Tahoe Donner, Lake Tahoe, California

Near Donner Lake and Truckee, Tahoe Donner, California, unlike surrounding incorporated towns, is a developed residential community, which translates to a planned vacation waiting to happen. The name "Donner" has its roots in an emigrant party who traveled from the east, in search of gold, circa 1848. One winter night, they became isolated, lost their food and supplies, and had to resort to cannablism. While their story is horrific, their name and spirit remains conscious by their people, the town, and lake. Late 1800s, two sawmills operated at Trout Creek; a railroad ran along Alder Creek and Tahoe Donner. In the 1920s, the Tahoe Donner area had a major logging industry. Housing, however, didn't develop until 1970. Square mileage of Tahoe Donner is approximately 6,000 acres. There are 5,948 households; 20% of the homes are primary and 80% are secondary residents.

Donner Lake invites you to all of its local activities, which could be a lasting vacation separate from the greater North Lake Tahoe region. Alder Creek has deep forest campgrounds and RV campgrounds, with both fun and necessary amenities, so you go to nature and nature comes to you. On Donner Lake, the Beach Club Marina charters boats for fishing and partying. Feel the cool freshwater as you swim on the beach. Day camps teach kids about the environment and to be environmentally conscious. They can rock climb, whitewater raft, and go on beach outings and camping trips. Horseback riding at the Equestrian Center will thrill as you climb on these beautiful beasts and gallop through the trails and hills. Tahoe Donner, California, has its own golf course with tall pines, views of the Sierras, clean greens, and fairways you'll want to try multiple times. Tahoe Donner golf course is just one of over twelve courses in North Lake Tahoe, so your vacation just got a lot larger and, perhaps, longer than you can imagine. While Donner Lake swimming may be first on your mind, don't discount Northwoods Pool. There life guards watch, children slip and slide down the water slide, pool festivities party the night away. A day at the pool is classic for the summertime. Tahoe Donner, California, is cross-country skiing country. When the powder is fresh, forty-nine trails lead you through 4,800 acres of rugged terrain that'll try even the Olympian skier. Two of those trails are snowshoe tracks. Close by town of Truckee are downhill skiing and snowboarding slopes. In the greater North Lake Tahoe, on the Sierra Mountains, there are over fifteen ski resorts. Numbers tell the story. You can ski and snowboard for many winters and still want more. In yet, the satisfaction of flying down steeps and over moguls will be immense every time. Programs and clinics are ready to help you learn more about how to ski or snowboard and how to use your equipment more effectively. Everyone can have fun and maybe learn a little something. If skiing or snowboarding isn't your bag, your winter vacation doesn't have to end. Ice skating, snowshoeing, snowmobiling are around to feel out the mountains, hills, and forests. And for the kids or the kid inside you periodically have to revive, snow ball wars, snow angels, snowmen, snow igloos, sled and inner tube riding, slipping, and sliding, have designated places in Tahoe Donner. You may come to Tahoe Donner for summer or may come for winter, but as a year-round developed resort area, you may realize you could do both and love the vacation equally.