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Truckee – Downtown Truckee still feels like a
frontier town. In the 19th century, Truckee was rip-roaring town, filled
with miners and lumberjacks. Parts of the transcontinental railway were
built out from Truckee, and there's still a train stop in town. Take the
kids to the Amtrak train station to watch the trains come in (call the station
first to check the schedule, trains are often delayed). At the corner of
Spring and Jibboom St. check out the old jail, which was used continuously
from 1875 to 1964. And Don't miss the First and Last Chance Saloon on Donner
Pass Rd. |
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Donner Memorial State Park – This state park commemorates
the ill-fated Donner Party. In 1846 two farmers, George and Jacob Donner
brought their families west, along with a larger group. Delayed crossing
the Sierra Nevada, they were snowed in near Donner Lake. The families built
cabins, but food was scarce. During the winter, relief eventually came,
but in order to survive, some of the Donner Party ate the bodies of people
who died. One of the youngest members who hiked out over the high mountains
was Patty Reed, an eight year old girl. |
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 Pioneer
Monument – Check out this large bronze monument, dedicated in
1918 to all the people who made the difficult journey across the mountains
to California in the 1840's. |
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Emigrant
Trail Museum – This museum is dedicated to the history of this
area, with displays of Washoe Indian baskets and arrowheads, dioramas of
the Donner Party, plus emigrant's trunks, rifles and other personal effects,
a full-size replica of a covered wagon, exhibits of timber logging for the
silver mines and tunneling through the Sierra for the train tracks. There's
a 20 minute video of the Donner party expedition. At the entrance to the
museum, don't miss a case filled animals of the Sierra – salmon, trout,
racoon, beaver, flying squirrel, bobcat, stellar jay, ground squirrel. |
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Nature
trail – Behind the museum, take lovely walk along the creek, stopping
to look at the Jeffrey and Lodgepole pine trees (these were used to build
log cabins), trout or minnows in the stream, logs cut by beavers, and in
spring, wildflowers in the meadow. For a longer walk, continue on the trail
around the little lake. |
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Donner Lake – After you've been to the museum,
head out to Donner Lake for a picnic. There are plenty of picnic tables
and barbecues. Play on the sandy beaches or follow the path along the lake.
There's a swimming beach at China Cove. Boats are available for rent at
Donner Lake Water Sports. |
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Horseback riding – The wide open high country
around Truckee is perfect for horseback riding. For littlest ones, there
are pony rides (parents can lead the pony). Kids 7 and up will enjoy a guided
trail ride. Check out Northstar
Stables or Tahoe
Donner Equestrian Center. |
