On our Friday off from work, my friend/co-worker Jack and I planned a trip to nearby Lake Tahoe to see it for the first time. Plan was to travel on the 2-hour tour on the paddle wheel boat in the Lake to have a good general sight seeing of the large Alpine lake.
We traveled east on U.S Route 50 going up in elevation as we traveled. About 2 hours later we crossed the California-Nevada border and arrived at the shouth shore of Lake Tahoe at Zephyr Cove Resort and Marina just off the highway. Very straight forward with no issues. I had Jack drive my car as I am scared of heights and was afraid the highway strattling the high Sierra mountains would freak me out.
The ticket booth was late to open as the first tour($39) on the paddle wheel boat called M.S. Dixie II was set to sail at 11:30am. There was a tour group from the USMC/Combat Helicopter Association was going on the boat. Very long line but we got on just fine. Jack and I headed up to the top open deck to enjoy the view. The weather was great with warm temperatures and no humitiy. Large clouds were forming over the whole area indicating a storm might be on its way.
The Dixie II left on time and headed west across the lake. A very informative and enteraining tour guide, Troubadour Darin Talbot, informed us of the many incredible features of Lake Tahoe and sung about the Sierras.. He wore a microphone and travled along the top deck of the boat.
The views of the this lake were incredible! The mountains made for a unreal back drop with some of them still having snow at their peaks. The water was the most blue color I have seen in a lake. Was told that the granite filters the water making the water in the lake the purist one can get.
I had great converstation with the members of the association. All were from the Vietnam War era who flew in combat their. I purchase a drink for some of them and thanked them for their service to this nation.
Highlight of the tour was arriving at Emerald Bay on the west/California side of the lake. A very pretty beach was there with waterfall coming down on the mountain side. There was a small island called Fannette in the middle of the bay which had the remains of a small house. A building constructed by the owner of Vikingsholm, Mrs. Lora Josephine Knight. The most imporanat site was the view of the Vikingsholm house just on the shore. A historic building made to resemble an Viking castle.
We traveled east on U.S Route 50 going up in elevation as we traveled. About 2 hours later we crossed the California-Nevada border and arrived at the shouth shore of Lake Tahoe at Zephyr Cove Resort and Marina just off the highway. Very straight forward with no issues. I had Jack drive my car as I am scared of heights and was afraid the highway strattling the high Sierra mountains would freak me out.
The ticket booth was late to open as the first tour($39) on the paddle wheel boat called M.S. Dixie II was set to sail at 11:30am. There was a tour group from the USMC/Combat Helicopter Association was going on the boat. Very long line but we got on just fine. Jack and I headed up to the top open deck to enjoy the view. The weather was great with warm temperatures and no humitiy. Large clouds were forming over the whole area indicating a storm might be on its way.
The Dixie II left on time and headed west across the lake. A very informative and enteraining tour guide, Troubadour Darin Talbot, informed us of the many incredible features of Lake Tahoe and sung about the Sierras.. He wore a microphone and travled along the top deck of the boat.
The views of the this lake were incredible! The mountains made for a unreal back drop with some of them still having snow at their peaks. The water was the most blue color I have seen in a lake. Was told that the granite filters the water making the water in the lake the purist one can get.
I had great converstation with the members of the association. All were from the Vietnam War era who flew in combat their. I purchase a drink for some of them and thanked them for their service to this nation.
Highlight of the tour was arriving at Emerald Bay on the west/California side of the lake. A very pretty beach was there with waterfall coming down on the mountain side. There was a small island called Fannette in the middle of the bay which had the remains of a small house. A building constructed by the owner of Vikingsholm, Mrs. Lora Josephine Knight. The most imporanat site was the view of the Vikingsholm house just on the shore. A historic building made to resemble an Viking castle.
From there the MS Dixie headed back to Zephyr Cove. The total tour was well worth it and left an incredible impression on the beauty of Lake Tahoe.
Afterwards Jack and I drove back around to the west side of the lake on State Highway 89. Plan was to head to Emerald Bay. We arrived at Inspiration Point just before the bay. The point had an incredible view of Emerald Bay through trees. One can see Eagle Falls from that point including the beach with many people laying in the sun and small boats.
We drove further up the road where we arrived at the trail head to Vikingsholm. We had to walk down a pathway for 1 mile to arrive at the beach and the castle. A fee of $5 dollars was required to have a tour of inside of this building. The castle is actually a house built in 1928-29 for a Scandinavian lady who had it built with Nordic designs. Very nice place with most of the inside made of hand crafted wood and furniture.
To get back to the highway 89 one has to walk back up the 1mile steep trail. I impressed myself as I did it rather easily. Jack on the other had was way behind. At the top of the trail there is a great view of Emerald Bay.
A great way to finish of this first exploration of this faboulous lake was to eat a big burger on the east side. Mine was stacked with onion rings and blue cheese. Yummy.
At the end of the grand victory dinner, we headed back to Folsom having enjoyed a wonderful day. Will definitly come back to Lake Tahoe as it is very close to my house and there is still much to see on that Blue lake.
Pictures can be seen in the publice site below:
http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=64098&id=1507778102&l=bcf1f62ac3
View of the Mountians around Lake Tahoe
Inspiration Point Vista
Vikingsholms
View of Emerald Bay
Braggart!
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