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March 10, 2009
Markleeville in the snow
I've been coming to this area for years now and I just love Markleeville, a sweet little gold rush town that's close enough to Lake Tahoe to cruise over for a day of skiing, but a mountain pass and valley away from the glitz and traffic of the dreaded South Lake Tahoe scene.
Here's me with a bad case of snow face
My sweetness, Jane, sledding for the first time - so much fun!
You don't go to the Hope Valley / Markleeville area for the night life, you go there for the outdoors. Hope Valley is in Alpine County, and Alpine County is 97% Public Land, so get out there and enjoy it! And pardner, I know from fun, so If you have half a brain in your head you're going to listen to me and just do what I say. First, head over to The Hope Valley Outdoors Yurt and rent snow shoes or cross country skiis. The Yurt is adjacent to National Forest Land with free access and endless trails and backcountry opportunites.
Then, after a day of sledding and cross country skiing, head over to the Hope Valley Cafe for some beer and an early dinner
Proprietress Leesa Lopazanski renovated the joint last Summer - it used to be a ski rental place, but she's worked wonders and the scenario here is highly pleasant. Warm and cozy with a fire place and great food, beer, and, dude, the baked goods are sick. Our friend Amy bought cupcakes here we ate them late at night at our place in Markleeville - maybe it was just the wine, the snow drifting down outside our window, and charming company, but the cupcakes were unbelievably good. Way to go Leesa - we're totally fans!
So then, to continue the itinerary of jolliness, if you don't have kids, return to the "drink beer" step above in the Hope Valley Cafe and repeat. If you do have kids or are looking for more wholesome activities, after you've stuffed your fat face with burgers and pie at the cafe, head over to Grover Hot Springs for a nice, long, soak in the natural hot springs fed pool.
For those of you with an aversion to the fancy redwood soaks and naked hippies, you'll be pleased to know that the vibe here is decidedly more egalitarian and fat-russian-in-a-poorly-fitting-bathing-suit than Esalen-hippie. It's a state park after all - it only costs $5 to get in and there's a great adjoining campground that's open during the summer.
That's all for right now - stay tuned for a detailed description of lodging / cozy cabin options in the Hope Valley / Markleeville area.
Posted by Hall in Fun Places to go - camping, cozy cabins etc ...
