I recently had the opportunity to spend some time with family in Lake Tahoe. Since I was a little kid my family has been vacationing here. But it has been a while since my last visit so it was nice to be back. Here’s some photos from the trip!
Lake Tahoe
The View from Mount Tallac
Straddling the California/Nevada border and nestled high in the Sierra Nevada Mountain Range, Lake Tahoe is a great place to get some rest and relaxation. It is North America’s largest alpine lake and after the Great Lakes, the largest fresh water lake by volume. It is also the second deepest lake in the country, after Oregon’s Crater Lake. The water is clean and has exceptional clarity.
Originally inhabited by the Washoe Indians, John C. Freemont was the first non-native to explore the area in 1844. While mining became the driving force for the economy of the area through most of the nineteenth century, it soon began to see potential as a tourist destination. Attempts were made to make it a National Park in the 1910’s, but it failed three times. After World War II, the area surrounding Lake Tahoe saw its biggest changes yet. Casinos started being built and the Winter Olympics were held at Squaw Valley in 1960. The TV Show Bonanza was filmed in the area as well as The Godfather Part II.
Sunrise at Emerald Bay in Lake Tahoe, California (Prints Available)
Lake Tahoe Pier at Sunset
Today, Lake Tahoe attempts to balance itself between development and boosting its economy and retaining the natural beauty and peace. There is a little of everything to do in and around Lake Tahoe. With ski resorts, beaches, and casinos on the Nevada side, this is a popular resort destination year-round. Different areas around the lake cater to people with different interests, some heavy with Casinos, some with little or no development. Besides the lake and the water activities, there are plenty of other recreational activities. Hiking and mountain biking is popular throughout the Sierra’s, including the nearby Pacific Crest Trail.
