With some free time on my hands, I took the drive up to Lake Tahoe for some R and R. Theres a small vista point just after you crest Echo Summit. You can peer down at Lake Tahoe airport as well as the casinos at the state border
In the southwest area is a crater lake called Emerald Bay. It is accessed by Highway 89
You could say its the jewel(emerald) in the crown of Lake Tahoe
In the middle of the bay is Fannette Island. Atop is the Tea House where once people sipped on tea and enjoyed the view. The island is only accessible by water craft
This is a popular place for people to boat out to.
There are also cruises that will include this in their route
I parked on the side of highway above Vikingsholm. It was very busy and many were parked as I was
There is a visitor's center and a look out. Seeing as how the center's parking lot being full, I took advantage of an open spot rather than risk no parking available at the look out a ways up
Once, a very long time ago, I hiked down with friends to Vikingsholm. The mansion is located 500 feet below and there is a 1 mile paved trail for access
Who could resist climbing up Fannette if you can get to the island
Looks like it would be a great place to get a 360 degree panoramic
These folks were lucky enough to get to the island and make their way to the peak. They look like they were taking all the views had to offer
All water borne vessels enter the bay and motor around counter clockwise before exiting
This is the Ms Dixie II running from Zephyr Cove. There used to be a second paddle wheeler, the Tahoe Queen, which stopped providing cruises after severe damage from a fire
Several personal motor boats docked near the shore by Vikingsholm
A few pontoon boats lashed together. Looks like this is the place to party!
Seeing all the boats hovering around the island does look very inviting in the warmth of the summer sun on a high altitude lake
Making my way toware stateline, I stopped off at El Dorado beach. This stretch of beach is the closest to Lake Tahoe boulevard(hwy 50)
The beach is very narrow due to the very wet winter that we have had. Typically the sands go out to the change in color a few yards out.
The run off from the recent ski season, which lasted til July, helped to raise the lake level to what it is today. During the heavy drought years, you were lucky to get water levels to where the buoys are bobbing
Looking out to the east, the highrises of the casinos beckon those who are feeling lucky
While I rested on the rocks, I took a paonoramic from my vantage point where the lake was lapping up on the rocks my buttocks were resting on
All types of watercraft are available to rent. From the stand up paddle board to kayaks to jet skis to motorized boats
At the snack shack, there was something that caught my eye
Though it was only in the low 80s, some shaved ice was a welcome treat with a number of flavors to choose from. You get a choice of 3 but I only chose the 2 blue flavors
Blue raspberry and blue bubblegum side by side. Colors were identical so I dont remember which side is which flavor. Because of the Keep Tahoe Blue campaign, I choose these 2 in honor of those efforts
The scars of my fight for ecology. I am marked for...a little while
The dock that just out into the lake is the Marina at Ski Run boulevard. That runs from the lake to Heavenly ski resort
Though there are no pictures, I videoed the sun setting behind those mountains to the west. See video at the end of this post or the next
Parasailing is also available. Floating high above the waters with a bird's eye view. Makes me want to get a drone to get similar shots.
I dont have a fear of heights. I have gone on 2 tandem skydives and enjoyed the first few seconds after we leapt from the plane
Video will follow in the next post
