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TOURS and ACTIVITIES The 2011 conference organizers have developed
a variety of pre-conference tours and Sunday activities as well as day-long
activities on Monday and Tuesday for travelers who are not participating in
the conference events. In addition to the group activities,
organizers are developing recommendations for on-your-own tours and
activities available in the Lake Tahoe/Reno area. These recommendations are
posted on the Local Attractions Page.
*NOTE: The pre-conference tours and the activities on Tuesday have
minimum participation levels and will be cancelled, and fees refunded, if
participation is too low. Some also have maximum attendance levels. Sunday
Activities can be planned on your own.
Registrations will be honored in the order they are received. Yosemite
and the Best of the Sierra Nevada (California tour)
This tour is currently full. However, we are taking names for a back up list in case we have cancellations. Contact Debbie Duvall at (916) 322-2229 for more information. Departs: Thursday,
October 6, at 8 a.m. from the Silver Legacy Hotel/Resort in Reno, NV
(see Reno Lodging below) Returns: Saturday,
October 8, at 6 p.m. to the Squaw Creek Conference Center Cost: $490 per person ( or $310 for
guests sharing a room) This is a
fabulous opportunity to see some of the most beautiful scenery in the nation
and to visit historic mining areas that helped settle the west. The tour is bookended by stops where James
Marshall discovered gold in California in 1848 and at the world famous ghost
town of Bodie. In between is a day in
the gorgeous Yosemite National Park. Day One departs from the Silver Legacy Hotel/Resort in Reno, Nevada and begins with a scenic drive into the eastern slope of the Sierra Nevada, over Donner Summit and down the west side of the Sierra Nevadas to Auburn. The tour continues down historic Highway 49 to Coloma and stops at Marshall Gold Discovery State Park, the site where James Marshall discovered gold in 1848, leading to the settling of California. At the Gold Hill Vineyard and brewery, a buffet style lunch will be enjoyed in their patio area and wine tasting will be available. The day continues down Highway 49 across the Mother Lode to Murphys, site of the Heritage Museum at the Ironstone Winery. Established as a tribute to the Gold Rush, the Heritage Museum displays artifacts from the 19th century gold mining era and from the Miwoks, early Native American inhabitants of this area. The focal point of Ironstone's Heritage Museum, however, is the largest crystalline gold leaf specimen in the world, weighing in at an astonishing 44 pounds. Participants will rest overnight in the historic mining town of Sonora.
The 44 pound gold leaf specimen at the Heritage Museum Day Two allows participants to enjoy
Yosemite National Park, known for its granite cliffs, waterfalls, clear
streams, giant sequoia groves, and biological diversity. At this stop, one can take the open-air
tram tour (tickets will be provided) to see spots like Yosemite Falls, Half
Dome, El Capitan, or Bridalveil Falls, providing a fuller knowledge and enjoyment of the
park. There is still time to enjoy an
afternoon shopping sojourn in the historic valley floor shops, lunch at the
historic Ahawahnee Hotel, and much more.
Departing Yosemite via the Tioga Pass, participants will rest
overnight in the town of Lee Vining, adjacent to June Lake.
Yosemite Valley in the winter Day Three departs for Mono Lake, one of the oldest
lakes in the western hemisphere, hauntingly beautiful, with its shimmering
blue waters. An immense inland
sea, the 45,000 acre shallow lake
formed at least 760,000 years ago as a terminal lake in a basin that has no
outlet to the ocean. Because it lacks an outlet, dissolved salts make the
lake very alkaline and salty. This
desert lake is known for its unique tufa towers and has an unusually
productive ecosystem. The next stop is Bodie State
Historic Park, a world famous gold mining ghost town rich in mining
history. Visitors will receive a tour
of Bodie and can walk down the deserted streets of a town that once had a
population of nearly 10,000 people. The tour will conclude with lunch at
Bodie before heading back to Squaw Valley in time for a leisurely night at
the conference hotel.
The Standard Mill and surrounding buildings at Bodie State
Historic Park Space is
limited so book early! Clothing – Late October weather in western and eastern Sierra Nevadas is generally mild during the day and cool to cold at night. The high temperature is usually in the 60’s to 70’s degrees and the low temperatures in the 20’s to 40’s degrees. Weather can change quickly in the mountains so dress in layers to easily adjust for temperature and weather changes throughout the day. Wear comfortable clothes and sturdy walking shoes or boots.
Reno Lodging – Lodging prior to the tour will be the responsibility of the participant. Staying in the Silver Legacy Hotel or very nearby is recommended to ensure the group will depart at 8 a.m. on the first day of the tour. There are several reasonably priced hotels within a few blocks, including the Silver Legacy itself, Circus Circus, the Eldorado, and others.
Tour Cost – The cost of the tour is $490 and includes transportation, two
nights lodging, lunch on Thursday and Saturday, snacks, all entrance fees for
state and national parks and a bus tour in Yosemite Valley. Other meals and
miscellaneous costs are at your own expense.
Gold Mines of Northeastern Nevada Tour (Nevada)
Due to low enrollment this tour has been cancelled.
Departs: Thursday,
October 6, at 8 a.m. from the Silver Legacy Hotel/Resort in Reno, NV
Returns: Saturday,
October 8, at 6 p.m. to Reno, NV and continues on to the Squaw Creek
Conference Center in California Cost: $425 per person ( or $225 for
guests sharing a room) Nevada is known as the "Silver
State" but today accounts for 75% of U.S. gold production and 7% of
world production. If Nevada was a
country it would be the fifth largest producer of gold in the world. This three day field trip to northeastern
Nevada will tour two of Nevada's largest gold mines; Newmont's Twin Creeks
mine and Barrick Gold's Goldstrike mine.
Also included will be a nature hike in beautiful Lamoille Canyon high
in the scenic Ruby Mountains. Nevada continues to be in the midst of the
biggest gold boom in U.S. history, as the graph of historical U.S. gold
production illustrates. The recent surge in production in the U.S. is largely
the result of discoveries of Carlin-type gold deposits and other deposits in
which gold occurs primarily in grains that are too small to be visible to the
naked eye. These deposits are mostly in Nevada.
Day One departs from the Silver Legacy Hotel/Resort in Reno, Nevada and travels eastward along the route of the historic Emigrant Trail through the Truckee River canyon. Near Fernley the river heads north, but our route takes us east across the formidable 40-mile desert, where emigrant wagon trails struggled towards the Sierra Nevada. We continue east along the Humboldt River, passing through Winnemucca, until we reach the small mining town of Golconda. Turning north we travel along the famous Battle Mountain Gold Trend to the Twin Creeks mine. The Twin Creeks mine produced nearly a half a million ounces of gold in 2009. At the mine we will tour both the open pit and mill facilities, view a mine blast from the edge of the pit, and see modern post-mining reclamation. That evening we will stay in Elko, Nevada and enjoy a Western BBQ complete with Cowboy Poetry at the Western Folklife Center.
Aerial View of the Twin Creeks Mine Day Two begins with tours of
two local Elko attractions: the Northeastern Nevada Museum and the California
Emigrant Trail Interpretive Center.
Following the tours we board our bus and travel to beautiful Lamoille
Canyon in the picturesque Ruby Mountains, a short drive out of Elko. After lunch a geologist and biologist we
join us for a nature hike in this unique alpine environment. That evening we will again stay in Elko and
enjoy a traditional Basque dinner and Picon Punch beverages at the infamous
Star Hotel (it’s family style, but everyone orders off the menu and pays
their own bill!).
Lamoille Canyon, Ruby Mountains, Nevada Day Three includes a tour of
Barrick Gold's Goldstrike gold mine on the world famous Carlin Trend. By the end of 2009,
cumulative production from the Carlin trend reached 2,306 metric tons of gold
(74.1 million ounces), assuring its place as one of the most productive
gold-mining districts in the world. The Goldstrike mine is Nevada’s largest
gold mine and produced nearly one million ounces of gold in 2009 and over 30
million ounces since 1989. At the mine
we will tour the open pit and heap leach operations, the mill facility, and
post-mining reclamation activities.
That afternoon we will return to Reno, Nevada and continue on to the
Squaw Creek Conference Center in California.
Barrick Gold's Goldstrike Mine Clothing – Late October
weather in Northeastern Nevada is generally mild during the day and cool to
cold at night. The high temperature is usually in the 60’s degrees and the
low temperatures in the 20’s to 30’s degrees.
Weather can change quickly in the mountains so dress in layers to
easily adjust for temperature and weather changes throughout the day. Wear comfortable clothes and sturdy walking
shoes or boots.
Reno Lodging – Lodging prior to the tour will be the responsibility of the participant. Staying in the Silver Legacy Hotel or very nearby is recommended to ensure the group will depart at 8 a.m. on the first day of the tour. There are several reasonably priced hotels within a few blocks, including the Silver Legacy itself, Circus Circus, the Eldorado, and others.
Tour Cost – The cost of the tour is $425 ($225 for a guest sharing a room)
and includes transportation, two nights lodging, box lunches, snacks, Western
BBQ dinner, and a field trip guide book.
Other meals and miscellaneous costs are at your own expense. There are
numerous activities that are available on Sunday for your enjoyment. See the local attractions page for a list
of possibilities. In addition to these
activities, the conference has negotiated discounts at the Squaw Creek Golf
Course and Squaw Creek Health and Fitness Center. ·
Squaw Creek Golf – 15% discount for a
round of golf (green fees and cart rental included) ·
Squaw Creek Health and Fitness Center –
$25 discount on any $50 or $75 dollar treatment (excluding nails) Squaw Creek
can also arrange other actitivties such as: ·
Bike rentals – Ranging in price from
$12 to $40 per day. Call the Bike and
Tennis Shop at (530) 583-6300 ext 6694 to arrange a rental. ·
Tennis – $5 per hour for hotel
guests. Call the Bike and Tennis Shop
at (530) 583-6300 ext 6694 to arrange a court time. ·
Fly fishing – Classes for all skill
levels and even a full day excursion can be arranged. Contact Matthew Heron at the Squaw Creek
Fly Fishing Center at (530) 583-6300 ex.6631 or at mheron@destinationhotels.com with any
questions.
Historic
Old Sacramento Tour
As of August 5th there are 48 spaces available for this preconference tour. Last day to register for this tour is September 1st, 2011.
Departs: Tuesday,
October 11, at 8 a.m. from the Squaw Creek Conference Center
Returns: Tuesday,
October 11, at 5:30 p.m. to the Squaw Creek Conference Center Cost: $60 per person Sacramento's history began in 1839 when
Johann Augustus Sutter settled at the confluence of the American and
Sacramento rivers. When the Mexican government and Governor Alvarado granted
48,000 acres of land to Sutter, they did not realize that they had given away
a literal goldmine. Gold was discovered in 1848 just thirty miles east of
Sacramento, in Coloma. The rest is history!
Discover what is golden in Sacramento and Old Sacramento on this
optional tour. This tour allows you to step back in time to
the California Gold Rush era. Old
Sacramento is 28 acres located
along the beautiful Sacramento River. Bustling with activity, the district is
alive with shopping, dining, entertainment, historical attractions and
world-renowned museums set within the time of the California Gold Rush and
the Transcontinental Railroad. With
strong preservation efforts, the wooden sidewalks, horse-drawn carriages,
Pony Express monuments and Mississippi-style riverboats reflect the nostalgic
appeal of early American history. This tour includes a luncheon on the Delta
King Riverboat Hotel, a
unique treasure on Front Street in Old Sacramento. The authentic riverboat plied the
Sacramento River between San Francisco and Sacramento from 1927 to 1940. Today it is a beautiful floating hotel with
modern lodging amenities, 2 acclaimed restaurants offering casual and fine
dining, 2 professional theaters, a wine school and exceptional
facilities for weddings and meetings.
The Delta King is the best of the old world and the new. Experience
old world charm and service complimented by modern amenities and acclaimed
cuisine. During lunch in a private
dining room, Charles Coyne, owner of the Delta King will share commentary on
the riverboat’s history and its connection to mining. This tour includes coupons for 2 for 1admission tickets at the following gems found in or near Old Sacramento:
Other
attractions in or near Old Sacramento include:
And of
course, shopping in this historic district for
apparel, accessories, art & collectibles, gifts, jewelry, photo services,
and toys & games is a unique, one of a kind shopping experience that
can’t be found anywhere else in the region treat! Clothing – Late October
weather in Sacramento is generally warm during the day. The high temperature is usually in the 70’s
to 80’s. Wear comfortable clothes and
sturdy walking shoes or boots. Tour Cost – The cost of the tour is $60 and includes transportation,
lunch on the Delta King River Boat and 2 for 1 coupons to museums and
attractions in Old Town Sacramento. Other miscellaneous costs are at your own
expense.
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