Emerald Bay
There is no more scenic trail near the lake than the Rubicon Trail that begins on the beach of Bliss State Park. The trail runs along the shore of Lake Tahoe to Vikingsholm at the head of Emerald Bay; the trail is open and inviting at every turn.


On the first three miles along the lake, keep your eyes peeled for Ospreys, which are seen frequently, and Bald Eagles that are seen occasionally.

Twenty years more (1869) and the Transcontinental Railroad connecting East and West was completed—through Truckee.

There is much to see and do in this vibrant, colorful part of the Old West that hugs the banks of the Truckee River. The river runs (only) from Lake Tahoe to Pyramid Lake in Nevada, northeast of Reno, where the river ends.

Many visits to the dam include a stop on the “Fanny Bridge” to watch the large trout that circle just below the dam’s 17 gates; a stroll through the adjacent park with its picnic tables, huge trees, and the Historical Society’s Gatekeeper’s Cabin museum; and a trip across the dam itself—where Lake Tahoe becomes the beautiful Truckee River.

Sugar Pine has much to offer--sandy beaches, trails, skyscraper forests, a mansion, and, most of the year, solitude coupled with views that sooth the mind.

The park, with two miles of lake frontage (Lake Tahoe has 72 miles in total), has a rich history. In 1860, the first permanent settler of record on Lake Tahoe's west shore built a cabin at the mouth of General Creek. This was the trapper and fisherman, William "General" Phipps, and his cabin can still be seen today just north of the park pier.

So begins the opening narration of the ski film Daydreams. Shot and edited during the winter and spring of 1974-75 by Tahoe native, Craig Beck, the epic film remains the last un-forked pea on the plate of American ski film making. Highlight's include Greg Beck's (Craig's younger brother) 100-foot-plus jump off the Palisades and Dave Burnham's monstrous 80-foot flip into the wild blue yonder.

The elusive fountain has been "found" in many places throughout the ages, often where explorers of the time have been or fantasized. Such places have included Asia, the Middle East, the Bahamas, Japan, and, closer to home, Florida. Here, for example, is a famous Japanese Fairy Tale:

Truckee grew up around the railroad that still, today, connects America, East and West. One big part of that history is the snowstorm of 1952 that stranded a loaded passenger train for 4 days. The event was headline news around the world. As Sandy Coots, board member of the Truckee-Donner Railroad Society (in picture below) put it: "We have neglected the railroad part of Truckee's past too long. Now we're going to have a museum. This engine is a start."


January 1952

Names of other scarecrows noted by the judges were: Gardner Stan, Halloween Hayride Jane, Pot Belly Pete, and Best Local's Potato Salad. All the scarecrows will be on parade until the end of October.

Located in Fallon, Nevada, sixty miles east of Reno or Carson City on highway 50, Lattin Farms is a bit farther away than your normal excursion from Tahoe. It is a fully operational farm for the bulk of the year, but every fall owners Rick and B.Ann Lattin convert the farm into a festival grounds. They welcome visitors of all ages from around the globe.