This post is an ode to my new home, the historic railway town of Truckee, California, situated just north of Lake Tahoe. It's an absolute gem, a town where everyone knows everyone, dotted with world class ski resorts and world class people. I've lived here three months now (crazy!) and couldn't be happier. If you're visiting Truckee this Fall, I put together a little guide to help you explore the area. So whip out your favorite beanie, brew some coffee, and get ready to head to Truckee!
I don't think I'll be taking this flannel off all winter. Find your own via NIKITA.
While there is a little snow on the ground, it is still Fall on the calendar and most of the ski resorts, while enthusiastically open early, only have one run open. There are plenty of things to do here in Truckee before Winter *really* hits, so without any further ado...
1. Wake Up Early And Drink Coffee In A Sage Field
Yes, as ridiculous as it sounds, you know you wanna do it! This time of year is GORGEOUS and what better way to soak up the last bits of Autumn than by waking up in a sage field, coffee in hand?! NOTHING, that's what! My preferred brew method is Chemex (to keep it extra hot, make your coffee at home and bring in a thermos). After moving I was delighted to discover that sage grows literally everywhere here. For a quiet morning, Nick and I enjoy exploring Martis Valley and Glenshire by the traintracks. Go early in the morning to experience the sage in all its frosty glory, bring your man (or your dog!) and enjoy the stillness. Seriously, this is my new favorite way to wake up.
P.S. The jacket I'm wearing is courtesy of Basin + Range, available exclusively at backcountry.com. It is SO COMFY. The coffee is from Salt Lake City based Publik Coffee Roasters. Delish.
2. Go See A Play At Truckee Community Theater
Okay, okay, since I'm actually IN a play at Truckee Community Theater, I may be a bit biased. ;) But seriously... it's going to be awesome! Upon moving here I knew I wanted to get involved with the community and simultaneously differentiate myself from Nick (who is from here and knows everyone in the ski/snowboard world). What better way to do this than dig into my theatre roots and try out for a play? So I did, and was cast as Mary Warren in The Crucible, an American classic written in the 50's by Arthur Miller about the 1692 Salem Witch Trials. Come see yours truly perform November 20-22!
3. Bike The North Tahoe Triangle
I fell in love with road biking when I lived in Portland and Seattle, largely as a necessity as it became my mode of transportation, so I've been enjoying exploring Tahoe via my bike. It is admittedly a bit hillier here, but road biking is a fantastic way to get some exercise (and get acclimated to the altitude!). I biked the North Tahoe Triangle, a 34 mile loop, one of my first days here. It took a couple of hours with a decent amount of ascent but the ride down 267 was incredibly rewarding. It was also a fantastic way to get to know my new home. Highly recommend, and still totally doable before the roads get icy!
The route I took was from Truckee down 89 to Tahoe City then Kings Beach and through 267 back to Truckee. Eat a big breakfast, bring water and enjoy!
4. Take An Art Class At Atelier
I was SO excited when I discovered Atelier, recently opened art studio/retail space with a host of awesome classes. I've been enjoying their life drawing series, but check out their Fall/Winter Schedule and see what fancies you. From knife sharpening to pottery, if you have a creative bone in your body you're bound to find something! Here are some upcoming classes that caught my eye...
5. Get a flight of beers from FiftyFifty Brewery
Coming from the Pacific Northwest, I admit I'm a bit spoiled on beer. So I was pleasantly surprised when I recently tried a flight at FiftyFifty Brewery. Get dinner afterwards at Drunken Monkey, the locals favorite for sushi, owned by the same people (fitting, right?).
6. Go Kayaking At The Lake One More Time
I know, you really didn't need to read this to know that you should be out and about, exploring every inch of all that Truckee has to offer while there are still glimpses of glorious sunshine outside. There might be a little snow on the ground but there are still super warm days!
That being said, kayaking has begun to rise the ranks of the activities I enjoy doing around town. Back in the day, going kayaking meant an exciting date night: renting an overpriced kayak that Nick and I had to share and furiously paddle around for an hour or two to get all our moneys' worth before returning it and commenting on our sore muscles for the following three days. These days, going kayaking is as simple as grabbing the boats from the garage, strapping them to the top of Nick's car and deciding one thing: Donner or Tahoe.
Between hiking, mountain biking, trail running, and all the other "ing's," you could spend a lifetime in Tahoe and still not have uncovered every nook and cranny. And I plan to do just that.
7. Train For Winter
There's no better time to get your sweat on than the off-season. Truckee is filled with innumerable yoga studios and Crossfit gyms (four, last I counted) but if you want the true local experience, head to Performance Training Center. Owned by Olympian skier Julia Mancuso, this place truly is the Truckee watering hole. Performance offers drop in rates as well as a variety of membership packages. Make sure to come on a Friday and check out my Sweat class - a heart pumpin' bootcamp circuit with a killer playlist. Class times are at 9:30 and 12:15. All the trainers at Performance are bar none, so if you're in town for awhile come back and check out the other classes too!
Enjoy the last few weeks of Autumn! Did I leave anything off this list? Let me know in a comment below! XO LLV