Wow! The 72 mile drive around the lake is fantastic. It takes about 4 hours with short stops but you need to take all day, there actually a lot to see. Parks, historic places, a Scandinavian castle (Vikingsholm Castle) and some beautiful beaches and wood walks, actually you could spend a week and still not explore everything, you can take a cruise across the lake, view it from far above by riding the Gondola at Heavenly or just get down to a beach and swim in it. It is the most beautiful drive though and if you don’t fancy driving all day there are cool trolley buses and others.
When I first saw a brochure picture of the lake being a beautiful emerald green color and being able to see the bottom with a guy canoeing in the crystal clear waters I was sure it had to be the Mediterranean or some equally exotic place but having driven to Emerald Bay I have to say it is real. The water is a fantastic color when the sun shines on it and the only island in Lake Tahoe is right in the middle of the bay looking like a white and green jewel surrounded by blue. Amazing.
The island in The Emerald Cove
The Emerald Cove with main Lake Tahoe behind
All I wanted to do was get down to the beach and swim but I had started so late in the day and I wanted to get back before dark that I didn’t take the time. There is no doubt in my mind though that I will be back and this time with Tim and for at least 2 weeks.
A public beach at Lake Tahoe
It is a hiker and biker paradise; there are biking and hiking trails everywhere and more state parks than you can throw a stick at! And of course if you like bird or animal watching it is all around you, Marmots, squirrels, ground squirrels, and loads of different birds. The only thing they really warn you about are the Black Bears, they are apparently very common around the area so you see warnings everywhere about feeding them and how to act if you see them. They give a huge warning about when you are camping, Black Bears apparently have a sense of smell five times better than a dog and twenty times better than a human. They can smell stuff in your house and locked in your car and there’s more than one car that’s found that out!
View of Lake Tahoe from a mountain road
Anyway, I have to say I am enjoying myself immensely here, it is so quiet and pristine it really makes you relax. You could go to a casino if quiet isn’t for you but for me all I want is a bit of shade, a soft seat, my book and I am a happy bunny. So far that has been easy, I always take a cushion with me and there are so many pine and fir trees finding shade from the mountain sun is easy and the peace and quiet is part of the package. Bliss.
I don’t even have internet access at the apartment and have to drive to the reception lodge to log in, that means I have a huge excuse not to sit in front of the laptop and no reason at all why I shouldn’t just spend the day reading.
And guess what? That’s exactly what I am doing!
Weird rock formations around Lake Tahoe