How to make the most of the summer solstice
Today, June 20, 2012, officially marks the first day of summer and the longest day of the year! Sunrise: 5:34am, sunset: 8:29pm; that’s approximately 15 straight hours of Vitamin D. Don’t worry if you didn’t rise with the sun this AM, just keep reading for an itinerary guaranteed to make the most of the longest day of 2012.
Morning activity: hit the links. Golfing is a great way to spend hours upon hours outside. Practice your swing at the driving range or see if any of your local courses have tee times available for today. Edgewood in South Lake Tahoe and the Northstar golf course in Truckee both offer incredible views of the area.
Morning activity: take a bike ride. If you’re not a golfer or if you’re hungry for more activity, jump on a bike and head to the nearest trail head. Heavenly Mountain Sports now rents bike by the hour or by the day. You can go for a scenic trail ride around the lake or a more adventurous downhill ride on a nearby mountain.
Lunch: pack a picnic. Some of my favorite lunches are spent outside on a blanket with friends. Go to the store to get fruit, nuts, bread, cheese or whatever your heart desires and start the search for the ultimate picnic spot. If you are around Tahoe, Emerald Bay offers amazing views and easy hiking trails close by.
Afternoon activity: go summer tubing at Heavenly. After heading up the Gondola to soak in the breathtaking, panoramic views of Lake Tahoe, make sure to stop by for a few rides down the Heavenly tubing hill. During the summer we transform the snow tubing hill with synthetic mats to give guests an equally thrilling ride.
Dinner: BBQ at the beach. El Dorado beach in South Lake Tahoe has a great new area to cookout and picnic. Bring dinner supplies and enjoy the beautiful views on the lake. Or if you don’t feel like cooking there are many great waterfront restaurant s to grab a bite to eat. Lakeside Beach Grill near Stateline offers tasty treats and gorgeous views in a family-friendly setting.
Evening activity: go paddle boarding or kayaking. After dinner settles a bit, round out your sun filled day with a sunset paddle board or kayak exploration. You can rent equipment right there at El Dorado or Lakeside beaches. Both activities are just a great way to soak in the last rays of sunshine.
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The most important thing to remember when spending the day outside, especially at high altitude, is SUNSCREEN and lots of it.
And if you are stuck inside all day because of work, make sure to take advantage of the late sunshine hours after work. You can always post-pone this crazy packed sunshine day until the weekend.
~ Rachel Roberts, Online Marketing Coordinator
