Whether your first glimpse of the Blue Jewel is at the top of a mountain precipice as you push off on skis or snowboard, or seen from your hotel room—Lake Tahoe is guaranteed to take your breath away. Even the aptly named ski resort, Heavenly, recognizes the near perfection of this glorious Lake Tahoe. Where else can you choose to ski in two states on the same mountain, with Heavenly’s highest peak at 10,067 feet?
You will be mesmerized by the sheer size of this alpine lake, one of the largest in the world. Lake Tahoe also celebrates some of the clearest water that ranges in color from topaz blue to emerald green. Indeed, this lake truly earns the name Jewel.
I love the frigid air that makes my eyes water when I step outside, and the sense I have of experiencing one of the world’s most beautiful locations. There is no mistaking the sensation of being alive, and the anticipation of the day. Will I ski, snowshoe, or romp in the snow? Decisions. Decisions. I love skiing, but then snowshoeing is such a quiet, private sport. There’s nothing to learn. If you can walk you can snowshoe. Stepping out onto virgin snow on a sunny day is as though you are stepping from Heaven onto a cloud. The snow sparkles with nature’s true diamonds. The sun kisses my face, and with more than 307 days of pure sunshine, that’s a lot of kisses!
Nothing compares to the exhilaration you feel when you touch down at the lake’s base of 6,225 feet. Everything else is up from there! Choose to ski, board, snowshoe, ride a snowmobile, take a ride in a horse-drawn sleigh, a dog sled, or build a snowman. Travel the circumference of the lake and surrounding areas, and enjoy a day at each of the ski resorts. Begin with Heavenly and choose to ski-in-ski-out from your hotel or condo. Or try your skis or board on for size at Sierra-at-Tahoe and Kirkwood ski resorts. You can be sure that improvements and additions have been a part of each resort’s plans, to lure you and your lust for powder.
The lake runs 22 miles long, north to south, with the state lines of California and Nevada dividing it down the middle. At South Lake Tahoe you can be within minutes of both California and Nevada. Breakfast in California, lunch in Nevada? The Nevada side of the lake hosts casinos in many of the hotels. There is no down time in the South Lake Tahoe region. Play hard in the day and party hard at night. Whether you are ready to gamble, or gaze and drink in the alpenglow on the mountaintops at sunset, this is definitely a perfect place to enjoy. Absolutely perfect.
Whether you choose to explore just a smidgen of the area's more than 63,000 acres of wilderness, or drive around the lake with more than 72 miles of snowy shoreline, you will not soon forget this vision. In fact, I predict you will be planning when you can next return. |
