Truckee
Truckee is situated at the intersection of Interstate 80 and Highways 89 and 267, approximately 15 miles north of Tahoe City, making it the defacto northern gateway to Lake Tahoe. It is an historic town, to be sure, with an especially lively downtown area, where most buildings date from before World War II and as far back as the mid 1800s, many with covered walkways in the Old West tradition, the majority restored and now housing upscale shops, boutiques, galleries and restaurants.
Downtown Truckee
Truckee’s historic downtown is largely centered around Commercial Row, with added interest on Jibboom, Church and Bridge streets. Places of note here, from an historic perspective, include the vintage Truckee Hotel, dating from around 1870 and still offering overnight accommodations; Gray’s Log Cabin on Church Street, originally built in 1863; the Old Truckee Jail on Jibboom, circa 1875; the gray stone carriage house on Church and Bridge, dating from 1907 and now housing a specialty shop; and, on nearby Spring Street, the Rocking Stone Tower with a 17-ton rock, seemingly precariously balanced on a natural rock pedestal.
For a more a more contemporary experience, check out the funky shops and eateries along Commercial Row. A popular hangout here is the Bar of America-cum-Pacific Crest Restaurant, a happening sort of place, located directly across from the Truckee Hotel, that features live bands.
Donner Lake
Donner Lake, a mile and a half long and a half mile wide, lies along the western periphery of Truckee. It derives its name and notoriety from the Donner Party that camped and perished here in the winter of 1846-1847, after resorting to cannibalism to survive. There is a monument dedicated to the party here, as well as the Emigrant Museum, rich in displays of the Donner Party experience and also the building of the Central Pacific Railroad. There is also the Western American Ski Sports Museum close at hand, with several exhibits of early day skis including pairs dating from the 1860s, and a ton of memorabilia from the 1960 Squaw Valley Winter Olympic Games. The lake itself now offers a full range of water sports and recreational activities.
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