Trip suggestions?

[Jeff 98XJ WI]

Hey all you Sierra folks! My son recently moved to Carson City, NV with his girlfriend who has a job at Tallac Historic Site on Lake Tahoe and my wife and I are thinking of flying out for a visit. He got a job at a local engineering place, so he'll be working most of the week as well. Looking at air fare, it seems that flying from Minneapolis to Sacramento is the cheapest. I'm about 5 hours from Minneapolis. How long should it take to get from Sacramento to Carson City? What route would you suggest? I think we will fly out on Saturday Sept. 6 and fly back home Monday Sept. 15th. We might want to take our time getting from the airport to Carson City, but will need to get from Carson City back to the airport fairly quickly. I was thinking we would have the second weekend to do some stuff with the kids, but the first weekend and part of the week to perhaps explore between the airport and Carson City. What suggestions do you all have for must do/see making our way from Sacramento to Carson City? I would LOVE to do the rubicon or at least visit the area, but my wife will be with and she really isn't into Jeeping not to mention that I'll be renting an econo box of some sort to motivate in. I'm open to suggestions. Lodging suggestions in the area would be good too. Thanks, Jeff in Northern Wisconsin.

 

[Jeff 98XJ WI]

No suggestions from the Sierra crew? I'm very surprised. Jeff

 

[Phil]

HWY 50 will be shorter distance but slower, more turns, and single lane after a while. I-80 will be straighter, longer, multi-lane. Either way ought to give pretty good views of Lake Tahoe at some point.

You might expect 3 hours once you get out of the airport. I like flying out of Sac, it's a nice airport.

Things to do...hmm. Old Town Sac is neat for a little while, Sutter's Fort?

Post up a meet and greet?

Indian casinos?

There's a school called UC Davis a little bit west, neat to walk around, various things to see there.

Go all the way out to San Francisco, Golden Gate Bridge, wine country?

Visit the state Capitol?

 

[Jeff 98XJ WI]

Thanks for the suggestions. I'm positive going WEST from Sacramento is out of the question as is Indian Casinos! I'll probably need to blast over to David's first then later in the week perhaps I can explore my way back to the airport. Jeff

 

[Harlee&Tahoe]

Since you can take your time to Carson, I'd suggest taking 88

Driving Directions
Link: <http://maps.google.com/maps?f=d&saddr=smf&daddr=38.496594,-121.110535+to:Carson+City,+NV&hl=en&geocode=&mra=dpe&mrcr=0&mrsp=1&sz=9&via=1&sll=38.694085,-121.028137&sspn=1.065394,1.757812&ie=UTF8&ll=38.636182,-120.393677&spn=1.066256,1.757813&t=h&z=9>
Start address: Sacramento Int'L-Terminal B
End address: Carson City, NV
Start at: Sacramento Int'L-Terminal B
1. Head southwest on Airport Blvd - 0.2 mi
2. Slight left to stay on Airport Blvd - 1.4 mi
3. Merge onto I-5 S via the ramp to Yuba City/Sacramento - 9.7 mi
4. Take the CA-99 S/US-50 E exit toward Fresno - 0.8 mi
5. Follow signs for I-80-BR E and merge onto CA-99 S/Capital City Fwy/I-80-BR E/US-50 E Continue to follow US-50 E - 7.1 mi
6. Take exit 11 for Watt Ave - 0.2 mi
7. Keep right at the fork, follow signs for Watt Ave S and merge onto Watt Ave - 1.7 mi
8. Turn left at CA-16/Jackson Rd Continue to follow CA-16 - 28.9 mi
9. Slight right at CA-49 - 2.4 mi
10. Turn right at Shenandoah Rd - 0.5 mi
11. Continue on Fiddletown Rd - 21.5 mi
12. Turn left at CA-88 Entering Nevada - 58.5 mi
13. Continue on NV-88 - 7.9 mi
14. Turn left at US-395 N - 14.1 mi
Arrive at: Carson City, NV

While in Carson City might as well go to "Bunny Ranch" it's in Mound House (seriously), or Virginia City (Wild West).
Home of Mark Twain and "Suicide Table"
Markleeville and soak @ Grovers Hot Springs

Depending on what you rent I/We can suggest some mild trails, easy and scenic

 

[XJ_ranger]

the train museum in Old Town Sac is pretty cool - if you're into that sort of thing...

Carson City has casino's as does Reno...

Summit Racing has a store front in Reno - kind fun to kill a few hours there looking at high performance Chevy 350 parts...

Virginia City (as mentioned) is always fun for a visit...

If you post up a Meet and Greet near Sacramento - Id be down for some Pizza and Beer!

 

[EricsXJ]

Carson City has a nice State Museum right on the main drag downtown. Its in one of the old state buildings (I forget which) and is close to across the street from the State Capital building.

Also Carson City is just a quick 30 minutes from Reno so I suggest taking a few trips up there for more stuff to see and do. I would also recommend Virginia City and Lake Tahoe as nice day trips.

 

[Jeff 98XJ WI]

Since you can take your time to Carson, I'd suggest taking 88

Driving Directions
Link: <http://maps.google.com/maps?f=d&saddr=smf&daddr=38.496594,-121.110535+to:Carson+City,+NV&hl=en&geocode=&mra=dpe&mrcr=0&mrsp=1&sz=9&via=1&sll=38.694085,-121.028137&sspn=1.065394,1.757812&ie=UTF8&ll=38.636182,-120.393677&spn=1.066256,1.757813&t=h&z=9>
Start address: Sacramento Int'L-Terminal B
End address: Carson City, NV
Start at: Sacramento Int'L-Terminal B
1. Head southwest on Airport Blvd - 0.2 mi
2. Slight left to stay on Airport Blvd - 1.4 mi
3. Merge onto I-5 S via the ramp to Yuba City/Sacramento - 9.7 mi
4. Take the CA-99 S/US-50 E exit toward Fresno - 0.8 mi
5. Follow signs for I-80-BR E and merge onto CA-99 S/Capital City Fwy/I-80-BR E/US-50 E Continue to follow US-50 E - 7.1 mi
6. Take exit 11 for Watt Ave - 0.2 mi
7. Keep right at the fork, follow signs for Watt Ave S and merge onto Watt Ave - 1.7 mi
8. Turn left at CA-16/Jackson Rd Continue to follow CA-16 - 28.9 mi
9. Slight right at CA-49 - 2.4 mi
10. Turn right at Shenandoah Rd - 0.5 mi
11. Continue on Fiddletown Rd - 21.5 mi
12. Turn left at CA-88 Entering Nevada - 58.5 mi
13. Continue on NV-88 - 7.9 mi
14. Turn left at US-395 N - 14.1 mi
Arrive at: Carson City, NV

While in Carson City might as well go to "Bunny Ranch" it's in Mound House (seriously), or Virginia City (Wild West).
Home of Mark Twain and "Suicide Table"
Markleeville and soak @ Grovers Hot Springs

Depending on what you rent I/We can suggest some mild trails, easy and scenic

Thanks for the suggestions. I just took a look at that 88 route and see that runs south of 50. May I ask why you suggest this route? Special scenery? Less crowded? Just curious. It has me intrigued. Jeff

 

[rightseatsis]

Hwy 88 is very scenic and historic. Lots of old gold towns. Takes longer though. What kind of things are you interested in seeing?

 

[Jeff 98XJ WI]

We are intersted in cool short hikes, scenic drives/places to see, recommended places to stay/eat, the trains sound cool to me, a museum or two might work well for my wife. The historic part of Sacramento sounds pretty interesing. Specific wineries in the area would be interesting to my wife. Perhaps a nice bike path where one can rent bikes? I would like to camp a night or two, but bringing camping gear would be a bother. Will motels or bed and breakfasts be booked solid during the first part of September? Those are some of the things we like to do that might set you on the right track. Thanks for the ideas. Jeff

 

[Harlee&Tahoe]

Thanks for the suggestions. I just took a look at that 88 route and see that runs south of 50. May I ask why you suggest this route? Special scenery? Less crowded? Just curious. It has me intrigued. Jeff

This is one of my favorite drives in the area. Scenery is amazing, less people on the road, if you ski/board you'll pass by a REAL ski resort (Kirkwood), and only like an extra 30min.

 

[rightseatsis]

You can rent bikes at Lake Tahoe and there is a trail around the lake. However the lake area is high altitude so you can find yourself out of breath easily.