Truckee in the Summer
Food scene
American Bistro, great burger and locals’ vibe
http://www.tahoedonner.com/the-lodge/
530-587-9455
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The Lodge Restaurant & Pub
12850 Northwoods BlvdAmerican Bistro, great burger and locals’ vibe
http://www.tahoedonner.com/the-lodge/
530-587-9455
Top-rate Italian food on main street in old town Truckee. Our choice for a nice date night outing (not great for little kids). Reservations are usually required.
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Pianeta
10096 Donner Pass RdTop-rate Italian food on main street in old town Truckee. Our choice for a nice date night outing (not great for little kids). Reservations are usually required.
American, high-end cuisine, $$$$ but worth it! Note that as of summer 2015 they no longer offer nightly dinner seatings, instead to special tasting events and so forth. Worth checking the website if you’re a foodie http://www.cedarhousesporthotel.com/stella/dining_at_stella.html
866-582-5655
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Stella Restaurant Truckee @The Cedar House Sport Hotel
10948 Brockway RdAmerican, high-end cuisine, $$$$ but worth it! Note that as of summer 2015 they no longer offer nightly dinner seatings, instead to special tasting events and so forth. Worth checking the website if you’re a foodie http://www.cedarhousesporthotel.com/stella/dining_at_stella.html
866-582-5655
American, usually with live music, always with a great ambiance
http://www.cottonwoodrestaurant.com/
(530) 587-5711
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Cottonwood Restaurant & Bar
10142 Rue HilltopAmerican, usually with live music, always with a great ambiance
http://www.cottonwoodrestaurant.com/
(530) 587-5711
Very family friendly, located in Tahoe Donner, 10-minute walk from house. Totally fine (but unexceptional) pizza. IN the summertime, there is ample outside seating right by the playground.
http://www.tahoedonner.com/pizza-on-the-hill/
530-582-9669
40 Einheimische empfehlen
Pizza On the Hill
11509 Northwoods BlvdVery family friendly, located in Tahoe Donner, 10-minute walk from house. Totally fine (but unexceptional) pizza. IN the summertime, there is ample outside seating right by the playground.
http://www.tahoedonner.com/pizza-on-the-hill/
530-582-9669
Very popular local coffee shop / eatery near the entrance to Tahoe Donner http://www.wildcherriescoffeehouse.com/
530-582-5602. Good coffee, great food. Great smoothies, treats, full menu of paninis etc…
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Wild Cherries Coffee House
11429 Donner Pass RdVery popular local coffee shop / eatery near the entrance to Tahoe Donner http://www.wildcherriescoffeehouse.com/
530-582-5602. Good coffee, great food. Great smoothies, treats, full menu of paninis etc…
Good family-friendly pizza restaurant. Easy takeout or dine-in
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Zano's Family Italian & Pizzeria
11401 Donner Pass RoadGood family-friendly pizza restaurant. Easy takeout or dine-in
Activities
Kid Zone (http://www.kidzonemuseum.org/). A small but well done indoor/outdoor play space for kids (best for 1 to 9 years old).
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KidZone Museum
11711 Donner Pass RdKid Zone (http://www.kidzonemuseum.org/). A small but well done indoor/outdoor play space for kids (best for 1 to 9 years old).
Truckee Branch Library
10031 Levon AveTruckee Library – Truckee as a good library downtown.
Northwoods Clubhouse – Northwoods is the clubhouse attached to Pizza on the Hill, near the playground, pool, tennis courts about a 10 min walk from the house. Check www.tahoedonner.com, but they typically have a movie night, a bingo night, and a trivia night, all targeted at kids/tweens.
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Northwoods Clubhouse & Pool
11509 Northwoods BlvdNorthwoods Clubhouse – Northwoods is the clubhouse attached to Pizza on the Hill, near the playground, pool, tennis courts about a 10 min walk from the house. Check www.tahoedonner.com, but they typically have a movie night, a bingo night, and a trivia night, all targeted at kids/tweens.
There are two pool locations in Tahoe Donner. We like the Northwoods pool for smaller kids, since it has a water slide and is more or less all families with small kids. The Trout Creek pool complex is larger and has hot tubs and locker rooms, etc… You’re welcomed to bring food or beverages to either pool area. There are food food/snack options on some days and times. Of course, don’t bring glass containers and don’t bring alcohol to the hot tub.
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Tahoe Donner Trout Creek Recreation Center
12790 Northwoods BlvdThere are two pool locations in Tahoe Donner. We like the Northwoods pool for smaller kids, since it has a water slide and is more or less all families with small kids. The Trout Creek pool complex is larger and has hot tubs and locker rooms, etc… You’re welcomed to bring food or beverages to either pool area. There are food food/snack options on some days and times. Of course, don’t bring glass containers and don’t bring alcohol to the hot tub.
https://www.tahoedonner.com/amenities/amenities/beach-club-marina/
The TD beach club is awesome! It’s located on the east (near) end of Donner Lake and is accessible only by Tahoe Donner members or guests with guest card. You’ll need to pay $8/day for each person over 6 years old. At the club, you’ll find lawn chairs, tables, umbrellas, etc… water toy rentals (SUPs, paddleboats, catamarans), a snack bar, locker rooms, and so forth. There are kid-friendly wading pools and swim docks. Kids also love to go crawdad “fishing” along the shoreline. You can make a crawfishing rig with a stick, string, paperclip, and hot dog or slice of salami/bacon as bait (or you can buy a kit at the hardware store in town).
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Donner Lake
https://www.tahoedonner.com/amenities/amenities/beach-club-marina/
The TD beach club is awesome! It’s located on the east (near) end of Donner Lake and is accessible only by Tahoe Donner members or guests with guest card. You’ll need to pay $8/day for each person over 6 years old. At the club, you’ll find lawn chairs, tables, umbrellas, etc… water toy rentals (SUPs, paddleboats, catamarans), a snack bar, locker rooms, and so forth. There are kid-friendly wading pools and swim docks. Kids also love to go crawdad “fishing” along the shoreline. You can make a crawfishing rig with a stick, string, paperclip, and hot dog or slice of salami/bacon as bait (or you can buy a kit at the hardware store in town).
Donner State Park – Adjacent to the TD Beach Club is a state park with camping and day use areas which can be a great change of scene if you’ve already done the beach club. The park includes a “canal” that connects Donner Lake to the dam which is used to maintain water level. The canal is a great place for kids to explore, float in a tube, etc.
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Donner Memorial State Park
12593 Donner Pass RdDonner State Park – Adjacent to the TD Beach Club is a state park with camping and day use areas which can be a great change of scene if you’ve already done the beach club. The park includes a “canal” that connects Donner Lake to the dam which is used to maintain water level. The canal is a great place for kids to explore, float in a tube, etc.
museum of history for the Donner party’s ill-fated trip over the pass. Free museum (paid parking) with all sorts of artifacts, short video clips and so on. Probably best for kids 5+
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Donner Memorial State Museum
12593 Donner Pass Rdmuseum of history for the Donner party’s ill-fated trip over the pass. Free museum (paid parking) with all sorts of artifacts, short video clips and so on. Probably best for kids 5+
A great summertime activity is floating the Truckee River, from Tahoe City (right from the Bridgetender restaurant) until the River Ranch Inn (about 5 miles). It’s easiest to reserve a raft from one of the two companies (Truckee River Rafting or Truckee River Raft), which will take care of transporting you back to your car at the end. Expect about 3+ hours on the river and mostly lazy floating with a very short section of rapids at the end. Good for all ages (maybe 2+).
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Truckee River Raft Co.
185 W River RdA great summertime activity is floating the Truckee River, from Tahoe City (right from the Bridgetender restaurant) until the River Ranch Inn (about 5 miles). It’s easiest to reserve a raft from one of the two companies (Truckee River Rafting or Truckee River Raft), which will take care of transporting you back to your car at the end. Expect about 3+ hours on the river and mostly lazy floating with a very short section of rapids at the end. Good for all ages (maybe 2+).
there’s a great paved trail from the Squaw access road to Tahoe City (about 7 miles). You can rent bikes from Squaw Bikes. If you have small kids, they also rent bike trailers.
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Truckee River Bike Trail
Truckee River Bike Trailthere’s a great paved trail from the Squaw access road to Tahoe City (about 7 miles). You can rent bikes from Squaw Bikes. If you have small kids, they also rent bike trailers.
A really cool hike to do with kids is the (abandoned) Donner Summit Train Tunnels. The interesting section runs about 2 miles (so ~4 miles out and back).
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Historic Summit Tunnel
Sugar Bowl RoadA really cool hike to do with kids is the (abandoned) Donner Summit Train Tunnels. The interesting section runs about 2 miles (so ~4 miles out and back).
The Tahoe Donner tennis facilities are a gem – great facilities, extremely well run, and very popular. If you have any interest in playing, be sure to check out the adult clinics, lessons, racquet rentals and so forth. They also have a great summer kids program. Every weekday from 2 to 5pm during the summer, they run drop-in clinics for kids of any skill level, ages 5+. They cater to kids who have never picked up a racquet as well as those who play high level competitive tennis.
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Tahoe Donner Association
11509 Northwoods BlvdThe Tahoe Donner tennis facilities are a gem – great facilities, extremely well run, and very popular. If you have any interest in playing, be sure to check out the adult clinics, lessons, racquet rentals and so forth. They also have a great summer kids program. Every weekday from 2 to 5pm during the summer, they run drop-in clinics for kids of any skill level, ages 5+. They cater to kids who have never picked up a racquet as well as those who play high level competitive tennis.