How to cover the real California in 7 days - Day 6

Today we were going to visit one of the most beautiful lakes in US – Lake Tahoe.
It is also the second deepest lake in US, Crater Lake in Oregon being the first one.

Credits - Here

As it takes around 4 hours to reach Lake Tahoe from San Jose, we started early around 8 a.m.

Activities
There are lot of summer activities that you can do in and around Lake Tahoe, some of which are:
1. Paddleboarding
2. Kayaking
3. Parasailing
4. Jet skiing
5. Boating
6. Ziplining
7. Hiking
8. Rock climbing
9. Cruise
10. Golfing
11. Stargazing
12. Helicopter tours

As Lake Tahoe is situated on the border of California and Nevada, you can explore it from both the sides.
It is split up into South Lake Tahoe – in CA and North Lake Tahoe in Nevada and is also referred to as the California Side or the Nevada Side.

Beaches
There are beautiful sandy beaches on both sides of the lake.
The Californian ones has a fee of $10 for parking and in summer the slots fill quickly, so you need to go little early in the morning or later in the afternoon.

Here is the list of beaches on Californian side
- Meeks Bay
- Lester Beach at Dl Bliss
- Emerald Bay State Park
- King’s Beach State Recreation Area

On Nevada side, we have more hiking trails as compared to beaches.
One of the famous beach is Sand Harbor Beach, which is a good place for paddleboarding and sightseeing.

Credit - Here

Sightseeing
Emerald Bay State Park -
The best way to observe the magical beauty of Lake Tahoe is from the Emerald Bay State Park. The views from the top, of the glacier carved granites, towering Alpine trees and pristine blue water are just stunning. It is a mountain/lake combination like no other.
If you are into adventure, you can kayak or take a bout tour to the only island of Lake Tahoe - Fannette Island.  
Alternatively, if you are into history, Vikingsholm a 38-room mansion on the shore of Emerald Bay is the best bet for you.

Alpine Meadows
One of the hidden gems of Lake Tahoe, Alpine Meadow is a heaven for skiers. If you happen to visit the place in winters or spring, this 2400 acre ski facility is one of the best things to do.

Credit : Here

Heavenly Mountain Gondola
This 2.4 mile ride up in the Heavenly Mountain Gondola will leave you breathless as you take in panoramic views of Lake Tahoe. It starts at an elevation of 6360 feet and take you to over 9100 feet.

Donner Memorial State Park
Donner Memorial State Park offers the visitors with various opportunities like camping, picnicking, boating and fishing. There are also various trails, which offer stunning views of Lake Tahoe.

Trails
The top trails providing breathtaking views of Lake Tahoe are as below :
- Rubicon Trail
   This is a 22 mile trail through the Sierra Nevada and can be experienced in iconic jeep tours.
- Cascade Falls Trail
   This is a moderate hike to the beautiful Cascade Falls which provides amazing views of Lake
   Tahoe.

- Fallen leaf lake trail
   There is another lake near to Lake Tahoe, Fallen leaf lake which can be visited using this 7.8 mile
   trail.Though the trail is not well marked, so there is a possibility of getting side tracked. The 

   stunning viewsof huge snow covered mountains reflecting over calm water is worth the visit.

There are also other things to do in Lake Tahoe, like
- Check out the museums in vicinity
- Skiing at various play areas
- Balloon tours
- Wine tours

Cost
Mostly the cost comprises of parking at the beaches and parks which is max $10/vehicle.

Stats

Total hours of commute           : 10 hours

Total hours at the attractions    : 5 hours

Food and other break                : 1.5 hours

Start time of the day                 : 8:00 a.m.

End time at San Hose               : 1:00 a.m. (next day)

Here is the map to all the must visit places in Lake Tahoe