Being a California girl who loves to travel, I’m ashamed to say I made my first trek to the famous Sugar Bowl Resort just last month.
I didn’t know what to expect, with this winter lodge and ski resort being in the height of summer. In my mind ski resorts in summer just.. don’t exist? I guess? In my minds eye they should just melt away with the snow in some Brigadoon-type apparition of Currier and Ives in the winter, haha.
So I was pleasantly surprised to have a blast in this beautiful summer spot. From wildflowers and birdsong, to walking trails and cozy firepits where you can roast smores and sip coffee, this place held so much mountain charm with a lingering 1940s era style that I am anxious to see it in it’s wintertime glory!
For those of you not in the know, Sugar Bowl is a ski and snowboard area near Truckee, California along the Donner Pass of the Sierra Nevada. This classic California ski resort opened on December 15, 1939. Sugar Bowl is well known for its long history, significant advanced terrain, high annual snowfall and being one of the closest ski areas to the San Francisco Bay area. Sugar Bowl was the first ski area in California to install a chairlift and the first on the west coast to install a gondola lift.
The mountain peaks of Mt. Judah and Mt. Lincoln, that eventually became the ski slopes of the Sugar Bowl ski resort, were a part of the American pioneersv route, back in the 1800s. A part of the California wagon trail called Roller Pass ran between Mt. Judah and Mt. Lincoln. It was one of the wagon trails through Donner Pass that was used by settlers and prospectors, on the Emigrant Trail, coming from the eastern United States across the Sierra Nevada. Today the same pass can be reached by way of the Pacific Crest Trail or a new trail created by Sugar Bowl ski resort, in 1994, called the Mt. Judah Loop Trail.
Sugar Bowl is one of the oldest and longest running ski resorts on the west coast, having been in operation for over 75 years.
Hmm.. what’s the story with the Disney Express on the gondola? Interesting!
My friend is from Truckee and I remember Donner Pass well. I remember having to Google it because it was some crazy story of people dying. Something like that.
The air looks so crisp and fresh. I miss it so.
This was a favorite ski spot of Walt Disney… the resort has tons of Disney memorabilia and donated relics, hehe…
I was curious about the Disney Express thing too. Is this the resort that Walt was throwing in with just before he passed?
Yeah! This is the place!
This place looks amazing!! so pretty!
http://acharlottee.blogspot.co.uk
Gosh!!!! This is so so so beautiful, it absolutely takes my breath away. I love how it is all wooden, anytime better than any of those concrete monstrosities these days. Those are so dead to the world, no life, no character. Love the homely looking cafe and the lobby too…and the breathtaking surroundings!!!
Right? I love all the large timber beams and etched in history!!
Oh wow, this place looks amazing! Beautiful photos!
I’d absolutely love to visit this resort. Your photo’s are spectacular. I love to travel too, just don’t do to much of it these days. We’re taking lots of hiking trips with the kids which is super fun =) Most one tank trips or the kids get whiney in the car. I would love to go here minus the kids despite the Disney express, ha.
Awww, thank you Laura! I need to get hiking more often, its on my summer checklist!
Everything looks amazing! Wish I was there! Thanks for sharing girl!
this sound amazing
fabulous post
I wish you an happy day
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What a cute hotel
xo
http://www.laurajaneatelier.com
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This is such a fun post love the photos, thanks for sharing you have an amazing blog. Do you want to support each other’s blog by following each other?:) Please let me know if you do so I can follow you right back x
kisses
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Sure, I’ll keep in touch with ya! <3
This place in California seems like a lovely getaway.
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What a beautiful resort. It looks like the perfect place to relax.
Do I spy Disney? Hmmm…
This places looks beautiful even out of it’s typical season.
Yeah, this was Walt’s favorite ski lodge! <3
We are big skiers, and we’ve skied Tahoe, but I’ve never been to Sugar Bowl. As much as I love the mountains in the winter, I love them even more in the summer. Alex and I hike for hours, and the guys mountain bike. Summer mountain vacations are one of my favorites. Beautiful pictures, Gingi!
Yeah, mountains in the spring and summertime are my FAVORITE!
So glad you had fun! Truckee is beautiful!
-Ashley
Le Stylo Rouge
Lovely photos as always my dear! It looks like a very pleasant resort even during the summer. Beautiful nature, mountins and SO green 🙂
Such a spectacular view. Beautiful pics, Gingi. I would love to go there one of these days.
xox
Lenya
FashionDreams&Lifestyle
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Incredible photography! Amazing!!! Have a great day!
xo, Bry
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How incredibly gorgeous! Certainly a place worth visiting with family and friends 🙂
I don’t ski and I’ve never been there, but it looks like a lovely place to check out in the summer. Love your flower photographs! http://www.lisarusso.com
I don’t ski either, but it’s on my bucket list!
Wow! It looks so cool!
What a cool place! I bet it’s even better in the winter 🙂
Beyond gorgeous! 🙂 I’d love to visit California in general.
I love California.. this and Florida have become my two favorite states! <3
This place looks so beautiful, I love your photos! xx
Sara Wallflower
What a beautiful nature in this resort! If it was close to me I’d definitely go there)
I never visited ski resort in summer, however being a north country we have a lot of them with mountain bikes and other things for the hot days) Maybe one day I’ll try it)
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BlogLovin
I hate the cold, so now I’m just sold on ski resorts in the summer, haha! <3
Beautiful images!
Have a nice week-end!
Photographe Gil Zetbase
http://www.gilzetbase.com/
Well, I’ve not heard of this place before … my excuse is that I live in the UK !
Love your pictures though, and the view of the lake looks amazing.
Have a Happy Weekend
All the best Jan
I genuinely don’t even know what to say (and that doesn’t happen often) I love all of this. Looks like a perfect vacation, whether it’s during the summer or winter.
x- Naomi in Wonderland
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That place looks amazing! I’ve never been, but I’ve always wondered what a ski resort looked like during summer. It’s weird seeing ski lifts without snow on the ground.
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Lovely photography Gingi. Looks like a gorgeous area to be in and relax!
DAISYPERSON | BEAUTY BLOG
Beautiful photos! I’m with you on ‘summer in the Alps, wth?’ That was until I visited the Swiss Alps during Summertime. It.is.gorgeous. The mountain air, sunshine, wildflowers, completely different from winter, but so wonderful. I imagine Truckee being very similar.
Oh man, the alps is on my bucket list so hard!! The more I travel, the more I want to travel MORE, ya know? haha..
What a beautiful place, wow! I would love to go there, it seems lovely. But sadly I’ve never left Europe, so maybe I should start by that haha 😉
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I am always learning great new California stuff from you! This looks fun. I’d never heard of it. I do have a snow boarder, age 9, who is appalled by Monterey’s lack of snow.
LOL, you guys should hit this place up sometime!! <3
Looks amazing!
Melanie @ meandmr.com
Gingi since I am not a fan of snow…especially have the horrible winter we had last year, I would love this resort in the summer… being able to walk the trails and enjoy the flowers… I won’t even think of winter until I have no other choice…
This place looks so lovely xox
It was! I had a fun time! <3
Such a fun place to visit!!1
I’ve never been but boy are you making me want to go lol. I mean just look at everything. I so need a vacay, and this would be a wonderful place to visit. Thanks for taking me along with you by photos.
Kia / House of KTS
http://www.houseofkts.com
Wow, this place looks good to have a family time. I haven’t visited before, but won’t mind at all. Great shots, Gingi. 🙂
missymayification.blogspot.co.uk
Thanks Missy!! <3
What a gorgeous place to visit! These pictures are so stunning!
xo,
Jessica
http://www.fortheloveofbubbly.com
The views are so stunning!!! And that place has so much history. I wish I could escape this hectic work of mine to run to a nice place like that.