Nicknamed the “pocket rocket” when first introduced in 1992, the Subaru WRX has not lived up to that reputation over the years, although it’s still regarded as a spirited small sedan. Describing this WRX’s speed as a pocket rocket is an exaggeration. We would rate its overall performance as admirable, yet far from over the […]
Picking the right 2025 Land Rover Defender
Originally released in 1983, the Land Rover 110 was a large luxury SUV. Seven years later it was identified as the Defender and the brand lasted another 26 years before it was discontinued in 2016. However, its vanishing act was brief. The Defender returned globally in 2020 as an eye-catching SUV that was offered in […]
New Kia K4 has big shoes to fill
Over the past five years, Kia has discontinued a pair of sedans that were both strong sellers during their era. Resisting the current automakers trend of phasing out sedan production in favor of SUVs, the South Korean company replaced two longtime sedans – Forte, Optima – with a pair of new ones. We previously drove the […]
Fire-ravaged Sierra-at-Tahoe replanting trees
For decades, an abundance of beautiful tree-lined runs made Sierra-at-Tahoe a real joy for exuberant skiers and snowboarders. That joy was wiped out in the summer of 2021 when the highly destructive Caldor Fire torched 1,600 acres of Sierra-at-Tahoe’s terrain. Sadly, in the aftermath, the trees were badly burned and eventually removed, leaving behind a […]
Old-school sports car – Subaru BRZ
Looking for an entry-level sports car that provides an exciting ride and resides in the affordable category? Put the 2025 Subaru BRZ on the check-in-out list because it meets the above criteria. The BRZ sits low to the ground and was designed to provide excellent handling capability on challenging curvy roads. It may not possess […]
Sugar Bowl renovating historic lodge
The oldest Lake Tahoe ski resort is making some changes to its historic lodging area. Sugar Bowl ski resort recently announced it was breaking ground on its biggest capital improvement campaign in the resort’s 86-year history. The resort says the goal is to elevate the guest experience and ensure that Sugar Bowl keeps the spirit […]
New wedding venue at Palisades Tahoe
There are many cool wedding locations in the Lake Tahoe region. And add one more to the list – Palisades Tahoe. Palisades Tahoe is launching a new wedding venue this summer, called The Alpine Landing. The Tahoe ski resort will be hosting a special event Sunday, July 27 called Alpine Ever After – a group […]
Diamond Peak’s Bandelin receives prestigious award
A long, successful ski industry career has resulted in Mike Bandelin of Diamond Peak being recently given a prestigious award. The Diamond Peak ski resort general manger, Bandelin was honored with the Dave McCoy Lifetime Achievement Award by the California and Nevada ski industry trade group Ski California. Bandelin was nominated for the honor by […]
One North American ski resort still open
And then there was one. That’s in one North American ski resort remains open in mid-June. While most winter sports enthusiasts have long ago traded in their skis or snowboards for bikes and other summer-like pursuits, Timberline Lodge in Oregon is keeping the dream of a never-ending winter alive. Father’s Day weekend marked the last […]
Ford Maverick appealing small truck
It’s difficult being in the overwhelming shadow of a celebrated group of trucks. But that’s the task facing the Ford Maverick, which was first introduced in June 2021. When most people think of Ford trucks, the F Series is what comes to mind. The legendary F Series includes the F-150, F-250 and F-350 models. These are big, […]