The Rambling House guidebook
comfort food
The owners of this family run business are warm, inviting, and courteous. What better place to cozy up after a long day of skiing, or order a burrito to go for lunch on your way out for a hike? The food is really good--we recommend the chicken tacos and margaritas on the rocks.
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Los Dos Hermanos
101 Battelle StThe owners of this family run business are warm, inviting, and courteous. What better place to cozy up after a long day of skiing, or order a burrito to go for lunch on your way out for a hike? The food is really good--we recommend the chicken tacos and margaritas on the rocks.
brewery/bar
This hidden gem is worth the 30 minute drive across the valley. The Brewing Lair of the Lost Sierra is a small, locally-run brewery, tucked away in the forest. They always have good beer on tap, but they also offer kombucha, tonics, as well as hot chocolate in the winter. In the summer there is a food truck, with delicious tacos and fish and chips.
There are trails for hiking, ping pong tables, grills available for anyone who wants to bring a picnic, and lot of outdoor space for the kids to run around, making it an ideal setting for families and singles alike.
We can't say enough good stuff about this place. The owners are lovely people, and they have really thought this one through, making it such a special place.
31 personas locales recomiendan
The Brewing Lair
67007 CA-70This hidden gem is worth the 30 minute drive across the valley. The Brewing Lair of the Lost Sierra is a small, locally-run brewery, tucked away in the forest. They always have good beer on tap, but they also offer kombucha, tonics, as well as hot chocolate in the winter. In the summer there is a food truck, with delicious tacos and fish and chips.
There are trails for hiking, ping pong tables, grills available for anyone who wants to bring a picnic, and lot of outdoor space for the kids to run around, making it an ideal setting for families and singles alike.
We can't say enough good stuff about this place. The owners are lovely people, and they have really thought this one through, making it such a special place.
If you get really nerdy about beer this is probably a place you should stop while you are here. It is worth the drive, and their brewing techniques have been attracting a lot of attention.
One thing that makes them stand out is their Koji beer, brewed using Japanese fermentation technique.
The owners are really nice, approachable people, that will love to talk about brewing beer with you.
Ronin Fermentation Project
601 Graeagle Johnsville RoadIf you get really nerdy about beer this is probably a place you should stop while you are here. It is worth the drive, and their brewing techniques have been attracting a lot of attention.
One thing that makes them stand out is their Koji beer, brewed using Japanese fermentation technique.
The owners are really nice, approachable people, that will love to talk about brewing beer with you.
This charming lakeside bar is open from May-October in combination with Sardine Lake Lodge. The Lodge is by reservation only, but the bar is open to the general pulic. The Bar is lovely, and there are rowboats available for rent to paddle on this pristine mountain lake! It is located 30 minutes away from the Rambling House.
Lakeside Bar
Sardine Lake RoadThis charming lakeside bar is open from May-October in combination with Sardine Lake Lodge. The Lodge is by reservation only, but the bar is open to the general pulic. The Bar is lovely, and there are rowboats available for rent to paddle on this pristine mountain lake! It is located 30 minutes away from the Rambling House.
quick stop
This small, locally owned cafe is a great stop for coffee, breakfast burritos, and delicious pastries. Their pies are a local favorite. All of their baked goods are made from scratch by the owners' daughter.
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Smithneck Farms Café
107 E Main StThis small, locally owned cafe is a great stop for coffee, breakfast burritos, and delicious pastries. Their pies are a local favorite. All of their baked goods are made from scratch by the owners' daughter.
Ice Cream! If you want to pair a trip to the Lakes Basin off of Gold Lake Highway with anything, it should be ice cream. They are open from May-October.
Bassett Station
100 Gold Lake HwyIce Cream! If you want to pair a trip to the Lakes Basin off of Gold Lake Highway with anything, it should be ice cream. They are open from May-October.
Food scene
A lovely restaurant, open seasonally on the weekends. This restaurant is located in Loyalton, one town over, and is attached to the Gilded Drifter Inn, an incredible place to stay.
The menu is constantly changing with the seasons and the wine pairings are always spot on.
The Drifter's Table
820 Main StreetA lovely restaurant, open seasonally on the weekends. This restaurant is located in Loyalton, one town over, and is attached to the Gilded Drifter Inn, an incredible place to stay.
The menu is constantly changing with the seasons and the wine pairings are always spot on.
This restaurant is really quite the drive. We are not sure any guests will ever take us up on this one, but it will be worth it in food quality if you do. We have never had a better ramen bowl, and all of the food is top notch. They also have shelves and shelves of used books, and guess what, you can purchase them for a very reasonable price! Or just look through them while you are waiting for your food. If you feel like taking a really long drive through the country, this is the destination place for you!
Genesee Store
7201 Genesee RdThis restaurant is really quite the drive. We are not sure any guests will ever take us up on this one, but it will be worth it in food quality if you do. We have never had a better ramen bowl, and all of the food is top notch. They also have shelves and shelves of used books, and guess what, you can purchase them for a very reasonable price! Or just look through them while you are waiting for your food. If you feel like taking a really long drive through the country, this is the destination place for you!
The Sardine Lake Lodge is a historic, family-run restaurant. It is open for reservations from May-October.
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Sardine Lake Resort
990 Sardine Lake RdThe Sardine Lake Lodge is a historic, family-run restaurant. It is open for reservations from May-October.
activities
The hot springs in Sierraville is currently offering day passes, reserved in advance. Keep in mind that they are not open on Mondays and Tuesdays for now, as those are days reserved for cleaning.
The hot springs in Sierraville has been open to the public for 150 years. There are several different pools, all kept at different temperatures.
Body acceptance is a key component of the Sierra Hot Springs. All of the pools are clothing optional.
The Philosophy Cafe' is run by kind and thoughtful folks, focusing on seasonality in their menu.
29 personas locales recomiendan
Sierra Hot Springs
521 Campbell Hot Springs RdThe hot springs in Sierraville is currently offering day passes, reserved in advance. Keep in mind that they are not open on Mondays and Tuesdays for now, as those are days reserved for cleaning.
The hot springs in Sierraville has been open to the public for 150 years. There are several different pools, all kept at different temperatures.
Body acceptance is a key component of the Sierra Hot Springs. All of the pools are clothing optional.
The Philosophy Cafe' is run by kind and thoughtful folks, focusing on seasonality in their menu.
The steel bridge, as locals call it, is a great place to go bird watching in season (from late February through early June). Please be quiet and respectful on this small gravel road, birds are nesting during this time!
Marble Hot Springs Bridge
Dyson LaneThe steel bridge, as locals call it, is a great place to go bird watching in season (from late February through early June). Please be quiet and respectful on this small gravel road, birds are nesting during this time!
There is a west entrance and east entrance. They are great spots for bird watching and hiking. The east entrance has trails and plant markers for easy plant identification as well as a historic ranch house. It’s. Great stop for birding or picnicking.
The west entrance has a few trails throughout the area, as well as a picnic table for picnicking. They also have canoes and kayaks available if you bring your own paddles. You can request paddles from us seasonally, when the water in the middle of the valley is high enough for this peaceful and fun activity!
Sierra Valley Preserve Public Access
County Route A24There is a west entrance and east entrance. They are great spots for bird watching and hiking. The east entrance has trails and plant markers for easy plant identification as well as a historic ranch house. It’s. Great stop for birding or picnicking.
The west entrance has a few trails throughout the area, as well as a picnic table for picnicking. They also have canoes and kayaks available if you bring your own paddles. You can request paddles from us seasonally, when the water in the middle of the valley is high enough for this peaceful and fun activity!
The trailhead is up by Jackson Meadows, off of hwy 89 going north. It is about a 20 minute drive from the Rambling House.
This hike is an 11 mile, difficult trail through beautiful meadows, and past rivers and creeks.
Mt Lola Trailhead
Dog Valley RoadThe trailhead is up by Jackson Meadows, off of hwy 89 going north. It is about a 20 minute drive from the Rambling House.
This hike is an 11 mile, difficult trail through beautiful meadows, and past rivers and creeks.
This is a beautiful place to visit!
They offer canoes and kayaks for free seasonally.
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Independence Lake
This is a beautiful place to visit!
They offer canoes and kayaks for free seasonally.
Sagehen Creek Trail
California 89This is a beautiful, easy hike, right off of hwy 89, towards Truckee.
This is a great place to go cross country skiing. You can purchase a Sno-park pass online to park in the parking lot. They do not rent out skiis here, so you will have to bring your own!
We recommend using the trail across the street from the parking lot, since snowmobiles have been taking over the other trails lately.
Yuba Pass
This is a great place to go cross country skiing. You can purchase a Sno-park pass online to park in the parking lot. They do not rent out skiis here, so you will have to bring your own!
We recommend using the trail across the street from the parking lot, since snowmobiles have been taking over the other trails lately.
Hike the Bear Lakes loop, which goes past four lakes. The trailhead is located at the end of the Lakes Basin Campground. It is a great way to get up into the Lakes Basin region, about 30 minutes from the Rambling House. Open season for hiking this trail is between the snow melt in May and the snowfall in December! We love Long Lake the best.
Lakes Basin Campground
Elwell Lodge RoadHike the Bear Lakes loop, which goes past four lakes. The trailhead is located at the end of the Lakes Basin Campground. It is a great way to get up into the Lakes Basin region, about 30 minutes from the Rambling House. Open season for hiking this trail is between the snow melt in May and the snowfall in December! We love Long Lake the best.
This is a nice hike to a waterfall to do in the winter! It is right off of hwy 49, about 30 minutes from the Rambling House.
Located as part of the Pacific Crest Trail, you can find a way to the trail across the street from the parking area for the PCT off of hwy 49. It’s a little tricky to get to, because it isn’t a trailhead so much as a section of the PCT that you are joining up with. The trail itself is relatively easy to hike and leads to a bridge and waterfall.
Loves Falls
This is a nice hike to a waterfall to do in the winter! It is right off of hwy 49, about 30 minutes from the Rambling House.
Located as part of the Pacific Crest Trail, you can find a way to the trail across the street from the parking area for the PCT off of hwy 49. It’s a little tricky to get to, because it isn’t a trailhead so much as a section of the PCT that you are joining up with. The trail itself is relatively easy to hike and leads to a bridge and waterfall.
Truckee
The yarn and craft store located in the back of Bespoke, up in Truckee. This is a beautiful place to buy a gift or find a project to work on during your trip.
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Atelier
10098 Donner Pass RdThe yarn and craft store located in the back of Bespoke, up in Truckee. This is a beautiful place to buy a gift or find a project to work on during your trip.
Any visit to Truckee, 25 minutes from the Rambling House, should include a visit to this lovely shop. It is full of artistic inspiration, selling the work of artists who make where they live. The art and yarn store in the back, Atelier, is a great place to pick up a fun project for your trip.
35 personas locales recomiendan
Bespoke
10098 Donner Pass RdAny visit to Truckee, 25 minutes from the Rambling House, should include a visit to this lovely shop. It is full of artistic inspiration, selling the work of artists who make where they live. The art and yarn store in the back, Atelier, is a great place to pick up a fun project for your trip.
High-end restaurant, run by a husband and wife. They are doing amazing things with local and seasonal food.
53 personas locales recomiendan
Trokay
10046 Donner Pass RdHigh-end restaurant, run by a husband and wife. They are doing amazing things with local and seasonal food.
Pacific Crest Coffee Company
10736 Pioneer TrailGreat owners, wonderful, specialty coffee.
This is a great place to stock up on anything you might need for your trip. If you make eating organic, seasonal produce a priority, this is for you. They also have a really good deli, and a great selection of wine and cheese.
165 personas locales recomiendan
New Moon Natural Foods
505 W Lake BlvdThis is a great place to stock up on anything you might need for your trip. If you make eating organic, seasonal produce a priority, this is for you. They also have a really good deli, and a great selection of wine and cheese.
This is the official favorite wine stop of the Rambling House. The owner is a lovely human being, and he will always give you a great recommendation on wine. He also sells a great selection of cheese and other delightful snacks to pair with your wine.
11 personas locales recomiendan
The Pour House Wine Shop
10075 Jibboom StThis is the official favorite wine stop of the Rambling House. The owner is a lovely human being, and he will always give you a great recommendation on wine. He also sells a great selection of cheese and other delightful snacks to pair with your wine.
This book store is so wonderful. There are also vinyl records for sale in the basement ;)
10 personas locales recomiendan
Word After Word Books
10052 Donner Pass RdThis book store is so wonderful. There are also vinyl records for sale in the basement ;)
This is a really delightful restaurant, featuring brick oven pizzas and delicious beverages.
100 personas locales recomiendan
Old Town Tap
10164 Donner Pass RdThis is a really delightful restaurant, featuring brick oven pizzas and delicious beverages.
Located at the Truckee airport, this cafe boasts Indian-style hot dogs (naan-dogs) and incredible quinoa bowls. It's a fun place to take the family and watch the airplanes take off and land while eating your meal. Please don't leave without ordering one of their cookies, they are divine.
26 personas locales recomiendan
Red Truck
10356 Truckee Airport RdLocated at the Truckee airport, this cafe boasts Indian-style hot dogs (naan-dogs) and incredible quinoa bowls. It's a fun place to take the family and watch the airplanes take off and land while eating your meal. Please don't leave without ordering one of their cookies, they are divine.
This cafe is located downtown. DCDS is roasting and serving good specialty coffee, owned by well-known snowboarder Nick Visconti. We also recommend their avocado toast.
8 personas locales recomiendan
Drink Coffee Do Stuff
10115 Donner Pass RdThis cafe is located downtown. DCDS is roasting and serving good specialty coffee, owned by well-known snowboarder Nick Visconti. We also recommend their avocado toast.
The food here is incredible! It is totally worth the little extra you pay for quality.
7 personas locales recomiendan
Truckee Food Shop
12030 Donner Pass RdThe food here is incredible! It is totally worth the little extra you pay for quality.