Snow in late May. What global warming?
May 20, 2010 5:46 PM Subscribe
Help salvage my family's trip to Reno/Tahoe this weekend!
My family is heading up to Reno/Tahoe this weekend, May 21-24. We plan to do one night in Reno and two in Tahoe, on the south shore. We booked hotels and such weeks ago, assuming that the weather would nicen up by the end of May.
It didn't. Reno is freezing, Tahoe is snowing. AccuWeather tells me that Reno will have highs/lows of 52/32 degrees, and Tahoe ... 34/26, snow showers possible. Not quite the kayaking/canoeing weather we were hoping for. Plus, Alpine Meadows just closed last weekend, so skiing (which would have been absolutely perfect) is out as well.
Help, Hive Mind! What is there for a family of four to do? Any and all ideas are welcome!
My family is heading up to Reno/Tahoe this weekend, May 21-24. We plan to do one night in Reno and two in Tahoe, on the south shore. We booked hotels and such weeks ago, assuming that the weather would nicen up by the end of May.
It didn't. Reno is freezing, Tahoe is snowing. AccuWeather tells me that Reno will have highs/lows of 52/32 degrees, and Tahoe ... 34/26, snow showers possible. Not quite the kayaking/canoeing weather we were hoping for. Plus, Alpine Meadows just closed last weekend, so skiing (which would have been absolutely perfect) is out as well.
Help, Hive Mind! What is there for a family of four to do? Any and all ideas are welcome!
Response by poster: Recommendations on where to eat and shop are welcome as well.
posted by ardent at 5:48 PM on May 20, 2010
posted by ardent at 5:48 PM on May 20, 2010
If you want some kickass spring skiing and are up for a little change in place, head south (3 hrs) from reno to mammoth. They are still sporting a 12-foot base...
posted by H. Roark at 6:39 PM on May 20, 2010
posted by H. Roark at 6:39 PM on May 20, 2010
Ah, I lived there for 5 years and the cold weather late in the Spring actually grows on you. I sort of missed not having snow this winter.
Places to eat (http://www.yelp.com/c/reno-nv/restaurants):
Sup - best soup you will ever have. They're open for lunch & dinner M-Sat
Daughter's Cafe - Breakfast/Brunch & Lunch. It's a mom & 2 daughters with a small fixe prix menu, but good food and atmosphere.
Harrah's Steak House - It's in the basement of Harrah's and a bit of an old timer's secret. Straight out of Swingers.
Peg's Glorified Ham & Eggs - Great Omelettes. Get there early on the weekend because there's a line.
If you want an authentic Northern Nevada experience, check out one of the Basque hotel/restaurants, Louie's Basque Corner or the Santa Fe Hotel
In terms of things to do given the weather:
Family Friendly Hotsprings - Best bets are David Walley's in Genoa (lovely little old timey town known best for being part of the Pony Express and Snowshow Tompson's routes) or Grover Hot Springs in Markleeville
Cross Country Skiing - There's a lot of small resorts around the area, call to see if they're open. I really like Tahoe Donner in Truckee, which is right on the edge of the Donner Party's original campground.
Nevada Museum of Art - An incredible museum, the collection was pulled together by a former curator from the Whitney. I think they just opened up a new exhibit of Botero's artwork. Don't miss the ceiling - you have a panoramic view of the city and the eastern side of the Sierras.
Thrifting/Shopping - Check out Junkee, which is like Aardvarks or Buffalo Exchange.
The downtown is like the rest of the country, where the city tore up a lot of older buildings (i.e falling apart old casinos that were acting as section 8 housing) for loft developments. They're still empty, but there are a couple of nice small shops in the River Arts area down by the Truckee River.
Random Fun Reno Fact - Walter Van Tilberg Clark who wrote The Ox-Bow Incident was from Reno/UNR and there's an actual Oxbow Park in town that's the namesake of his novel.
posted by gov_moonbeam at 7:49 PM on May 20, 2010 [2 favorites]
Places to eat (http://www.yelp.com/c/reno-nv/restaurants):
Sup - best soup you will ever have. They're open for lunch & dinner M-Sat
Daughter's Cafe - Breakfast/Brunch & Lunch. It's a mom & 2 daughters with a small fixe prix menu, but good food and atmosphere.
Harrah's Steak House - It's in the basement of Harrah's and a bit of an old timer's secret. Straight out of Swingers.
Peg's Glorified Ham & Eggs - Great Omelettes. Get there early on the weekend because there's a line.
If you want an authentic Northern Nevada experience, check out one of the Basque hotel/restaurants, Louie's Basque Corner or the Santa Fe Hotel
In terms of things to do given the weather:
Family Friendly Hotsprings - Best bets are David Walley's in Genoa (lovely little old timey town known best for being part of the Pony Express and Snowshow Tompson's routes) or Grover Hot Springs in Markleeville
Cross Country Skiing - There's a lot of small resorts around the area, call to see if they're open. I really like Tahoe Donner in Truckee, which is right on the edge of the Donner Party's original campground.
Nevada Museum of Art - An incredible museum, the collection was pulled together by a former curator from the Whitney. I think they just opened up a new exhibit of Botero's artwork. Don't miss the ceiling - you have a panoramic view of the city and the eastern side of the Sierras.
Thrifting/Shopping - Check out Junkee, which is like Aardvarks or Buffalo Exchange.
The downtown is like the rest of the country, where the city tore up a lot of older buildings (i.e falling apart old casinos that were acting as section 8 housing) for loft developments. They're still empty, but there are a couple of nice small shops in the River Arts area down by the Truckee River.
Random Fun Reno Fact - Walter Van Tilberg Clark who wrote The Ox-Bow Incident was from Reno/UNR and there's an actual Oxbow Park in town that's the namesake of his novel.
posted by gov_moonbeam at 7:49 PM on May 20, 2010 [2 favorites]
In Reno, take your family to a Reno Aces game - they're in town this weekend. I agree that the Reno Museum of Art is well worth seeing. The university has an old school planetarium that has some good shows.
Genoa is a beautiful town, and the hot springs are very nice, especially when its cold.
At Tahoe, rent some snow shoes and take the Heavenly gondola to the top. There is a small ice skating rink in the Heavenly Village, or if you want a bigger rink there is a municipal ice rink nearby where lessons are available.
I think you can still take a boat ride from Zephyr Cove to Emerald Bay in this weather, just bundle up and drink some hot chocolate (and pretend it's February!).
Northstar has some fun stuff for kids, like ice skating and trampolines.
posted by samsaunt at 8:33 PM on May 20, 2010 [1 favorite]
Genoa is a beautiful town, and the hot springs are very nice, especially when its cold.
At Tahoe, rent some snow shoes and take the Heavenly gondola to the top. There is a small ice skating rink in the Heavenly Village, or if you want a bigger rink there is a municipal ice rink nearby where lessons are available.
I think you can still take a boat ride from Zephyr Cove to Emerald Bay in this weather, just bundle up and drink some hot chocolate (and pretend it's February!).
Northstar has some fun stuff for kids, like ice skating and trampolines.
posted by samsaunt at 8:33 PM on May 20, 2010 [1 favorite]
Oh Tahoe...even with the crappy weather I'm jealous!!!
You should go to Truckee! It is *such* a cute town. It's a former railroad town, and it's kept that "quaint" charm. Lots of little shops, antique stores. Also it was the final stop for the Donner Party!
You don't say what the ages of your family members are, but if you have kids you should definitely check out Virginia City. I went a bunch of times with my dad when I was a kid. Virginia City was a major silver mining town in the 19th century, and it's now "preserved" with a kinda cheezy-fun "old time" atmosphere. I don't know what activities would be restricted by the weather, but taking a tour of an old silver mine is pretty awesome! I also remember going to this big store that sold penny candy in barrels. There are a bunch of museums and shops and stuff. It's fairly educational but not dry at all.
posted by radioamy at 8:39 PM on May 20, 2010
You should go to Truckee! It is *such* a cute town. It's a former railroad town, and it's kept that "quaint" charm. Lots of little shops, antique stores. Also it was the final stop for the Donner Party!
You don't say what the ages of your family members are, but if you have kids you should definitely check out Virginia City. I went a bunch of times with my dad when I was a kid. Virginia City was a major silver mining town in the 19th century, and it's now "preserved" with a kinda cheezy-fun "old time" atmosphere. I don't know what activities would be restricted by the weather, but taking a tour of an old silver mine is pretty awesome! I also remember going to this big store that sold penny candy in barrels. There are a bunch of museums and shops and stuff. It's fairly educational but not dry at all.
posted by radioamy at 8:39 PM on May 20, 2010
I am personally bias due to family connections, but I honestly cannot speak highly enough of Casale's Halfway Club, which is an old, family-owned Italian restaurant halfway (get it?!) between Sparks and Reno - it's ridiculously homey and good-feeling and Inez is in her 90's and still comes to work every single day and hand-rolls the raviolis - which are, by the way, delicious. It is very American-Italian, but the entire place is so old school it makes me smile just thinking about it. I can't wait to go back.
As for a good day-thing, I actually really enjoy the old cheesy film about Donner Pass - and honestly the views of Pyramid Lake are breathtaking, even if it is cold as hell.
Have fun! Reno is a good town to visit, just make sure you bring a few layers of clothing - that wind is BRUTAL.
posted by banannafish at 8:41 PM on May 20, 2010
As for a good day-thing, I actually really enjoy the old cheesy film about Donner Pass - and honestly the views of Pyramid Lake are breathtaking, even if it is cold as hell.
Have fun! Reno is a good town to visit, just make sure you bring a few layers of clothing - that wind is BRUTAL.
posted by banannafish at 8:41 PM on May 20, 2010
Also, Squaw Valley has a ton more to it than just skiing. We used to always go ice skating up there in the summer.
posted by radioamy at 8:42 PM on May 20, 2010
posted by radioamy at 8:42 PM on May 20, 2010
Aw man, reading this is making me all nostalgic for Reno! Since the Half Way Club was mentioned, the other great bar in town (actually Sparks) is The Coney Island.
posted by gov_moonbeam at 11:00 PM on May 20, 2010
posted by gov_moonbeam at 11:00 PM on May 20, 2010
If you eat sushi, please go to the Naked Fish (just over the California state line in South Lake Tahoe); be sure to get the California roll, which I usually avoid because, eh, but theirs is really astonishingly good.
Not sure what the snowpack is like, but you could possibly do a snowmobile excursion (depending on how old your kids are) -- we've done one out of Zephyr Cove. The views from the top of Spooner Summit are amazing. I'd always just skiied in the winter in Tahoe, but our friends thought snowmobiling would be fun and it totally was.
But even if winter-type activities are out, there's a lot of other fun stuff to do. Nthing Genoa, which I love and find utterly charming. Another charming touristy destination is Virginia City, near the Ponderosa Ranch (where Bonanza was filmed, also a tourist destination in its own right). The last time I was in Virginia City, we had my then-8 and -10 year old stepsisters with us and they loved it, so it's definitely an all-ages kind of place.
posted by devinemissk at 8:04 AM on May 21, 2010
Not sure what the snowpack is like, but you could possibly do a snowmobile excursion (depending on how old your kids are) -- we've done one out of Zephyr Cove. The views from the top of Spooner Summit are amazing. I'd always just skiied in the winter in Tahoe, but our friends thought snowmobiling would be fun and it totally was.
But even if winter-type activities are out, there's a lot of other fun stuff to do. Nthing Genoa, which I love and find utterly charming. Another charming touristy destination is Virginia City, near the Ponderosa Ranch (where Bonanza was filmed, also a tourist destination in its own right). The last time I was in Virginia City, we had my then-8 and -10 year old stepsisters with us and they loved it, so it's definitely an all-ages kind of place.
posted by devinemissk at 8:04 AM on May 21, 2010
...man, I totally missed radioamy's mention and link to Virginia City. What she said.
posted by devinemissk at 8:05 AM on May 21, 2010
posted by devinemissk at 8:05 AM on May 21, 2010
This thread is closed to new comments.
posted by fshgrl at 5:48 PM on May 20, 2010