By reading that title, you’re either one of two people. Either you just read that, asked yourself how someone could do that, and probably left this page. That’s okay. Or, you’re the person who read it, is perhaps skeptical but still intrigued, and are still here. Great! I’m going to address both the skeptical and the intriguing part for you in just a moment. First, I’d like to talk a little bit about the trip itself in general.

The trip that I took was to Lake Tahoe. I could technically say Lake Tahoe, CA and Lake Tahoe, NV for those who don’t know because that’s exactly what it is! Located in two states at the same time – This is what makes it so fun and so fascinating! And I would also like to point out now that I can’t take credit for the planning portion of this trip, because it was my bachelorette party!

My incredible matron of honor (and yes I’m using the technical term because my grandma is proper and I love my grandma) knew that I’m not much of a drinker and planned a trip accordingly. From gondola rides to roller coasters, and so much more in between, this is how to plan your adventure to Heavenly. (And yes, I love that it’s called that because now I can say that I helped someone plan a trip to the most heavenly place!)

Here is hands down the best way to plan your trip to Heavenly amidst the COVID chaos:

Prepare And Prepare Some More

If you’re a lady and you pride yourself on being prepared when you travel, congrats. You’re like me. If you’re someone who goes above and beyond when you travel, congrats. You’re like me. And if you’re someone who even gets a little joy out of the feeling of having ‘extras’ for others in case they forget something, congrats. You’re like me. But here’s the thing – That’s not going to help you on this trip. (And if we’re being honest with ourselves, there’s one or two other trips it hasn’t worked for either.)

But the main reason that won’t work for this trip is because even with all those qualities, COVID has never been a thing before. You can’t prepare enough for it, you just can’t. You can’t know exactly what will be closed due to it, what changes have been made because of it, what parts of the trip you’ll have to adjust because of it. We didn’t. And that’s okay because it taught us to go with the flow! But I can tell you those things so that when you go, you’ll be prepared.

First of all, since the rules regarding masks are different everywhere, here’s what they are like at Heavenly. In the main city before the gondola ride up, masks and social distancing are required. Even between members of the same party. At the top of the mountain, masks and social distancing are still required when around others, but since it’s wide open land to range, there’s less of a chance you’ll need to stick to those rules the entire time. The ropes course and zip lines are currently closed, and the East Peak Lake is full of algae and has nearby construction.

(Enough of the ‘important’ details, now on to the fun stuff!)

Something For Everyone

Gondola tickets are $56 and coaster tickets are $15. (I’ll talk more about the coasters soon.) The first thing you have to do is get on the gondola because everything is at the top. There’s an observation deck a little more than halfway up – get out and explore! The gondola only stops here on the way up, not down, so enjoy it! Once you’re done exploring, get back on the gondola and head to the top. Remember to have plenty of water and sunscreen with you, this is probably a good time to reapply.

At the top, there’s many options. For the hiker, there are over 5 miles of trails to be explored! (And none of it is in a straight line, horizontally or vertically.) For the relaxer, there’s a lodge with plenty of food and drinks! (Margarita on the mountain anyone?) And for the sightseer, there’s a ski lift that goes higher up the mountain with a view of the lake like no other! (You can even just stay on and circle back to the bottom for no hiking at all.)

And for the coaster that I talked about, this you can’t pass up no matter which type of person you are! You have complete control of the speed of the roller coaster by pushing forward to go and pulling back to stop. My MOH and I went full speed as much as we could and only braked during certain corners! It also takes you to another vantage point of the mountain, and the view is spectacular the whole ride! It’s about a 5 minute ride from start to finish but 100% worth it.

Plan Of Attack

Even with a plan, things still went a bit awry for my MOH and me. We laughed about it and joked how the trip was, in a way, teaching us both to be more ‘go with the flow’. But for the purpose of this blog, I have a plan that can help you get more done in less time. If you’re wanting to get the whole experience done in a day, (which I recommend) you’re going to want to be at the gondola ticket booth at 10 AM sharp. Factor that into travel time whether it be leaving earlier in the morning or spending the night beforehand.

Here is where planning is key: In order to have a full day doing what you want, buy the coaster ticket in the beginning like I talked about. From there, do all the other things you want to do on the mountain, (based on the type of person you are) and then head to the coaster line around 3:30. The line will have died down because the tickets are sold out and the wait won’t be as long. There are signs everywhere saying get back to the gondola by 4 but it’s really 5.

Once you’ve done your hiking or relaxing or sightseeing and the coaster ride, make your way back down the gondola. Don’t forget to stop and enjoy the view on the way down too! From there, either change and get dressed up or stay in your comfy clothes and go grab a bite to eat. We ate at Stateline and the pizza was delicious! If you aren’t staying the night like I did, I’d definitely recommend Creative Crepes because they’re crepes and mimosas are to die for!

Go With The Flow Meets Done In A Day

The point of this blog was to prove that taking a trip during COVID doesn’t have to be hard, frustrating or overwhelming. As long as you have a mask and some sanitizer and maintain your social distancing, it’s a great way to get away and have some fun! And to prove that the trip was not only a fun success but a safe and COVID-free one too, I’m writing this blog 2 weeks after the trip. And I feel great still!

So if you’ve been wanting to take a trip somewhere, I say do it! Just be safe, be aware, and have fun! What about you? Have you taken any trips lately that were successful? Where did you go and what did you do? Share in the comments below! You never know, you could be the one who helps plan someone’s next amazing trip! And if you’re looking for wedding planning tips and advice, (because this was my bachelorette trip after all) check out ETM’s blog here.

As always, thank you so very much for being a part of ETM’s community! I encourage you to join discussions, interact with Mommas and others alike, and be unapologetically yourself! Until next time, I hope I’m able to help make your life as simple as could be. (:

With all my love, Brandolyn – Earth To Momma