Donner Lake --

      The Donner Lake Inn is located at the West end of Donner Lake, across the street from the lake, adjacent to the boat launch facility and two blocks from the West End Beach. The beaches and many public docks welcome you to swim, sail, water ski and fish. Donner Memorial Park at the East end of the lake has beautiful lakeside picnic areas and a marvelous museum featuring the Donner Party and the building of the Transcontinental Railroad. The lake basin is laced with breathtaking hiking trails.

Lake Tahoe --

      A half-hour’s drive away is Lake Tahoe -- truly one of the world’s most beautiful bodies of water. Its crystal clear waters rest within a ring of majestic snow-capped mountains. Here you can enjoy world class water and snow skiing, beautiful sandy beaches, fishing, wonderful restaurants, interesting shops, casinos, golf courses, and hiking trails including the Tahoe Rim Trail. A half-day drive around the 75 mile circumference is a tour through a wide spectrum of scenery from flashy high-rises to unspoiled forest.

Take a cruise – The best way to enjoy the lakes

     Make your stay truly memorable with a skippered cruise on Donner Lake or Lake Tahoe. We operate our own 28-foot Formula Sun Sport equipped with toilet, fresh water, dining facilities, and comfortable space for six guests.

      A spectacular two-hour sunset cruise on Donner Lake starts at $125. Add something to drink and some treats and watch the sun set behind Donner Pass.

      Make a grand day of it on Lake Tahoe including an on-board picnic or a meal at one of Lake Tahoe ’s many exceptional restaurants. Include swimming, stops at points of interest, or simply cruise this beautiful lake. A half-day on the “Big Lake” can be as reasonable as $300.

    The stable, comfortable Formula SS 280 is equally enjoyable moseying along the beaches and bays or making a fast run the length of the lake. It's the ideal swim and/or lunch platform, and its deep vee design and twin engines will safely carry you from port to port at speeds of 50 miles per hour.  

      Skipper/innkeeper Tino Serrano -- a retired Coast Guard officer -- has operated boats on Lake Tahoe and Donner since 1986.

Truckee –

      Our “downtown,” is a fascinating historic town four miles east. 150-year-old Truckee is an old world playground and a present day recreation destination. A map available from the Chamber of Commerce will guide you through a 45-minute walking tour of this town that was the first major settlement in the Sierras, served as the gateway to the West for the pioneers, helped build the Trans-continental Railroad, and became a playground for the well-to-do at the turn of the last century. Modern day Truckee is a hub of the Sierra recreation area, and rated as one of the country’s ten best ski areas. It hosts interesting shops, several excellent restaurants, and is only a short drive from a dozen magnificent ski areas.

Reno –

      Want a change of scenery during your Sierra getaway? Downtown Reno is a 35-mile drive east on Highway 80. Reno has all the “big city” offerings – shopping centers, golf courses, museums, parks, and more. Pick up the pace during your mountain retreat by spending an evening in the midst of Reno ’s glittering Casinos, flamboyant shows and sophisticated restaurants.

Surrounding Towns –

      If you’re a nature or history buff, you’ll be tempted by the many nearby small towns that date to the middle of the Nineteenth Century. To the East, Virginia City thrives today looking and acting much as it did in its heyday as a silver town in the 1800’s. To the West, many gold rush towns survive along Highway 49. North along Highway 89 you’ll enjoy both beautiful open country and heavy forest, dotted with only a few tiny towns. To the South, you’ll find yourself traveling along Lake Tahoe ’s scenic Western Shore, past several old lakeside resorts and into the bustling city of South Lake Tahoe.