I never thought I'd end up here.

Truckee, a rural ski town in the Sierra Nevada, was the last kind of place I thought I'd ever settle down. My twenties were all about moving and shaking and city dwelling. Most twenty-somethings have goals like getting their Master's or getting out of student debt. Mine? To live in as many different cities as I feasibly could, and travel as much as my budget allowed. Actually, scratch that... let's be honest, I never had much of a budget. I just traveled. And was fortunate enough to live in some amazing places (find my guide to Portland here, and my guide to Seattle here).

Truth be told, I thought I'd end up in New York City. But then I met Nick, a unique mix of mountain man + traveling gypsy + Jesus freak and my life was forever changed. And so, I find myself calling Truckee home, where the town's mantra is "base camp for a big life".

And lo and behold — I'm living a bigger life here in this little mountain town of 17,000 residents than I ever thought possible.

I decided to put together a list of my favorite ways to explore in Tahoe, as I'm pretty much convinced that this is the best place to "settle down". Life is just so... alive here. From the thriving local entrepreneurial spirit, to the long lazy lake days, to the race for first chair and the tall tales told at the bar after... this is a place where pursuing an intentional life is valued above all else.

If you're planning a trip to Tahoe, this list is a good place to start — but remember, the best moments are the unplanned spontaneous adventures you find for yourself. So get out there and start exploring!