Day Trips

Day Trips (All an easy day drive from the Chalet)

Emerald Bay State Park

On Lake Tahoe – go north to Tahoe and stay on 89 around the west shore of the Lake. There is a boat tour to the Island and great scenery

http://www.parks.ca.gov/default.asp?page_id=506

Markleeville / Grover Hot Springs

Great for a day trip. Open year round. (See summer page for details)

http://www.parks.ca.gov/default.asp?page_id=508

http://www.onroute.com/dispatch/groverhotsprings.html

Calaveras Big Trees Sate Park

http://www.parks.ca.gov/default.asp?page_id=551

Giant sequoias. On highway 4 (88 to 89 south to Markleeville then over Ebbets pass and down to Calaveras or down 88 to Jackson, the south on 49 to 4, then 4 east.

Genoa, Nevada

http://www.tahoecountry.com/outnabout/genoa.html

http://www.ghosttowns.com/states/nv/genoa.html

Old Mormon settlement and Nevada state historic park. Take 88 east to 395, then 395 north to Genoa

Virginia City

Historic mining town: home of the Comstock lode, Mark Twain. North on 395.

http://www.desertusa.com/Cities/nv/nv_virginiacity.html

Lake Tahoe

"At last the Lake burst upon us – a noble sheet of blue water…with the shadows of the mountains beautifully photographed on its surface I thought it must surely be the fairest picture the whole world affords." (Mark Twain)

Need I say more?

Argonaut Mine

In Jackson, offers tours on summer weekends

Sonora

Columbia SP – historic mining town

Indian grinding Rock SP

Off 88 on the way up. Native American site and recreated village.

http://www.parks.ca.gov/default.asp?page_id=514

Bodie

The real wild west. Think High Plains Drifter. Drive down a dirt road to this real ghost town. Memorable and not to be missed. 88 to 89 south to 395 south. Turn off north of Mono Lake

http://www.bodie.net/

http://www.desertusa.com/bodie/bodie.html

Mono Lake

Tufa towers, shrimp, birds, eerie landscapes and water wars. South on 395 toward Yosemite

Yosemite

A bit further afield but still within a (long) day's drive. 88E to 89S to south on 395 is the fastest route to the park.

Mammoth Lakes

Probably a bit further than most will want to go in a day - takes about 4 hours. 88E to 89 S to 395 S

Wineries

Plymouth, north of Jackson (about an hour away down 88) is home to a great wine area

http://www.amadorwine.com/