Shopping in Truckee

Helmed by nature photographers Elizabeth and Olof Carmel, the newly expanded, 2,600-square-foot gallery showcases vivid landscape compositions, dramatic panoramas, and crisp still-lifes. Pair the sublime color and unmatched tonal range of Elizabeth's images—which have been featured in outlets including Sierra magazine—with poetry from the likes of John Updike and Richard Wilbur in Brilliant Waters ($49.95), a 104-page book ideal for coffee-table display. Calendars containing Olof's scenic depictions of the Sierra Nevada mountains ($16.95) can help repressed naturalists find peace amid drab cubicles, whereas the glossy, picturesque images on the front of 5"x7" notecards ($9.95) divert attention from the Days of Our Lives fan fiction scribbled inside. More devoted photo fans can vanquish blank wall-space with fine-art prints that range from 10"x15" to 6'x10' ($50–$1,000 and up; individuals can use up to 10 Groupons toward one purchase). The prints are available framed, unframed, or mounted on stretched canvas, and they exclusively employ museum-quality archival inks that, like most moustache dyes, remain fade-resistant for 80 to 100 years.

Super, fun, casual pottery studio. You choose what you want to do; glass fusing, pottery painting or clay. We'll show you how.

NO experience or appointment needed-

Classes in wheel throwing, handbuilding, glass fusing and Art-rageous techniques available.

Shoe's modish heel coddlers outfit men, women, and children with a seasonally shifting, cosmopolitan cornucopia of designer shoes and accessories. Among its lustrously polychromatic walls, multiple styles of Geox shoes await anxious toes ($58+), vying for attention with the Corso Como shoes selection ($104+). Further embellish ankles with a duo of cashmere tights ($85), or ornament jugulars with one of Shoe's panoply of scarves ($130+). Accessories, such as Eyebobs spectacles can decorate perceptual disabilities ($85+), and Bing Bang earrings ($55+) can make lobes look good, even if they fail at helping the ear hear the flapping wings of an oncoming butterfly swarm.

Shadows from drifting kayaks spill across the bottom of the lake, the clear water offering almost no interference in the view of the lake floor. Guests float on the pristine waters as expert guides lead them through miles of waterways filled with wildlife views on guided tours. Beginners can practice their skills in an outdoor pool during lessons that cover basic paddling techniques, ocean safety, and mermaid etiquette. Guests who fall in love with the peaceful sport may purchase their own kayak or stand up paddle board at the store, or rent one and take advantage of the free instruction and gear that comes with each rental.

Nestled on the banks of scenic Lake Tahoe, family-owned Tahoe Mountain Sports outfits adventurers for any outdoor excursion in gear and accessories from top brands such as The North Face, Merrell, K2, and Mountain Hardwear. Fight wintry flurries with Mountain Hardwear's Nitrous hooded jacket ($149.97), and prepare for strenuous hikes up homemade water slides on the side of the garage with Sorel’s Joan of Arctic boots ($118.95). Winter-sport fanatics can protect vision orbs with the boutique’s selection of goggles ($21.95+), whereas aquatic adventurers and castle architects can suit up with beach accessories ($6.95+). In hopes of protecting the outdoor space that sustains its business, Tahoe Mountain Sports also supports eco-friendly practices by supporting Leave No Trace and stocking products from environmentally conscious businesses.

At Kaia F.I.T., working out is a team sport rather than an individual undertaking. Women of all ages and fitness levels cheer one another through functional training programs that challenge the body and mind. Designed to build strength, endurance, and flexibility, many programs adopt a boot-camp-style format, which includes a health assessment and a review of fitness goals. Armed with this information, coaches devise a custom regimen of cross-training exercises that intensify as participants grow fitter. Body-sculpting moves are culled from disciplines such as kickboxing and weight lifting, and barre exercises and yoga make muscles strong and flexible. Nutrition counseling facilitates healthy choices on days marked with temptation or a sudden storm of Sno Balls.