The pandemic was a whirlwind for our family, bringing several months of communal living as we podded up with like-minded families, lost jobs and started new ones, and did our best to hold on to this cabin that has brought our family so much joy. In the flurry of home-schooling, working, and supporting a community reeling from the pandemic, fires, and floods, we lost track of this little blog. This is my smoke signal, my sign of life. We are still out here, still snowboarding, still dreaming of travel, still happy to host you at our log cabin in Tahoe if life brings you our way. We have a new cabin in Arnold to share with you soon—a chalet near the lake with a different, but equally special, vibe. In the meantime, this photo shows my youngest daughter with her bestie, helping at a work event. It’s been all hands on deck over here, as we find joy in being together through work and play.

We promised to share our experience at Northstar California Resort, as the season evolved. Here is our candid take: Snowboarding in a pandemic is for the purists. It’s a no-frills experience, carefully charted to avoid crowds and contact. With safety the top priority, we’ve had to find a new rhythm and make new traditions.

We took this season slowly, getting a few turns in before the Winter Holidays, before feeling out the crowds day-by-day to see what felt safe to us. In the end, we’ve settled on a weekday afternoon schedule, getting a few hours of “P.E.” in-between sessions of Zoom school and work. Most days, the weekends feel a little too packed for us, though we sometimes venture out on a late Sunday afternoon, when the crowds tend to thin a bit. A few hours of snow time is about right for our family, which includes a 6-year-old, 12-year-old, and Mom who are learning how to snowboard, and a Dad who prefers zipping down the backside, through the trees. We take turns with the kids, taking frequent breaks for snacks, drinks and snow play.

Breaks are a challenge this year, as the restaurants and lodges offer only take-out, with a designated inside zone for 15-minute “warming,” no food allowed. That means even our breaks are outside, which is tricky on colder, wetter days. It’s difficult to find seating at the outdoor tables, so often our snack breaks are quick and to the point. Nourish and go.  Summit Smokehouse at the top of the Comstock lift has a nice deck for splurging on snacks and drinks with a view. When it’s not too crowded, we take the Big Easy lift up to the Ritz Carlton, order drinks at the outside bar, and sit around the fire to warm up and swap stories about our day. There are no lockers available this year, so we’ve taken to hanging a bag full of hot drinks and snacks on the snowboard/ski racks in front of the lodge.  

Après -ski also looks different this year. In normal years, Northstar Village has a fun ice-skating, fire pit, and s’mores scene from about 4 pm to 8 pm., but not this year. All of that is shut down for the season. Our strategy has been hit it hard for a few hours, and then go home and make hot drinks and a nice meal. Sometimes, we’ll order a take-out pizza at Whitecaps Pizza and eat it by the lake or grab mulled wine in paper cups from Jason’s Beachside Grille and walk along the beach at sunset.  But, more often, our après -ski looks like our usual home life—dinner and a game or movie before lights out.

Like everyone else, we are ready for life to get back to “normal,” whatever that may look like. In the meantime, we are grateful for the opportunity to get some turns in and play in the snow. As more and more people get vaccinated and kids start going back to school, spending Spring Break in Tahoe feels more and more like a safe option for people. Here’s our advice for making the most of it:

1. Make your reservations early, especially for weekends. Saturdays and holidays often sell out.

2. Consider renting a cabin or condo with your “pod” to avoid trying to feed everyone from a hotel room.

3. Pack a weather-proof bag with snacks, lunch, water and hot drinks, and hang it outside in a central location where everyone can find it when they’re ready for a break.

4. Plan for longer lift lines, as lifts can only accommodate pods or spaced singles. We invested in Bluetooth audio for our family’s helmets to make the longer waits more bearable.

5. Pack a waterproof picnic blanket to lay out on the snow if the weather is nice and there are no tables available.

6. Bring beach toys for the littlest kids to play with during breaks.

7. Splurge on a drink or treat at the lodge if it’s in the budget, and consider tipping a little more than usual to thank the resort staff, who are struggling to make ends meet without the usual volume at the restaurants and bars.

8. If your kids look forward to ice skating like mine do, check out the Truckee Ice Skating rink, reservations required.

What does your winter look like this year? Share your experience in the Comments.

To visit Happy Cabin during your trip to North Lake Tahoe / Tahoe Vista / Kings Beach, click here.

In the last few weeks, our local North Lake Tahoe resorts have rolled out their plans for the winter of 2020-2021, leaving us scratching our heads. Between suspended pass sales, reservation systems and social distancing protocols, it’s hard to know what to expect. One thing is for sure—this season is going to be unique. Here is what we know so far:

Northstar California Resort

This season is going to look very different at Northstar California Resort, especially for season pass holders. The resort is on the Epic Pass. Everyone is going to have to have a reservation to access the mountain this year—even season pass holders. All pass holders will have access to a “priority” reservation system between November 7 and December 8 (“early season”). “Pass holders” includes people who buy an “Epic Day Pass,” which is basically a one-day lift ticket, so there’s no real benefit for season pass holders here. Everybody who plans ahead gets the same “priority” access. During early season, pass holders will be able to reserve up to 7 “Priority Reservation Days” (PRDs) for the “core season,” which runs from December 8 to April 4. As pass holders use their PRDs, they can book new ones, holding up to 7 PRDs at a time. In addition to reserving PRDs, pass holders can make “week of” reservations throughout the season. Face coverings will be required. Only related parties will be seated together on chairlifts and gondolas, with singles spaced out to avoid contact. Indoor dining will be minimized, with more take-out options for outdoor dining. Bars will be closed, with take-out beer and wine on offer instead. Locker space will also be “minimized,” and diners will be asked to vacate their tables completely when they are done dining. It’s anybody’s guess what this will look like for those of us used to accessing the mountain at will and storing lunches, ice-skates, and after-ski clothing at the lodge. Will we be able to get reservations when we want them?  Once there, will we face long lines? Where do we put our lunches if we’re more comfortable bringing our own food to avoid the lunch line crowds? Will there be anywhere safe to get out of the elements if the kids get hungry and cold? After a lot of back and forth and nearly canceling our Epic Passes multiple times as we mulled over the details of this plan in confusion, our family has decided to give Vail Resorts the benefit of the doubt and try this. Stay tuned for our first-hand account.

squaw Valley Alpine Meadows Resort

Squaw Valley Alpine Meadows Resort is offering unlimited access to season pass holders, but others might have some trouble accessing the mountain. The resort is on the Ikon Pass.  There will not be a reservation system.  Instead, there will be no “walk up” ticket sales, and advance purchase tickets will be dynamically controlled.  According to the website: “At this time, we expect such tickets to primarily be available midweek, but we will remain flexible as we learn more throughout the season.” Social distancing will be maintained, with face masks required only in indoor areas or where social distancing is not possible. Bars and restaurants will be spaced out to maintain social distance. It seems that this system will benefit season pass holders by keeping crowds down for season pass holders without limiting access or amenities.  Non-season pass holders might have a hard time accessing the resort on weekends and peak days.

Diamond Peak Resort

Diamond Peak Resort is hoping to maintain business nearly as usual with the same sort of social distancing and mask-wearing protocols we’ve seen in our local communities but no firm limits on access for anyone.  The biggest change here is that everyone will have to purchase their lift tickets in advance.  As with the other local resorts, there will be no “walk up” ticket sales.

Mt. Rose Ski Tahoe

Mt. Rose Ski Tahoe is following the social distancing, mask and sanitization protocols required by Washoe County. Mid-week clinics and daily specials are “postponed.”

Sugar Bowl Resort

The biggest change at Sugar Bowl Resort is that season pass sales have been suspended to limit access. This is good news for people who already purchased a season pass, but bad news for everyone else. There will be no “walk up” ticket sales, and advance lift ticket sales will be monitored to avoid overcrowding.

Needless to say, this year has not been a good year for plans. With that in mind, we really have no idea what our winter is going to look like. But it is our hope to spend a lot of time on the mountain, getting our kids out of the house, making memories, and enjoying nature. Safety is our first priority, so if we find that it’s difficult to maintain a safe social distance at the resorts and avoid congested indoor areas, we’ll sit this season out.

How do you feel about these changes? What’s your strategy for getting some quality time on the mountain? We’d love to hear from you in the “Comments.”

To visit Happy Cabin during your trip to North Lake Tahoe / Tahoe Vista / Kings Beach, click here.

Shelter in place has meant different things to different people. For my family, it’s meant staying at home 99.9% percent of the time for over three months. Even grocery shopping is a rare outing, with my husband or I venturing out every two weeks or so, masked at an off hour, with a careful shopping list designed to feed our family of four for as long as possible. My colleagues and I have shared our work tasks to minimize the time we have to be physically present in court rather than lawyering from home, GoToMeeting or Zoom. I put on my suit, heels, and mask once or twice a week at most, carefully distancing myself from clients and colleagues in jail and at the courthouse, and then sterilizing myself and everything I’ve touched before returning to my family. We’ve been careful.

This past weekend, my family and I venture out to North Lake Tahoe and Happy Cabin for a maintenance trip. I feel like I’m slinking out of my cave after a long winter of hibernation.  We bring all the food and supplies we’ll need to hunker down in the cabin. At this point, we all look slightly feral. My hair is too long and off-color. My husband has a mustache he’s never had before. The kids are wide-eyed and intrigued at the idea that life is going on out here, in San Jose, Sacramento, and Roseville, as we drive through, trying to get as far as possible without stopping. There are plenty of cars on the road, shopping, and industry. Even IKEA is bustling. It feels a little bit like we made up the whole shelter in place. I have to keep reminding myself that Covid-19 is still a thing, despite the reality that Stage 3 is happening out here, and life is going on.

Life is also going on in North Lake Tahoe.  We arrive just before a summer weekend that also happens to be the first weekend that hotels, vacation rentals and other “hospitality” industries are allowed to open for business.  The joy is palpable. Everywhere you look, there are people walking their dogs, children biking and scootering through the streets, and college kids playing spikeball and beer pong on the beach. We discuss the possibilities with each other. Should we order take-out pizza rather than cook and clean after our long drive? Is it safe to go for a hike or play on the beach? We decide “yes” on the take-out pizza, but “maybe” on the hike and beach. It depends on how crowded things are. With that in mind, we go in search of the best places to socially distance while still enjoying the magic of North Lake Tahoe.  Our quest is hit or miss.

HIT. Sand Harbor Beach, with coolish temperatures and a rain storm marching in. About 15 minutes from Happy Cabin, Sand Harbor Beach in Lake Tahoe Nevada State Park is a thing of beauty, with soft, wide beaches, and a big, calm harbor for swimming and playing in the water. We get an early start to avoid the crowds and the rain storm that’s coming. We find a place to throw out our towels that’s easily 15 feet from our nearest neighbor. We wear wetsuits to brave the frigid lake and cool air. We picnic to avoid the crowds at the snack bar. And it’s great. It’s so nice to feel “normal” for a minute, to be out in the world doing something besides shopping for essential groceries or working. I imagine this would have been a very different experience on a warmer day.  We get lucky.

MISS. Monkey Rock. On a weekend afternoon, we decide to hike to Monkey Rock, a rock formation overlooking Crystal Bay in Nevada. The formation lies up Tunnel Creak Road inside the boundaries of Spooner Backcountry-Lake Tahoe Nevada State Park.  The draw is a relatively short hike followed by stunning lake views. Unfortunately, everyone seems to have had the same idea. The parking lot at the trailhead to Tunnel Creek Road is full and the trail looks crowded, with little to no social distancing happening between the groups of hikers and no masks in sight.  We drive on by.

HIT. Historic Stateline Fire Lookout Trail.  After giving Monkey Rock a pass, we are craving panoramic lake views. On our way back to the cabin, we decide to scope out the trailhead to the Historic Stateline Fire Lookout Trail. The trail is an old fire road, so it’s wide and accommodates larger crowds. After easily finding a parking spot, we decide to go for it, carrying masks just in case we feel crowded. Luckily, we never do.  The groups we encounter are respectful and careful to keep their distance. The views are majestic.

MISS. Eating out. Restaurants are open for business, with both indoor and outdoor dining. From what we can see, there are a lot of people trying to take advantage of that—too many for us to feel comfortable.  I long for the salad bar at Jason’s Beachside Grill, roasted brussels sprouts and beets at Whitecap’s Pizza, and avocado rolls at Hiro Sushi.  But this doesn’t feel like the right time.

HIT. Our local trail. There’s a trailhead near the cabin that goes through Tahoe Conservancy land to Moon Dunes Beach in one direction and North Tahoe Regional Park in the other. The trail is nearly empty, with a few walkers who are mindful to stay in their lane and give us a wide berth as we pass each other.  Moon Dunes Beach on a Saturday is fairly crowded, but we are still able to find a safe place to perch, higher up on the dune.  Out in the water, we have the lake practically to ourselves, with plenty of room for floating, swimming and splashing around.

HIT. North Tahoe Regional Park. This vast park near the cabin is nearly empty, with small groups of mountain bikers, hikers, and frisbee golf players taking care to give each other space. The Tahoe Vista Treetop Adventure Park ropes/zipline course is open for business. Our kids want to get up into the trees, but between the line of people waiting for information and the many others handling the shared equipment, ziplining feels a little too risky today.  Hopefully soon.

HIT. Hanging out at Happy Cabin. Shelter in place is the perfect excuse to take advantage of yard games, meals on the deck, and movie nights. In-between our forays into the world outside our shelter-in-place bubble, we spend a lot of time at the cabin, making food and spending time together.  Of course, we’ve been doing that for months, but at least here, in a new place, our time together feels more like a happy vacation than a sullen quarantine.

To visit Happy Cabin during your trip to North Lake Tahoe / Tahoe Vista / Kings Beach, click here.

To visit Happy Cabin during your trip to North Lake Tahoe / Tahoe Vista / Kings Beach, click here.

Just as we hoped, March brought snow. Fresh, bountiful powder fell by the pound, promising an invigorated snowboarding and ski season. Alas, this Spring dream quickly dissipated into a shifting nightmare, as rumors of a novel corona virus quickly spiraled into a global shutdown. North Lake Tahoe, like every other California community, is sheltering in place. With resorts closed, stores shuttered, and all but “critical” workers safe at home, our bustling mountain community has become a ghost town. Tourists, the lifeblood of Tahoe’s small lakeside towns, have been asked to stay home until the crisis is over. Restaurants have shifted from dine-in to dine-out, trying to make ends meet with takeout and delivery services for locals. Businesses that rely on foot traffic and tourism are suffering. Vacation rentals, like Happy Cabin, are completely shut down.

Here in California, we are reeling along with the rest of the world, looking to China, Italy and Spain for answers. What comes next? Most of us are working and educating our kids from home, isolating ourselves from vulnerable parents, grandparents and elderly friends, learning how to live on Zoom, and anxiously looking to our leaders for guidance. The news is frightening and surreal. There are not enough tests to go around, so nobody really knows where we are at in the ubiquitous “curve” we are trying to “flatten.” Are we just starting up the mountain, or is the peak in site? Are our efforts working? How nervous should I be for my young children, my husband, my immune-compromised mother, myself and my colleagues still working in crowded courtrooms, my clients stuck in jail? The truth is, nobody really seems to know. So, we get up in the morning and put one foot in front of the other. We put on a brave face for the kiddos. We face the day.

In North Lake Tahoe, as elsewhere, the economy is devastated. Personal economies are toppling, of course, as retirement accounts vanish, and jobs are lost or hang in the balance. For hourly workers living paycheck to paycheck, hunger and homelessness are on the horizon if something doesn’t give. Food banks are so overwhelmed with requests that the National Guard is now boxing and delivering food to vulnerable Californians. We are told things will get worse before they get better. How much worse? How much better? If California is shut down for months, what will it look like when we venture out of our houses?

In the news, we see towns overrun with wild animals—deer wandering through Japanese subway stations, turkey strutting Oakland’s streets, raccoons sunning themselves on the otherwise empty beaches of Panama. What will North Lake Tahoe look like when this is all through? The answer depends, in part, on us.

First, if you are not a permanent resident, now is not the time to go to Tahoe. Even a handful of non-permanent residents hospitalized for Covid-19 could overwhelm hospitals, depriving permanent residents of life-saving measures. Every person who enters the community potentially brings the virus with them, compounding the risk for the “critical” workers who have no choice but to remain exposed. Local health officials have sent a strong, clear message: If you love Tahoe, please stay home. Second, when the smoke clears, we’ll all need to roll up our sleeves and rebuild our communities. That includes our vacation communities. The places we’ve relied on to sustain us when we needed to get away from it all will soon rely on us to sustain them during their recovery.

For those of us still getting a paycheck, we can pitch in now by shopping Tahoe’s local businesses online. Check out the North Tahoe Business’s Association for a directory of stores that offer gift cards. Your favorite restaurant will gladly sell you a gift certificate to use later, when we can all gather again. Consider donating to charities like The Tahoe-Truckee Emergency Response Fund, which is collecting money to distribute to local nonprofits that are engaged in crisis relief. Finally, now is a great time to start planning a Tahoe vacation. Local governments have asked people to re-schedule rather than cancel planned trips. For those of us who were planning long-haul travel for summer vacation, why not “shop local” instead? Tahoe will be back in business soon—and it will need our business.

To visit Happy Cabin during your trip to North Lake Tahoe / Tahoe Vista / Kings Beach, click here.

Things don’t always work out as planned. Last weekend was a three-day holiday for my kids. We had planned for months to spend the holiday at Happy Cabin with good friends, skiing and snowboarding in perfect powder, ice skating the nights away, and just basically reveling in all winter has to offer. Alas, Mother Nature had other plans. What we hoped would be the snowy height of winter turned out to be a dry slump in the season, with nothing but a few flurries. What we hoped would be powder-perfect conditions turned into a wind storm intent on blowing machine-made snow away. What we hoped would be three days of perfect conditions turned into two days of imperfect conditions with one day so windy that most of the lifts were shut down. Uh-oh. Picture six children all dressed up in snow clothes with nowhere to go. We adults huddled together, shipwrecked at Happy Cabin with a gaggle of children, desperate for ideas.

Sled? Too windy, not enough snow. Shop? Not happening with six kids, ranging from ages 5 to 11. (Bulls in a china closet.) Stay home? Are you CRAZY? We won’t make it an hour, let alone a day. This is already devolving into Lord of the Flies. They’ll eat us! What about. . .Reno?

I try to picture Reno. I’d last been there over 20 years ago for a swim meet. It was hot, sweaty and full of angsty teenagers in swim parkas. What in the world will we do with six kids in Reno? “Circus Circus!” I try to remember Circus Circus and come up with vague images of tight-rope walkers, slot machines, and smoky hallways. How far is it? Siri says 40 minutes. Any other ideas? Nope. “We’re doing it! Kids, we’re going to Reno!” We pile the kids into the cars, promising candy and acrobats, and drive north across the state line through desert turned subdivisions, finally stumbling onto the promised skyscrapers of Reno.

Circus Circus was not a bad pick for the kids. It reminded me of our Boardwalk here in Santa Cruz—lots of overpriced games, twinkling lights, and stuffed animals designed to lure your money away. Every half-hour, there was a show on the main stage featuring acrobats and other low-budget circus acts. That kept the kids busy for a few hours.

Hunger drove us out of the casinos to what proved to be the best pick of the day: The Depot Craft Brew Distillery. The adults enjoyed elevated pub food with delicious cocktails made from spirits distilled onsite in an old Railroad Depot. The children did the “kids table” thing with a secret children’s menu with macaroni-and-cheese, chicken strips, Shirley Temples, and the like. When they got bored, they played on the patio, taking selfies and (literally) scaling the walls. Luckily, we did a “kid check” before our talented climbers got too far up the staggered bricks. I couldn’t resist coming home with some award-winning bourbon.

We walked back to our cars through the linked casinos and the second-floor mall that connects them, with blender drink bars every hundred feet or so, fast food stalls, candy machines, and tiki bars—a surreal scene that kept the kids occupied.  My kids saw gambling for the first time!  Not quite as wholesome as a day of snowboarding, but one must make do.  Truth be told, if I don’t make it back to Reno for another 20 years, that’s totally fine. But if the wind blows me that way again, I know I’ll enjoy it. And bring home some delicious Bourbon. 

To visit Happy Cabin during your trip to North Lake Tahoe / Tahoe Vista / Kings Beach, click here.

Food traditions abound on New Year's Day. In our family, we usually go to a local Chinese restaurant, gorge ourselves on fried rice, noodles, and hot tea, and then walk it all off with a stroll on the beach. Growing up, my cousin Bonnie would host a cioppino feed on New Year's Day with a traditional tomato broth-based Italian stew studded with fresh, local seafood—a San Francisco tradition. This year, nobody was in the mood for Chinese food and it's been several years since Bonnie had her cioppino feed. What to do? Comfort food was definitely in order. We ended up feasting on a pot of Cajun-style red beans and rice and a hearty rice pudding. What are other people eating on New Year's Day? Often, the foods served on the first day of the new year signify abundance, wealth, and prosperity. Here's a round-up of global traditions to whet our appetites and imaginations as we welcome 2020:

Have you tried to make any of these traditional dishes on New Year's Day? Do you have a customary dish of your own? Leave a comment. We'd love to hear about it.

To visit Happy Cabin during your trip to North Lake Tahoe / Tahoe Vista / Kings Beach, click here.

The Farmer's Almanac is calling winter 2020 "The Polar Coaster," predicting exceptionally cold weather throughout the United States. But what about North Lake Tahoe? In September 2019, meteorologists at the National Oceanic Atmospheric Administration ("NOAA") forecasted that this would be an El Niño winter in Tahoe with warmer than average temperatures and less snow than usual. Hmm... Those are very different outlooks. What will the new year bring?

So far, a few strong storms have blown through North Lake Tahoe, bringing fresh powder and good conditions for this early in the season. Snowfall at the North Lake Tahoe resorts is above average, with Northstar California Resort reporting 150 inches of snow, about 138% the average for this time of year. A few weekends ago, we spent a few days at Northstar, snowboarding and enjoying the pre-holiday fun. We were there right before the last storm dumped powder. The best conditions were at the top of the mountain, but even the beginner slopes had passable snow.

According to snow forecaster Bryan Allegretto, we're coming up on a dry spell with a chance for storms the second week of January. Whether this season is epic or ho-hum, we plan to make the most of it. Stay tuned for bi-weekly updates from the mountain.

To visit Happy Cabin during your trip to North Lake Tahoe / Tahoe Vista / Kings Beach, click here.

Suspicious activity alert!

Early this morning, we had prowlers at Happy Cabin. At about 4:30 a.m., our security cameras started to send alerts in quick succession. Suspicious activity! Our security camera archives prowler videos in small bites. The first video is a teaser. I hear footsteps and some muffled sounds. Whispers? Conspiring? The nervous clearing of a throat?

The second video is a little better. There is definitely someone there. There is movement in the shadows, rustling and breathing before a large shadow approaches the house.

The third video tells all. Emerging out of the darkness, large and formidable, there it is: a thief. She’s in the driveway, on the porch steps, on the porch. Is she trying to get in? Nope, she’s going after something on the porch rail. Oops, somebody accidentally left out a bag of leftovers. She’s grunting. She’s hungry. She’s taking the leftovers! She’s a…big…black…bear.

This mama has accomplices. Two babies grunt and root around in the snow. After about fivc minutes of late-night feasting, they lumber away into the cold, winter night. Which gets us thinking…It’s the middle of December, and North Lake Tahoe is covered in snow. Is it normal for this mama bear with cubs to be awake right now? Shouldn’t she be hibernating with her babies, conserving her energy through the freezing, food-scarce winter?

While most bears do hibernate, California Fish and Wildlife Biologist Jason Holley reports in the Tahoe Daily Tribune that 10 to 15 percent of bears stay active during the winter, often relying on human leftovers to survive. Sometimes bears evens wake up, look around to see how much human garbage they can find, and then choose to go back to sleep or stay awake based on whether they like what’s for lunch.

Unfortunately, relying on human food to survive isn’t good for bears. Bears can get too accustomed to humans, making them unsafe, which can in turn lead to euthanization. Plus, human food doesn’t provide the best diet for bears. This was a good reminder for us to remind our guests and family how important it is that all food comes out of cars and off of porch rails, into the (safely secured) cabin.

For more information about black bears in North Lake Tahoe, and how humans can help bears thrive, visit the Bear League at http://www.savebears.org/.

To visit Happy Cabin during your trip to North Lake Tahoe / Tahoe Vista / Kings Beach, click here.

To visit Happy Cabin during your trip to North Lake Tahoe / Tahoe Vista / Kings Beach, click here.

Toes buried in the sand, I look off into the windswept waters, spotting a bright red freighter, a couple of jet skis, and a curving shoreline edged with parks and beaches. Grandma Lizzy floats on a blow-up recliner, while the cousins take turns hauling each other around on a boogie board. Shorebirds forage for insects in the sand. For our California crew, it feels like a classic beach day. I have to remind myself that we are over a thousand miles from the ocean, squarely in the Midwest at the tail-end of a sweltering summer. Welcome to Duluth, Minnesota, home to Grandpa Billy and the Rogers cousins, first stop on our family vacation.

It took several years of planning to put together this easy beachside scene. Ever since Grandpa Billy passed away, we knew we wanted to meet in his hometown, to share memories in his old haunts and experience his favorite places with three generations of Rogers. Duluth is charming. Old stone buildings, once teeming with industry, now house restaurants, distilleries, and galleries. The lake is bustling with sailboats, yachts and freighters. A lakeside trail rims the clear, blue waters of Lake Superior, winding through parks and historic neighborhoods.

We know we can’t do everything in four days, but we do a lot. We have cones at the Portland Malt Shoppe, drinks at Fitzger’s Brewhouse and a friends and family dinner in Bill’s memory at his favorite Pickwick Restaurant and Pub. Cousin Liz’s beach house on Park Point, the world’s longest freshwater sand bar, is a welcome meeting spot for a beach day barbecue. We tour the Lake Superior Maritime Visitor Center in Canal Park before renting a surrey and pedaling out to the North Pier Lighthouse for a unique view of Duluth’s historic Aerial Lift Bridge, which lifts vertically to let ships into the harbor. Grandma Lizzy treats us all to a sightseeing cruise on the Vista Fleet, where we learn about Duluth’s history as one of the largest inland shipping ports for Powder River Basin iron ore. One of Grandpa Billy’s first jobs was on an iron ore freighter (a “Laker”) just like the ones we see offshore as we play on the beach.

We spend our final days in Minnesota on the North Shore, road tripping from Duluth to Lutsen and the historic Lutsen Resort, Minnesota’s oldest resort at 130 years old. Grandpa Billy loved the North Shore. It’s easy to see why. Life slows down here, where we are far enough north to look earnestly for the Northern Lights when the suns falls. There is water, water everywhere—Lake Superior, of course, but also rivers chock full of waterfalls and hundreds of smaller lakes up lazy, mountain roads. We have a delicious meal at the Angry Trout Cafe in Gran Marais, right down the road from the North House Folk School, where artisans learn and practice traditional northern crafts like basketry and felting. We have heart-stopping fun at the Alpine Slide at Lutsen Mountain, a summer luge down Eagle Mountain, before taking the aerial gondola to Moose Mountain, marveling at the views—lake on one side, endless green forest on the other.

My favorite part of the trip is an impromptu trip to Fourmile Lake. We wake up on our last full day in Minnesota and decide it’s as good a day as any to go canoeing. We rent canoes at Sawtooth Outfitters in Tofte, and take the shopkeepers advice to head into the Boundary Waters Canoe Area. We launch our canoes in a quiet lake rimmed with water lilies, paddling out to a nearby island. We have a makeshift memorial for Grandpa Billy, swapping memories as the last of his ashes swirl into the fish-filled waters. We share a bottle of Sawtooth Mountain Cider. A golden eagle alights from a tree. It’s a fitting end to a special vacation.

To visit Happy Cabin during your trip to North Lake Tahoe / Tahoe Vista / Kings Beach, click here.

On a warm afternoon, just shy of All Hallows’ Eve, we load 2 tweens, a 4-year-old, sleeping bags and a box of cupcakes into our mini-van and head southeast to San Juan Bautista. San Juan Bautista is a sleepy little town in Central California, south of Santa Cruz and east of Carmel. We’d passed through many times before, lunching at one of our favorite Mexican restaurants Jardines del San Juan. Tonight we are doing more than just passing through. We are taking up residence in an AirBNB apartment above the historic Blacksmith shop, right behind the Masonic temple, a few blocks from Mission San Juan Bautista.

The town is hundreds to thousands of years old, depending on where you start. The Mission was built in 1797 on a site chosen by Father Junipero Serra because it promised an “abundant harvest of souls.” Like other Mission towns, the history of San Juan Bautista is the story of Native Americans living for thousands of years in an idyllic place before conquest. An Ohlone tribe known as the Mutsen lived in and around the valley for about 3,000 years, until the Spanish brought disease and religion, leaving a legacy of wooden crosses marking mass graves.

In her antique shop called Fool’s Gold, punctuated by trays of costume jewelry, crates of vinyl LPs, and eclectic oil paintings by her talented husband Bruce Kleinsmith (“Futzie Nutzle”), Halina Kleinsmith tells me that San Juan Bautista is built on a crystal bowl between sacred ranges. She explains that the water percolates up through the quartz, making the San Juan Valley a power spot. That’s what drew the Native Americans here. That’s what drew the Spanish here. Everything is amplified here—good, evil, nightmares, dreams. “Have you ever seen a ghost?” I ask. “Every day,” she says nonchalantly, as if talking about something as ho-hum as the rising sun. She explains that residents of San Juan Bautista must learn to coexist with spirits. They see them in their houses and businesses, hear them in their attics, and walk through “cold patches” as the spirits roam the streets. “The veil is thin here.”

As the sun sets and the moon rises, we venture out to test the veil. Every year, just before Halloween, the local Rotary Club hosts a Ghost Walk. Visitors follow a guide through the town by lantern-light, stopping at sites chosen for their unusually-high quanta of paranormal activity. Tonight, we visit the old butchery (now a diner called the “Mission Café”), the graveyard at Mission San Juan Bautista, a vintage cabin, Plaza Market, San Juan Bakery, Rozas House, and Posada del San Juan. At each site, a storyteller dressed in period garb tells us the history of the place and a ghost story. At the old butchery, we hear about the gypsy who sold sweet meat that turned out to be the flesh of travelers missing from the hotel. At the Mission, where scenes from Alfred Hitchcock’s Vertigo were filmed, a resident dressed as a priest tells of the restless spirits of the hundreds of Native American bodies buried beside us, layered “like a lasagna.” Across the street, at an old cabin, the living tenant lets us peak inside at the refrigerator that opens and closes in the night as the apparition of a young girl looks for something inside. We learn that two of the hotel rooms at the Posada del San Juan are especially haunted. Nobody is quite sure why. As we venture back to our apartment above the old Blacksmith’s shop, we look excitedly for apparitions, finding instead warm beds and cupcakes.

The next morning, we awaken to a bright, fall morning. We get coffee and apricot empanadas from the haunted bakery, visit the town cemetery on the hill and look for the oldest graves, browse books at the town library, and do a little thrifting. I purchase a weathered tarot deck as a souvenir. “Is this a ghost town?” my 4-year-old asks. It feels that way today. On this quiet Saturday, there are few cars on the streets and no tourists to speak of. The historic buildings are nearly empty. Some are literally empty, with signs marking them as “Dangerous” or “Condemned.” It’s hard to imagine that this sleepy little town was once a hub of activity, a bustling stagecoach stop along the famous El Camino Real. It’s much easier to imagine it full of ghosts.

To visit Happy Cabin during your trip to North Lake Tahoe / Tahoe Vista / Kings Beach, click here.

UPDATE (December 1, 2019): And, it’s here…The storms marched in with a vengeance, blanketing North Lake Tahoe in snow. Now it’s not so much a question of whether you will be able to board and ski, and more a question of, “Can you get there?” Check the traffic, be safe, and let it snow, let it snow, let it snow!

UPDATE (November 26, 2019): Snow is falling at Happy Cabin, and Northstar California Resort opens the day after Thanksgiving—this Friday! Squaw Valley Alpine Meadows opened with one lift on November 14 and two lifts open today. With back to back storms expected through the weekend, the conditions should just get better as more cold, wet weather arrives.

With snow falling here and there and snow-making operations in effect at the highest-elevation resorts, local resorts are projecting opening days sooner rather than later. Mt. Rose is the earliest, with a projected opening day of October 25. That’s only a week away! The rest of our local resorts are shooting for mid to late November. Weather-willing, of course… Stay tuned for updates, as we dust off our board bags and get ready for snow. To visit Happy Cabin during your trip to North Lake Tahoe / Tahoe Vista / Kings Beach, click here.

“People are suffering. People are dying. Entire ecosystems are collapsing. We are in the beginning of a mass extinction, and all you can talk about is money and fairy tales of eternal economic growth. How dare you! ”

On an unseasonably warm September evening, Anaya (11), Maris (4) and I gathered to listen to 16-year-old Greta Thunberg’s historic speech to the United Nations. We could not help but be moved. Moved to anger. Moved to indignation. Moved to hope? I’m not sure. Greta’s words sucked us back into the reality of our global situation, a dire confluence of mass extinctions, melting poles, and catastrophic weather events. For a minute, people were talking about it, caring about it, and then we all went about our business as usual.

Oxford defines hope as a “feeling of expectation and desire for a certain thing to happen.” Many of us have the “desire for a certain thing to happen.” All but the most extreme climate-change deniers can agree that we want to reverse climate change and put our Earth back on a path compatible with long-term human life. It’s the “expectation” that’s lacking. The problem feels so big and intractable, especially with the biggest governments in the world unable to reach even rudimentary agreements. The United States isn’t even at the table anymore. As a country, we’ve turned a blind eye to the sobering science that predicts global catastrophe within our children’s lifetime if we don’t act soon.

My children ask questions. “What’s going to happen, Mom?” “ What’s going to happen if we don’t reduce emissions, switch to clean energy, go vegan, eat local, wear recycled clothing, and buy an electric car?” “What is Greta so worried about?” How can I tell my 11-year-old that she might not get to relax with her children on a weekday evening, watching a speech and snacking on chips, because having children may not be an option for her. She could be too busy dealing with heat waves, hunger, and deadly typhoons to even fathom bringing a child into a dying world. My 4-year-old has childlike hope. “We’ll fix it, Mommy. Don’t worry.” But, will we?

We talk about things we can do to help as a family. I’m already vegetarian and willing to move closer to vegan. The kids are willing to eat less meat. We’ll stop buying new clothing, thrifting and recycling instead. We’ll carpool to school, work on our garden, and stop buying packaged and processed foods. Anaya gets to work on posters for a new “Eco Club” at school. She vows to run for student government to spread Greta’s message. We brainstorm things her new club can do: Meatless Mondays, victory gardens, seedling giveaways, clothing and book exchanges, recycling efforts. They can raise awareness so that Greta’s message doesn’t fade into the white noise of the 24-hour news cycle and the constant feed of corporate messaging that tells kids they need more and more things rather than a sustainable world. But will any of that matter if we don’t change our ways on a global scale?

The scope of the necessary change is sobering. According to NASA, an organization not known for extremist hyperbole, “it may not be too late to avoid or limit some of the worst effects of climate change” if we immediately implement a globally-coordinated push to reduce the flow of greenhouse gases into the atmosphere with things like clean energy, public transport upgrades, and sustainable city planning. It “may not” be too late?

Sometimes it’s easier to get a grip on a big problem by focusing on a smaller piece of it. According to the Tahoe Environmental Research Center at University of California Davis, which has been continuously monitoring Lake Tahoe since 1968, the average daily temperature at Lake Tahoe has risen 4.2 degrees Fahrenheit in the last 100 years. The lake is warming by about 0.3 degrees Fahrenheit a year. At this rate, we can expect steady snow decline, extended droughts, increased algal growth, increased threat from aquatic invasive species, more extreme streamflow events, increased tree mortality, and reduced lake clarity.

I guess it shouldn’t come as a surprise that climate change is killing the lake. It’s killing all of the things that make the Earth habitable. The real question is whether we can get our act together as a species and fix it. Dare we hope?

What do you think about climate change? Let’s share ideas in the comments. To visit Happy Cabin during your trip to North Lake Tahoe / Tahoe Vista / Kings Beach, click here.

To add your favorite autumn event to our calendar, leave a comment. To visit Happy Cabin during your trip to North Lake Tahoe / Tahoe Vista / Kings Beach, click here.

Sleeper Train, Bangkok to Surat Thani, Thailand

“I like trains. I like their rhythm, and I like the freedom of being suspended between two places, all anxieties of purpose taken care of: for this moment I know where I am going.” ― Anna Funder, Stasiland: Stories from Behind the Berlin Wall

In the darkness, behind worn curtains, Maris and I watch the world go by, glimmers of moonlit fields, dark jungle, a peak of starry sky.  The rhythmic chug of an engine purrs behind the clack, clack of wheels on track, the occasional long sigh of a mournful horn.  Soft snoring, the patter of feet tiptoeing to the bathroom, whispers, and the sure footsteps of a porter making his rounds.  These are the sounds of the night train from Bangkok to Surat Thani.  It’s not long before we drift off to sleep, clinging to each other in a narrow, bottom bunk, dreaming of muddy rivers and water buffalo, hot rain, and forests of dense, green trees.  How exactly did we end up here, on a sleeper train, careening south through the night. . .? 

It’s only our first day in Thailand, and the jet lag is severe.  We walk around Bangkok in a fever dream, our bodies shocked by the heat and humidity, our senses assaulted by sights and scenes and smells that shift by the minute, from the serenity of an ancient temple to a throng of buses, cars, and tuk-tuks thick with carbon emissions.  Crossing the streets is almost more than we can manage.  We stumble onto a riverboat taxi on its way to Chinatown, ending up at a crowded street market and a colorful temple in disrepair.  We try rambutan, a red, hairy fruit that looks more like a pet you might find in a market in Tattoine than something edible.  It’s sweet and watery and tastes like grapes.  We find Wat Pho Temple and persuade Anaya (11) and Maris (4) that it would be a worthwhile cultural investigation to get Thai massages at the onsite medical school.  We realize we are too tired to appreciate Bangkok.  We need less sensory assault and more Thai massage.  We look south to the islands, settling on spending the next few days in the Gulf of Thailand on a jungle island called Ko Phangan. There are a few different ways to get there—bus, flight or train, all followed by a ferry.  The bus is inexpensive, but we are exhausted from three days of travel and can’t imagine sleeping upright in lounge chairs.  The flight is quick but pricey and the timing requires spending another night in Bangkok. The second-class sleeper train is affordable, leaves tonight, and promises seats that convert into bunkbed berths for sleeping.  We’re in.

Thailand is known for some of its sleeper train routes.  The sleeper train from Bangkok to Chiang Mai, for example, is famous for its updated amenities and clean, efficient charm.  The route to the ferry terminal at Surat Thani is a whole different animal, less storied and more of a means to an end.  We find our way through the busy station in Bangkok to a workhorse of a train, scuffed and worn, drab and dirty at the edges.  Our seats face each other, with a small, rickety, fold-down table between us for finishing up our take-out Thai food and playing a game of cards.  There are a few other tourists on the train, but our fellow travelers are mostly Thais.  There is no dining car.  The bathroom is rudimentary and only gets more rudimentary as the night wears on.  For all that, we love the novelty of it, playing cards and chatting while trying to catch a glimpse of life outside.  For the first hour or so, we are making our way out of Bangkok, through busy streets and dense roads of high-rise apartments.  After that, the neighborhoods thin out, replaced with rivers, jungles and fields. There is something incredibly relaxing about having no option except to exist here, in this cozy little space, passing time together as the world passes us by.

At bedtime, an efficient porter swings through the car, swiftly changing the benches and tables into bunkbeds, making up the thin mattresses with coarse sheets and a rough blanket.  The girls are in their element now.  Bunkbeds on a train!  We play and tell stories until we’re sleepy, trying all four of the bunks to find the bed that’s “just right.”  And then comes the night, with its drowsy white noise and peaceful rocking.  We speed toward the southern coast, effortlessly traversing the 405 miles between the capital city and the sleepy, southern islands. For the first time in this new time zone, we finally fall into a long, restful sleep. 

To book the approximately 11-hour night train from Bangkok to Surat Thani, click here.  To visit Happy Cabin during your trip to North Lake Tahoe / Tahoe Vista / Kings Beach, click here.

The Nest.  Chiang Dao, Thailand.

A few hours out of Chiang Mai, up winding roads, through a tropical shower, a statuesque peak juts out from a jagged, bright green, range.  The mountain is high enough that the peak is wreathed in moody clouds that shift with the breeze, revealing its shape in pieces.  Across a rippling river, the mountain opens its mouth, swallowing orange-robed monks whole.  The infamous cave temple of Wat Tham Chiang Dao.

Just down the road from the cave temple lives a handful of happy cabins, strewn across a garden of lush ferns, blooming flowers and gnarled trees.  Maybe you’ve heard whispers of it?  That’s what happened to us.  We were lured to Chiang Dao by whispers of a less-touristy place, a place where Thais go to relax, a soothing place far from the bustle of Thailand’s northern cultural center, Chiang Mai.  We had no idea what to expect.  Whereas many of our family trips are heavily researched and planned, this one unfolds organically.  We book one night at a time and see what happens, planning our next journey the morning of or the night before.  Our trip to Chiang Dao follows that same formula.  We decide to go that morning, over breakfast along the Ping river, the swiftly moving current beckoning us onward.  We say goodbye to our riverside hotel in Chiang Mai, packing our tiny rental car with overstuffed backpacks, market treasures, and dried fruit for snacking.

All I know about Chiang Dao are the two words I hear uttered every time it’s mentioned:  “The Nest.”  There are certain places, passed word of mouth from one traveler to another, that gain mythical status among the chosen who have been there or know someone who has.  The Nest is that kind of place.  People whisper about the food, the property, the bungalows, and the nearby cave temple at Wat Tham Chiang Dao.  We experience Chiang Dao in exactly that order.

We’re enveloped first by the cozy charm of The Nest, a simple slice of paradise tucked away between two monasteries, down a dusty, country road.  We arrive in a downpour, running a muddy trail to the open-air restaurant, where a beaming woman named Chao greets us warmly and hands us umbrellas.  A few other travelers are reading novels in pillowed gazebos sheltered from the rain, or munching on plates heaped with salads and hearty sandwiches.  There’s something especially lovely about the smell of freshly brewed coffee and rain.  Four-year-old Maris says what we are all thinking:  “Mommy, can we stay?”

Lucky for us, there is a family bungalow available at the back of a property, down a drizzly path lined with lighted clay mushrooms.   Beneath the thatched roof is a humble space with two bedrooms and a small bathroom with shower.  The main bedroom has a soft queen bed made with a bright, Hmong quilt.  The adjoining bunk room is the perfect kids’ fort, for sleeping, playing, and curling up out of the rain.  Overall, the bungalow feels like a tidy treehouse, with daylight visible through the slatted floors and screened windows overlooking the slightly wild-feeling grounds. It’s a fitting refuge from the storm.

Once we’ve settled in, we can’t resist a little snack at the acclaimed restaurant.  We tuck into a cheese sandwich on freshly-baked bread, with cheddar, emmental and cream cheese, sweet lettuce, fresh tomatoes, and spicy onion. A bowl of marinated olives sparkles with chili oil, lime and fresh herbs. While the storm passes, I thumb through an old history of the cave temple written in the 60s, promising ghosts, tigers and enlightened beings in the depth of the mountain.  I read bits of the book out loud to the family while savoring a mug of hot coffee that’s as good as it smells.  We leave fortified and intrigued, ready to explore. 

Just down the road from The Nest, Wat Tham Chiang Dao awaits, a temple complex  with sanctuaries, gardens and incense stalls along a lazy river.  The main attraction is the cave temple, yet there are few tourists here and many more monks walking the grounds dressed in bright orange robes.  We cross the river on a wooden bridge, pay a small fee, and enter the mountain’s mouth. Inside, we find a rock sanctuary filled with incense, golden Buddhas and cave guides holding gas lanterns.

There are two options—explore a lit path straight into the main cavern or hire a guide to do some spelunking in the maze of passages crawling deeper into the mountain. Eben chooses the guided tour while the kids and I take our time wandering along the lit path through the main artery of a deep, high-ceilinged cave.  There are few visitors besides us, so we are able to explore nearly on our own.  We find bats and Buddhas, stalagmites, stalactites and graffiti.  No tigers though.  That’s probably for the best. Along the way, signs warn us not to wander into the dark crevices that shoot off in all directions. “Dangerous!”

Eben ventures deeper into the cave with a small group of Chinese  tourists and a local guide waving a gas lantern. We swap stories later over traditional Thai food at The Nests’s sister property, The Nest 2, just down the road.  While The Nest is known for its gourmet western fare, the restaurant at The Nest 2 specializes in Thai delicacies.  Rough-hewn, candlelit tables are a humble backdrop for remarkable food. We feast on fresh juice-based cocktails, a green papaya salad prepared vegetarian style with crispy bites of perfectly-salted tofu, subtle curries, rice dishes spiked with tamarind, and a pungent coconut soup. Fireflies light up the night while we hear about Eben’s adventure.  The guided tour required wriggling through narrow passages and braving thick colonies of bats. In exchange, Eben saw cathedral-like chambers and sculpturesque formations and was able to experience the cave in complete darkness, something we could not do on the lighted path.

The big surprise of our Chiang Dao trip, something nobody whispered about before we came, comes the next morning.  At breakfast, we meet a group of young men from California who’ve traveled to Chiang Dao to study at a monastery down the road.  They are breaking a long fast with “Gypsy Toast,” a custardy French toast prepared with wild honey and lime, luscious egg dishes, and thick slices of freshly-baked bread.  The monastery, called Wat Tham Pha Plong, turns out to be one of our favorite places in Thailand.  Only a short hike from The Nest, this temple carved high up into a mountain, feels worlds away.  To get there, you have to climb 500 steps through the cloud forest.  Inspirational signs line the path, urging you higher—helpful reminders like, “There’s a chance to get refreshed, once you are tired. But there’s no chance to re-live your life once you are dead.”  At the top, there is an open-air chamber, a half-cave carved out of the mountain, perfect for meditating or soaking in the ethereal views.

The Nest is right at home on this block full of wonders.  Like all great refuges, it captures the spirit of the place, feeding the tummy and the imagination, while offering a safe and quiet place to dream.  To reserve your own happy cabin at The Nest, click here.  To visit Happy Cabin during your trip to North Lake Tahoe / Tahoe Vista / Kings Beach, click here.

We wake up in the Aptos Hills to the same dreary gray sky that’s plagued us all winter, rain clouds floating ominously from the East, a chill in the air that our over-worked pellet stove can’t cut through.  The kids are skittering from room to room, taking out dolls, books, paper, pens, leaving trails of toast crumbs, sneaking the electronics to binge-watch slime videos, humming, singing, shouting, arguing.  I’ve got to get out of here.  My mind flips through images of our usual hikes.  Meh.  It’s time for something new and completely different, an adventure off the beaten track, something wild and unforgettable. I remember looking off into the distant hills in the Pacheco Mountains over a lifetime of traveling between Santa Cruz and the Valley and wondering, “What’s out there?” No time like the present to find out.   Less than a 2 hour drive away?  Check.  Never been there?  Check.  Within a half-hour of ice cream to lure the kids in?  Check.  Paved road? Sort-of.  Off we go. 

After a quick stop to pick up Grandma and Grandpa Oranges, we head east into the hills.  Every now and then, the sun peeks through the clouds, illuminating fields of broccoli and sprawling cattle farms.  The roadside stands advertise strawberries and garlic ice cream.  We pass Casa de Fruta on Highway 152, heading into a landscape of gently rolling hills punctuated by steep crags jutting into the clouds. 

A few miles past Casa De Fruta, we veer left at Bell’s Station onto a dirt road that winds out into nowhere.  This is exactly what I was looking for.  We pass a few cars in the 7-mile journey to Dowdy Ranch, mostly trucks driven by what appear to be locals—whiskered cattle-herding types that nod sternly as they pass.  There are a few private ranches along the way, with fancy iron gates and gorgeous horses in rare colors like cream and steely gray.   By the time we make it to the Dowdy Ranch Visitor Center, we are seriously intrigued.  What is this place?

It turns out that Henry Coe State Park is heavily visited, especially on a 3-day weekend like this one—but not via this entrance.  Very few people are that crazy.  The main entrance is in Morgan Hill.  Dowdy Ranch is more like a remote outpost, populated by serious backpackers armed with military rations and water purifiers.  And us. 

The hike is challenging, but in all the right ways.  We lose our breath, just in time to catch it in an oak grove overlooking hills rolling for as far as the eye can see.  Wildflowers are blooming, blankets of purple, orange, yellow, and white, lupine, poppies, clover and baby blue eyes, buckeye dripping from the trees.  The trail is more like a suggestion, just perceptible enough that we don’t lose it.  It’s fun, thinking we might be lost for a minute. But we’re not.  The map confirms we are going in the right direction, down and up. And lots of up.  As Eben and I scamper up Burra Burra Peak for a better view, Grandma Oranges mutters under her breath, “We’re going on a little walk. Straight up mountains.” 

There are magical moments.  Certain parts of the path are clustered with monarchs that rise like orange smoke from the path before us as we trundle along.  Some of the vegetation is Seuss-like—thin spindly wands topped with over-sized poofs of white, dandelions as big as my hand, gnarled oak trees. 

The feeling that I’ve just wandered into and out of a dream lingers long after we leave the dirt road behind, at least until the kids have filled bags of candy at Casa de Fruta and we’ve gorged ourselves with enchiladas at Jardines del San Juan in San Juan Bautista.

We could have just done one of our usual hikes. But I’m so glad we didn’t.  A multi-day hike from Dowdy Ranch is now officially on my bucket list.  The trail map promised ponds and lakes and valleys and hills (lots of hills).  It’s a bit rugged out here. Just a bit. And that’s exactly what we needed. 

To visit the Dowdy Ranch Visitor Center yourself, take the Highway 152, east from Hollister, just past Casa de Fruta. Stay in the left lane and look for Bell’s Station Gate.  Take a left and follow the dirt road all the way to the Visitor’s Center.  This entrance is only open on the weekends during late spring, summer and early fall, “as staffing is available.”  You might want to call before you go, just to make sure Bells’ Station Gate is open.  The usual State Park day use fees apply. Bring water, snacks and everything else you’ll need for a 2 to 3 hour hike with lots of ups and downs.  There’s a barbecue pavilion and picnic tables at Dowdy Ranch.  Après-hike snacks? 

To visit Happy Cabin during your trip to North Lake Tahoe / Tahoe Vista / Kings Beach, click here.

Fourth of July is one of North Lake Tahoe’s most iconic holidays. What better way to celebrate independence and the start of summer than on the lake? Our local communities go big, with festive decorations, parades, and award-winning fireworks displays. Here are a few of our favorite celebrations:

Now is the time to make vacation plans, especially in North Lake Tahoe, where the week of July 4th books up in the Spring, leaving stragglers car camping and couch surfing. The extra planning is worth it. The Firelite Lodge in Tahoe Vista is always a good choice. Cabins and houses go for high-season rates during 4th of July week but can still be economical, especially if you have pets, children, or a larger group and plan to do your own grilling and cooking. To visit Happy Cabin during your trip to North Lake Tahoe / Tahoe Vista / Kings Beach, click here.

To visit Happy Cabin during your trip to North Lake Tahoe / Tahoe Vista / Kings Beach, click here.

For a post that explores the fascinating history of the Old Brockway Golf Course over a Happy Cabin martini, click here. To book a tee time, click here.

To visit Happy Cabin during your trip to North Lake Tahoe / Tahoe Vista / Kings Beach, click here.

After a fun winter with friends, we realized a few updates would make Happy Cabin more functional for a crowd. Over the last few weekends, we added a big, custom leather sofa for lounging and a dining nook for family dinners. The sofa has a full-sized memory foam mattress for extra guests. The table has a live-edge feel and a dining bench for cozy dinners in front of the fire.

The inspiration for our updates was our first winter of cabin life. One chilly evening, we had a group of 13 friends cooking, eating and playing games. Tucking the table into a nook made more space for a larger living room. The custom sofa takes advantage of every inch with comfortable seating for 7 adults and even more kids. We toyed with the idea of removing the rocker/recliner to open the flow between the dining and living area, but it is so nice to rock in front of the fire with a good book. Function won out over form.

To visit Happy Cabin during your trip to North Lake Tahoe / Tahoe Vista / Kings Beach, click here.

If you’ve been looking for an excuse to visit the newly-remodeled Tahoe Art Haus & Cinema, located in the old Cobblestone Cinema in Tahoe City, mark your calendars for Thursday, April 25, at 5 p.m. This single screening of The Unruly Mystic: John Muir is the perfect opportunity to experience this intimate theater over a locally-brewed kombucha or premium beer. With only 100 seats (leather rockers and cozy couches), this independent theater billed as a “cinema draft house” has a wine and beer bar, premium popcorn with all the fixings, the usual movie snacks (think pizza and hot dogs) and unique billings like this one. The film explores the life and legacy of John Muir, founder of Audubon and patron saint of environmental activism, and the broader connection between nature and spirituality. Proceeds benefit the local chapter of Audubon.

For Spring screenings throughout California, click here.

To visit Happy Cabin during your trip to North Lake Tahoe / Tahoe Vista / Kings Beach, click here.

It seems like just yesterday we were longing for snow. Well, we got it. In record amounts. February broke the record for the most snowfall in a single month, leaving North Lake Tahoe resorts awash in powder. The good news for boarders and skiers is that the resorts are extending their seasons to take advantage of these record-breaking conditions. Squaw Valley Alpine Meadows just announced they will be open until July 7. Beach, barbecue, fireworks and snowboarding, anyone? Other local resorts have extended their projected closing dates from March to the end of April. Here are the current projected closing dates for the other resorts near Happy Cabin: Northstar California Resort (April 21); Diamond Peak (April 14); Mt. Rose (April 28); Homewood Mountain Resort (April 14). That leaves plenty of time for another snow trip or two.

UPDATE: Our family spent the St. Patrick’s Day weekend boarding, skiing and ice skating at Northstar under bluebird skies. After months of storms, everyone was in a great mood and happy to see the sun. With mild weather, plenty of snow, and reduced crowds, the end of March and beginning of April are shaping up to be a good time to visit. Spring break?

To visit Happy Cabin during your trip to North Lake Tahoe / Tahoe Vista / Kings Beach, click here.

The desert.  In my dreams, it’s transcendent, an endless landscape of otherworldly experiences, blooming cacti, glowing scorpions, hot springs, and lucid dreams.  Last March, in the throes of the kids’ Spring Break, we set off in search off all those things, finding instead exhaustion, sun fatigue, scorpions poised to bite flip-flopped feet, hot springs seeded with rattlesnakes dripping from the trees…and transcendence. But not the kind you stumble into.  The kind you earn.  Let me tell you about our Desert Trip.

I planned this trip for weeks.  I planned the trip loosely around Route 66, looking along the way for giant tortoise preserves, ghost towns, UFO landing sights, national monuments, hot springs, wolf packs, old-fashioned milkshakes, Route 66 memorabilia, and natural history.  The tricky part was finding a place to sleep every night, driving distance between wonderful things.  We towed our canned ham, The Happy Camper, so that we had a place to escape the elements and rest our weary heads. We knew that friends would meet us at Joshua Tree.  Until then, we were on our own, riders on the storm.  We had two tweens in tow and a three-year-old.  Eben and I were fresh off of months of work, looking for a vacation, relief from the grind, maybe an umbrella drink.  That’s not quite what we found.

We spent our first day of highway travel looking for a porta-potty enclosure. We dreamed of boondocking in some remote corner of paradise, and The Happy Camber lacks a toilet and graywater system.  We found a Walmart and a surly fish license salesman who led me to a squalid plastic tote bag promising a toilet tent inside.  We bought it for some outlandish amount of money, along with water, coffee, tortillas, and canned beans. We set off from Bakerfield into the mountains, following the trains as they winded and whistled deep into the hills, chasing storm clouds across Tehachapi Pass.  We landed in the middle of the night in a desolate campground east of nowhere.  Despite the late hour and RV-ers sleeping on all sides, the kids scrambled up a dirt mountain and howled at the moon before finally settling into a fitful sleep. Come morning, they were ready to look for ghosts.  

Calico Ghost Town is a former mining town in the Mojave Desert that had its heyday in 1881, when it was teeming with silver.  Now, the town is a county park with a nicely-preserved main street set on a desert plateau in a picturesque mountain range scarred by mines.  A small camping area lays at the foot of the town, across the way from an old graveyard.  Local lore promises the town is teeming with active ghosts—miners still looking for silver, a spectral cat, and wayward children in dungarees.  Calico was all that it promised, with ghost stories, living history, and a handful of strange experiences we’ll never forget.  After a day of mine tours, sarsaparilla, and exploring rickety old buildings, we hired local storytellers to give us a private ghost tour of the town as the sun dipped below the horizon and the moon began to rise.  These were raconteurs of the old school variety, who incorporated every creak, shiver and grown into their lurid yarns, until we were all huddling a little bit closer lest we get bewitched by the spirits of loose women and lost boys. Transcendent.

From there, things got tricky.  Joshua Tree National Park was full to overflowing so we ended up at an outskirts hipcamp, populated by world travelers, run by a hyper skateboarder brimming with hospitality and lavender-scented latrines.  Driving across the park felt like finning across an underwater coral reef, teeming with barrel cacti, blooming ocotillo, fissured canyons, washed out ravines, and Joshua Trees.  We looked for big cats, mountain goats and coyote as we scanned the horizon, finding only hikers, birds, and campgrounds packed tent-to-tent with Spring breakers.

From there, we made our way to Anza-Borrego Desert via the Salton Sea, experiencing night hikes rife with glowing scorpions, gale force winds, and windswept dinners, seasoned by dust.  We flirted with the idea of visiting a remote hot spring off some dirt road in the middle of nowhere before doing a little recon indicating it was likely a human trafficking site with warmish water and rattlesnakes dripping from the trees.  Instead, we kept driving and driving and driving.  We wandered into the Outlaw 500 Desert Rally, surrounded by oddities like a motorcycle designed to look like a jet ski manned by a one-eyed pirate. Not to mention the Salton Sea itself. a shallow, saline lake positioned directly on the San Andreas Fault, sprawling across the Imperial and Coachella Valleys, smelling faintly of sea birds, rotten eggs, and brine. It’s a no-man’s land where anything goes yet nothing seems to be happening, until you stumble into a colony of rotted-out antique cars, bright graffiti, and scrap metal sculptures fanning across the sand. It’s at once dystopian, apocolyptic, and strangely inspiring—a place on the brink of becoming a place or recovering from once being one.

We left the Salton Sea behind in search of something less complicated. We boondocked for the first time the night before Easter, putting the porta-potty to good use behind a blooming ocotillo under a waxing moon in the Anza-Borrego Desert.  The Easter bunny came, leaving glowing Easter eggs among blooming succulents and mounds of bones.  Transcendent.  But you can’t boondock forever.  In the still, calm perfection of a private glampsite, one wonders what else is out there?  Maybe there is something even better than this. We set out to find it, checking in to our campsite at Agua Caliente County Park in search of fresh wonders.

I’m a big fan of Agua Caliente, which is just east of Julian, to the west of the Anza-Borrega Desert.  The park offers 50s-style car and RV camping and a few basic tent cabins in a desolate desert with swimming pools full of chlorinated mineral water.  Our kids treat the campground like suburbia, fanning out on bikes in search of children, and then packing up to explore each other’s campsites, bike the trails, and coax adults into supervising popsicle runs to the country store and frequent swims.  I like the languid pace—rest, sleep, and swim during the day, hike and play at night.  You meet random people, an outdoorsy couple with a Jeep full of rowdy boys whose names all start with J, a retired pediatrician with two freckled grand-children who become your kid’s faithful pen-pals.  You devise new cocktails out of whatever you have left at The Happy Camper before biking to the store for another popsicle.

Our friends did not have a canned ham, however.  They had a tent that was getting blown to bits by the desert wind. They were sunburned and sand-sore.  They wanted flowing, fresh water, not chlorinated, hot spring pools.  So, we reluctantly left our desert oasis, driving for miles across the desert. 

We passed enormous mining operations hidden in mountains surrounded by acres of barbed wire and surveillance cameras. We skirted the border, marveling at the road-side stashes of water left for migrants who hadn’t planned to walk quite this far, in weather quite this hot, with no water for miles.  One such stash was festooned with a cardboard banner, exclaiming “Ola Bola! You’ve Got This!” a phrase we tried to decode for miles before finally adopting it as a hopeful mantra, whatever it may mean.

Desperate to stop driving, we sought relief briefly along the Colorado River in Quartzite at a sad, little trailer park full of aged RVs and tiny homes.  We made pasta on an electric stove.  We all became rock hounds for a minute, scouring the rock shops for the perfect crystal, gazing mournfully at the dirty river, too rapid for proper swimming.  Pizza and gin-and-tonics at Silly Al’s Pizza fortified us for the next leg of our journey, not to mention cars brimming with desert-charged crystals.  We were officially lost now, with no itinerary and just a few ideas, either heading east or west or north or south depending on who was leading, the deadline of school starting lurking in the not-too-distant future, none too convinced we’d make it back.

Still in search of a suitable swimming hole, we made our way to the London Bridge at Lake Havasu via a beautiful, little campground with a sandy beach, perfect for languorous picnics and swims.  We shared tacos and margaritas on the beach with some acquaintances who just happened to pull up from California in one of those serendipitous moments that only happen after days of sleep-deprived wandering.  They shared our campground, hatching a Tepui for a quick slumber before heading on their way to wherever. Transcendent.  We tried to water ski on the lake, ending up sunburned and beached on a shoal.  We ate Mexican food overlooking the London Bridge and a lake full of Spring break revelers with monster boats and string bikinis.  When we had our fill, we packed up The Happy Camper and made our way home, sore and smarting from the wind, the hot, the cold, the loneliness, the companionship, the bitterness, the beauty and the (hard-won) joy.

I remembered this trip tonight, as my mother-in-law longed to see the desert in bloom over fried rice, red wine, and See’s Candy left-over from Valentine’s Day.  She noted that she needs electricity, water, and basic comforts on such a trip.  Scanning my memory of our Desert Trip, I remembered none of those things.  There were other things, marvelous things, but comfort was not among them.  My fingers raced across the keys, looking for a B&B, lodge or resort that would give her the best of the desert without the underbelly, without the humbling parts that leave you smarting.  And I found nothing.  Is the desert really just like that?  All or nothing? Go big or go home?  Perhaps one of you has found the sweet spot, a calm oasis in the storm, suitable for several generations. Drop your knowledge.  Desert blooms a must.  Hot water please, preferably from a hot spring or two.  Ghosts optional but appreciated. 

To visit Happy Cabin during your trip to North Lake Tahoe / Tahoe Vista / Kings Beach, click here.

On a recent winter day, with snow falling in piles, we set out from Happy Cabin to find a good old-fashioned sledding hill.  We’ve tried the pay-by-the-hour runs at the local resorts.  Northstar California Resort has a twisting and turning course with an alley-oop for around $30 a kid per an hour—fun but spendy.  Squaw Valley Alpine Meadows has a tubing hill for $40 a person for 55 minutes that’s especially exciting on weekend nights when the resort offers “disco tubing” from 5 to 8 p.m. with LED lights, lasers and a live DJ ($51 for 55 minutes).   But, frankly, those options are a splurge and require the usual resort hassles—parking, shuttling, and schlepping gear.  With 6 kids, ranging from age 4 to 13, in tow, we were looking for something a little more casual and budget-friendly.  North Lake Tahoe Regional Park delivered. 

For the price of parking ($5 a car), you get access to the Children’s Hill, which is plenty exciting for the littlest kids.  For that hill, you’ll need to bring your own sled, tube or saucer.  A more universally-appealing option is the sledding hill at the top of the park.  For a $5 parking fee plus $5 a person, you get access to two hills—a gradual incline for the littler kids and a steeper slope for the thrill-seeking tweens and teens. A basic plastic sled is included, though you can also bring your own if you have a special toy.  The most unusual sled we saw was a huge, inflatable slice of pizza—why not? For the price of admission, you can play all day, even leaving for lunch and returning later if you’d like.  Our kids loved it.

The snow was falling pretty heavily during our trip, so our crew was outfitted in full snow gear to stay dry and warm.  Our pre-school and kinder crew enjoyed the smaller hill, building confidence with whoops and gentle spills.  The older kids couldn’t get enough of the big hill, which was steep enough that most everyone ended up off their sled in a tumble.  We had to coax the kids out of the near white-out conditions with promises of a hot lunch and snowball fight back at home.  A nice touch is access to the shack where you buy your tickets.  Stop in for a quick snack and hot cocoa, or just to warm up a bit. 

Back at the cabin, the kids made their own toboggan run in the backyard, complete with snow caves and occasional trips into the kitchen for snacks and cocoa.  We rounded out the day with a snowy bonfire, s’mores, and dips in the hot tub to thaw icy noses.

To visit Happy Cabin during your trip to North Lake Tahoe / Tahoe Vista / Kings Beach, click here.

My Grandma Ruth grew up on Fillmore Street in San Francisco during The Depression. She had three sisters and a single mom who struggled to provide for them all. At times they were so poor that my Great Grandma Hulda had to put a few children in the orphanage so they’d get fed and then retrieve them when she got paid. Despite these hard times, Grandma spoke of San Francisco in reverent tones. It was always “The City,” as if there were nowhere else in the world that could measure up. We’d visit frequently, trying whenever possible to cross the Golden Gate Bridge. Grandma would sing. “San Francisco, open your golden gate, don’t let no stranger wait, outside your door. San Francisco, I’m coming home again, never to roam again, roaming no more.”

Once in The City, we would roam. Grandma’s favorite past-time was to grab a few of us kids and walk aimlessly, from the shore, through North Beach and Chinatown, to Union Square. Sometimes, we’d walk the coast, starting at Louis’ Restaurant or Sutro Baths, hiking the beach via the Musée Mécanique in the basement of the Cliff House. Or we’d explore Golden Gate Park, always stopping at the Japanese Tea Garden for tea, cookies, and a little rest. These wanderings gave me a blueprint for travel and life. Grab a good pair of walking shoes and a few of your favorite people and go—wherever those shoes might take you, following the scent of dim sum or the sea, getting lost in the crowd or choosing the road less taken. Here are ten things Grandma Ruth loved to do, in no particular order. I hope you enjoy them as much as she did.

Hiking & Photos at Sutro Baths

When my Grandma was a child, Sutro Baths was still a “bath”—really a huge saltwater pool fed by the ocean. She liked to remember those times while walking the ruins. The bird and sea life, the views…even without the pool, it is a unique and beautiful place. Scroll through your landscape shots over grilled cheese sandwiches at Louis’ Restaurant in Sutro Heights.

Pizza in North Beach

Find the longest line and wait for it. This is especially delicious after a very long walk, from wherever to wherever. Yum.

Lunch and $10-Limit Shopping in Chinatown

We never really had a favorite restaurant, instead following our guts and noses to new places, eating family style, trying as many dishes as possible, enjoying endless pots of tea. Each kid gets $10 to shop. It goes a LONG way in Chinatown. Consider forbidding the stink bombs if you have a boy cousin in the 5- to 10-year range. Or get ready for a long ride home.

Ride the Cable Car

Anytime to anywhere, for people watching, eavesdropping and endlessly changing views.

Check Out the Street Performers at Fisherman’s Wharf

Watch the musicians, artists, human statues, and buskers at Fisherman’s Wharf, handing out change where earned before feasting on fish-and-chips. Check out the Musée Mécanique and its wonderful collection of old arcade games, which used to be located near Sutro Baths at the Cliff House (which is where I fell in love with it with my Grandma).

Cross the Golden Gate Bridge

Drive, walk, bike or roller skate the Golden Gate Bridge. (Grandma favored roller skates.)

Explore Golden Gate Park

The newly-renovated California Academy of Sciences is a must-see. Don’t forget to get tea and cookies at the Japanese Tea Garden.

Ferry to Alcatraz

The ferry ride will give you a new view of The City, while Alcatraz will give you an intriguing bit of history as you explore one of the most infamous penitentiaries.

The Mission (Impossible): Find the Best Burrito

Sample burritos in The Mission until you find the very best one. (This may require you moving to The City, and the burritos are so good you may be tempted…)

Walk Down Lombard Street

Walk down Lombard Street all the way to Ghirardelli Square. Reward yourself with a milkshake or hot fudge sundae.

To visit Happy Cabin during your trip to North Lake Tahoe / Tahoe Vista / Kings Beach, click here.

I grew up clamming.  Piling into the car with a gang of kids, garden tools, rain gear, buckets, and multiple generations of adults telling the clamming equivalent of “big fish” stories was a regular thing.  My childhood friends and their families got dragged along too.  My Dad is always looking for a few good men and women who don’t mind getting wet, dirty and tired looking for the clamming equivalent of gold—small clams, including littlenccks, manilas, and cockles. The prize clams are small enough to be tender (not chewy) but not so small they fall through the “clam ring.” Hunting for clams is like hunting for treasure.  It requires a journey, discomfort, hard work, and a lot of faith that all the effort will turn up gold.   

Clamming tides come with the full moon, ebbing and flowing from a very low tide to a very high tide (a “King tide”).  At the lowest tide, we’d tromp out onto the exposed reef at Bolinas, armed with diamond-shaped hoes.  We’d fan out into the tidepools, looking for the perfect place to hunt for clams, a determination that feels more mystical than rationale.  Clams burrow beneath the rocks, but not too deep.  After pushing the rocks away, you dig down about six inches, all the while scanning for the precious clams my Mom favors steamed with a white wine bourdelaise.  Along the way, you find the other creatures that make their home in tidepools—starfish, sand castle worms, hermit crabs, sea anemone, muscles, barnacles, urchins and the occasional small fish or eel. As a child, I was more interested in looking at the critters in the tidepools than doing the hard work to find clams.  With the adults absorbed in gold digging, we kids had all the time in the world to explore the reef and get as wet and dirty as possible.  Heaven.

Yesterday, we took my girls (Anaya (10) and Maris (4)) clamming for the first time.  My Mom rented a house in Inverness, a small town on Tomales Bay in West Marin.  Unfortunately, there aren’t enough clams left in Bolinas to make the traditional pilgrimage, so my Dad has been looking for new spots.  Tomales Bay delivered.   The house was a hill hugger with a mid-century-modern vibe, hand fired tiles, exposed wood beams, expansive skylights, and tree-framed views of the bay from a wall of windows in the open living room.  The current owners’ parents built the house as a vacation home in 1980. They bought the lot for a few thousand dollars back in the day and then designed their dream home, a rambling cabin with multiple lofts, a deep bathtub, and an old-fashioned wood stove.  It’s a mix of dated carpets, worn futons, VHS tapes, and oddly stylish details like brass faucets and custom walls of windows to capture the treehouse views.  The girls immediately pick out loft beds in a snug little space that opens to the living area and entry.  While the kids arrange their clothes and toys just so, the adults snack off the coolers full of food my Mom  packed for our weekend getaway, fortifying themselves for the hard work to come.

The tide won’t be low enough for clamming until about 4 p.m., so we tool around Inverness for a while, explore the Point Reyes National Seashore, hike to McClures Beach, and marvel at the herds of Tule Elk grazing along the road.  At Fog’s Kitchen in Inverness we snack on brussels sprout tacos, clam chowder, and oysters before setting out with our hoes and buckets to Heart’s Desire Beach in Tomales Bay State Park, just as the tide hits its lowest point.

As the tide inches lower, the moon rises higher.  The bay is glassy under a sky streaked with rain clouds and patches of moonlight.  There’s a chill in the air, but it isn’t cold exactly, just crisp.  A few families play on the beach, wondering what we’re up to as we hike out with the retreating tide, decked out in rain gear.  My Dad explains, showing onlookers the basic method, patiently answering questions.  As we march out onto the reef, searching for the perfect spots to dig, the girls have all kinds of questions too.  Where do I dig?  How do I find a clam?  Will it hurt me?  They quickly get the hang of it. Dig, sift, rinse, bucket, repeat.

As I remember it, each adult digs their own hole, with the kids running around, supervising and exclaiming about things, before wandering away to play.  My kids prove to be much more industrious than I’d been.  Anaya surprises me with her focused foraging, quickly bucketing 15 clams of her own.  Maris peers in all the buckets, commenting on the collective progress and making sure everyone is doing their share.  We get lucky, harvesting over 125 clams between us in less than an hour out of only a few shallow holes.  As the sun dips below the horizon and the moon breaks through the clouds, we pile back in the car for the short drive back to our Inverness treehouse.  We sip wine at a large dining table overlooking the bay splashed with moonlight.  We play cards.  We go to sleep early, pleasantly tired, slightly aching from all the digging, dreaming of clams. 

Later this week, my Mom will prepare the feast—steamed clams, garlic bread, and a simple salad.  Just the way she’s been making it for decades.  Just the way my grandma and her sisters made it, and their mother before them.   I wonder if my kids will like steamed clams?  If they will appreciate the connection between their full moon labor and the food on their plates? Maybe not, but I have no doubt they’ll remember this quality time with their grandparents, muddy on the seashore, clamming beneath a rising full moon.

One of the challenges of introducing our family to snowboarding is the cost.  There’s no way to get around season tickets if you’re going more than a few times.  But, that’s just the beginning!  There’s gear to buy.  Travel to and from the coast takes gas and car upkeep.  Accommodation isn’t free, even at Happy Cabin.  After all of that, when I’m faced with basic lunch fare at the resort inching toward $20 a person, I start thinking of ways to cut costs.

My kids aren’t usually big eaters, but a day of snowboarding makes even the most finicky eaters ravenous.  Our local resort has pretty good food that looks even better when you’re starving.  How can I compete with fresh, hot French fries, steaming noodle bowls, plates of nachos, and pizza?  Here are some ideas for kid-tested, portable snacks and lunches you can tuck into pockets and day packs or stash in a locker. If you have time, consider laying out a simple “meal bar” in the morning with a station for putting together the main dish (like a sandwich, wrap, or burrito station with fixings), along with a few snack and dessert options.  My kids eat best when they’ve made the meal themselves—or at least had a hand in putting it together.  What do you feed your family when you’re out on the mountain?  Email me at happycabintahoe@gmail.com or leave your ideas in the comments. 

Drinks

HYDRATION PACK OF COOL WATER

All but the littlest kids can carry their own water in a lightweight hydration pack. This is also a good place to stash lunch, snacks, dry socks, and a walkie talkie for keeping in touch. We like the Osprey Pack Kids Moki  1.5 Liter Hydration Pack. 

THERMOS OF HOT WATER

It’s such a treat to enjoy a warm drink or meal on a cold day.  Pack a thermos of plain, hot water if lunch involves adding hot water to instant food like instant oatmeal, chili, or soup. Stash instant hot cocoa, apple cider, tea or coffee for a warm beverage on-the-go. If you’re in the market for a leak proof hot/cold thermos, the Camel Mate is a solid choice.  Some resorts, including our local resort (Northstar California) have complimentary hot water at the main lodges, making instant meals and drinks even easier.

HOT DRINKS

Fill a thermos with hot cocoa, hot apple cider, coffee, chai, or hot lemon water with ginger and honey.

JUICE/MILK BOXES

Main Course

PIZZA POCKETS

This is a filling meal you can put together the night before, or even the morning of if you’re organized.  Start with a round of pizza dough (store bought is fine) about 6-inches wide.  Slather on some sauce and sprinkle with shredded cheese.  Add your favorite fixings like pepperoni, salami, ham, mushrooms, olives, peppers, onion, or pineapple.  Fold into a half-moon, and use a fork to seal the edges.  Bake at 350 degrees for about 20 minutes (until the crust is golden brown).  Wrap with foil.  For a slightly fancier version, try these Cheesy Roasted Veggie Pockets from Foxes Love Lemons. Pro Tip: If you are using a thermal container to keep food warm, shape the pizza pockets to fit your container.

SANDWICH / WRAP

Turkey, ham, salami, cheese, peanut butter, jam, honey, hummus, and baked tofu are all good options.  Use a sturdy bread, roll, or tortilla as your base.  Keep the condiments light and avoid vegetables with a high water content like tomatoes and mixed greens so that the sandwiches don’t get soggy.  Wrap tightly in plastic or foil.

BURRITO

Use a sturdy tortilla as your base.  We use the smaller tortillas for a compact burrito that holds together well and is easy to eat on-the-go.  Black beans (seasoned slightly with salt), shredded cheese, and brown rice are our “go to” fillings, because they’re simple and keep well.  As with sandwiches, keep the condiments light and avoid vegetables with a high water content so that the burritos don’t get soggy.  Wrap with foil.

HOT SOUP / CHILI / PASTA

Pack a thermos with a warm main course. Homemade is great.  Try this Spiced Lentil Soup from Oh She Glows. But store-bought is good too.  We like the vegetarian chili and creamy tomato soup from Trader Joe’s.  A simple pasta with red sauce also keeps well.  Use a sturdy pasta, like penne or rigatoni cooked al dente.  Don’t forget to pack a spoon.

INSTANT OATMEAL / SOUP / CHILI / RAMEN

Cups of instant food make a welcome warm snack or meal.  For some delicious homemade instant soups, check out these 8 recipes for Instant Dry Soup Mixes at The Yummy Life. Don’t forget to pack a thermos of hot water and a spoon.

BAKED POTATOES

There’s the easy way and the hard way to enjoy a baked potato on the mountain.  Let’s start with the easy way.  Bake or microwave a russet potato.  While the potato is still hot, split it open and add salt or butter. Wrap in foil. Done. If you want to get a little more fancy, after you bake your potatoes, split them carefully down the middle, and scoop the flesh out into a large bowl.  Put out mashed broccoli, chives, sour cream, butter, salt, pepper, and bacon, and let people refill the potatoes themselves with the perfect fixings.  Microwave (60 seconds) or bake (15 minutes at 375 degrees) the finished product.  While the potato is still hot, put it back together and seal it up with foil. 

Snacks

HARD BOILED EGGS

This simple, protein-packed snack packs well and tastes great on its own or with a pinch of spice. If you don’t have a favorite method for hard-boiling eggs, try this boil-and-sit method from the Food Network for perfect hard-boiled eggs in just over 10 minutes. Sprinkle some salt, pepper, garlic salt, paprika, or what have you in a baggie, add a hard-boiled egg or two, and pack. When it’s time to eat, sprinkle the spices on your peeled egg and enjoy.

SNACK BARS

There are so many delicious snack bars out there.  We gravitate toward Kind Bars or the old-school Nature Valley Crunchy Granola Bars you can get in bulk at Costco.  If you prefer homemade, these granola bars from Salted Plains are a healthy choice.

TRAIL MIX

Pre-made trail mix is an easy option if there’s one everyone likes, but my family members have very different tastes. Some like it salty (me), some like it sweet (Maris). There are the nut lovers (Eben) and the nut haters (Anaya).  What works best for us is to put out the raw ingredients and let everyone pack their own bag.  Our staple ingredients include a few different kinds of nuts (like salted cashews, roasted almonds, peanuts, or pistachios), a selection of dried fruit (like cranberries, raisins, or coconut flakes), and a small treat (like chocolate chips, M&Ms, or yogurt-covered raisins).  For some inspiration, check out this  DIY trail mix bar from Bless This Mess Please.

VEGETABLES

Rinsed and dried carrots, bell pepper strips, or snap peas keep well in baggies or plastic containers.

FRESH FRUIT

Whole apples, oranges and cuties are the least likely to get squished.

PRETZEL STICKS

CHEESE STICKS

JERKY

YOGURT

Enjoy in cups, sealed plastic containers, or pre-packaged for easy eating, like the Yogurt Squishers from Trader Joe’s.

NUTS

DRIED FRUIT

We like apricots, raisins, pineapple, cranberries, and dehydrated apples.

Dessert

COOKIES / BROWNIES

Homemade are great, but store-bought work too.  If you have time to make a batch of something, try these Chewy Chocolate Chip Cookies from Allrecipes.

CHOCOLATE

A few squares of chocolate (or even a whole bar to share) makes an easy, delicious treat. 

Keep It Warm

If you really want to enjoy a hot meal, the best bet is to go with an instant food that re-hydrates with hot water or make something that will fit easily in a quality thermos like this Classic Insulated Food Jar from Stanley. If you want to pack a few different things, consider the CONIQ Qore Stackable Stainless Steel Insulated Food Jar with Fold-Out Spoon, with two different hot food compartments that stack together into a thermos-shaped container for easy transport.

To visit Happy Cabin during your trip to North Lake Tahoe / Tahoe Vista / Kings Beach, click here.

It’s New Year’s Day, time for resolutions. At Happy Cabin, we resolve to spend quality time together, eat well, and play more. Last year, we chipped away at these goals, in part by launching Happy Cabin. We envisioned a place where we could make memories as a family, reconnect with nature, and unplug from the demands of our daily lives. We may have underestimated just how much work it would take to get Happy Cabin off the ground.

Happy Cabin came furnished, with years of history crammed into closets and drawers, dirty carpets, and a hodge-podge of bed frames, throw pillows, crockery, and dressers that didn’t make sense together. A heavy edit was required. There was a lot of handiwork, from floor laying to painting and cleaning. Happy Cabin needed a forced air heating system and tankless water heater to be comfortable. We had to buy and move furniture in and out, stock the kitchen, search for the perfect linens, design art for the walls, and give Grandpa moral support while he built the redwood bunk beds. A lot of thought went into how to make the cabin stylish and comfortable without completely breaking the bank.

In the meantime, Eben and I both worked our “normal” jobs, tucking the Happy Cabin task list into weekends, after-hours, and vacation days. The kids’ extra-curriculars didn’t stop for our new project. There was still school, dance, gymnastics, homework… Frankly, it took a lot out of us. Sometimes, the “Happy Cabin” sign over the door seemed more ironic than anything else. Between the sweat, tears, sleepless nights, and endless driving, I sometimes asked myself, “What have we done?!” What have we done?

Last night, after work, Eben and I went to the Dollar Store and picked up balloons, noise makers, and party hats. Appropriately enough, the balloons had happy faces on them. We tucked the happy-face balloons into garbage bags hung from the chandeliers, put on the party hats and jewelry, and turned on the TV to watch the ball drop in Times Square. Except it never happened. Instead, midnight in New York City came and went without the countdown, which Eben and I both agreed had never happened in the history of our longish lives. What to do? We were all dressed up with nowhere to go, the children poised to celebrate, the balloons perched precariously above our heads. We made the executive decision to start counting. 10, 9, 8, 7, 6, 5, 4, 3, 2, 1. Fumble with the scissors. Toss balloons at the kids. Toot the noisemaker. HAPPY NEW YEAR!

Eben and I made complete fools of ourselves, trying to sell a New Year’s celebration at what was essentially 9:06 p.m. Maris danced around delightedly, floating balloons, and tooting songs. Anaya was initially perplexed by the ridiculousness of the situation but eventually caught the spirit, joining in a balloon fight. And, at the end of it all, Eben pulled me into a hug, and said, “Look what we’ve done.” For a minute, I thought he meant the disaster we’d made of our living room. “We have these two amazing kids, this home, a cabin. We could have never imagined…”

We could have never imagined. Every year of my life has brought wild surprises. I suppose this year will be no different. No matter what we resolve, or how much we plan, or how much we desire things to be a certain way, life is capricious. All I know is that, at 9:06 p.m. last night, my heart swelled with love and gratitude and hope. 2019, I’m ready for you.

Happiness isn’t always obvious. Sometimes, it’s hidden beneath years of clutter and you have to do some renovation to find it. Sometimes it takes work, a lot of work, so much work that you forget why you started this project in the first place. Sometimes, it’s not at all what you were expecting. But then, there you are, laughing, getting clobbered by happy-face balloons. HAPPY NEW YEAR!

To visit Happy Cabin during your trip to North Lake Tahoe / Tahoe Vista / Kings Beach, click here.

A unique libation, like a certain smell, can be completely transportive. There are few cocktails as unique as the pisco sour, a Peruvian concoction made from egg whites, lime juice, simple syrup, bitters and, the key ingredient, pisco. Just the smell of pisco takes me back to a candle-lit tavern in Pisco, Peru, with rough-hewn, wooden tables and American rock playing from a time-worn jukebox, a bustling mix of turistas and locales savoring the local specialty over animated conversation. My friend, Heidi, and I had traveled hundreds of miles in rickety buses to get here, drawn by the promise of a perfect pisco sour, more or less on our way to the mysterious Nazca lines. The pisco sour did not disappoint. Pisco has a flavor unlike anything I’ve had before. Pisco is a fermented wine, made from grapes, and then distilled until the alcohol content is between 38% and 48%--about the same proof as tequila. The flavor is sharp, fruity, and utterly unique.

Last night, I had the distinct pleasure of sharing pisco sours with my cousin and her husband in my living room, not quite tavern, lit by salt crystal lamps and a dying fire, not candles, with no jukebox playing American rock but lots of animated conversation. The kids Kung-fu danced on the Wii and snuck espresso-chocolate caramels, while we caught up on our busy lives, reminisced about old times, and schemed futures involving less work, more play, and more frequent visits, please. I miss you!

Pisco sours are not for everyday drinking. For one, pisco is not so easy to come by in the States. (We’d brought back a few bottles from Peru). For two, pisco sours include egg whites, requiring the additional step of separating an egg, which in my mind elevates this cocktail to “special occasion fare.” For three, pisco sours are sneaky. They go down easy, a little too easy, especially in good company, potentially leading to next-morning regrets. No regrets here, though. Sharing one of my favorite cocktails with a few of my favorite people was the perfect way to transition into the new year.

Just in case you have occasion to transport yourself with a few good friends, here’s a basic recipe (perfected last night) to get you started:

Pisco Sour

INGREDIENTS

2 oz. Pisco

1 egg white

1 oz. simple syrup

1 oz. fresh lime juice

1 cup ice

Bitters

PREPARATION

Put everything into a cocktail shaker and shake until cold and frothy. Strain into glasses, top with a few dashes of bitters, and enjoy.

To visit Happy Cabin during your trip to North Lake Tahoe / Tahoe Vista / Kings Beach, click here.

snow play at Zephyr Lodge

Perched at 8,000 feet, Zephyr Lodge has a full bar with fresh-squeezed grapefruit juice for salty dogs, buckets of savory French fries, and tasty noodle bowls.  If you are skiing or boarding, you take a chairlift to get there, but there are also a few gondola cars on the Zephyr Express for sightseers.  We took one of those.  For starters, the gondola ride is picturesque as you glide quietly to the top of the mountain through a gentle snowfall. You might even see your Dad whizzing down the mountain on a snowboard if you time it just right.  At the top, it’s a short walk through the snow to the lodge, which has everything you’d expect from a modern ski lodge (food, drinks, a small gear shop), along with something the other Northstar lodges lack—stunning views of the backside of the mountain and the mountains beyond. I put a few tables together at a window, bought hot chocolates and fries, and watched the kids through the window as they built a small, squat snowman in front of the lodge.  Every now and then, they’d come in to read a book, play with their toys, or warm up.  Eventually, they coaxed me out into the snow to help them build a snow slide and make snow angels. When the girls got bored with snow play, we took gondolas back to the village.

Ice skate

The 9,000 square foot ice skating rink in the heart of Northstar Village is surrounded by cushy sofas around fire pits for lounging.  An open air bar sells cocktails and s’mores kits. It’s a pleasant place to sit and watch the world go by, even if you aren’t skating.  My kids wanted to skate.  Anaya used real ice skates.  For littler kids like Maris, I recommend bringing double-runner strap-on skates like these.  Strap the runners on to your child’s tennis shoes or boots to give her the feel of ice skating and help her get her balance without the frustration and falls of the real thing.

Go tubing

Northstar has a fun tubing run for kids 42-inches and up. Your hourly ticket gets you access to the tow lift and a 200-foot, J-shaped tubing run with three whoops for thrills. Buy tickets early at the lift ticket windows to reserve your spot.

Explore the toy store

Northstar Village has a charming toy store called Ambassador Toys that specializes in classic toys (no electronics, no computers, no buzzers).  I tasked my girls with picking out a game we could play while we waited for Eben to finish boarding. We ended up with a set of 6 classic card games (including Go Fish, Old Maid and Slap Jack). Good, old-fashioned fun.

Play a game

There’s a big, cozy Starbucks right across from the ice skating rink.  Anaya and I sipped hot drinks and played cards, while Maris napped in my lap.  If it’s nice out, you can play checkers on the kids table outside Ambassador Toys. 

Bag a treat

Euro Sweets, the candy store by the ice skating rink, has tubs of candy and jelly beans for mixing and matching a buy-by-the-pound treat. For a healthier option, try the soft-serve frozen yogurt.

Catch a movie

Village Cinemas, right in Northstar Village, has 2 cinema screens with stadium seating and new releases.  When we were there, they were showing Spiderman and Aquaman.  Cuddle up with a bucket of popcorn and enjoy.

arts & crafts

The Villager Candle Shop offers candle, soap, mosaic and stuffed bear making in a cute, kid-friendly studio in the village.

Trampoline

Above the village, at the Village Central Overlook, you’ll find a bungee trampoline like the kind they have at county fairs.  I tuckered my kids out before they could try it, but I have it in my hip pocket for the next time we’re wandering around the village looking for fun.  

To visit Happy Cabin during your trip to North Lake Tahoe / Tahoe Vista / Kings Beach, click here.

A few days before Christmas, we snuck up to Northstar California Resort in North Lake Tahoe to give the girls their first snowboard lessons and take our new equipment for a whirl. I was a little apprehensive about how just-turned-4 Maris would do in a lesson. We’ve spent the last month or so getting her familiar with her Burton Riglet snowboard, mostly in our living room and on the beach. But this was her first time trying her tiny snowboard on the slopes and only maybe her fourth time ever seeing snow. So, who knows?

We got to the resort early to get Maris acclimated. Ten-year-old Anaya was also taking a lesson. The instructors assured us they’d be in the same area, so Anaya could give Maris moral support if needed. And off they went.

I’m just learning how to snowboard too, so after a few runs I was ready to head over to the “Big Easy” and watch the girls. When I found Maris, she was using a snowboard with metal rails, not her Burton Riglet. What gives? It turns out that, although the Riglet works on snow and is great for getting the hang of things at home and in the Riglet parks, Maris needed a more traditional snowboard with metal rails to learn how to turn on the slopes. Something more like the Burton Chicklet snowboard. Which means we need more gear. . . Ouch.

The good news is, when I first checked-in, Maris was laughing and rolling around in the snow between short runs on almost-flat ground. By mid-morning, she already knew how to take her snowboard off and on and could slide down the hill by herself with an instructor nearby to catch her before she fell. Up on the bigger hill above, I watched Anaya learning how to get down the hill without falling and try a few turns. Pretty soon, Maris was riding the magic carpet to mid-mountain and sliding back down, almost by herself. In-between runs, she and a little boy chased each other and tumbled in the snow.

At the end of the day, which ran from 9 a.m. to 3:20 p.m. with a lunch break, Maris’s instructor Shannon reported that she was the youngest one out there today and did “great.” She was a little cautious on the steeper part of the slope and wanted the instructor by her side for security, but she basically got it, making her way down the hill and even learning how to steer a little bit. “How was it?” I asked. “It was so fun, Mom. I know how to snowboard now!” Next up, shredding. Or at least a turn or two.

This is Part III in a series chronicling our preschooler Maris’s snowboarding journey. For Part I, click here. For Part II, click here.

To visit Happy Cabin during your trip to North Lake Tahoe / Tahoe Vista / Kings Beach, click here.

Staying at a vacation rental is not at all like staying in a hotel. Often in good ways. Sometimes in bad--or at least unexpected--ways. Over the years, we’ve stayed in a variety of hotels and rentals in different parts of the world, from roadside dives and funky hipcamps to fancy resorts and high-end condos.  What I like about higher end hotels is their predictability.  I know I’ll find a good mattress, an assortment of pillows, a coffee maker, and a clean bathroom.  The smells will be antiseptic but not unsettling.  There will be someone standing by to assist if I need advice about local transport or something goes wrong.  What I don’t like about hotels, even the nicest ones, is that they tend to be pretty generic—mass-produced art and lowest-common-denominator style.  Everyone’s a visitor, so there’s that permanent “just passing through” feel.  Most hotels are located in touristy areas rather than local neighborhoods.  It’s easy to have a tourist experience and think that’s what the place is all about, when in reality locals are leading a completely different (and fun) life in a distant neighborhood that you’ll never hear about—often at a fraction of the cost.

Vacation rentals, while often unique, can be a little too unpredictable.  We’ve had some amazing experiences. In Joshua Tree, under a full summer moon, the official campsites were completely full, so we went on Hipcamp and AirBNB to find an alternative.  We ended up on a mountaintop overlooking the desert where a young man and his Mom had opened up an overflow camp, spanning several acres of rock formations, cacti, and Joshua trees.  There was a communal kitchen with firepits bustling with travelers from all over the world, clean porta-potties that smelled like lavender, and moonlight hiking with strategically placed solar-powered lights to guide the way.   Our host bustled from camp to camp, getting to know everyone and spreading the communal vibe.  The whole experience felt like an impromptu slumber party of magical seekers who’d been edged out of Joshua Tree into something far better.  And, of course, we’ve had the opposite experience too. In Kauai, we paid top dollar to stay in a 70s-style condominium in a sad complex that smelled like roach killer and cigarettes.  It was advertised as “high-end Aloha!”  In Arizona, our “tiny home on the river” turned out to be a drab-colored pre-fab in a trailer park. 

We’ve tried to make Happy Cabin a pleasant surprise—not quite a Joshua Tree hipcamp full of interesting strangers but definitely not “high-end Aloha!” or drab.  We’ve incorporated details we appreciate at nice hotels—plentiful hot water, quality linens, an assortment of pillows, shampoo, conditioner and soap, a starter supply of coffee, a coffee maker, and a clean, fresh vibe.  That said, packing a few extras is often just the thing to make someone else’s second home feel like home to you.  Here’s a short list of things to consider packing when you visit Happy Cabin. 

favorite toy for each child

There’s a basket of toys in the closet if you’re in a pinch, but there’s nothing quite like a well-loved stuffie or book to help the kids settle in.

Board games

We have a solid selection of the classics, but board game traditions run deep. Bring something you know the whole family will enjoy.

DVDs/Blu-rays/streaming flicks for movie night

Large Smart TVs in the living room and bunkroom are ready for streaming Fire TV, Netflix and other popular options. 

Spices & condiments

We stock the basics (salt, pepper, vinegar and oil) plus a few extras (popcorn toppers, cinnamon, garlic salt), but my family can be quite particular with spices and hot sauces depending on the menu.  It doesn’t hurt to pack your favorites.

Coffee supplies

We provide coffee & creamer for your first morning and an automatic coffee maker, but if you have a favorite brand and want it pressed or dripped, it’s a good idea to bring your own set-up. 

Special pillow

Happy Cabin has a good selection of high-quality linens and pillows but I happen to very particular about my pillow. If you’re the same way, pack it.

Beach or snow toys

We try to keep some sand toys and a sled in the storage shed, but it doesn’t hurt to bring a few extras.

Lawn games

We often stock a few lawn games in the storage shed but, if you have your heart set on something in particular, bring it. On sunny days, the lawn behind Happy Cabin is a great space for lounging and playing lawn games.

Pet supplies

A bed, food, toys, leash, and pick-up bags will help your pet feel at home too.

Infant/toddler supplies

Bring diapers, a changing pad, a bassinet, baby gates, a baby monitor, and all of the other things you use on the daily at home. While Happy Cabin is child-friendly, we decided it would be safest to let parents bring the gear they are most familiar with.

Homemade treats

Make a batch of chocolate chip cookies like these from Crazy for Crust, walnut fudge along the lines of this 15-minute version from Once Upon a Chef, or these Easy One-Bowl Blondies from Five Heart Home for a welcome taste of home.

Toiletries

We provide a starter supply of shampoo, conditioner, and soap but you might feel more comfortable with your usual brands.

Water bottles & thermoses

You’ll find an assortment of glasses and mugs at the cabin, but you may want to pack some containers for taking your drinks to-go.

Sunscreen

Whatever the season, sun protection is a must at Lake Tahoe. If you’re not sure what to look for in a high-altitude sunscreen, check out our guide to winter sun protection.

Cell phone charger

We provide the outlets, and you do the rest.

Lake Tahoe playlist

You’ll find audio set-ups for streaming in the living room and bunkroom. Put together a playlist on iTunes or Spotify to create just the right vibe.

Vinyl

Happy Cabin has a turntable for spinning records. We’ve stocked a good selection to get you started, but if you want to hear something special, bring it along.

hot drinks

We like to keep hot chocolate and starter coffee on hand, but that’s just the beginning. What about apple cider, eggnog, or hot toddy fixings? Here are some of our favorites.

To visit Happy Cabin during your trip to North Lake Tahoe / Tahoe Vista / Kings Beach, click here.

Hang a holiday wreath on your front door to welcome guests, add style, and spread cheer. Consider making the wreath yourself, particularly if you have some tiny helpers looking for a holiday project. I never would have thought I could make a wreath before I tried it. At my 10-year old daughter’s “holiday night” at school, a group of crafty parents turned the library into a wreath-making station. They put a few big tables together and covered them with pine branches, ribbon, wire clothes hangers, florist wire, and wire cutters. It turns out that’s all you need to make a unique holiday wreath. Just add warm drinks and a few friends, and your wreath is all but done. My 10-year old can manage the whole project herself, while my 4-year-old loves looking for just the right branch or ribbon to adorn the wreath as it grows. Here’s a simple tutorial for making a basic holiday wreath without a lot of fuss.

Basic Holiday Wreath

EQUIPMENT

Wire clothes hanger

Greens (like pine, eucalyptus, magnolia, holly branches, citrus leaves, or stalks of fresh rosemary)

Florist wire (wrapped on a paddle)

Wired floral picks (optional, for adding adornments like ornaments or sprigs of holly)

Glue gun (optional, for making bows)

Ribbon (optional, for making bows or wrapping your wreath)

Ornaments (optional, for decorating your wreath)

Flowers (optional, real or faux for decorating your wreath)

METHOD

1. Bend the wire clothes hangar into a circle, leaving the hangar intact for hanging your wreath. This is your frame.

2. Attach florist wire to the frame, leaving the wire on the paddle so that you can continue wrapping your wreath using a continuous strand of wire.

3. Add a small bundle of greenery to the frame and wrap it with the florist wire, leaving the wire on the paddle. This is your starting point.

4. Layer another small bundle of greenery on top of the first bundle, again wrapping the greenery with the florist wire, leaving the wire on the paddle.

5. Using this same method, keep adding greenery to the frame, creating a base layer of greenery.

6. When you get to the starting point, tuck the florist wire under the frame, secure it with a knot, and snip it with the wire cutters.

You now have a simple green wreath. You can stop here for a clean look, but this is where we like to add some adornments, like ribbon, bows, sprigs of holly, berries or small ornaments. If you want to add a bow to your wreath, use a glue gun and ribbon to make one that’s just the right size and style. Use the wire floral picks to attach bows, sprigs, pine cones, and ornaments. Hang your wreath and enjoy!

To visit Happy Cabin during your trip to North Lake Tahoe / Tahoe Vista / Kings Beach, click here.

It took me a while to figure out my holiday candy niche.  My Mom is like an elf around Christmas, bustling around the kitchen with trays of candies and plates of cheesecake.  She makes the same things each year:  peanut butter & chocolate bars, Almond Roca, black walnut fudge, Russian cream and cheesecake.  When I was little, she made only the Almond Roca.  She got that recipe from one of the other emergency room nurses at a holiday potluck.  It was an instant hit.  Mom’s repertoire evolved as the years went on.  The black walnut fudge started because it was my Grandpa Bill’s favorite.  It keeps showing up because it reminds us of him (and it’s delicious).  The Russian cream was my Grandma Joyce’s specialty.  Mom took it over when Grandma Joyce couldn’t make it anymore.  It’s so good that my Mom gets special requests for it all year long.  The cheesecake is Grandma Joyce’s too.  It’s the perfect cheesecake, creamy, tangy and not too sweet.  It really only works when my Mom makes it, so she’s stuck with that too.  I have no idea where Mom got the recipe for the peanut butter & chocolate bars, but that’s basically a tray of Reese’s peanut butter cups cut into thick chunks.  Christmas decadence at its finest.  So, I kind of had big shoes to fill.  What in the world could I make to compete with all of that?  No pressure, but Christmas treats have to be over-the-top delicious in our house for anyone to bother with them.  I struggled for a while, feeling my way along.

Before my gluten allergy was diagnosed, I made apple pies.  Yummy, but nobody is going to pass that recipe on to their kids. I still make those pies with a gluten free crust, but they are not quite flashy enough for Christmas dessert.  I have two treats right now that are contenders for my legacy.  The first is salted apple caramels, similar to these at King Arthur Flour but dusted with fleur de sel.  Apples are a theme for me because my family and I live on a farm with over 20 apple trees.  It’s a challenge to figure out what to do with them all.  I first made these about 5 years ago, along with a bunch of other caramel experiments, including chocolate and coffee caramels.  So far, the salted apple caramels are a keeper, sweet, rich and salty with just a twinge of apple goodness. It’s the perfect after-dinner treat with a steaming hot latte.  My second offering is rum balls.  There are a lot of variations on this particular dessert, from cookie-inspired confections like these from Taste of Home to “healthy” rum balls made with dates and coconut like these vegan rum balls from Running on Real Food.  Mine are basically spiked chocolate truffles dipped in chocolate.  For Christmas, they get dressed up with red and green sprinkles.  The main ingredient, of course, is LOTS of spiced rum, enough that these are carefully labeled “Adults Only” at our Christmas Eve party.  Now, when I arrive at the party, the first thing people ask is, “Where are the rum balls?”  I think that’s a good sign.

Here is my legacy recipe for Boozy Chocolate Rum Balls.  I’d love to hear about your signature holiday dessert.  Drop me a line at happycabintahoe@gmail.com, or leave a comment. To visit Happy Cabin during your trip to North Lake Tahoe / Tahoe Vista / Kings Beach, click here.

Boozy Chocolate Rum Balls

INGREDIENTS

1 chocolate cake (gluten-free and/or from a cake mix is fine)

¼ cup cocoa powder

¼ cup spiced dark rum (like Kraken Black Spiced Rum)

2 cups powder sugar

1 bag chocolate chips or melting wafers (like Ghirardelli dark chocolate wafers)

shortening

sprinkles

PREPARATION

1. Bake the cake, and let it cool off completely before crumbling it into a big mixing bowl. 

2. Add powder sugar, rum, and cocoa powder and mix well, using clean fingers to break everything up if needed.  (My kids love this part…)

3. Roll the rum balls to about the size of a large gumball, and place them on a tray or baking sheet lined with wax paper.

4. Put the rum balls in the freezer while you prepare the chocolate coating.

5. In a double boiler, melt the chocolate, gently stirring as you go. 

6. Stir the chocolate until it gets to the right consistency—silky and glossy so that it just drips off a spoon.

7. Take the rum balls out of the freezer and dip them in the chocolate. This part has been tricky for me over the years, involving lots of trial and error (especially error!). My current strategy is to balance the rum ball on a fork and dunk it in the chocolate. Once the rum ball is coated, I carefully remove it from the chocolate, and tap the fork against the side of the pot to remove the extra chocolate.

8.  Gently slide the the chocolate-covered rum ball onto a pan lined with wax paper or parchment, and touch it up with a little chocolate if needed.

9. Add sprinkles while the chocolate is still glossy and wet.

10. Rinse and repeat.

Why shortening?  Sometimes the chocolate gets goopy, when it should be silky, especially if you use chocolate chips instead of melting wafers. I’ve found that I can save the chocolate by adding a half-teaspoon or so of shortening and stirring gently.  I often double this recipe around the holidays to make plenty of rum balls and use the extra chocolate to dunk caramels and marshmallows.

Enjoy!

To visit Happy Cabin during your trip to North Lake Tahoe / Tahoe Vista / Kings Beach, click here.

I’m always intrigued by people’s different approaches to holiday decorating. For some, it’s a chance to display family heirlooms and memory pieces. For others, it’s all about fresh, natural accents, like homemade wreaths, sprays of berries and pine garland. Still others take a curated approach, creating Pinterest-worthy tablescapes to match custom pillows and themed Christmas trees. I like all of these styles. What makes them all work is that they mean something to their creators. They capture a memory, express something personal, or aspire to create a certain feeling, like peace, cozy, or joy.

Our holiday home is a hodgepodge of hand-me-downs, kid crafts, and a few special pieces from our travels, like this Nativity scene found at an artisans stall in Pisac, Peru. The big event is the Christmas tree, which turns out differently each year depending on which boxes get pulled and how the kids decide to style it. We always cut it ourselves, so that December smells like pine. Old dollar store stockings, personalized with glitter glue, trim the mantel. Our Jerry Garcia doll gets a Santa hat.

My Mom takes a more traditional approach to holiday decorations, with gold-rimmed China, a flickering white Christmas tree, and hand-made stockings for the girls. A centerpiece of her holiday home is a nutcracker collection drawn from gorgeous pieces imported from Europe and shabbier examples from the discount racks. Most of the nutcrackers came from my Grandmas, one a Norwegian homemaker with excellent taste and the other a flea market regular with an eye for bargains. My kids have always been fascinated by Grandma Oranges’ collection, now more than ever since Anaya was cast in the nutcracker militia in this year’s Nutcracker ballet. Last year, my Mom gave the girls their own big Nutcracker. Our first! This year, he sternly protects our fireplace, a new tradition that nods to the old.

Happy Cabin is a clean slate when it comes to holiday decor. We’ve never had a second-home before, let alone a log cabin. Season by season, we are making our traditions. Since we share the cabin with guests, it’s important to us that me embrace all the winter traditions, not just Christmas. Whether our guests celebrate Hanukkah, Diwali, Kwanzaa or something else, we want them to feel right at home. Does that rule out a Christmas tree? I’m not sure yet. This year, we are keeping things neutral while we think about how to strike the right balance. In the meantime, I’m feeding my imagination with other people’s visions of a log cabin holiday. I particularly like Architecture Art Design’s collection of log cabins decked out for the holidays. Do you have ideas for us? I’d love to hear them. Drop me a line at happycabintahoe@gmail.com. Or leave a comment. To visit Happy Cabin during your trip to North Lake Tahoe / Tahoe Vista / Kings Beach, click here.

Being from a beach town, you’d think my family would have the sunscreen routine down.  But, let’s be honest, Santa Cruz isn’t exactly the sunniest place in the world.  June gloom persists through most of the summer.  Our warmest days come in autumn and spring, before and after the rainy months, when it’s not exactly bikini weather. And, all year long, with or without sun, the ocean is freezing cold, requiring thick wetsuits for anything beyond a quick dip. Usually, we make do with a thin application of sunscreen on faces and bare legs or arms once in the morning and before and after pool or beach time.  At Happy Cabin, that’s not going to cut it! 

With an average of 307 days of sun per a year in the Lake Tahoe Basin, the chance of having a sunny day at Happy Cabin is 84%.  Plus, it’s easier to get sunburned at high altitudes because there’s less atmosphere to block the sun’s rays.  That means we’re going to have to seriously up our sun protection game to safely enjoy our first North Lake Tahoe winter.  I’ve rounded up the latest intel on high-altitude winter sun protection to make sure my family is protected, whether making snow forts in the backyard or snowboarding at our local resort.  Here’s what I’ve learned:

Tips for Staying Sun-Safe During the Winter

1. Cover up as much as possible, with long-sleeve clothing, gloves, hats, helmets, sunglasses or goggles

2. Wear sunscreen even if the sun’s not shining

3. Apply sunscreen to your entire face, ears and neck

4. Reapply sun protection every few hours

5. Take breaks out of the sun, under awnings or in the lodge

6. Keep infants and children out of the sun as much as possible

7.   Wear sunglasses or googles with 99 percent or greater UV protection

8. Limit the time you spend outdoors during the most intense sunlight, between 10 a.m. and 4 p.m.

What to Look for in a Winter Sunscreen

1. Choose a broad-spectrum sunscreen with a sun protection factor (SPF) of between 30 and 50

2. Choose a physical sunscreen with zinc oxide or titanium dioxide rather than a chemical sunscreen with benzones

3. Avoid sunscreens with oxybenzone, an allergen and a hormone disruptor

4. Avoid sunscreens with retinyl palmitate, a form of vitamin A that may harm your skin

5. Avoid spray-on sunscreens, which pose an inhalation risk and can easily be applied too lightly

6. Consider a small-profile sunscreen that tucks into a pocket for regular application throughout the day

Which Sunscreen Should You Buy?

The Environmental Working Group, a nonprofit devoted to empowering people to live healthier lives in a healthier environment, has put together a handy sunscreen guide that includes products that meet EWG’s strict criteria, which include many of the guidelines listed here. You can even enter your favorite sunscreen to find out how it rates.

If you have a favorite sunscreen for winter adventures, I’d love to hear about it.  Drop me a line at happycabintahoe@gmail.com or leave a comment. To visit Happy Cabin during your trip to North Lake Tahoe / Tahoe Vista / Kings Beach, click here.

The winter holidays are almost here, and with them come our favorite traditions. In our family, we tailgate at the summit of the Santa Cruz mountains before setting out to find the perfect Christmas tree, make trays of rum balls and salted caramels for holiday parties, gather the extended family together for a Christmas Eve feast, and eagerly await Santa’s arrival. We celebrate Christmas and New Year’s Eve, but we love to be included in the celebrations of other winter holidays, like Hanukkah, Winter Solstice, Diwali, Kwanzaa, St. Lucia Day, Three King’s Day, and Chinese New Year. What I appreciate about all these holidays is their focus on bringing light into the darkness of the long winter days, spreading joy through food, charity and gifts, and gathering together with loved ones for meals and storytelling.

The winter holidays are especially magical in North Lake Tahoe where the early storms transform the landscape into a winter wonderland, draped with icicles and blanketed with snow. This natural beauty is bejeweled by festive lights, decorations, and Christmas trees. Many families incorporate a visit to North Lake Tahoe into their winter traditions. The earth offers up the best fun all winter long, from snowboarding and skiing at the local resorts to snowy walks and moonlit snowshoe excursions. From early December through New Year’s Day, North Lake Tahoe puts on a festive holiday celebration with theater, music, crafts, games, festivals, sleigh rides, movies, stories, train rides, and feasts. This calendar lists some of our favorite family-friendly holiday events happening within a short drive of Happy Cabin. If you have something you’d like to add, leave a comment or drop me a note at happycabintahoe@gmail.com.

Saturday, December 1

5 p.m. to 7 p.m. Annual Tree Lighting. North Tahoe Events Center (King’s Beach).

Get in the holiday spirit with a tree lighting party, featuring photos with Santa and Mrs. Claus, live holiday music performances by local youth, holiday crafts, soup, hot cocoa and more. Fun for all ages. No cost.

sunday, december 2

3 p.m. to 4 p.m. Art of Mixology. Ritz Carlton Lake Tahoe (Truckee).

Learn how to make three unique cocktails paired with appetizers using freshly cut herbs and classic ingredients such as bitters and infused liquors. Age 21+. Call 530-562-3000 ext. 3051 for a reservation. $60 per person.

Thursday, December 6

5 p.m. to 8 p.m. Northstar Silent Nights. Northstar Village Skating Rink.

Grab some skates and a headset and tune into the movie being shown on the Village stage, or switch channels to holiday tunes as you ice skate under the stars. No cost.

Various Times. Tahoe Film Festival. North Lake Tahoe.

Tahoe Film Festival begins with a showing of The Push at Incline Village Cinema and The Biggest Little Farm at Truckee Community Arts Center.

Friday, December 7

5 p.m. to 8 p.m. Noel Nights. Northstar Village.

Celebrate the holidays at The Village with horse-drawn sleigh rides, outdoor ice skating, pictures with Santa and s’mores and hot cocoa by the fire pits. No cost.

4 p.m. to 8 p.m. Festive Fridays. Downtown Truckee.

Stroll around beautifully-lit downtown and finish your holiday shopping with special promotions and discounts. Participating merchants will hold a Scavenger Hunt, a fun way for the family to explore shops and earn prizes and discounts. No cost.

Various Times. Tahoe Film Festival. North Lake Tahoe.

Tahoe Film Festival continues with a showing of Roma at Incline Village Cinema and Free Solo at Truckee Community Arts Center among others.

Saturday, December 8

9:45 a.m. to 1 p.m. Santa's Fly-In. Truckee Tahoe Airport.

Bring the family to the airport at 10 a.m. to watch Santa fly in on a special plane. Afterward, the kids can visit with Santa and Mrs. Claus, and take a holiday photo. Hot chocolate and treats provided. No cost.

Various Times. Tahoe Film Festival. North Lake Tahoe.

Tahoe Film Festival continues with a showing of Free Solo at Truckee Community Arts Center and Bethany Hamilton: Unstoppable at Northstar Cinema among others.

Sunday, December 9

10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Elves’ Workshop. Community Arts Center (Truckee).

Children 4 and up can join the elves to make gifts for their friends and family, listen to stories, and play. Each child can complete up to six individual crafts, while the adults shop for unique holiday gifts in the gift shop, bid on items from ski passes to wine baskets at the silent auction, and enjoy drinks, food, coffee, and treats. No cost.

3 p.m. to 4 p.m. Art of Mixology. Ritz Carlton Lake Tahoe (Truckee).

Learn how to make three unique cocktails paired with appetizers using freshly cut herbs and classic ingredients such as bitters and infused liquors. Age 21+. Call 530-562-3000 ext. 3051 for a reservation. $60 per person.

Various Times. Tahoe Film Festival. North Lake Tahoe.

Tahoe Film Festival continues with a showing of The Other Side of the Wind at Incline Village Cinema and This Changes Everything at Northstar Cinema among others.

Thursday, December 13

3 p.m. to 4 p.m. Art of Mixology. Ritz Carlton Lake Tahoe (Truckee).

Learn how to make three unique cocktails paired with appetizers using freshly cut herbs and classic ingredients such as bitters and infused liquors. Age 21+. Call 530-562-3000 ext. 3051 for a reservation. $40 per person.

5 p.m. to 8 p.m. Northstar Silent Nights. Northstar Village Skating Rink.

Grab some skates and a headset and tune into the movie being shown on the Village stage, or switch channels to holiday tunes as you ice skate under the stars. No cost.

Friday, December 14

6 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. The Twisted Nutcracker & The Tale of the Rat King. Olympic Village Lodge.

Truckee Dance Factory puts on an upbeat twist on the classic production with bar service and appetizers. The pre-show reception, starting at 6, includes wine, beer, appetizers, a preview performance, and upgraded seat selection. $15-$40.

5 p.m. to 8 p.m. Noel Nights. Northstar Village.

Celebrate the holidays with horse-drawn sleigh rides, outdoor ice skating, pictures with Santa and s’mores and hot cocoa by the fire pits. No cost.

4 p.m. to 8 p.m. Festive Fridays. Downtown Truckee.

Stroll around beautifully-lit downtown and finish your holiday shopping with special promotions and discounts. Participating merchants will hold a Scavenger Hunt, a fun way for the family to explore shops and earn prizes and discounts. Sip and shop, as business throughout downtown offer warm drinks and holiday specials. No cost.

Saturday, December 15

12 p.m. to 4 p.m. Donner Memorial State Park Open House. Donner Memorial State Park (Truckee).

Enjoy live music, crafts, storytelling, and guided history and nature walks at this family-friendly holiday open house. No cost.

4 p.m. to 7p.m. Great Basin Carolers in the Village. The Village at Squaw Valley.

Live carolers in traditional dress. No cost.

7 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. The Twisted Nutcracker & The Tale of the Rat King. Olympic Village Lodge.

Truckee Dance Factory puts on an upbeat twist on the classic production with bar service and appetizers. The pre-show reception, starting at 6, includes wine, beer, appetizers, a preview performance, and upgraded seat selection. $15-$40.

Sunday, December 16

3 p.m. to 4 p.m. Art of Mixology. Ritz Carlton Lake Tahoe (Truckee).

Learn how to make three unique cocktails paired with appetizers using freshly cut herbs and classic ingredients such as bitters and infused liquors. Age 21+. Call 530-562-3000 ext. 3051 for a reservation. $60 per person.

4 p.m. to 7 p.m. Great Basin Carolers in the Village. The Village at Squaw Valley.

Live carolers in traditional dress. No cost.

7 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. The Twisted Nutcracker & The Tale of the Rat King. Olympic Village Lodge.

Truckee Dance Factory puts on an upbeat twist on the classic production with bar service and appetizers. The pre-show reception, starting at 6, includes wine, beer, appetizers, a preview performance, and upgraded seat selection. $15-$40.

Tuesday, December 18

7 p.m. to 9 p.m. Truckee Community Theatre Presents “Christmas Chaos” and “It's a Wonderful Life.” Olympic Village Lodge.

Enjoy a two-act production, with one act based on the classic holiday movie and the other act based loosely (very loosely) on “A Christmas Carol.” The pre-show reception, starting at 6, includes wine, beer, appetizers, a preview performance, and upgraded seat selection. $15-$40.

Wednesday, December 19

2 p.m. to 5 p.m. Horse Drawn Sleigh Rides. Olympic Village Lodge.

Borges Sleigh Rides provides complimentary 7-minute sleigh rides on a special Holiday path between Merry Wonderland and The Village. 2 to 6 riders per a sleigh. No cost (gratuity encouraged). To reserve a private sleigh ride at some other time (for example, through Sand Harbor State Park), contact Borges Sleigh Rides at sleighride.com or 775-588-2953.

2 p.m. to 5 p.m. Train Rides Through the Ice Garden. Olympic Village.

Truckee Donner Rail Society is offering free rides on a mini-rail Polar Express that runs through the Ice Garden. All ages welcome. No cost.

Thursday, December 20

2 p.m. to 5 p.m. Train Rides Through the Ice Garden. Olympic Village.

Truckee Donner Rail Society is offering free rides on a mini-rail Polar Express that runs through the Ice Garden. All ages welcome.

4 p.m. to 7 p.m. Great Basin Carolers in the Village. The Village at Squaw Valley.

Live carolers in traditional dress. No cost.

5 p.m. to 8 p.m. Northstar Silent Nights. Northstar Village Skating Rink.

Grab some skates and a headset and tune into the movie being shown on the Village stage, or switch channels to holiday tunes as you ice skate under the stars. No cost.

7 p.m. to 9 p.m. Reno Jazz Orchestra Holiday Show. Olympic Valley Lodge.

Celebrate the spirit of Christmas and Hanukkah in big band tradition, as the 18-piece Reno Jazz Orchestra plays holiday music from the U.S., Brazil, Puerto Rico, Israel, Russia, and Austria. The pre-show reception, starting at 6, includes wine, beer, appetizers, a preview performance, and upgraded seat selection. $45-$70 per person.

Friday, December 21

11 a.m. to 12 p.m. Tubing with Santa. Snoventures (Squaw Valley).

Tubing with a special guest appearance by Santa. $39 per person for 55 minutes of tubing.

5 p.m. / 6 p.m. / 7 p.m. Disco Tubing. SnoVentures (Squaw Valley).

Tubing with colorful LED lights, lasers and live DJs. $55 per person for 55 minutes of tubing.

2 p.m. to 5 p.m. Horse Drawn Sleigh Rides. Olympic Village Lodge.

Borges Sleigh Rides provides complimentary 7-minute sleigh rides on a special Holiday path between Merry Wonderland and The Village. 2 to 6 riders per a sleigh. No cost (gratuity encouraged). To reserve a private sleigh ride at some other time (for example, through Sand Harbor State Park), contact Borges Sleigh Rides at sleighride.com or 775-588-2953.

2 p.m. to 5 p.m. Train Rides Through the Ice Garden. Olympic Village.

Truckee Donner Rail Society is offering free rides on a mini-rail Polar Express that runs through the Ice Garden. All ages welcome. No cost.

4 p.m. to 8 p.m. Festive Fridays. Downtown Truckee.

Stroll around beautifully-lit downtown and finish your holiday shopping with special promotions and discounts.

4 p.m. to 7 p.m. Great Basin Carolers in the Village. The Village at Squaw Valley.

Live carolers in traditional dress. No cost.

5 p.m. to 8 p.m. Noel Nights. Northstar Village.

Celebrate the holidays with horse-drawn sleigh rides, outdoor ice skating, pictures with Santa and s’mores and hot cocoa by the fire pits. No cost.

7 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. Stars and S’mores. The Ritz-Carlton Lake Tahoe (Truckee).

Meet at the resort’s Fireside Terrace for a fireside astronomy session hosted by Tahoe Star Tours with telescopic viewing (weather permitting) followed by s’mores around the outdoor fire pit. $45 per person (parking not included).

7:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. Squaw Valley Institute (SVI) Second Annual Community Concert. Olympic Village Lodge.

This family-friendly, blues-enthused celebration includes performances by the SVI Children’s Choir, the Blues Monsters, and guest vocalists performing holiday classics by BB King, Leonard Cohen, the Eagles, John Lennon, Bing Crosby, Eric Clapton, Bruce Springsteen, Kelly Clarkson, Ella Fitzgerald and more. Bar service and appetizers available. $20 to $40 per person.

Saturday, December 22

2 p.m. to 5 p.m. Horse Drawn Sleigh Rides. Olympic Village Lodge.

Borges Sleigh Rides provides complimentary 7-minute sleigh rides on the special Holiday path between Merry Wonderland and The Village. 2 to 6 riders per a sleigh. No cost (gratuity encouraged). To reserve a private sleigh ride at some other time (for example, through Sand Harbor State Park), contact Borges Sleigh Rides at sleighride.com or 775-588-2953.

2 p.m. to 5 p.m. Train Rides Through the Ice Garden. Olympic Village.

Truckee Donner Rail Society is offering free rides on a mini-rail Polar Express that runs through the Ice Garden. All ages welcome. No cost.

4 p.m. to 7 p.m. Full Moon Snowshoe Tour. North Lake Tahoe.

Tahoe Adventure Company leads a moonlit trek through the forest on the Full Cold Moon. Guides will discuss natural history and astronomy along the way with stops to take in the view and enjoy snacks and drinks. Instruction and gear included. All ages and abilities welcome. $75 per person.

5 p.m. / 6 p.m. / 7 p.m. Disco Tubing. SnoVentures (Squaw Valley).

Tubing with colorful LED lights, lasers and live DJs. $55 per person for 55 minutes of tubing.

4 p.m. to 7 p.m. Great Basin Carolers in the Village. The Village at Squaw Valley.

Live carolers in traditional dress. No cost.

6 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. Toccata Symphony Orchestra Presents Handel's Messiah. Olympic Village Lodge.

Maestro James Rawie conducts a grand performance of George Frederick Handel's Messiah, featuring renowned vocalists as a total of 22 musicians and 40 voices bring this 1742 classic to life. Hors d'ouvres & bar service available. The pre-show reception, starting at 6, includes wine, beer, appetizers, and upgraded seat selection. $60-$85 per person.

Sunday, December 23

8:30 a.m. / 11 a.m. Santa's Brunch. Olympic Valley Lodge.

Enjoy a buffet feast of locally-sourced holiday favorites with a chance to meet Santa. $18.95-$28.95 per person.

2 p.m. to 5 p.m. Horse Drawn Sleigh Rides. Olympic Village Lodge.

Borges Sleigh Rides provides complimentary 7-minute sleigh rides on a special Holiday path between Merry Wonderland and The Village. 2 to 6 riders per a sleigh. No cost (gratuity encouraged). To reserve a private sleigh ride at some other time (for example, through Sand Harbor State Park), contact Borges Sleigh Rides at sleighride.com or 775-588-2953.

2 p.m. to 5 p.m. Train Rides Through the Ice Garden. Olympic Village.

Truckee Donner Rail Society is offering free rides on a mini-rail Polar Express that runs through the Ice Garden. All ages welcome. No cost.

3 p.m. to 4 p.m. Art of Mixology. Ritz Carlton Lake Tahoe (Truckee).

Learn how to make three unique cocktails paired with appetizers using freshly cut herbs and classic ingredients such as bitters and infused liquors. Age 21+. Call 530-562-3000 ext. 3051 for a reservation. $60 per person.

4 p.m. to 7 p.m. Great Basin Carolers in the Village. The Village at Squaw Valley.

Live carolers in traditional dress. No cost.

5 p.m. / 6 p.m. / 7 p.m. Disco Tubing. SnoVentures (Squaw Valley).

Tubing with colorful LED lights, lasers and live DJs. $55 per person for 55 minutes of tubing.

Monday, December 24

4 p.m to 8 p.m. Christmas Torchight Parade. Granlibakken Tahoe.

Celebrate North Tahoe’s rich Olympic history with a Christmas Torchlight Parade down Granlibakken’s Ski Hill, followed by hot chocolate, s’mores and pictures with Santa. No cost.

4 p.m. to 4:30 p.m. Christmas Eve Candle Lighting Service. The Village at Squaw Valley.

A non-denominational candle-lighting ceremony with hymns and a telling of the Christmas Story put on by Tahoe Resort Ministries. No cost.

4 p.m. to 7 p.m. Great Basin Carolers in the Village. The Village at Squaw Valley.

Live carolers in traditional dress. No cost.

5 p.m. Christmas Eve Dinner. Terrace Room at High Camp (Squaw Valley).

Two-hour lavish buffet with trimmings. $29-$65 per person.

tuesday, december 25

4 p.m. to 7 p.m. Traditional Dinner. Ritz Carlton Lake Tahoe (Truckee).

Celebrate with a traditional holiday dinner, featuring a buffet of seasonal dishes. All ages welcome. Call 530-562-6000, ext. 3051 for reservations. $55-135 per person.

Wednesday, December 26

5 p.m. / 6 p.m. / 7 p.m. Disco Tubing. SnoVentures (Squaw Valley).

Tubing with colorful LED lights, lasers and live DJs. $55 per person for 55 minutes of tubing.

Thursday, December 27

5 p.m. / 6 p.m. / 7 p.m. Disco Tubing. SnoVentures (Squaw Valley).

Tubing with colorful LED lights, lasers and live DJs. $55 per person for 55 minutes of tubing.

Thursday, December 28

5 p.m. / 6 p.m. / 7 p.m. Disco Tubing. SnoVentures (Squaw Valley).

Tubing with colorful LED lights, lasers and live DJs. $55 per person for 55 minutes of tubing.

7 p.m to 8:30 p.m. Stars and S’mores. The Ritz-Carlton Lake Tahoe (Truckee).

Meet at the resort’s Fireside Terrace for a fireside astronomy session hosted by Tahoe Star Tours with telescopic viewing (weather permitting) followed by s’mores around the outdoor fire pit. $45 per person (parking not included).

Friday, December 29

5 p.m. / 6 p.m. / 7 p.m. Disco Tubing. SnoVentures (Squaw Valley).

Tubing with colorful LED lights, lasers and live DJs. $55 per person for 55 minutes of tubing.

Saturday, December 30

5 p.m. / 6 p.m. / 7 p.m. Disco Tubing. SnoVentures (Squaw Valley).

Tubing with colorful LED lights, lasers and live DJs. $55 per person for 55 minutes of tubing.

Sunday, December 31

2 p.m. to 9:30 p.m. New Year's Eve Family Celebration. Olympic House Squaw Valley.

A family celebration with an early East Coast ball drop, glow stick carnival, torchlight parade, fireworks, live music, and drinks for all.

5 p.m. / 6 p.m. / 7 p.m. Disco Tubing. SnoVentures (Squaw Valley).

Tubing with colorful LED lights, lasers and live DJs. $55 per person for 55 minutes of tubing.

5:15 p.m. World's Largest Torchlight Parade. Funitel (Squaw Valley).

On New Year's Eve, revelers will attempt the world's largest torchlight parade. Skiers and riders will light up the night sky with colorful LED torches as they thread down the 3.2-mile Mountain Run in an attempt to best 3,000 participants and break the record. The parade will take place weather and conditions permitting, starting at 5:45 p.m. at the top of the Gold Coast Funitel.

To visit Happy Cabin during your trip to North Lake Tahoe / Tahoe Vista / Kings Beach, click here.

To visit Happy Cabin during your trip to North Lake Tahoe / Tahoe Vista / Kings Beach, click here.

Backcountry Ski Expedition

Give your favorite skier a backcountry adventure with experienced, local guides. $199 a person includes a full day of guided backcountry skiing for intermediate skiers. Gear and lunch not included.

Truckee River Whitewater Rafting

Include the whole family for a group gift that everyone will love. This half-day guided trip down the Truckee River includes a complete safety and paddle briefing, refreshments, and all necessary equipment. From $86 for a half-day trip for 1 to $512 for a half-day trip for 6.

Tandem Skydive

Gift a tandem jump from Truckee Skydive for a once-in-a-lifetime thrill. Starts at $250 per a person.

Glider Flight

Gift a glider flight from Soar Truckee for an unforgettable view of North Lake Tahoe. Starting at $140 for one passenger soaring for 15 to 20 minutes above the Martis Valley.

North Shore Brewery Tour

Give the craft beer lover on your list a day at three north shore breweries with tastings, tours, and light appetizers at each stop. This 5-hour, guided experience includes van transport. $98 a person.

Aerial Treetop Adventure

For the kids on your list, consider a gift certificate for two-and-a-half hours of aerial adventuring in a secluded forest with pine trees and old growth cedars. Starts at $40 per a child. For information about our 10-year-old’s adventure on the course, check out this post.

Private Boat Cruise

This gift is perfect for water lovers and sun seekers. Enjoy a fully-captained north shore boat cruise for up to 6 people with water, soft drinks and light snacks included. Visit hot springs and beaches or just cruise. $400 per a trip.

Stay at Happy Cabin

Give your friends or family a stay at Happy Cabin. We’ll send a digital card, a nicely-printed certificate, or both in whatever amount you choose. Your guests can book their stay directly through us for the listed AirBNB rate/minimum stay plus a $225 cleaning fee and 10% Placer County transient occupancy tax. Booking directly through us saves your guests 5 to 15% in AirBNB fees and gives us the opportunity to help them plan a trip that matches their budget, time-constraints, and interests.

Snowmobile Tour

Gift a backcountry, winter adventure. Travel through pristine National Forest on over 100 miles of snowmobile trails. Starting at $190 for a single rider on a 2-hour tour.

Choose Your Own Adventure

Let your loved ones choose their own adventures with gift certificates from Tahoe Adventure Company, good for a variety of experiences from guided snowshoe tours, rock climbing, mountain biking, hiking, kayaking and paddleboarding. Most tours start at about $75.

To visit Happy Cabin during your trip to North Lake Tahoe / Tahoe Vista / Kings Beach, click here.

Today we are thankful. Thankful for a warm, inviting home. Thankful for healthy, happy children. Thankful for delicious, lovingly prepared food. Thankful for immediate family, extended family, and our chosen family of friends. Thankful for the rain in the Aptos mountains, filling the stream behind our house and watering the apple trees. Thankful for the first snow falling at Happy Cabin, where our guests sent a picture of the backyard blanketed in fresh powder. Thankful for four generations wrangled together for a family photo on a cousin’s staircase, making silly faces for the serious picture and serious faces for the silly picture. Thankful for pictures of our friends with their families, posted on Facebook and sent in texts and emails from all over the world. Thankful for finding a moment in this busy day for gratitude.

“This is a wonderful day. I’ve never seen this one before.” - Maya Angelou.

To visit Happy Cabin during your trip to North Lake Tahoe / Tahoe Vista / Kings Beach, click here.

Two great things have already happened this morning, and it’s barely 9:00 a.m.  First, we awakened to the pit, pat, tap, tap, rat a tat of rain.  Rain to dampen the raging fires.  Rain to clean the dirty air.  Rain to feed the dry streams. It was a very sweet sound.

Second, Maris opened two boxes from Burton, starting the next chapter of her snowboarding saga.  Exciting! One box contained a pair of tiny purple-and-white boots, sized just right for an almost-4-year-old.  The other box contained a pair of shiny black bindings.  Maris quickly put the boots on all by herself, with just a little cinching at the end from me.  “How do they feel?”  “Comfy!”  She walked around the house for 45 minutes or so, showing them off to anyone who would look—me, Eben, Anaya, Oliver, Lucy. . .

Once Maris had the hang of walking around in her new boots, Eben brushed the beach sand from her Burton Riglet Snowboard and attached the bindings.  They were a perfect fit.  With the lawn wet from (glorious) rain, Maris decided to try out her new set-up in a puddle of blankets on the living room floor.  Eben helped her into her bindings, gave her his hands, pulled her up, and voila!  She was all smiles and thumbs-up before she plopped down onto her butt.    

ME:  How does it feel to stand up on your snowboard?

MARIS: Well, I fell on my butt.

ME:  Did you get yourself back up? 

MARIS: Yeah.

ME:  How did you do that?

MARIS:  It was good!

ME:  Are you excited to learn how to snowboard?

MARIS:  Yes, because it’s really comfortable.

ME:  Are you ready to try that on snow?

MARIS:  Yeah.

ME:  Is there anything else you want to tell your followers?

MARIS:  I got up and took my snow boots off.  Now we’re heading to Trader Joe’s.

Good talk.

The next step in our grand plan to get Maris shredding is to use this long, rainy weekend to practice snowboarding on the Wii balance board with our vintage Shaun White snowboarding game.  So far, I’d say the Burton Riglet Snowboard has earned its keep.  Maris is intrigued, inspired, and ready for more.

This is Part II in a series chronicling our preschooler Maris’s snowboarding journey. For Part I, click here. For Part III, click here.

To visit Happy Cabin during your trip to North Lake Tahoe / Tahoe Vista / Kings Beach, click here.

Last week, Eben received a text message from an old friend.  It was a single image of a charred automobile, skeleton trees, and a pile of ashes and debris.  It was the remains of another friend’s childhood home, completely destroyed by the Camp Fire.  I remember sitting on the porch of that home on a warm, summer evening 20 years ago, when we were all younger and more carefree.  It was a comfortable porch, worn in all the right ways, the kind of place that makes you want to settle in and stay a while.  Now it’s gone. 

Since the Camp Fire started burning on November 8, near Paradise, California, it has taken at least 79 lives and 10,500 homes.  Over 900 people are missing and thousands are displaced, with over 46,000 evacuees.  As of today, the fire is only 65% contained.  Just yesterday, the forest behind our home in Aptos caught fire and three firemen were harmed trying to contain the blaze.  We are only a spark away from facing a similar calamity.  We share the same (smoky) air.  What can we do besides mourn, empathize and worry?  Here are a few ideas gathered from community organizations, local news sources, family and friends:

House Evacuees Through AirBNB Open Homes

If you have a second home, room, or rental on AirBNB, AirBNB Open Homes gives you a way to easily open your home to evacuees. It’s simple to sign up at AirBNB. I put Happy Cabin on the list with just a few clicks. From there, nonprofits, community organizers and individuals in need of temporary housing access AirBNB to see a map of available listings, and then contact hosts to see if there’s a good fit.

Donate Cash

The American Red Cross

The Red Cross is providing housing, meals, snacks and reunification services to victims of the Camp Fire. Visit the donation page or call 1-800-RED CROSS or text the word REDCROSS to 90999 to make a $10 donation.

The Salvation Army

Salvation Army teams are providing three meals a day, snacks, beverages, essential items, and emotional and spiritual care at local churches, schools and fairgrounds near Paradise. You can donate at SalArmyCampFire.org, or call 1-800-SAL-ARMY (725-2769) and specify “Camp Fire.”

United Way of Northern California

United Way has set up a special fund to provide emergency help to fire victims. To donate, text BUTTEFIRE to 91999, or visit the fundraising web page and select “Camp Fire Relief.”

Firefighters Charitable Foundation

This charitable foundation accepts donations to help fire and disaster victims, support volunteer fire stations, and help children in need. They also provide grants to assist local fire/disaster victims, fire prevention education, community safety programs, burn centers, burn camps, and hospitals.

Caring Choices Chico

This local nonprofit created to “improve the health and welfare of residents in Northern California by providing services that are currently non-existent or limited in availability and accessibility” promises that 100% of your donation will be used to directly offer aid to those in need.

Northern Valley Community Foundation

Northern Valley Community Foundation has set up a fund to assist the evacuation centers that are supporting people who have lost their homes or are fleeing the fire.

GoFundMe

GoFundMe has created a list of verified funding campaigns for victims of the California fires, including funds specifically targeted to help educators, schools, first responders, animals and other groups.

The Islamic Center of Chico

This local organization is taking donations to purchase cash cards to distribute to Paradise wildfire victims. So far, they’ve raised $37,488 of their $50,000 goal.

The Jewish Federation

The Jewish Federation of the Sacramento Region has opened a fund to help those affected by the Camp Fire, with 100% of all funds raised to go to victims of the fire.

Enloe Medical Center

Enloe Foundation will use Camp Fire Relief Fund donations to help Enloe caregivers, patients and families who have lost their homes or been displaced due to the fire.

Shasta Regional Community Foundation Fund

The Shasta Regional Community Foundation is accepting donations for its Community Disaster Relief Fund. They will funnel the money collected to local nonprofits and disaster relief organizations.

North Valley Animal Disaster Group

North Valley currently has 50 teams on the ground dealing with over 1800 animals rescued from the fires. They are accepting monetary donations to buy food for different animals (especially horses), as well as cages, equipment and other supplies. Donate on the website or send a check to NVADG, PO Box 441, Chico, CA 95927.

California Fire Foundation

Through its SAVE program, the California Fire Foundation is distributing $250 cash gift cards to those who have lost their homes.

Donate Time

Caring Choices Chico

An Emergency Volunteer Center is now open at Caring Choices Chico. The organization has already received over 4,000 applications. For now, they are only accepting additional applications from licensed medical personnel. Potential volunteers can apply at the website.

American Red Cross

You can become an American Red Cross volunteer by registering at their web-based volunteer center. The website does not specify whether there are current opportunities to volunteer with Camp Fire relief.

United Way

You can become a United Way volunteer by registering at their website. The website does not specify whether there are current opportunities to volunteer with Camp Fire relief.

(do not) Donate Goods

As tempting as it may be to buy things to help our neighbors who’ve lost everything, sending cash donations is the much better option. According to a recent article in the Sacramento Bee, an avalanche of donated goods is being called the “second disaster,” as relief workers box up surplus deodorant and toothpaste and send big rigs full of donations to the landfill. If you are intent on sending goods rather than money, find out exactly what’s needed first by contacting local charities and nonprofits. Here are a few possible exceptions:

Caring Choices Chico

This community organization is currently requesting food donations for staff working to schedule volunteers. Contact Caring Choices at 925 487-2167 to schedule a meal donation.

Farm Fresh to You

Farm Fresh To You, a Community Supported Agriculture (CSA) and home delivery service that delivers local, organic produce and artisanal farm products to its subscribers throughout California is accepting donations from the general public and its customers for Camp Fire relief efforts through its Donate-A-Box program. Donated boxes will go directly to food banks providing relief to Camp Fire victims. The CSA has committed to match every donation.

Donate Blood

Anthony C. Tornetta, spokesperson for the Red Cross, is encouraging people who want to do something but cannot afford a monetary donation to donate blood or platelets. The Red Cross has had to cancel blood drives to respond to the fires, and blood is often in short supply during disasters. To find a blood drive or blood bank near you, click here.

If you or someone you know can benefit from temporary evacuee housing at cabins like ours, visit AirBNB Open Homes for availability.

To visit Happy Cabin during your trip to North Lake Tahoe / Tahoe Vista / Kings Beach, click here.

Winter squash are here.  Delicata, butternut, acorn, spaghetti, Hubbard, Hokkaido, sweet dumpling, kabocha, turban and all manner of gorgeous pumpkins.  Eben and I can’t resist buying them, because they are so beautiful.  But then what?  Our kitchen nook has a bowl piled high with delicata and acorn squash, promising the roasted, savory, homey flavors of winter.  The problem is we are so busy this season with birthdays, Thanksgiving, dance recitals, and then Christmas.  Not to mention work. When are we going to find the time to cook all this squash?

My go-to recipe is not really a recipe at all.  When in doubt, I hollow them out, grease them up and roast them until they are golden.  Salt, pepper, and a pat of butter.  Dinner is served.  But, there’s only so much roasted, buttered squash a person can eat before inspiration gets sucked out of the room and the squash just sit there, gorgeous and aging.  Something must be done. 

Here are a few recipes I’ve rounded up to get my creative juices flowing.  I chose recipes that are inspiring but not daunting, impressive but not time-consuming, delicious but not unhealthy—the kind of recipes Eben and I might actually make amidst the commitments of this busy season.  These dishes are perfect for Happy Cabin because they are simple enough to put together after a full day of adventures, yet hearty enough to please a hungry crowd.

Miso Sesame Winter Squash (101 Cookbooks)

Marry the umami of miso with the creamy, delicate flavor of your favorite winter squash in a recipe that takes only 10 minutes to prepare. The addition of tofu makes this a delicious one-bowl meal.

Winter Squash Enchiladas (Brooklyn supper)

What I like about this recipe is its versatility. Brooklyn Supper uses roasted red kabocha and butternut, but delicata and acorn would work just as well. The fire-roasted tomato sauce packs a little heat, but not so much that my kids won’t eat it. Paired with black beans, rice and arugula salad, this is a feast.

Butternut Squash Fries (kitchme)

So delicious you will forget that they are baked (not fried) and full of vitamin E, thiamin, niacin, vitamin B-6, folate, pantothenic acid, manganese and potassium. My girls eat them by the plateful with garlic salt, a crack of pepper and ranch dressing.

Butternut Squash and Spinach Lasagna (Cooking Light)

This one takes a little longer to prepare (35 minutes) but makes up for it by turning squash and spinach into a kid-friendly meal. This version is particularly light with no noodles and low-fat dairy products in place of rich cheeses and béchamel. Add some tofu or browned sausage to the ricotta mixture for an extra kick of protein after a day on the slopes.

Instant Pot Butternut Squash Risotto (Eating Well)

This recipe requires specialized equipment, but the end result is worth it. Labor-intensive risotto is usually reserved for special occasions. Not so with the Instant Pot. Putting together this luscious risotto is almost as easy as making a pot of rice.

Squash Hash with Kale and Baked Eggs (Martha Stewart)

At Happy Cabin, we love breakfast for dinner. This dish takes it to a whole new level. Martha’s version is maybe a two-person meal in our family. Double or triple the recipe, and bake the hash in a casserole pan to feed a hungry crowd.

Winter Squash Tagine (Food 52)

Tagine sounds fancy, but you don’t need special cookware to make this special meal. The magic is in the spices and dried fruit. Use an assortment of winter squash, like acorn, delicata, and kabocha, to create a medley of flavors, textures, and colors. Food 52 suggests serving the fragrant stew over a bed of couscous, but quinoa or brown rice would also work well.

Gluten-Free Butternut Squash Banana Bread (Minimalist Baker)

Since my mother-in-law and I developed a wheat allergy, we’ve searched tirelessly for recipes that recreate our seasonal favorites. Yeast breads are tricky, but banana bread is forgiving. You can buy squash or pumpkin puree at the market, but it’s almost as easy (and much more gratifying) to microwave or roast a squash until it’s tender and mash it yourself.

Roasted Apple and Acorn Squash Soup (Caroline’s Cooking)

This silky, kid-friendly soup uses two things we have in abundance this time of year—winter squash and apples. Pack thermoses full of hot soup, crisp apples, and crusty rolls for a quick, warm snack on-the-go.

Winter Squash Casserole with Rosemary (New York Times)

It’s hard to find a delicious, crowd-pleasing casserole that’s also healthy. This one fits the bill. Bonus: a warm kitchen smelling of rosemary.

Spaghetti Squash and Potato Gratin (Food Network)

I love gratin but sometimes balk at pretending that a pan full of cheese and empty carbs is a suitable dinner. This dish has carbs, but they are far from empty. Spaghetti squash is low-calorie and high-fiber with a dose of antioxidants including vitamin-A and vitamin-C. Add a bright salad with arugula or kale for B-12 and iron, topped with fresh avocado and sunflower seeds for protein.

I looked at so many delicious-sounding recipes for this piece that I could probably make a new squash meal every night this winter and still not make my way through them. Yet, I still have questions. I’m particularly interested in how to use the less-popular varieties, like Hubbard and Hokkaido. What about using a sweet pumpkin to make a savory dish? Let’s crowdsource this one. What are your go-to recipes for winter squash? Share your favorites in a comment.

To visit Happy Cabin during your trip to North Lake Tahoe / Tahoe Vista / Kings Beach, click here.

We are officially getting excited for snow! Last weekend, with visions of snowflakes dancing in our heads, we took Maris’ new Burton Riglet Snowboard out for a spin.  On the beach.

I came across the Burton Riglet as I clicked around the web, wondering whether very young children (3- to 4-year olds) could learn to snowboard or you really had to start them on skis. Since Eben, Anaya, and I all snowboard, we want Maris to be able to join us as soon as possible. It turns out we are not alone. This post from Kids Can Ride has a good overview of the dilemma. Do little kids have the strength for it? The balance? Is it safe? Parents, instructors, and other people who really seemed to know what they were talking about swore by the Burton Riglet Snowboard.  I watched videos of extremely tiny people casually shredding after a couple of lessons.  Could almost-4-year-old Maris do that?  Let’s try it!  I bought a new 2014-2015 model at a discount for about $80, complete with the Riglet reel, an otherwise-pricey accessory that allows you to pull your young snowboarder along until she gets the hang of it.  We styled it as an early-birthday present to make the whole thing just that much more alluring.

The box sat in a bedroom for a few weeks, gathering interest, until the right moment came along to unveil the Riglet.  Last Sunday was the day.  The sun was shining bright in the sky.  Leaves were falling.  Apples were turning.  It felt like 70 degrees outside.  What better time to learn to snowboard?  The box was so small and light.  Could there really be a snowboard in there?  Yes!  The board itself is lightweight and sturdy-feeling with bright, happy colors.  Ours came with the Riglet reel pre-attached, though it seems you sometimes have to attach the reel yourself with a couple of screws that come with.  No big deal. 

We packed the whole gang into the truck, Oliver included, with sand toys, a bucket of beanie boos, a surfboard, and a snowboard, and headed to our local beach.  As luck would have it, there were small, glassy waves peeling under a perfect blue sky.  Eben quickly put the surfboard to good use.  Even better, someone had already built us a “snow” park.  A deep hole with contoured dry sand looked like the perfect place to cruise the Riglet.  We started by smoothing our sand slopes with the edges of the board.  When our slopes were perfectly groomed, we put a few beanie boos on the board for a test spin.  They loved it!  Who’s next?

Maris looked at me skeptically and suggested we build a sandcastle.  Good idea, but do you want to try this really cool snowboard first?  Maris lay down on the board and asked me to tug her around.  Okay.  We did that for a while, until I coaxed her onto her feet.  Ride it like a skateboard!  Another skeptical look…  Finally, she agreed to ride around in a crouch holding the board’s tail.  And, for a few minutes, boom.  She was doing it!  She even launched herself into the sand bowl a few times before losing interest.

The idea is to start the kids off with just their feet on the board, no bindings, and play around for a while on the grass, sand, carpet, or snow. This gets them comfortable standing on the board and taking a few falls.  The next step is to attach bindings made especially for the Riglet and invest in a miniature-sized pair of snowboard boots.  We are very much on the first step.  Time will tell whether the Burton Riglet Snowboard translates from the sand to the snow, and from a tiny sand bowl to a real-live slope.  In the meantime, we’ll take the Riglet out whenever we get the chance, so that it feels familiar and fun when Maris is ready to try the real thing. 

After an exciting day on the slopes, we built a sand ski lodge for the beanie boos and decorated it with strands of kelp and broken shells.  When the sun slipped behind the clouds, and the fog started to roll in, Maris took one more spin on the Riglet before we called it a day.

If you want to get your preschooler snowboarding with a lesson, our home resort, Northstar California Resort, starts kids as young as 3 in group snowboard lessons for 3- to 6-year olds, with 1 hour of snowboarding per a half-day and plenty of playtime. Nearby Squaw Valley Alpine Meadows has a snowboard program especially for 3- to 4-year olds, with full- and half-day programs incorporating a few hours of snowboarding per a half-day with lunch and playtime. Nearby Mt. Rose and Diamond Peak take a more traditional approach, starting kids snowboard lessons at age 7.

This is Part I in a series chronicling our preschooler Maris’s snowboarding journey. For Part II, click here. For Part III, click here.

To visit Happy Cabin during your trip to North Lake Tahoe / Tahoe Vista / Kings Beach, click here.

Calling all skiers, snowboarders, sledders, snowman makers, tobogganers, ice skaters, hot toddy sippers, snowshoers, snow fort builders, snow sculptors, snowball fighters, and snowball lovers!  Trusted local snowcaster, Bryan Allegretto at opensnow.com, has officially called it.  According to Bryan, it should be cold and dry enough for the next 10 days for snow-making, with weather patterns shifting around November 17 for possible storms.  I know, snow making is not quite the same as snowflakes tumbling from the sky.  But, it’s a good (and early) start to the season.  Nearby Mount Rose has been busy making snow for weeks, so much snow that they are opening this weekend.  Our home resort, Northstar California Resort, along with nearby Squaw Valley, are gearing up to open on November 16—that’s less than a week away. It’s officially time to tune bindings, sharpen edges, wax boards, and get your favorite playmates together for a trip to the mountains.

To visit Happy Cabin during your trip to North Lake Tahoe / Tahoe Vista / Kings Beach, click here.

The beauty of a destination Thanksgiving is you get to go off-piste a little bit with the fixings. Nobody is going to fault you for cutting a few corners when you are hours away from home in an unfamiliar kitchen.  Our family spent the Thanksgiving-before-last in the Sacred Valley in Peru. It was strange to not sit down to a table full of turkey, mashed potatoes and pie. But it was also refreshing to savor the feelings of the season—gratitude, warmth and love—without any of the stress of meal preparation. 

Thanksgiving at Happy Cabin is an excuse to sample local fare rather than tire over a hot stove.  Make your favorite dishes if you’d like, but why not fill in the blanks with local specialties?  With all of that time you save, you can raid the board-game cabinet, snuggle up in front of the fire with a good book, or soak in the hot tub.  And still feast.

Here are our top picks for local delicacies to round out your Thanksgiving fare:

turkey

If you are craving the traditional Thanksgiving main, try an organic turkey from New Moon Natural Foods in Tahoe City.  Grab some fresh produce for your sides and salads while you’re at it. Order your turkey a week in advance.

fish

For a less traditional protein, pick up some fresh fish or lobster from Morgan’s Lobster Shack & Fish Market in Truckee.  Alaskan Halibut, King Salmon, Ahi Tuna, and Maine Lobster were recently on offer, though availability can vary based on the catch.

sides

Get your sides at Mountain Valley Meats in Truckee.  Try the sausage stuffing, prepared with in-house sausage, the roasted carrot and parsnip puree, or the brussel sprouts and bacon.

pie

For dessert, pick up a traditional pumpkin pie, peach double-crust pie, or even Sid’s Turtle Pie (pecan crust, chocolate ganache filling, caramel and sea salt) at Sugar Pine Cakery in Tahoe City. Locally made from scratch with fresh ingredients, you can’t go wrong with cakes, pies, tarts, cinnamon rolls, and pastry at this small but mighty bakery tucked into the Lake Forest Glen neighborhood, about a 15 minute drive from Happy Cabin. Vegan and gluten-free options make it easy to accommodate even the trickiest diets. Pies are made to order with 72-hours notice.

cranberry sauce

The local shops will have fresh sauce in the deli cases, but if you are cooking a few things anyway, this is a dish worth making from scratch. This easy recipe for “perfect cranberry sauce,” adapted from the Food Network, will make the cabin smell festive and leave you with a pungent, sweet sauce for spooning over your holiday meal. The original recipe uses twice as much sugar. I recommend starting like this, and adding more if you need it. For a little more citrus, substitute half the water for orange juice.

Ingredients:

12-ounce bag of fresh cranberries
1/2 cup sugar
1 strip orange or lemon zest
2 tablespoons water
Salt and pepper (to taste)

Preparation:

Place all but a 1/2 cup of the fresh, rinsed cranberries in a saucepan. Add sugar, orange or lemon zest and water to the pan and cook over low heat, stirring occasionally, until the sugar dissolves and the cranberries are soft, about 10 minutes. Increase the heat to medium and cook until the cranberries burst, about 12 minutes. Reduce the heat to low and stir in the remaining cranberries. Add sugar, salt and pepper to taste. Serve warm or cold. It’s delicious either way.

the whole meal…

If you really want to relax, leave the cooking and clean-up to the pros. Several local restaurants serve traditional Thanksgiving dinners, including the Ritz-Carlton, Gar Woods, Jakes on the Lake, and Granlibakken Tahoe. Make your reservations a few weeks in advance.

To visit Happy Cabin during your trip to North Lake Tahoe / Tahoe Vista / Kings Beach, click here.

We knew it would be a lot of work, but we didn’t anticipate all of the projects that would come with buying a traditional log cabin that was built in the 60s and left basically “as is” until we came along.  In addition to the obvious (flooring, paint, furniture), there were hidden issues--things like uninsulated pipes.  As the temperature dropped, we started to research how to “winterize.” We took it for granted that, in all those years, someone must have insulated the exposed pipes beneath the house.  A quick look confirmed they had not. Uggh. So, on a recent weekend, Eben drove up after work, armed with boxes of insulation. 

This wasn’t a technically challenging project, but crawling around the cabin’s foundation is dusty, dirty work.  At the end of a long workday, Eben snuck away to Sand Harbor State Beach, just over the border in Nevada, for a dip in the now-frigid waters.  It’s a pretty drive from Happy Cabin, 20 minutes or so, to this picturesque harbor with unique rock formations and charming inlets for kayaking, snorkeling, diving and swimming.  In summer, Sand Harbor is bustling with activity, including the Lake Tahoe Shakespeare Festival, with outdoor performances right on the lake from early July through August. In late-October, Eben had the place almost to himself.  He took these stunning pictures in the mid-afternoon light, before getting back to the cabin.  And back to work. 

To visit Happy Cabin during your trip to North Lake Tahoe / Tahoe Vista / Kings Beach, click here.

As the seasons begin to change, we look forward to crisper evenings, turning foliage and, soon enough, snow.  Just as the colors turn, so does the wildlife around Happy Cabin.  Our neighbor across the street has a beautiful front yard, full of native plants and blooming flowers.  On a recent visit, she pointed out a tiny nest above her doorway, home to fledgling bluejays.  She described how the mother jay takes over her yard in the summer, squawking at her if she dares to sit on her patio in a lounge chair. A tall pine surrounded by flowers was ground-zero for flight training.  The baby jays were just learning how to fly. 

I assumed that the birds would all migrate south in the winter, looking for sunnier climes.  I was wrong. While many birds migrate south to escape the Sierra winter, others stay, making Lake Tahoe their year-round home.  Some types of birds, like the bluejay, even migrate some years but not others.   Which gives me one more thing to look forward to this winter:  birding.

In the winter, the golf course behind Happy Cabin becomes a snowy meadow ringed by towering pines, an alluring habitat for all manner of winged creatures, from song birds to raptors.  And what better place to watch them than the hot tub at Happy Cabin?  Armed with a cold drink and binoculars, look for waterfowl like the elegant snow goose and tundra swan, hunters like the red-tailed hawk and bald eagle, and rarer finds like the cedar waxwing and red crossbill.  If the mood strikes, you’ll find a pair of binoculars hanging next to the fireplace and a bird book on the mantel.  Happy birding!

To visit Happy Cabin during your trip to North Lake Tahoe / Tahoe Vista / Kings Beach, click here.

This year, Halloween falls in the middle of the week, so we can’t be at the cabin to trick-or-treat and pass out candy. Instead, I hope to experience another autumn tradition that is taking root in Kings Beach with the help of a small group of committed locals—Dia de Los Muertos Kings Beach. Dia de Los Muertos (“Day of the Dead”) is a Mexican holiday celebrated by people of Mexican heritage throughout the world.  The multi-day celebration is a time to honor loved ones who have passed on and help them along on their spiritual journey with prayers and gifts.  Dia de Los Muertos traditions are steeped in history and legends passed down from the Aztecs.  Families build colorful altars called “ofrendas,” decorated with photos and mementos.  Sugar skulls called “calaveras” are lovingly crafted and decorated with brightly colored paints and jewels. Celebrants visit their loved ones’ graves, bearing the deceased’s favorite food and drink, and gathering to share memories. 

I first experienced a version of this unique celebration in 1999, in a small Andean village in Ecuador where a tiny cemetery at the outskirts of town was festooned with colorful banners, flowers, and offerings for Dia de Los Difuntos (Day of the Deceased).  Families gathered for picnics, playing guitars and flutes.  Peals of laughter and the joyful noise of squealing children animated the well-kept graveyard, where life and death were celebrated together and memories passed joyfully from one generation to the next.  I loved it. 

In North Lake Tahoe, the tradition is centered at three sites—Kings Beach Library, Las Panchitas Restaurant, and Spindleshanks Restaurant at the Old Brockway Golf Course.  All three sites are walking distance from Happy Cabin, and each has set up an ofrenda to celebrate loved ones who have passed to the other side.  Visitors are invited to leave pictures, poems, notes, artwork or personal objects honoring the dead. 

Dia de Los Muertos Kings Beach lasts from October 25 to November 7. On Saturday, November 3, from 2 p.m. to 4 p.m., everyone is invite to a family-friendly reception on Secline Street, between Golden and Rainbow, across the street from the Kings Beach Library, to learn more about this tradition and contribute to the community ofrendas.    

To visit Happy Cabin during your trip to North Lake Tahoe / Tahoe Vista / Kings Beach, click here.

So far (thankfully), that hasn’t happened.  Our guests have been gracious and complimentary.  We’ve managed all five-star reviews, with some private hints at making Happy Cabin better.  I take those suggestions to heart.  A Santa Monica family on a camping trip used Happy Cabin as their rejuvenation spot.  The adults had some hot tub time and good sleep in soft beds, while the kids ran around the yard and played in the bunk room.  One of the moms mentioned that she loved Happy Cabin but would have appreciated larger mugs.  Yes!  I could not agree more.

There was a method to my mug choice.  And, as with some other things, this was a situation where I knew exactly what I wanted but couldn’t quite afford it.  I longed for hand-thrown ceramic mugs from local potters in a variety of shapes and colors, each one signed, each one with a story.   The kind of mugs that warm the hands and pique the imagination.  Gorgeous mugs.

Realizing that the mugs I wanted would have to take a back-seat to more urgent purchases (like mattresses, towels, and utilities), I  picked up a set of functional mugs from IKEA.  The mug is “Fargrik.” It’s simple and diner-esque, about as far from hand-thrown pottery as you can get.  But, at 99 cents each, I will not feel a twinge when I trade these functional mugs in for the inspired mugs I really want.  I’m eyeing the tree mugs by Alanna Hughes at Riverside Studios in Truckee and the cerulean blue, patterned mugs at Tahoe Blue Pottery. Who are your favorite local ceramic artists? Drop me a line at happycabintahoe@gmail.com or leave a comment.

To visit Happy Cabin during your trip to North Lake Tahoe / Tahoe Vista / Kings Beach, click here.

Visiting Page Meadows to see the aspens ablaze in fall colors was on my family’s autumn bucket list. On a recent Saturday, we packed cheese sandwiches and fresh-picked apples and set off to find fall. We started at the ski lot above the Talmont neighborhood, dropping down the trail with just a few dog walkers and mountain bikers for company. Oliver and Maris led the charge. At first, we went a little too far, heading down-slope into a valley with views of the backside of Squaw. That part of the trail is evergreen, so we felt a little cheated. Until we finally found our way. When we arrived at the first meadow, it was full of color—-orange, yellow and even a twinge of red here and there. Maris balanced on the footbridges precariously placed over trickling streams. Oliver flushed birds out of bushes. I took pictures in the waning, late afternoon light.

GETTING THERE: From Happy Cabin, drive south on Highway 89 to Pine Street, two miles south of Tahoe City. Go right on Pine Street until you get to Tahoe Park Heights.  Head right on Tahoe Park Heights up the hill. Take a right at Big Pine, and then a left onto Silvertip. Park at the trailhead at the end of the road (marked “Ski Parking”).  You’ll find the first meadow about a half-mile walk in. From the big trail, take the first small trail that off-shoots to the right. (If you start heading down hill toward the back side of Squaw Valley, you’ve gone too far.)

To visit Happy Cabin during your trip to North Lake Tahoe / Tahoe Vista / Kings Beach, click here.

In the far corner of the closet in the downstairs bedroom of Happy Cabin, there’s a hand-written note tacked to the cedar log wall.  The paper is weathered, browning and curled at the edges.  It seems it’s been there for a while, maybe even since the cabin was first built.  The paper records something about the size and placement of logs, notes like “Palston Bundle #3 Right Corner Logs 27 - 4.” It’s a clue to the origins of Happy Cabin, who built it and how.

We’ve always assumed the cabin was built using a log cabin “kit,” which was a popular method for raising cabins in the 1960s.  Our theory gained more traction when we noticed that there’s another cabin on the Old Brockway Golf Course just like ours, but painted green-and-white instead of orange-and-tan. I have lots of questions about that cabin, but I haven’t found the nerve to just knock and ask.  I keep hoping I’ll just happen upon the owners to our log cabin twin one of these days when I’m taking a walk through the golf course to the beach.  When I do, I’ll pick their brains.  Have they noticed our cabin and wondered about it like I wonder about theirs?  What do they know about the origins of their cabin?  Were they built by the same builder?  The same family?  Around the same time?  Are there others in the area?  What’s the story?

Log cabins in general have a long history, starting as early as 3500 B.C. in Northern Europe during the Bronze age.  Traditionally, log cabins were built a lot like they’re built now.  Logs are notched and stacked, and then made weather-tight by filling the seams with moss, mud or mortar.  The solid wood trunks are sturdy and self-insulating, creating a cozy structure that stays warm in the winter and cool in the summer.

The history of log cabins is especially rich in the Scandinavian countries.  It’s thought that the first log cabins in the Americas were built by Swedish and Finnish colonists in the Brandywine River Valley in a region that became part of New York.  From there, the popularity of log building ebbed and flowed, reaching a height in the early 20th century during the Great Depression when the National Forest Service popularized the cabins by putting the Civilian Conservation Corp to work building log cabins throughout the parks.

One of the nice things about log cabin building is that it’s typically much greener and more sustainable than conventional construction.  This article from Planet Save showcases some energy-efficient log cabin tiny homes.   This piece from Tree Hugger explains how to build a log cabin using sustainable resources and planet-friendly techniques. 

Someday, I will get to the bottom of Happy Cabin’s history, perhaps when I meet the owners of her twin.  In the meantime, I love waking up to the smell of cedar, surrounded by trees.

To visit Happy Cabin during your trip to North Lake Tahoe / Tahoe Vista / Kings Beach, click here.

One of the things I like best about our local beach, North Tahoe Beach, is the shallow entry with water that stays ankle- to chest-height for a long while, allowing our children to venture safely out of their comfort zones. These family-friendly shallows hardly hint at what’s offshore, where the lake deepens, and deepens, and deepens, eventually reaching 1,644 feet. Just to give you a sense of things, that makes Lake Tahoe the 16th deepest lake in the world and almost twice as deep as the Hudson Bay. That’s deep.

I am fascinated by deep water, equal parts intrigued and terrified. Eben and I met in an advanced scuba diving class in the Monterey Bay, where Eben was a natural and I was conquering my fears. Deep water, like outer space, is largely unknowable to humans. We can only venture so far without complicated technology. What’s down there? There is only so much we can say.

Legends abound. According to local lore, deep waters off the south shore hold hundreds of preserved corpses at 900 feet, suspended in dark, cold animation, still wearing the pin-stripe suits they were wearing in the 1920s when gangsters used the lake as a graveyard for their victims. There is the legend of Tahoe Tessie, the sea monster-like creature said to live in the depths. Finally, there is the eerie quote from Jacques Cousteau who is said to have done a deep dive in the lake in the mid-1970s, saying something like, “The world is not ready for what I have seen.”

Intriguing, to say the least. And slightly terrifying.

In this article in SFGate from 2004, Tom Stienstra dreams of taking a submarine to the bottom of lake and solving her mysteries once and for all. In 2016, CBS chronicled how researchers began that journey, diving off the south shore in submersibles to practice for deep ocean dives. To this day, much of Lake Tahoe’s depths remain uncharted and mysterious. Without more exploration, the answer to “What’s down there?” must be: “We don’t really know. . .”

For information about newly discovered sunken barges from the 1920s and 30s and the “underwater trail” in Emerald Bay that’s opening in late September so that scuba divers can visit them, check out this piece in the San Francisco Chronicle.

To visit Happy Cabin during your trip to North Lake Tahoe / Tahoe Vista / Kings Beach, click here.

Nothing says “cozy” like a warm drink on a cold day.  At Happy Cabin, we’ve mastered the basics—hot cocoa with whipped cream, mulled apple cider, hot lemon water with honey. Chai is another family favorite, swirled with a few fresh cloves, sprinkled with cardamom, or served with a cinnamon stick.  Many of our traditions have a signature hot drink.  For the past few years, we’ve been hunting Christmas trees with mugs of espresso spiked with Patron XO Café.  Trick-or-treating is a little more festive with thermoses of warm, mulled wine.  When traveling, we make an effort to try the local hot drinks.  We’ve enjoyed "jarras" of warm agua dulce in Costa Rica (sugar cane dissolved in hot water), canelazo in Peru (hot water with cinnamon, cloves, panela, and aguardiente), and chicha in Ecuador (a fermented beverage made with corn and grains).  Which makes me curious.  What are other families drinking when the temperatures start to drop?  Maybe our favorites have yet to be discovered.  Here are a few recipes we’re looking forward to putting in our thermoses to take the edge off winter’s chill. 

Salted Peanut Butter Hot Chocolate

There are several adaptations of this delicious-sounding beverage making the rounds (like these from Dinner with Julie and Chocolate Moosey).  It’s a genius idea.  Swirl a few tablespoons of creamy peanut butter in your favorite hot chocolate recipe and finish with a sprinkle of sea salt and a marshmallow or two. 

Turmeric Lemon Infusion

I love a simple brew of hot water, fresh-squeezed lemon, and honey.  To take it up a notch, add a dash of turmeric, a sprinkle of cayenne, and a pinch of sea salt.  This version from Shape is billed as "hot and healthy." 

Apple Chai-der

Why not enjoy two favorites in one? Mix equal parts hot apple cider with your favorite steeped chai.  Finish with a dollop of whipped cream, a slice of apple, and a sprinkle of cinnamon.  Cooking Canuck has a slow cooker version, touched up with star anise. 

Boozy Coffee

There are endless variations on this one, including our traditional mix of anything-coffee plus Patron XO Café.  For something a little different, Town & Country has a nice version with an orangey twist. Take a strong cup of coffee and make it a little stronger with Grand Marnier (½ shot), Kahlua (½ shot), and brandy (½ shot)  Finish with a dash of sugar, a dollop of whipped cream, and a scrape of orange peel. 

To book Happy Cabin for a visit to North Lake Tahoe / Tahoe Vista / Kings Beach, click here.

10. Scuba Dive at Patton Beach

Lake Tahoe may not seem like the most obvious place to scuba dive, but people do it, finding crystal waters, unique rock formations and historic debris.  I want to be one of those people.  Autumn is a good time to dive, because the water is crystal clear and there are fewer boats to avoid.  Sierra Dive has a tantalizing menu of options, ranging from sunken barges to cratered rock formations.  The beach dive from Patton Beach in Carnelian Bay seems like a good place to start.  It’s a shallow dive, close to Happy Cabin, promising “old motor blocks, deteriorated fishing boats, large submerged logs, and a sunken barge.”  For a gorgeous piece about Lake Tahoe diving, check out this article in the Tahoe Quarterly. For information about a new underwater trail of sunken barges from the 1920s and 30s, opening in Emerald Bay at the end of September, take a look at this piece in the San Francisco Chronicle.

9. Hunt for Fall Colors at Page Meadows

Lake Tahoe is known for its evergreens, but there is still a turning of the colors.  You just have to know where to find it.  Page Meadows is the spot. Surrounded by aspen groves, Page Meadows is ablaze with fall colors by mid-October.  From Happy Cabin, drive south on Highway 89 to Pine Street, two miles south of Tahoe City. Go right on Pine Street until you get to Tahoe Park Heights.  Head right on Tahoe Park Heights up the hill. Take a right at Big Pine, and then a left onto Silvertip. Park at the trailhead at the end of the road (marked “Ski Parking”).  You’ll find the first meadow about a half-mile walk in. From the big trail, take the first small trail that off-shoots to the right. (If you start heading down hill toward the back side of Squaw Valley, you’ve gone too far.) Check out this article in Tahoe Weekly for a glimpse of how Page Meadows transforms from season to season. 

8. Experience the Good Life, 1920s Scandinavian Style

Go back in time to a posh 1920s lakehouse, with a tour of Vikingsholm at Emerald Bay. This mansion in the bay was dreamed up by Lora Jay Knight, an American heiress of British descent who built this Nordic castle as her summer home.  It is now a National and California landmark you can visit in half-hour tours through late September.  Steep hike required.

7.  Ride a Horse

I am not a natural horseback rider, but I would love to get better at it.  Alpine Meadow Stables seems like as good a place as any to get started. Alpine Meadow Stables offers guided horseback rides through the Tahoe National Forest with a range of options, from a beginner-friendly, scenic 1- to 2-hour tour to a more advanced half or full day of riding.  There are even guided pony rides for the littlest riders. 

6. Boat and Brunch on The Tahoe Gal

The Tahoe Gal is a 64-foot Paddle Wheeler that offers brunch, happy hour, and dinner cruises out of nearby Tahoe City.  The sightseeing tours include narration of Lake Tahoe’s iconic sites, indoor spaces for lounging, and a deck for soaking up sun.  Refreshments are available, including cocktails, beer, wine, appetizers and full meals for the brunch and dinner cruises.  All ages are welcome.  I'm saving this one for when we have a couple of generations at the cabin, from toddlers to seniors.

5. Learn How to Throw a Frisbee

North Tahoe Regional Park (featured in one of our very first blog posts, “Treetop Adventure”) has a free 18-hole disc golf course, with forest and lake views and plenty of spots to enjoy a post-golf picnic.  Tahoe Dave’s in Tahoe City sells discs. For picnic fixings, Safeway is on the way. If you don’t mind a drive and want to put together a gourmet spread, try Tahoe House Bakery & Gourmet in Tahoe City or Village Market in Incline Village.

4. Paddleboard “The Lake Tahoe Water Trail”

The Lake Tahoe Water Trail is a 72-mile waterfront trail around the lake with marked paddle routes and public launch and landing zones.  In the summer, everyone’s doing it. In the autumn, you might get a few miles of the water trail all to yourself.   You can rent a paddleboard and launch within walking distance of Happy Cabin at our local beach.  For a guide to the trail, visit the Lake Tahoe Water Trail website.

3. Sip a Tahoe Mule on the Sunnyside

Our realtor, Jake Lewis of the Patience Lewis Group, put Sunnyside Restaurant at the top of his list when we asked him for his favorite brunch spots.  Rumor has it the drinks are just as good.  I’m eyeing the Tahoe Mule at the Sunnyside Mountain Grill with Tito’s vodka, fresh lime and Bundaberg Ginger Beer. 

2. Off-Road the Rubicon Trail

The Rubicon Trail is a famous/infamous 22-mile off-road route through the Sierra Nevadas that winds through Gold Country and the El Dorado National Forest.  You'll need an all-terrain vehicle to explore the trail, which you can access from Tahoma on the west shore.  Lake Tahoe Adventures offers ATV tours from spring to the first snow.  The El Dorado County website has pictures, history, and a trail brochure for DIY adventuring.

1. Mountain Bike the Tahoe Rim Trail

Biking distance from Happy Cabin, the Tahoe Rim Trail offers a "best of" Lake Tahoe, with meadows, lakes, forests, and views. From Brockway Summit, you can take an intermediate route to Tahoe City, past Watson Lake.  The Mountain Biking Project has a trail map to guide the way. 

For more ideas, I love this list at 7x7, which covers all the bases from rejuvenating in a swanky spa to learning how to flyboard.  California 89 has another inspiring list, heavy on fun-sounding day trips. Count me in. To read about our family’s shoulder season adventure to the Donner Summit train tunnels, click here.

To visit Happy Cabin during your trip to North Lake Tahoe / Tahoe Vista / Kings Beach, click here.

One of the things that drew us to Happy Cabin was the neighborhood.  When we were looking for a second home in Lake Tahoe, we looked at lots of places.  We focused our efforts on three main areas—Donner Summit, West Lake Tahoe, and North Lake Tahoe.  We were drawn to the folksy, summer culture at Serene Lakes on the Summit, the woodsy, forest feel of the West Shore, and the river beaches near the Olympic Valley.  The private, HOA beaches around Carnelian Bay and Agate Bay caught our eye for a moment.  We were trying to find that perfect balance of winter and summer fun, serene vistas and quirky culture, a feeling of being “away from it all” yet close enough to town for a quick bite or family outing.  It was hard.  Especially since our price range gave us a short list of opportunities and we were house-hunting from afar in the Bay Area.  I felt a little bit like Goldilocks.  This one is too isolated, that one too busy.  This one is too close to town, that one too far.  And then we found Happy Cabin.  This one was just right.

I was not all that familiar with the Kings Beach/Tahoe Vista neighborhood before Happy Cabin.  Kings Beach had a reputation as being a bit rowdy, Tahoe Vista a little slow.  For whatever reason, the neighborhood around Happy Cabin is neither.  It's an established neighborhood with history and a relaxed vibe.  We have a good mix of second homes and friendly locals.  Even in the shoulder seasons, the neighborhood isn’t boarded up and empty.  People are riding bikes, walking dogs, and chatting with each other.  There are garage sales, barbecues, and gatherings.  There is life.

It turns out that the Kings Beach area has always been lively.  The town was named after Joe King, who migrated from Texas during the Roaring 20s.  Joe was a body guard and bouncer with one eye and a reputation.  He gambled hard, ran a speakeasy, and made bootleg whiskey.  Legend has it that Joe won the money to buy and develop the land that became Kings Beach in a poker game.  These days, Kings Beach is known more for its picturesque beaches and close proximity to snow-drenched mountain resorts than for its eccentric characters.  But the Happy Cabin neighborhood has a few local personalities worth celebrating, like our neighbor Bob McCormick, the author of a popular children’s book about Lake Tahoe, featured here.  For backstory on one-eyed Joe King, take a look at this piece in the Tahoe Weekly by historian Mark McLaughlin, or visit Mark's blog full of stories about Lake Tahoe and the Sierras. For more on what drew us to Happy Cabin in particular, click here.

To visit Happy Cabin during your trip to North Lake Tahoe / Tahoe Vista / Kings Beach, click here.

To visit Happy Cabin during your trip to North Lake Tahoe / Tahoe Vista / Kings Beach, click here.

Nobody really wonders what to do in Lake Tahoe in the summer and winter. Summertime is lake time, made for seeking out new waterholes, napping on beach towels, and exploring the lake by kayak or boat.  The long days and warm nights encourage late dinners on the patio, served fresh from the grill, midnight walks to the lake for stargazing, and sleep-outs under the moon.  Winter brings fresh powder, hot drinks, warm fires, and snow play.  The littlest kids try to get their bearings on skis, making “pizza" to slow down, while the tweens and teens set off on snowboards, not to be seen again until they are too hungry for even “one last run.” There are snowmen and snow forts to build in the yard, before long evenings in the hot tub and in front of the fire, playing games and swapping stories.  But what about those in-between months, the so-called “shoulder” season when everything slows down a bit, the locals venture back into town, and the weather is changing, bringing brilliant days interspersed with rain or chill?  What are we supposed to do then?

Last spring, with snow still on the ground (but not enough for skiing or boarding), we ventured up to the train tunnels on Donner Summit for a hike.  We had seen the tunnels from afar many times, imagining what they might hold inside.  Yet we were unprepared for their eerie beauty, the strange shadows and twists of light illuminating icy puddles and colorful graffiti.  We were also unprepared for the wet, cool weather, quickly soaking our boots and working up an appetite.  We vowed to come back soon with the right clothing, bikes, and a picnic.

As another shoulder season approaches, I look forward to doing just that.  This is the time to revisit the “we should check that out sometime…” list.  Traffic dies down.  The beaches and trails clear out.  There’s no wait for a table after a full day of play.  Shoulder season is Lake Tahoe’s hushed secret, time to dust off the trail books on the mantel at Happy Cabin and choose your own adventure, the perfect time for stumbling upon something new.  For a list of 10 things my family wants to try this autumn, click here.

To visit Happy Cabin during your trip to North Lake Tahoe / Tahoe Vista / Kings Beach, click here.

To visit Happy Cabin during your trip to North Lake Tahoe / Tahoe Vista / Kings Beach, click here.

I was never much of a golf fan before Happy Cabin.  My Grandpa Bill used to watch golf on television religiously.  “You’d be a great golfer!” he promised, muttering about back swings and scholarships.   I didn’t relate at all to the perfectly-manicured lawns, pressed, collared shirts, and polite clapping. Happy Cabin’s location on the second hole of the Old Brockway Golf Course was neither here nor there for me. At first, I’d watch the game curiously from the deck, eavesdropping a bit.  I wondered briefly if maybe my girls could get scholarships, quickly admitting they were about as interested in golf as I’d been.  Eventually, I started looking into the history of the place, becoming more and more intrigued.  When I learned that the course was built in 1927 and was once the stomping grounds of Rat Pack icons like Frank Sinatra and Dean Martin, I started to think about all the things that must have happened over the years right here in our own backyard.  The stories those Jeffrey pines could tell. . . 

Happy Cabin came with two black-and-white photos, one of Dean Martin and Frank Sinatra from the early 60s, riding around Brockway in a golf cart, and the other of Dean Martin and Bing Crosby golfing, maybe even right behind the cabin on the second hole.  The men are smiling and wearing vintage leisure wear.  Bing is crouched at eye level, smoking a pipe and eyeing his shot.  I imagine that, after a round, Bing, Dean, and their Rat Pack entourage retired to some dimly-lit lounge for cocktails. I picture them sipping on martinis.  When it was time to stock the bar cabinet at Happy Cabinet, we included the usual beer steins, rocks glasses and wine goblets.  Recently, I added martini glasses and a cocktail shaker to help capture that Forties vibe.  I am now on a quest for the perfect martini—a “Happy Cabin Martini,” classic with a twist.  For now, I will pass on this “classic” recipe, adapted from Bon Appétit.  Stirred, not shaken.  Preferably enjoyed on the back deck of Happy Cabin, steps away from the Old Brockway Golf Course’s second hole.  

Classic Martini

INGREDIENTS

4 ounces gin
¾ ounce dry vermouth
1 lemon

PREPARATION

Fill shaker with ice. Add gin and vermouth. Strain into a chilled glass. Carefully remove a 1-inch piece of peel from the lemon and twist it over the drink. Rub the peel around the rim of the glass, float it in the martini, and enjoy.

To visit Happy Cabin during your trip to North Lake Tahoe / Tahoe Vista / Kings Beach, click here.

To visit Happy Cabin during your trip to North Lake Tahoe / Tahoe Vista / Kings Beach, click here.

When we first looked at Happy Cabin, I couldn’t help but notice the larger-than-life figure of a green dragon-like creature in the neighbor’s yard. It didn’t take long for me to get the story. On the weekend we moved in, a kind neighbor stopped by with gifts for our kids—a coloring book, soft-cover children’s story, and a small plush that looked just like the larger-than-life monster next door. It turns out that our neighbor is Bob McCormick, author of the popular children’s book, The Story of Tahoe Tessie: The Original Lake Tahoe Monster. The book tells the story of the legendary sea monster said to make Lake Tahoe her home. Loch Ness in Scotland has Nessie. Lake Tahoe has Tessie. Along the way, kids learn about the geologic history of Lake Tahoe and pick up some history. I recommend this book for parents wanting to give their 5- to 10-year-olds a sense of the lake’s history in a fun, memorable format that will engage their imaginations. It’s a happy read, and the “monster” parts aren’t too scary for my toddler. Bob’s Tahoe Tessie is a shy, friendly creature, not a scary beast. You can buy the book, the book’s sequel, and the plush Tahoe Tessie toy at Village Toys in Incline Village, or online at the Village Toys website.

To visit Happy Cabin during your trip to North Lake Tahoe / Tahoe Vista / Kings Beach, click here.

We spent most of July and the first part of August 2018 making Happy Cabin just a little bit happier.  Eben and our neighbor Jon tore out old carpets and laid gleaming, hard-to-destroy wood laminate floors that are as low-maintenance as they are beautiful.  Grandma Oranges organized dishware and tended to "I'm bored" kids, clamoring to go to the lake.  But it was Grandpa Oranges who gave a part of himself to the cabin.  Grandpa toiled for weeks in the hot summer sun over built-in redwood bunks, crafted by hand from pieces of redwood he'd been saving for a special project.  I may be a little bit biased, but these beds are magic.  Not only are they functional and fun, the smell of linseed oil and old wood takes me back to another happy place we discovered on a trip to Turkey we took when Anaya was only 4-years-old.  Lake Egerdir. 

Perched on the side of an azure lake high in the Turkish mountains is an eclectic lodge called Charly's Pension, built partly of weather-worn cedar.  Our room was lined in old cedar planks and listed slightly, giving the impression we were bunked on a swaying ship.  Directly out our window was the lake, wind-swept below towering mountains and a sky that shifted from clear blue to steel gray depending on the weather's mood.  At night, we would sit out on a deck overlooking the inky water and play cards and tell stories with other travelers over glasses of raki, an anise-flavored grape liquor served swirled with water until it turns a milky white, and meze, small dishes of fragrant, colorful appetizers like beyaz peynir (a salty white cheese), haydari (thick yogurt with herbs)  and--my favorite--acılı ezme, a spicy pepper paste made with walnuts ,sumac and pomegranate molasses.  That smell. . .

When I walk into Grandpa Oranges’ bunk room, I am there again, the intervening years bewitched away by my senses.  I hope that Grandpa Oranges’ bunk beds will soon be the stuff of many a family's memories, and that the smell of linseed oil and aged redwood planks will forever transport them back to Happy Cabin and the memories they made here. 

To visit Happy Cabin during your trip to North Lake Tahoe / Tahoe Vista / Kings Beach, click here.

Happy Cabin is a dream come true for our family, a second home at Lake Tahoe where we can make memories with our girls, Anaya (10) and Maris (3), friends, family and our black lab Oliver (8).  We live in a beautiful place.  Santa Cruz is a travel destination in and of itself, with gorgeous beaches, redwood forests, and the iconic Santa Cruz Beach Boardwalk.  We often staycation, because we can't think of a good reason to go anywhere else.  It takes a special place to lure us away from the Monterey Bay.  Happy Cabin is that place.

My husband, Eben, grew up spending time with his Grandpa Wilmot at Wolf Lake in the Catskills.  Wilmot and Edith had a small cabin with a dock and a blueberry patch right on the lake.  Eben and his brother learned how to fish, paddle a canoe, and launch a kayak.  The family pictures are replete with idyllic summer scenes, including Eben’s parents’ festive wedding at the lake, pictures of Eben’s mom lounging in the sun, pregnant with one or the other of the boys, and then finally pictures of those summers with the grandparents, action photos full of joy. 

We dreamed of having that kind of place for our family, a cabin away from it all to spend quality time and get back to nature, a happy place to retreat from the bustle of our everyday lives.  We looked to the nearby mountains for the right kind of place, considering Big Sur, the Russian River, Pinecrest, Arnold and Bear Valley.  We finally decided on Lake Tahoe because it has a good mix of summer and winter culture, along with a special something we couldn't quite put our finger on, something that makes us want to stay.     

Our family is relatively new to Lake Tahoe life.  My husband and I enjoyed the occasional ski or snowboarding trip growing up, but nothing regular, just enough to leave us wanting more.  Our girls have only been to Lake Tahoe a few times, mostly for winter snow trips.  Anaya and I are just learning how to snowboard.   Maris has only been in the snow twice.  We are still getting a feel for the place.  We are Lake Tahoe "beginners." 

This blog gives me an excuse to slow down and remember the journey. I hope it will also become a place for our guests to learn more about Happy Cabin and its charms.  We want to spend as much time at the cabin as we can, but we don't want it to stand empty when we're not there.  Instead, we hope to share Happy Cabin with friends, family and like-minded visitors looking for a special place to make their own Lake Tahoe memories. 

To visit Happy Cabin during your trip to North Lake Tahoe / Tahoe Vista / Kings Beach, click here.