Recommended Itineraries

If you are looking for a location for a corporate retreat in a unique setting, Placer County offers many options. Here is an example from a successful Bay Area Company, Outreach, and their retreat in Foresthill.

“We needed to find a unique West Coast destination with easy travel from the Bay Area and Seattle. Our intention was to bring our direct sales team together for team building and strategic planning. Our team found Foresthill, CA. We chose the theme of prospecting.  The experience was transformational. MISSION ACCOMPLISHED!!”  Steve Ross, Director of Sales Development, Outreach

The Van driver was the only person allowed to know where the team was going, as everything was a surprise.  The Bay Area team took an easy 2 hour drive and picked up the rest of the team at Sacramento International Airport.  In less than an hour drive from Sacramento, the team was in Foresthill, the gateway to the divide and Tahoe National Forest.

Lodging

MOUNTAIN SHADOWS RETREAT is a magical rental in Foresthill that delivers privacy and amazing views.  Mountain Shadows can sleep 15 guests and provides all the amenities to host a leadership team and more.  In addition, Outreach brought up a professional facilitator and secured a one bedroom cabin at MINERS CAMP for him to have his own space. Miner’s Camp has 12 themed cabins celebrating the rich history of the divide, and is located right on main street in Foresthill, walking distance from Mountain Shadows.

Meals

Palate Catering Company prepared and served all meals during the stay. They introduced the team to local Placer County Wines and Ales. Every meal was unique and fantastic.

Activities

The theme was Prospecting for new customers. After a good night’s sleep, the team received helmets with lights and turned to the services of Black Sheep Mining to escort them into a working Foresthill mine. Great experience!

Back at Mountain Shadows, Outreach focused on strategic initiatives and goals with a professional facilitator, in the relaxed setting.

The evening was capped off with Smore’s and further team building at the Mountain Shadows firepit.

Next morning the team went White Water Rafting with All Outdoors Rafting down the middle fork of the American River.  The drop off point was only 20 minutes from town. All Outdoors did a great job integrating the themes of trust and teamwork into the experience.

Outreach was able to focus on their business, without the distractions that often come with programming at the office or in busy cities.

Let Placer County be your location for unique and inspiring meetings and corporate retreats.

History aficionados, or those just wanting to get a glimpse of the past, will find a range of history to explore in Placer County.

After a fortifying breakfast at Edelweiss in old town Auburn, step into the Placer County Courthouse Museum for an overview of the County’s history from its original inhabitants, the Nisenan, through its role at the epicenter of the Gold Rush to today.  After your orientation at the museum, strike out on your own with a self-guided walking tour of Downtown and Old Town Auburn – grab a map at the California Welcome Center. Make sure you bring your camera to take a picture of the Claude Chana gold panning monument. It’s a testament to the prospector who discovered gold in these foothills in 1848. Continue your discovery of Placer’s gold rush history at the Gold Rush Museum with an operating stamp mill and an indoor panning stream.

Grab a pick-me-up and sandwich at Auburn Coffee Company and head up the road to the Donner Memorial State Park. The park celebrates the pioneering people who traveled west over the Sierra, including the Donner Party, and recounts the hardships and challenges for California’s early settlers. Stop into scenic Tahoe City and end the day watching the sunset from Tahoe’s largest lakefront deck at Sunnyside. Spend the night at Granlibakken Resort, nestled high in the Sierra National forest. It’s the perfect place to start tomorrow’s journey through Placer’s Olympic heritage.

After your complimentary breakfast at the resort, stretch your legs on its 74 wooded acres that are as picturesque as they were when Granlibakken was founded more than 100 years ago. The Lake Tahoe Ski Club was formed here in 1929 and the ski area opened here after World War II. Head to the heart of California’s Olympic history – Squaw Valley, USA. The recently renovated Olympic Museum, located at High Camp, showcases the 1960 Winter Games through a collection of memorabilia, news articles and video presentations. Can’t get enough of the Olympics? Head to the Museum of Sierra Ski History. Trace the history of the Games till today with dozens of never before exhibited banners, souvenirs and spectator memorabilia. One highlight: the original collection from Bill Briner, the official photographer of the 1960 Winter Olympic Games. Grab lunch at Jake’s on the Lake – family operated for more than 40 years – and take in the spectacular views of Lake Tahoe while watching the boats. After your meal, wander through Lake Tahoe’s rich maritime history at the Tahoe Maritime Museum. Round out your historic journey with a stop at the Watson Cabin Museum, which stands on the original site where it was built in 1909.

ROB HASWELL is the Chief Executive Officer of Visit Placer. He has two teenage children and he and his wife, Kim, have traveled all over the country and Europe with them. He was born and raised in Placer County and knows that traveling with children can sometimes be challenging.

“We are always trying to find that balance between fun, adventure, education and relaxation. And, of course, good food.”

For our gold country adventure, we’d start out day one with breakfast at Baked and Brewed in Auburn with a great local vibe. Then we’d hook up with Tributary Whitewater Rafting for a half-day float on the American River. After cleaning up that afternoon, we would head over to Crooked Lane Brewery to sample some great local ale and food from one of the several amazing food trucks that rotate on-site. We’d take an evening stroll through Old Town Auburn, taking in the historic storefronts and checking out the local galleries and antique stores and finish up with dinner at Tap and Vine, an upscale eatery located on Auburn’s vibrant Central Square.

Day two would start with a big breakfast at Katrina’s, arguably the most local breakfast place in Auburn (Note: they only take cash, but an ATM is on site) and we’d head to Hidden Falls for a mid-morning hike. Then we’d have a mid-day lunch at Wise Villa Winery in Lincoln for some of the best views in the Gold Country. That night, we’d head to Studio Movie Grill in Rocklin for a movie, dinner and cocktails. A perfect family finish to our two-day visit.