during non-ski season? Tell me about it. [Reply]
Another thing about the Reno area - there is another large lake to the north called Pyramid Lake. You might look at the map and think "hey, another Lake Tahoe!" Not. It's on an Indian reservation and there's next to nothing there, except Indian cops who can somehow sense that you're speeding on a road with no speed limit signs and gleefully ticket you.
Best to avoid.
It should also be noted that Indians on reservations in states where gambling is legal seem to be a bit angry. [Reply]
Originally Posted by Frazod:
We flew in/out of Reno in 2005. The experience was uneventful enough that I honestly have no memory of it.
Reno itself is fairly unimpressive, though. Basically a high desert shithole that's a life support system for the casinos.
I guess that's a fair assessment from an outsiders point of view. Reno has undergone a boom in recent years, however, when Tesla built its battery factory out there, and multiple data centers were built for Silicon Valley companies.
For about 2 decades the Reno area has been steadily improving after they made a big effort to take a slice of the national market in youth tournament play. Lots of West Coast volleyball, gymnastics and basketball tournaments are hosted there and they have state of art facilities to host massive tournaments. The results is that there has been a a lot of development. Multiple high end communities have popped up (4000 sq.ft.+homes) and the entire river walk area has been renovated. There are still areas that are pretty seedy, but overall, it's a lot nicer. [Reply]
Originally Posted by A8bil:
I guess that's a fair assessment from an outsiders point of view. Reno has undergone a boom in recent years, however, when Tesla built its battery factory out there, and multiple data centers were built for Silicon Valley companies.
For about 2 decades the Reno area has been steadily improving after they made a big effort to take a slice of the national market in youth tournament play. Lots of West Coast volleyball, gymnastics and basketball tournaments are hosted there and they have state of art facilities to host massive tournaments. The results is that there has been a a lot of development. Multiple high end communities have popped up (4000 sq.ft.+homes) and the entire river walk area has been renovated. There are still areas that are pretty seedy, but overall, it's a lot nicer.
God knows I've been to far worse places. :-) [Reply]
Was there one October. Horrible weather, fog rain then snow. Could never see the lake from the hotel. Always wanted to go during the celebrity pro am golf tournament. [Reply]
Originally Posted by Frazod:
Another thing about the Reno area - there is another large lake to the north called Pyramid Lake. You might look at the map and think "hey, another Lake Tahoe!" Not. It's on an Indian reservation and there's next to nothing there, except Indian cops who can somehow sense that you're speeding on a road with no speed limit signs and gleefully ticket you.
Best to avoid.
It should also be noted that Indians on reservations in states where gambling is legal seem to be a bit angry.
Don't forget the occasional rattlesnake hanging out at water's edge. [Reply]
Originally Posted by Frazod:
Another thing about the Reno area - there is another large lake to the north called Pyramid Lake. You might look at the map and think "hey, another Lake Tahoe!" Not. It's on an Indian reservation and there's next to nothing there, except Indian cops who can somehow sense that you're speeding on a road with no speed limit signs and gleefully ticket you.
Best to avoid.
It should also be noted that Indians on reservations in states where gambling is legal seem to be a bit angry.
I know all about Pyramid. I almost booked a fishing trip there. It's famous for its enormous Lahontan Cutthroat Trout.
So I typically go in the winter, but visited in the summer once.
Spending Christmas at Northstar this year. Can't wait.
Great area if you are interested in hiking and that stuff. I'm not really in to the other touristy BS and shitty casinos it has to offer. I do like the old time supper clubs there. [Reply]
Go to Tahoe several times a year. None of the lake can be considered "rustic" but if you had to call an area rustic then it would be West shore in the Homewood area and yes "Fleur De Lac" is where the Tahoe Godfather scenes were filmed but mostly you only see a wall from the road haha. North Shore you have Incline Village which is considered high end with the Hyatt crowd etc. Nearby is a very nice sandy beach called Sand Harbor but you better get there no later than 8:00 am for a spot on the sand as it fills up quickly but it is one of the nicest beaches on the lake if you dont have any private access elsewhere. South Shore is fun but kinda has the casino junky vibe to it although Heavenly valley is kinda cool. If it were up to me, Id do West Shore somewhere between Homewood and Tahoe City but the entire lake is pricey. If you have kids, do the river raft float down the Truckee out of Tahoe City. If you like fishing, check out Big Mac's tours for Macinaw. [Reply]
Originally Posted by loochy:
Everyone keeps talking about the pleasant and small Sacramento airport...is Reno some kind of zoo or something? I expected it to be pretty small as well.
When you say the Sacramento airport is small, do you mean small like Burbank/Bob Hope or San Bernadion/Ontario
or do you mean small like KCI small?
I'm used to DFW and ATL, so anything seems small compared to those.
DFW and ATL are mega-sized airports.
SMF is considered a medium-sized airport. In fact, it led that category in the latest JD Power Airport Customer Satisfaction Survey and also tallied the highest score of any airport in any category:
Originally Posted by Bugeater:
Been there three times. Stay somewhere on the North Shore. The city of South Lake Tahoe is a congested mess, just stay away.
Take a day or two to go see Yosemite if you've never been there. It's worth the trip.
