Tag: life

Double Days – Springtime in Reno Tahoe

Double Days – Springtime in Reno Tahoe

Keelie Cox

Springtime in Reno Tahoe might just be my favorite season. The days are longer, the weather is warmer and you can participate in all your favorite activities in one day. And on years when we have epic snowfall (like this one), springtime is even more amazing.

Ski

This past February some of the Lake Tahoe Ski resorts received over 200 inches of snow and the year to date snow total is over 35 feet! We “Spring Forward” on March 10th, so bring on those longer, warmer bluebird days and get ready to shred some amazing pow! If you’re looking to pull that “Double Day” only possible in Reno Tahoe, I suggest hitting up the ski resort in the morning.  

Hike/Bike

Because of our epic February 2019 snowfall, hiking and biking will have to take place at lower elevations, but that is perfectly okay. Located just north of Rancho San Rafael Regional Park is endless miles of single-track trails ideal for hiking or biking. Hike to the ‘N’ for an unbelievable view of the University of Nevada, Reno and downtown Reno. And if you time it just right, you’ll be joined by a plethora of high-desert wildflowers.  

Paddle/Kayak

Picture this, you’re on the gorgeous turquoise pristine waters of Lake Tahoe surrounded by snowcapped mountains. This is what it’s like paddle boarding or kayaking in Tahoe during spring.  Peak Tahoe beach season has yet to begin, so enjoy solitude and relaxation after a fun morning on the slopes. Great launch spots include Sand Harbor or Kings Beach.

Events/Nightlife

You can keep the party going all night in Reno – the land of no last call. Here is a short list of some upcoming spring events. For more options, visit Reno Tahoe’s events calendar.

Reno Leprechaun Crawl | March 16

Squaw Valley WinterWonderGrass | March 29-31

Old Dominion | April 26

Reno River Festival | May 11-12

What is your favorite springtime activity? Tell me in the comments below. Until next time…

Cheers!

Keelie

  • Pink Fest Tahoe
  • Rancho San Rafael
36 Hours in New York City

36 Hours in New York City

Keelie Cox

I was looking at flights to London when my mom said, “Why don’t you fly through New York? Get out and explore the city a bit.” This was a brilliant idea. Reno had just launched a direct red-eye flight to JFK. I decided I would fly to New York City, spend the night and take a red-eye to London the following day. This was my first time to the Big Apple, and I was traveling solo. What was I going to do?

New York Stock Exchange

I arrived at my hotel around 8:30 in the morning. Too early to check in obviously, but I was able to drop off my baggage and hit the streets. My first stop – Wall Street. I had just ended a five-year career in the Brokerage industry, so this was a no brainer for me. It was Saturday (and 8:30 am), so the street wasn’t flooded with brokers, but I was still able to soak up the energy and nerd out in the financial center of the world.

New York Stock Exchange

The 911 Memorial 

I was in the 7th grade when the Twin Towers collapsed. I remember my Grandma getting off the phone and running over to change the TV to the news. This is such an awe-inspiring memorial, and it gives me the chills every time I see it. Where the towers once stood, there are now two beautiful water fountains with the names of the men, women and children that were killed during the attacks inscribed along the edges.

911 Memorial

The Statue of Liberty and Ellis Island  

Perhaps one of the most iconic symbols of New York, the Statue of Liberty is a must for any New York first timer. I imagined myself as an immigrant woman who just left all of her family and friends behind to start a new life in America. I had just traveled by boat from Europe and after entering the New York Harbor there she was – Lady Liberty. A symbol of freedom, hope and my new life in America. Don’t skip out on Ellis Island. The history of the building and what the immigrants went through to start their new life here is astounding.

Statue of Liberty

Times Square 

It’s a tourist destination, you’re a tourist, so check it out. It felt a bit like Vegas to me with all the lights, sounds and people. I had no idea that the NASDAQ was located in Times Square, so that was a bonus item for me. Check out the iconic stores, people watch, grab a drink nearby and take lots of photos. It really is a cool place and worth checking out.

Times Square

Central Park  

Did you really go to New York City if you didn’t visit Central Park? I was staying at The Pod 39 Hotel near Grand Central Station and decided to run to Central Park. It was a bucket list item for me – to run in Central Park. It was the middle of winter, so the trees were bare, but the park was still beautiful. Because I was on a time crunch, I decided to run from my hotel to the National History Museum via Central Park. Kill two birds with one stone. And on my way back it started snowing! Snow in Central Park is New York City at its finest.

Snowy Central Park

Natural History Museum or Top of the Rock

Unfortunately, there just isn’t enough time to do both, and both are amazing in their unique ways. The Natural History Museum makes me feel like a kid again. I love going through the dinosaur exhibit and calling out all the Land Before Time characters – Littlefoot! Petry! Spike! Duckie!….Sharp Tooth!

Natural History Museum NYCNatural History Museum NYC

The Top of the Rock is my favorite view in NYC. Everyone tends to go up the Empire State Building, but you can’t see the Empire State Building when you’re on it. 70 floors and 850 feet in the air, you have a Bird’s-eye view of Central Park in one direction and a stunning view of Midtown Manhattan (Empire State building included) in the other.

I ended up choosing the Natural History Museum but was fortunate enough to make it up the Top of the Rock on a subsequent visit.

Top of the Rock

Whichever direction you choose to go, you can’t go wrong. New York is an amazing city and the perfect weekend getaway!

What are your favorite things to do in New York? Tell me in the comments below! Until next time…

Cheers!

Keelie

Picture Perfect Views – Lake Tahoe Edition

Picture Perfect Views – Lake Tahoe Edition

Keelie Cox

I feel very fortunate to have Lake Tahoe as my “backyard.” What I mean by that is I can leave my house, explore the beauty of the lake, and make it back to Reno in time for happy hour. However, this isn’t just a benefit for locals but also visitors to the Reno Tahoe destination. So, whether you are a local or just here for the weekend, here are a few of my favorite hikes with a picture-perfect view of Lake Tahoe.

Monkey Rock

Just over Mt Rose Hwy is a short and steep jaunt with gorgeous views. Located in Incline Village, this hike is accessed behind Tunnel Creek Café of Hwy 28. Parking is limited and this hike is popular so be prepared during peak times. After climbing for approximately 1.5 miles, you’ll see a steep short cut to the left, and then another trail that heads into the rocks. It’s here you’ll find Monkey Rock and breathtaking Lake Tahoe views.

Mount Rose

Mount Rose is the closest hike to Reno on my list and one of the most rewarding. When you reach Mount Rose summit, you’ll find a large parking lot, this is the base for the Mt Rose hike. To reach the summit it’s about 10 miles round trip and 2,400 ft of elevation gain, and there is a beautiful waterfall about halfway in. You’ll see your first view of Lake Tahoe less than 1 mile in, but then you venture into the trees and up into the granite, and Big Blue doesn’t make her next appearance until you’ve reached the top. From the summit, you get a Birdseye view of Lake Tahoe and the Truckee Meadows.

Mt. Tallac

In my personal opinion, this is the most grueling hike on this list. Located on Tahoe’s south shore, this hike is long at just over 10 miles, steep with over 3,000 ft in elevation gain, exposed and rocky. So why are there so many people flocking to this hike? The views. You start climbing over Fallen Leaf Lake and then Lake Tahoe emerges in the distance. Eventually, you get a view of all the little lakes speckled throughout Desolation Wilderness and then you reach the top. In one frame, you can see Tahoe, Emerald Bay, Cascade Lake and Fallon Leaf Lake. Then you’ll turn behind you for a view of the Sierra Nevada you didn’t know was possible.

On the list

A Lake Tahoe summit hike on my to-do list is “The Three Sisters.” These are the three gigantic peaks located on the southeast shore that comprise of Job’s Peak, Job’s Sister and Freel Peak – the tallest mountain in the Lake Tahoe Basin. It’s possible to summit all of them in one day, but it’s approximately 12 miles long and over 4,000 ft in elevation gain. A goal of mine for sure.

Lake Tahoe is a hiker’s paradise, and I know there are a ton of other trails I didn’t mention. Please comment below your favorite Lake Tahoe hike. I am always looking to explore new trails and would love to hear from you! Until next time…

Cheers!

Keelie

Ride On – A Guide to the Mae Hong Son Loop

Ride On – A Guide to the Mae Hong Son Loop

Keelie Cox

In July, a friend of mine posted on Facebook, “Who wants to go on a motorcycle tour in Thailand?” I got my motorcycle license in September and was boarding a plane to Southeast Asia for 16 days in November. I had just started my new job that April. To have enough PTO for the trip, I didn’t take a single vacation day since I’d started, and we went over the Thanksgiving holiday which was 2 free vacation days. I flew out Friday night on a red eye, was back in Reno by midnight Sunday and at work the following day by 9 am. I was exhausted, the jet lag was real, but it was all worth it.

Now that you know logistically how I got there, here is my quick breakdown of the Mae Hong Son Loop. So, what is it? The Mae Hong Son Loop is about 600 km long, has 1,864 curves and is in the northeastern mountains of Thailand. Because of the beautiful scenery and the tight curves, it is a popular motorcycle route. Your trip starts in Chiang Mai and you can complete the loop in either direction. For the novice rider, like myself, I recommend starting clockwise towards Mae Sariang with Pai being your last stop. Rent your bike in Chiang Mai; I used Tony’s Big Bikes. I ended up being too short to rent an actual motorcycle, so I ended up with a 150 CC scooter. It worked for me. This was my first motorcycle ride, so I didn’t need a lot of power; just something I felt comfortable with.

I was riding in a group of 6. Quite a few of us, myself included, were complete motorcycle rookies, so we took our time. We completed the loop in 10 days. Our first stop was just off the main freeway – the 108 – right before the turnoff for Doi Inthanon National Park – the tallest point in Thailand. We stayed a second night near the park, and the following day made it to Mae Sariang. Guide books say you can finish the loop in 4 days, we did it in 10. After Mae Sariang, we continued to Mae Hong Son where we spent a few days and then Pai. Pai was the “happening” place, and I recommend at least 2 nights there.

There are beautiful vista points to stop along during all parts of the trip. Some of the best meals I had were random huts along the side of the road where our only communication was “fried rice” and “pork”. November was the perfect time to go. The weather wasn’t overbearingly hot, and we only had one afternoon where we couldn’t ride because of the rain.

Driving in Thailand is different than driving in America. First, they drive on the left, and second, their rules for passing and staying in your own lane are quite passive compared to the States. Just stay confident and you’ll be fine.

Riding the Mae Hong Son Loop in Thailand was an adventure for the books. It pushed me out of my comfort zone and is one trip I will never forget. Check out my video below. It was my first time using a GoPro, so bear with me. Until next time…

Cheers!

Keelie

Bonus: Want to see us playing with elephants in Chiang Mai? Click here!

Adventures and Life with Keelie

Keelie Cox

Humans are innately curious creatures.  We seek new and exciting things and enjoy a challenge. I like to satisfy these feeling through adventure. Whether that’s exploring unchartered territory (for me at least) near my home, or traveling half-way around the world. I enjoy connecting with other cultures and learning something new. I seek a sense of community and the feeling that I am truly living.

If you’re anything like me, you might not have the time or money to go on a perpetual adventure to a far-off land. You have a job, a house, a loving family at home. So how do you balance life and responsibilities with your sense of adventure? Well, that’s why I’m here! Throughout this blog, I will share my tips, tricks and stories about how I make the most of my weekends and stretch my PTO (paid time off) as far as it will go. I hope you will find the information helpful in creating adventures of your own.

If you live in or near the Reno Tahoe area, this is the blog for you. I feel so fortunate to live in a region that fulfills the excitement I crave. I know I am biased, but Reno Tahoe really is the perfect getaway destination. I will share some of my favorite places to eat, my favorite hikes, and the special events you won’t want to miss. The west coast will be another hot topic of mine. I love the Reno Tahoe International Airport and its ability to get me to some awesome places in about an hour. I also love that I live within driving distance to some areas like Yosemite or San Francisco. And then I will share my tips and stories on international travel. Whether it’s traveling over an American holiday for free vacation days (sorry Mom and Dad) or how to make the most of a destination given a short amount of time.

I want this blog to inspire creativity. Sometimes the best adventures happen close to home surrounded by those you love the most. I firmly believe life and adventure is what you make of it, so think of my blog as your Pinterest board for adventure inspiration. Feel free to check out my About Me and learn more about my background. Also, I want to hear from you! Comment below and tell me what your favorite weekend getaway is! Until next time…

Cheers!

Keelie