When asked to join a Truckee rafting trip with Tahoe's Irie Rafting Company in June, I conjured up fond memories of floating lazily down the river in an inner tube with PBR in hand. Little did I know that I had signed myself up for a white water rafting adventure instead. Thankfully, the light winter weather last year meant that river levels were lower than usual and the unrelenting waters I pictured in my head were tame enough for even the most naive beginner (and by that I mean an adorable four-year-old girl who bravely accompanied us on the raft). A good portion of our 8-mile trip was an easy, breezy Class I (aka moving water) followed by a few mildly thrilling Class II and III rapids (enough to send the girls in the boat yelping playfully) appropriately named Jaws and Bronco that were expertly navigated by our strapping young guide. All the fun took place right at the end of the session, leaving us wishing that we had signed up for the full day trip instead. But at least we had something to show for it—we walked away with the requisite pictures of us looking fierce in the white water so we could brag accordingly to family and friends.
Another unexpected addition to our itinerary was a trip to the Truckee River Winery, just off the main drag in town and next to the Hotel Larkspur Truckee. Yes, it's an actual winery that sources grapes from all over to craft each of their unique wines, from Chardonnay to old-vine Zin, and a reserve Pinot Noir. Their grounds come complete with bocce ball courts, horseshoes, croquet, and other lawn games, making it the perfect happy hour spot after an intense day of rafting, hiking, or biking. This is definitely a spot where the locals flock, so stake out your spot early and then grab a burger and beer late night at Fifty Fifty down the street.
Truckee, and all of the Tahoe area for that matter, is abuzz with activity in the summertime, so if you're looking for a hot and sunny weekend getaway—a whopping 274 days of the year in Lake Tahoe are sunny—to escape the oppressive fog, there's plenty to choose from. Here, a few highlights from now through the end of August.
7/13–8/26: Lake Tahoe Shakespeare Festival presents The Two Gentlemen of Verona under the stars at Sand Harbor State Park
7/19: Outdoor Movie Series at the Truckee River Winery
7/26-29: Yoga, meditation, and music at Wanderlust in Squaw Valley
7/31–8/19: Lake Tahoe Summerfest Concerts with classical music, from Tchaikovsky and Mozart to Copland and Dvorak
8/3 & 8/31: Full Moon Kayak adventure
8/11-12: Brews, Jazz, and Funk Fest at Squaw Valley
8/18: Farm-to-Table Dinner
8/25-26: Truckee takes on the Wild West in its annual rodeo at McIvera Arena
Every Wednesday through 8/22: Summer Music Series at Truckee River Regional Park Amphitheater
