8 top things to do in Lake Tahoe

Lake Tahoe can be termed as one of the most beautiful creation of nature.

Pristine blue clear water, beautiful Alpine trees surrounding the lake and Majestic Mountains at the backdrop, makes it an unparalleled beauty.
Mark Twain even called it the ‘Fairest picture the whole world affords’.

Situated on the border of California and Nevada, this lake can be explored 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. 

As it lies at an elevation of 6,000+ feet above sea level, it is better the visit it during the summers, when all the routes are open and there is no need to use snow chains.

There are a lot of activities/things to do and places to see, but here are top 8 things that you can’t miss in Lake Tahoe.

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.

There are two observation points:
1. The first one is at the top of the rock in the Emerald Bay State Park. Do remember that the parking
    is extremely limited here and you would want to come early to find one. Otherwise lot of people 

    park alongside the road too.

2. The second and most important point is a bridge which is just a mile away from the Emerald Bay
    State Park. The pics of the Fannette Island lying in the center of the lake that you see on Instagram 

    and google are being taken from here.

Fannette Island. 
One of the most magical and popular tourist spot on Lake Tahoe is the only island present on this lake - Fannette Island. If you are into adventure, you can kayak or take a bout tour to the island. 

Donner Memorial State Park
Camping at Lake Tahoe is an experience of lifetime and I would definitely suggest you to do that.
Donner Memorial State Park is a great place for camping. Apart from that it also offers the visitors with various opportunities like picnicking, boating and fishing.
There are also various trails, which offer stunning views of Lake Tahoe.

King’s Beach State Recreation Area.
There are lot of beaches on the California side of Lake Tahoe, but King’s Beach is my favorite.
There are lot of activities to do here like swimming, parasailing, jet skiing, paddle boating, kayaking, canoeing and various other water activities. Also the views of the mountains in the backdrop is quite mesmerizing. The water is crystal clear and clean. The beach is quite happening with lot of people enjoying themselves round the summer. There are also plenty of places to eat around.
Getting a parking is the only difficult task here.

Sand Harbor Beach
There are beautiful beaches on both sides of Lake Tahoe. Once done exploring the Californian side, head towards the Nevada side beaches for a different experience.
As compared to the beaches on California side, Nevada has lesser number of beaches.

By favorite beach on Nevada side is Sand Harbor Beach and also it is probably the best spot to watch sunset in Lake Tahoe. It is less crowded than King’s Beach but provides more scenic views.

The parking is $10 per car.

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 views of huge snow covered mountains reflecting over calm water is worth the visit.

Heavenly Mountains
You need to take a 2.4 mile gondola ride up from Heavenly Village to the stunning heavenly mountains. This gondola ride provides breathtaking views of Lake Tahoe and surrounding mountains.
The ride is $44 per adult.

Once you reach the top, there are lot of activities you can do here like rock climbing, snow tubing, skiing and zip-lining.

Tahoe City
Tahoe city is a great place for vacation and also one of the most beautiful cities I have ever visited.
Once you are done exploring Lake Tahoe, you can stroll around the city for some delicious food, shopping and art galleries. Best way to explore the city is by renting a bike.

Credit - Here

Winter Wonderland
Lake Tahoe is equally beautiful in winters and is home to some of the best skiing areas in USA.
You can try Squaw Valley or lessen know Alpine Meadows to enjoy and experience the winter activities.
Not to forget the views from these places are unparalleled.