Lake Tahoe, NV

Patti

Dec 12, 2024

As we continue on our journey, we find ourselves traveling through the mountains on a curvy, and twisty road that takes us into Lake Tahoe. This area sits on the California - Nevada border. It is home to the largest Alpine lake in North America and it is the second deepest lake in the U.S. The city and surrounding areas offer sports activities like water skiing, jet skiing, boating, hiking, golfing, or just relaxing on a sandy beach. In the winter months you will find an abundance of snow skiers and snowmobile riders that find their thrills in the snow-packed Sierra Mountains. The lake sits at the bottom of the mountains and has the most incredibly clear turquoise water. It is so clean and clear you can see the bottom in many areas and it is truly breathtaking.

We hopped aboard the Lake Tahoe cruise ship called the M.S. Dixie II - a very large ship with an actual paddle wheel. It took us to Emerald Bay and past Fannette Island. It once was the home of Captain Dick in the mid 1800's and he actually built his own chapel and tomb on the island. Some say Fannette Island is haunted--maybe-- but it sure was an interesting sight to see. On the shore of Emerald Bay was Vikingsholm castle. It is most known for its mix of natural beauty and architectural creativity. It was built to resemble the castles in Scandinavia. While traveling across the water, we saw some beautiful scenery and heard about all the history of the lake in our two and a half hour ride that cost about $100.00 each. It was well worth the money!

In the heart of downtown is the Heavenly Gondola. You can take a ride up to the top of the mountain and view the surrounding beauty with the lake out in the distance. Heavenly is a very good name for this as the scenery makes you feel quite spiritual. It is like you are experiencing a little touch of Heaven with the beautiful sky above and the cool air that blows across your face. The entire experience is quite comforting. When you return to the bottom you can explore the local shops, eat plenty of food, and enjoy a cocktail in the many different venues available.

One of my favorite experiences was to go to "Magic Fusion" at The Loft. It is a live theatre experience that is a blend of comedy and magic. The actual space is small and probably seats about 50 people, and that make it quite the intimate experience. The magic was incredible and extremely well done. I left there shaking my head, trying to figure out how they perform all the tricks and magic. They are talented and very good at what they do. Tickets were $65.00 a person and the show lasted about an hour and a half. Down below the theatre there is also a restaurant and bar which serves signature cocktails and small plate entrees. Live music is provided in the lounge and the atmosphere was dark with indoor firepits. Very cozy and relaxing. You can check out their website at www.thelofttahoe.com.

There are an abundance of hotels, casinos, and condo rentals in the area. The prices vary regarding length of stay and location. Any of the normal travel websites can help with booking your stay. Expedia.com, priceline.com, and booking.com were the sites we used most. Be careful when booking as some are non-refundable and have other fees that you might not be expecting.

We enjoyed our short time in Lake Tahoe and it had definitely been on my bucket list. We left there on a beautiful, sunny, and crisp day and headed to our next adventure. I am reminded of one of my favorite quotes from Ibn Battuta...

"Traveling; it leaves you speechless, then turns you into a storyteller". Can't wait to see what stories lie on the road ahead.......