. . . you’ll catch your first glimpses of Lake Tahoe and begin to understand why Mark Twain once wrote that it was
“the fairest picture the whole earth affords.” [Source here]
Lake Tahoe, the lake of my childhood and adolescence.....
The 72-mile drive around the Lake was always a favorite activity and I have no idea how many times I have been on that road, but it was certainly not the Shore Road shown in this perfectly beautiful old postcard. I can also attest to the total lack of cows along that drive. There are certainly none close by the Lake, and the view of these two lazily clopping along the dirt road is a site I never imagined before. As sad as it sounds, I cannot envision Lake Tahoe in this kind of natural setting. But what a gorgeous place on the earth it is still today, and the drive around the Lake is well worth the trip.
Let's have some fun together and take a virtual tour around Lake Tahoe. Since I can choose a time in history for this trip I pick my childhood. Jump into my mother's Silver Streak convertible with my little sis on the left and me on the right there in the back seat (no seat belts, of course) and enjoy the smell of the pines and mountain-fresh air while viewing gorgeous Lake Tahoe from vantage points along the way.
Your Informative Virtual Tour of Lake Tahoe's Scenic 72 mile Shoreline
STARTS HERE
STARTS HERE
You are about to embark on a scenic journey unlike any in the world. This interactive web map is designed to guide you through many of the natural and man-made wonders in the Lake Tahoe Basin, all on "The Most Beautiful Drive in America."
Lake Tahoe is the largest alpine lake in North America. It's 22 miles long and 12 miles wide and contains an estimated 39.75 trillion gallons of water, enough to cover the entire state of California to a depth of 14 inches. The water is 99.99% pure, and it's said that a white dinner plate can be seen to a depth of 75 feet. Lake Tahoe's altitude is 6,225 feet above sea level. It is bisected by the California/Nevada state line. Spectacular recreation, entertainment and scenic beauty can be enjoyed year-round.
I liked that tour a lot. If the Virtual Tour wasn't enough for you below is a time-lapse video, taken from a later model vehicle than the convertible, along a portion of the shoreline road.
I think my inner child will linger in Tahoe awhile in a ducky inner tube.
(I had never heard the sweet song played in the time-lapse video and felt a need to identify it.
Sierra Nevada was written by Joel Herron. The version playing in the video may be sung by
Jimmy Wakely, or possibly by the Sons of the Pioneers who cut several different versions. Click here for a different video with the song sung by that group -- the video features beautiful scenes of the Sierra Nevadas, including at Lake Tahoe.)
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