We had out of town family in town last week and we made it back to the Donner (Railroad) Tunnels. I…read morelove the tunnels! It's SO beautiful. And as it was a railroad, it's level and easy, and as it's in the tunnels, you're mostly protected from the weather. Bring good trail walking shoes and a flashlight. (And park across from the Donner Ski Ranch.)

I've lived in Reno since 1979, and I've never been to the tunnels?! It was so fun! Incredible…read moreviews. No snow yet, making the tremendous rock formations visible. A lot of people, and dogs. A few bikers, of which, I was one. Everyone was friendly and courteous with their pups, and kids. Parking was easy in the lot by Sugar Bowl Ski Resort. If biking, I recommend a fat tire bike as the gravel is deep in random spots in the tunnels. Water trickles through in several spots. I recommend a head lamp in addition to your fully charged bike light, some tunnels are really dark, and long!

Background On Donner Summit Bridge: The Donner Summit Bridge, also known as the Rainbow Bridge, is…read morenamed after the Donner Summit, a high point in the Sierra Nevada mountain range. The Donner Summit is significant because it was the location where the Donner Party struggled to survive the winter in 1846-47. Background On Visit: Might as well visit the place if i'm already in the area. Location/Parking: The bridge is located on Donner Pass Road and is next to Donner Lake Overlook. There's parking before the bridge and if parking has been taken, you can park over at the Donner Lake Overlook. Ambiance/Decor: Nice ambiance with great views of Sierra Nevada Mountains and Donner Lake. You can also visualize how tough it was for the Donner party to maneuver through the tough terrain with the freezing temps. Luckily on the day that I visited, the weather was absolutely beautiful and there was some snow that hasn't melted on the Sierra Nevada mountain. Donner Summit Bridge For Thought: I would like to come again and drive on the bridge.

Also known as the Rainbow Bridge [Truckee CA]…read more As we were making our way up Donner Pass Road we had a good view of the bridge from below and in my mind it reminded me of the Bixby Bridge in Big Sur as it was built around the same period and has a very similar style. Donner Pass Road is a scenic road that runs through the Sierra Nevada mountains between Truckee and Reno NV. As we arrived at the bridge we pulled off onto the parking lot on the side and enjoyed stunning views of the mountains, Truckee River and Donner Lake below. A plaque on the bridge read "Dedicated to the pioneers who blazed the overland trail through these mountains." This beautiful bridge was restored in 1995 and is listed on the National Register of Historic Places. Review #3558

The Balanced Rocking Stone is a 17 ton granite boulder that overlooks the town of Truckee. Some…read morecall it an irrelevant roadside attraction, a non notable geological anomaly, a boring local landmark, a incurious curiosity... whatever. Thus making this an irrelevant review. Supposedly in the past, the Washoe Native Americans took interest in it... some say revered it. In the 1860s, a museum was built next to it by the "prominent" citizen, CF McGlashan. That is long gone and what is next to it now is the Truckee Veterans Memorial Building and parking lot. The boulder no longer rocks as legend had it. There is a gazebo built on top of it and a steel staircase to the top. From the top, you can view parts of the town below and the mountain range in the distance. The view is nice. But it didn't take my breath away. Actually I had to hold my breath... beware the top of the boulder and gazebo is filled with bird poo and is not consistently maintained. Watch where you step. The landmark can be viewed in less than 10 minutes. But if you enjoy history and local folklore, it's worth checking out at least once if you have the time and inclination to do so. Sorry folks, my pics aren't very good. I don't have a full on view of the rock boulder.

A few weeks ago, camping outside of Truckee, CA, we happened by this little spot along the side of…read moreCA-89. Intrigued by the humor of a picnic area bearing the name of a family whose historical context is closely aligned with cannibalism, we pulled in to check it out. Just a short driveway off the highway, we got to the small parking lot. Adjacent to the lot is a 1/3 mile interpretive walking trail with information placards telling the history of the Donner Party. At one point along the walk, a placard indicates that this is the location where the Donners camped on their ill-fated attempt to make it to California. I learned a lot more CA history here, and enjoyed the view of Ponderosa pines and open meadow plants. Songbirds sang our theme music as we walked along the trail as a family, contemplating the steps of those pioneers who gambled on making it to Sacramento, and payed the ultimate price. The picnic area is not well-traveled, and if you blink, you'll miss it. Restrooms are clean and close to the parking lot. There are Poke-stops and three gyms here, which are also not well-traveled. I've had a 'Mon stuck in a gym there for more than three weeks, and no one has been along to boot him out. I'm worried those hungry critters will resort to cannibalism at some point. Too soon, Donner Picnic Area?

A monument to pioneer families [Truckee CA]…read more A short walk on the paved trail from the visitor center led us to the pioneer monument. The monument stands on the spot where the Schallenberger, and later the Breen, cabin once stood. Dedicated and honoring all the emigrants (not just the Donner Party) who followed the Truckee River and crossed the Sierra on their way to the west (California). The emigrant family sits on top of a 22-foot pedestal and is facing westward toward Donner Pass. Completed on June 6th 1918 and marked California Historical Landmark #134. There are educational interpretive signs nearby worth the read. Interesting to see this monument standing at one of the most historic sites in emigrant history. During the winter of 1846-1847 we learned that nearly half of Donner Party died from cold and lack of food. They set up camp around this area and was trapped by snow during their journey, imagine trekking in prairie wagons pulled by oxen from Illinois. So sad for those who perished just because of this unfortunate decision they took as a shortcut... ahhh! so close yet so far. Review #3557

This memorial is to the ill fated Donner party who started too late and could not get across the…read moreSierra Nevada Mountains because of snow. Their story has been documented in a PBS show that I recommend you try to find. It is difficult to think how many survived given the harsh conditions and lack of food the party had. It's also sad to think of the deaths the families endured because of these conditons. This memorial is about 20 yards from the visitor center/museum. Walk around the backside and read the historical infomration on a plaque there, too. This is worth getting off the freeway to visit.

This was such a fun event. I wish I had taken more pictures. Everybody was dressed up and looked…read moreamazing! The mansion was beyond beautiful and each room featured a cocktail from four different bars. They were all delicious and perfectly crafted, it was so hard to choose a favorite. Our night ended with a little crafting where we got to decorate our own candle holder. I hope there's another event like this one. 10/10!!

We came for the free event last week sponsored by Nevada Arts For All. Our 3 yo got to create…read moreseveral Christmas themed art projects, got a free Christmas themed book, and told Santa what he wanted for Christmas. We had a great time watching our boy learn to create, without spending much money. I really love this organization and location and encourage parents to check out their offerings. Truly a blessing to our community.

Charming little bridge with visitor center on one end and museum (by appointment) on the other.read more

Fanny Bridge is supposedly named for all the fannies seen from the road as people look from it…read moretoward the Lake Tahoe Dam. We stop by here nearly every time we pass through Tahoe City, so fairly often. We enjoy walking the loop over the dam and back around over the bridge while taking time to read signage describing local facts regarding things from fish to water levels. There is plenty of parking in the adjacent lot and you will also find clean bathrooms. This is also the location of the Gatekeeper's Museum. There is a nice woodsy area just past the museum through which you can walk toward the lake. And currently, with water levels so low, you will find an explosion of purple as lupine fields are in full bloom! So gorgeous and worth the visit!

The fishies weren't out today, but we normally love Fanny Bride and the dam for feeding them, you…read morecan buy the fish food across the way at the information center. It was still a beautiful day, the water was incredibly clear, and the information on the dam side is always fun to read.

Nice short walk from the Information center with free parking. Walk across the dam bridge and read…read moreabout the history.

"Bittersweet Story."…read more Right off the interstate, you can check out the history of this former town. There's not a lot to see, but the History Trail is mildly interesting, and also not too long. There's a rough little parking area right at the history trailhead. The trail is paved, and only slightly steep. It will probably take you 30 minutes round trip. I found the trail mildly interesting, but honestly, probably not worth repeating. There's a bathroom right at the parking area, but besides that, there are no facilities.

To experience 61 years of history in one hour, we stopped alongside Interstate 80, between Reno and…read moreTruckee, to explore the old Boca town site. From 1866 until 1927, the hard-working people of Boca labored on the railroad, milled local timber, harvested clear mountain ice, and brewed their famous Boca beer. Walking an easy quarter-mile long trail with interpretative signage, we saw the old school house flag pole rusted and bent by time. On our way to the hilltop cemetery, we found flattened cans, bedsprings, square-headed nails, broken whisky bottles and chips of porcelain littering the entire area. Boca, meaning "mouth" in Spanish, was originally established in 1866 as a Central Pacific Railroad construction camp, at the confluence of the Little Truckee and Truckee rivers. To process nearby timber for railroad ties, telegraph poles, and snow sheds, a lumber mill was set up in Boca in 1868. When the millpond froze in the winter of 1869, the Boca ice harvesting industry was born. Large blocks of clear ice, cut from the pond were used to air condition the deep Comstock mines and refrigerate railroad box cars full of fresh California produce heading east. We wandered around the crumbling foundation of one former ice storage house still standing alongside the railroad tracks. Boca ice was also used for the low temperature fermentation of lager beer, the town's greatest claim to fame. In 1876, Boca Brewery started a lager revolution on the west coast with its release of the first true California-made lager. The brewery was lost to fire in 1893, over-harvesting closed the saw mill in 1908, and modern refrigeration technology ended the ice industry. In 1927, the town of Boca was permanently dismantled. Our visit to the old Boca town site to experience its industrious 61-year history was an accessible stop and great value, costing us only one hour of our time. Directions: Take I-80 to Hirschdale exit, 6 miles east of Truckee. Follow the sign toward the Boca/Stampede Recreation Area. Go north 0.3 miles and turn right on the road immediately after the railroad tracks. The trail begins next to the restrooms.