My Happy Place!

If you are in need of a great place to go camping, play in a lake, or just relax. Shaver Lake is the place for you! Shaver is my happy place, I love escaping there. I truly want to live there, I just have to figure out the logistics to make it happen. But until then, I will let you in on this wonderful place. 

It is located on Hwy 168 in the Sierra Nevada Mountains and is about an hour out of Clovis/Fresno.The town of Shaver Lake is named for the lake that lies at the 5,500-foot level inside the Sierra National Forest. This gorgeous lake offers wonderful fishing and boating opportunities; water skiing and lots of other water related activities. There is also camping, hiking, mountain biking and back packing and horse pack trips available in the Shaver Lake area. Summer is the busiest time for Shaver Lake, and winter offers a more quiet time but does play host to skiers and snowboarders on their way to the China Peak (formerly Sierra Summit) Ski Resort. There are SnoPark areas around Shaver Lake that are open in winter and the town is magical when it's lit up for the holidays! 

For this trip we rented a cabin for 3 days and camped for 2 days (it was our kids first time camping so we started small!)

My biggest "little" playing on the swings at Big Creek School

The kids also got to participate in the local Summer Rec. Program offered by Big Creek School (about 20 minutes beyond Shaver Lake). 

Big Creek raging due to snow melt, did I mention that it was 75 degrees and there were still patches of snow on the ground? So Cool!

 My son got to go bowling for the first time at the school's bowling alley.... 

Isn't this a great ad? It was hanging on the wall at the School Bowling Alley!

Yes, they have their own bowling alley, it is soooo cool! 

We went swimming in the school pool and trust me any outdoor pool located at 5000 feet in elevation has a breathtaking view. 

We took hikes near the lake,

Shaver Lake

and over Dinkey Creek, 

Dinkey Creek Wood Truss Bridge

Taking a look at the not-so-Dinkey Creek

 and got to check out the wildlife that was all around us. 

A King Snake warming itself by the road.

The pair of deer that lived right next to our campsite! 

Oh, and if you should stop by this wonderful place, make sure to visit Young's Shaver Lake Hardware. 

It is owned by some of our dearest friends and they have everything from batteries, to sheet rock patches (just in case your dog eats a hole through your cabin wall!) to toys for the kiddos! And if you forgot it, they will have it, trust me! 

Where is your "Happy Place?" I would love to see it! Leave me your comments, you just might win something!

Have a wonderful weekend!