Truckee, CA

Donner Memorial State Park and Emigrant Trail Museum is located in the Sierra Nevada mountains, offering summer vacationers opportunities for a wide array of outdoor activities. From camping to picnicking, boating, fishing, water-skiing, and even hiking, visitors will find ample entertainment in this park that encompasses Schallenberger Ridge. The ridge is well known for its older sedimentary rocks, huge boulders, and collections of geological debris that is leftover from a time period when glaciers dominated the area. For a more historical visit a trip to the Emigrant Trail Museum is encouraged to learn about the original settlers who made the long trek from the east to California in the mid 1800s.

Donner Memorial State Park and Emigrant Trail Museum, 12593 Donner Pass Rd, Phone: 530-582-7892

Most well known as a winter resort, Northstar California is a mountain resort that operates during both winter and summer offering a vast array of activities depending on the season. During the winter guests can take advantage of the many ski and snowboard trails, the family friendly restaurants, outdoor skating, firepits, and other exciting winter activities. Once the snow melts the resort opens for mountain biking, scenic ski lift rides up the wooded slopes, ample picnic locations, and breathtaking hikes that will lead visitors to beautiful vistas. No matter what time of year Northstar California is a family themed destination that is designed with the entire family in mind.

Northstar California, 5001 Northstar Dr, Truckee, CA 96161, Phone: 530-562-2267

About 3 hours from San Francisco, Historic Downtown Truckee is a historic district filled with dozens of independently owned and operated businesses, from shops to eateries, museums, and more. There is often live entertainment, multiple opportunities for historic walking tours, local artists displaying their merchandise, and items on sale for both locals and tourists. The historic downtown is managed by a nonprofit association known as the Truckee Downtown Merchants Association, which was founded in 1972, and organizes many events throughout the year. Historic Downtown Truckee is a family friendly destination that combines history with modern desires, and a walk through this district will help visitors experience the past of Truckee while supporting its future at the same time.

Historic Downtown Truckee, P.O. Box 1356, Truckee, CA 96160, Phone: 530-214-0734

Recommended Activities for Families

Located near Lake Tahoe, just west of Truckee, Boreal Mountain Resort is a ski destination in the wintertime and a hiking paradise in the summer. For those looking for winter adventure, Boreal offers a diverse collection of ski runs of varying difficulty, a tubing hill for family fun, and an assortment of restaurants to please any appetite. Snow amounts vary year from year so it is highly recommended visiting their website or contacting them by phone before planning a visit. During summertime visits guests can typically expect warm, pleasant weather with hikes leading to clear vistas and plenty of sunshine.

19749 Boreal Ridge Rd, Soda Springs, CA 95728, Phone: 530-426-3666, Map

Originally founded in 1992, the Sierra Nevada Children’s Museum (aka KidZone Museum) was the brainchild of a coalition of parents, agencies, and educations in Truckee. The museum has over 30,000 visitors annually, and is considered most optimal for children under the age of 7. Throughout the year there is a full schedule of camps, school programs, exhibits, and volunteer opportunities for the community and visitors to take part in. The KidZone Museum is considered a bilingual building and welcomes families that speak either English or Spanish with open arms. For information on specific events and hours of operation visit their website or contact them by telephone.

11711 Donner Pass Road, Truckee, CA 96161, Phone: 530-587-5437, Map

Attractions for Couples

The Truckee Bike Park is a local attraction that often raises money for charity while at the same time provides an outlet for all bike lovers in the area. The park is divided into 12 different sections: slopestyle, dirt jumps, XC loop, dual slalom, pump track, strider track, flor track, flow lines, drop zone, BMX track, XC trail, and the rhythm dirt jumps. Depending on the riders skill level and interests they will want to visit different sections of the park. For instance, the pump/strider tracks offer 30,000 sq feet of rolling hills that can be enjoyed by anyone, while the dirt jumps help fulfill the desire to get airborne.

Truckee Bike Park, 12200 Joerger Dr, Truckee, CA 96161, Phone: 530-401-0513

Tahoe Donner Equestrian Center will fulfill every horse lovers desire for an equestrian filled vacation. First and foremost the center hosts equestrian groups who are travelling, and also provides a location for horse boarding both short and long term. On top of this, there are guided trail rides for both adults and children, pony rides for those who may be too young to handle a horse on their own, as well as lessons, camps, and frequent equestrian events. For families searching for a closer connection to nature, the Tahoe Donner Equestrian Center may be the perfect addition to their California vacation.

Tahoe Donner Equestrian Center, Northwoods Clubhouse, 11509 Northwoods Blvd., Truckee, CA 96161, Phone: 530-587-9400

For Outdoor Enthusiasts

As a self proclaimed “the best place to begin,” the Tahoe Donner Downhill Ski Area has created an extremely family friendly resort where beginners can easily learn the basics of winter downhill sports. With everything from classes to short runs, specific ski lift tickets for parents with non-skiing children who need to switch off who spends time off the mountain, and even a chance to meet the ski patrol dogs, Tahoe Donner provides a personal touch that families tend to appreciate. For the more experienced skier or snowboarder there are wide open bowls, fresh groomed trails waiting, and a terrain park to satisfy the need for speed.

Northwoods Clubhouse, 11509 Northwoods Blvd., Truckee, CA 96161, Phone: 530-587-9400, Map

Downhill skiing may be the more popular sport, but for those who have experienced the blissful exercise that is cross country skiing, the Tahoe Donner Cross Country Ski Center is a must visit. Over 60 miles of groomed trails that snake through the mountainside, follow babbling creeks, and climb to views of the Sierra Crest await lovers of this sport. There are also a smaller section of trails designated as dog-friendly, so guests are encouraged to bring their four legged friend along on vacation this year. Of course, for those who are interested but don’t have cross country experience there are private, adult, child, and adaptive skier lessons available.

Northwoods Clubhouse, 11509 Northwoods Blvd., Truckee, CA 96161, Phone: 530-587-9400, Map

Donner Lake rests in a valley between the Sierra Nevada mountains, its waters supplied by snow melt off and natural springs, and its shored are often sandy and welcoming to sunbathers and swimmers alike. On Donner Lake guests can boat, fish, swim, kayak, canoe, paddle board, and more. There is a Donner Lake Marina for visitors who wish to bring their own boat, and there are also motor boat and paddle sport rentals for families that prefer to travel a bit lighter when they go on vacation. In the mountain climate the weather can change quickly, so guests are advised to check with the local marina/watersports shop for the most up-to-date forecasts.

Donner Lake Watersports & Marina, 12593 Donner Pass Road, Truckee CA 96161, Phone: 530-582-1999