Serene, inspiring, azure, peaceful and breathtaking all describe the beauty of Lake Tahoe. It was quite a change to see the lush landscape and cooler temps in comparison to the desert we had just left. The air was crisp and clean and the slight breeze welcomed us. The lake has a circumference of 72 miles and reaches 1600 feet deep. It holds enough water to cover the entire state of California at a 14" depth! Many activities surround the lake including boating, parasailing, dinner cruises and even surfing on a windy day. None were an option for me as the water temp is in the 60's....brrrr. Our first night we stayed in Nevada at a dog friendly campground right on the water. Miles of bike trails meander through the area and we were quick to hop on our bikes to explore. The campground and surrounding area was almost a casino and a portion of the land had been cleared years ago to prepare for construction. However, the state of Nevada bought the land and protected it as conservation land. After enjoying our bike ride, we had our first campfire of the trip and enjoyed BBQ chicken Guy made on the grill. Yummy! We spent three nights in Tahoe, each at different campgrounds allowing us to get a real "feel" of the area. On our third day we took a beautiful hike to Cascade Falls.
The trail hugged the mountain edge and afforded fantastic views of the lake the falls were not at their best, yet still beautiful. I suppose a hike in the spring with winter's melt would give an entirely different water flow. None the less, we enjoyed the surroundings offered. Getting close to dinner time, we ventured to the West shore of the lake and stumbled upon a majestic Inn and restaurant right on the water's edge. We dined on salmon and tuna as we enjoyed the million dollar view. My eyes swelled with the beauty in front of us. Leaving with a full stomach and content disposition, we hopped on our bikes and began to explore the area a little closer. First stop was the mansion where The Godfather Part 2 was filmed. Of course, we could not enter beyond the massive gold gate, but it was fun to peer in wherever we could get a glimpse. We continued along the bike trail and veered off every now and then to view the gorgeous real estate. We came across a quaint little cabin with modest surroundings for sale. Price tag, $6.5 million!!!
With dusk approaching, we headed back to the RV and to our campsite near Inspiration Point. There are only 15 sites at the small campground, so we felt fortunate to reserve a space. In complete desolation, we enjoyed the peaceful night. In the morning, after walking the dogs, who by the way, have been the most fantastic travel companions, we headed down the street to Vikingsholm Castle. A one mile walk down a switchback trail brings you to the entrance of Emerald Bay where the water is just that. The castle built in the late 1920's resembles scandinavian churches, peasant homes and other similar structures.
Wild flowers grow on the roof in
some areas resembling a countryside cottage. We took a tour before heading back up the trail with a side detour to Eagle Falls. Again, the water was not flowing at capacity. Back in the RV, we stopped for a quick bite then said our good-byes to beautiful Lake Tahoe as we headed west to the state Capitol of Sacremento. We take with us beautiful memories.
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