Truckee

Truckee in particular has attracted a fresh crop of remote workers, meaning that this mountain town is no longer a sleepy, ski-resort-adjacent afterthought. There is a food scene, a creative community, and a historic downtown perfect for long, lazy rambles—in addition to all those other mountain thrills that have brought visitors to this region for decades. In the winter, Truckee is a consummate ski town, located just 15 minutes or so from Squaw Valley Alpine Meadows, Sugar Bowl, and Northstar California resorts.

 

There are also extensive cross-country, snowshoeing, and backcountry opportunities in the region, and the groomed and tracked trails at both Royal Gorge and Tahoe Donner Cross Country Center are a great place to start for novices. There is also an adorable outdoor ice skating rink right in town. Come summertime, hike and explore the historic train tunnels at Donner Summit, or get lost hiking or biking the miles of paved paths and trails that zig-zag in and around the town.