Named after a friendly Paiute Indian chief (Tro-kay) who helped guide thousands of emigrants west across the Humboldt Sink, Truckee still welcomes travelers making their way west on Interstate 80 into the Sacramento Valley. It is also a checkpoint for California vacationers heading east into the popular North Lake Tahoe vacation region.

More than just a rest stop on the way to Reno, however, Truckee has all the charm of an historic old town as well as the sophistication of it's nearby resort neighbors. Truly a town with something for everyone, Truckee is home to a multitude of quaint shops, eight ski resorts and the nearby Donner Memorial State Park.

You might think it was the 1960 Winter Olympics in Squaw Valley that put Truckee on the map, but back in the late 1800s and early 1900s, Truckee's annual Winter Carnival was the destination of choice for area residents to experience the winter thrills and chills. With ice palaces, skating and sledding, the event brought in several thousand visitors.

Trying to recapture the fun of decades past, Truckee has scheduled an annual Winter Carnival in February, but according to Truckee-Donner Chamber of Commerce President and CEO Lynn Saunders weather has not cooperated.

Still, Saunders says there is plenty to do in the area.

"Almost any weekend there is something going on up here in Truckee or at one of the resorts," she says.

One need only check the chamber's Web site (www.truckee.com) and click on events to see the multitude of choices from extreme skiing to full moon snow shoeing to the annual Snow Festival in March, Truckee offers plenty of outdoor fun.

For those less inclined to jump on a board or strap on skis, Truckee also has an historic downtown area brimming with unique shops and restaurants. Stop in the Visitor's Center and pick up a self-guided tour brochure or just mill about and discover the shops.

If you get tired of shopping, but still want to get out of the cold, stop in the Tahoe Yoga and Wellness Center. The center offers acupuncture, chiropractic, massage, yoga, Pilates, meditation and ayurveda.

Just a few miles outside of Truckee is Donner Historic State Park, which features a museum as well as plenty of scenery to enjoy. Winter visitors can cross-country ski or snowshoe on the 2.5 miles of trails, usable in the summer months for hiking. In the summer, swimming, boating, fishing and water skiing are available on Donner Lake.

The Emigrant Trail Museum offers a look into the plight of those making the westward journey more than 150 years ago, particularly the tragic fate of the Donner party, for whom the pass was named.

As one of the earliest pioneer wagon trains, the Donner Party, which included nine families and 16 single men, was trapped in the Sierra Nevada Mountains in the winter of 1846-47. Before they were rescued, nearly half had died. Reports of cannibalism made the tragic plight something of a legend.

But the Emigrant trail Museum tells more than the story of the Donner Party. It includes the lumber and timber history, building of the transcontinental railroad and the local Native Americans who occupied the area well before the West was a destination for covered wagons.

In addition to the historic and commerce side of Truckee, there are plenty of outdoor activities - especially in the winter. Ice skating, tobogganing, skiing, snowboarding, snowshoeing and even dog sled tours.

"The Full Moon Snowshoe tour is always fun," says Saunders, who adds that there is always something going on at any one of the resorts.

Just like the many settlers who traveled West, visitors heading east to Truckee are sure to find something of interest.