Can't get enough of Lake Tahoe!

If I ever win the Lotto I will be looking into buying a place at Lake Tahoe, but until then renting a house with my gal pals for 5 days and 4 nights every August will have to do. We started this tradition in 1997 and first stayed in a little studio cabin in Tahoma at a place called Tahoe Cedars. A charming place it was, old and well established, with its own private beach and families that returned year after year. We were lucky to get in that year, but decided to try something new the next year. (Tahoe Cedars has since closed and now sits boarded up, looking so forlorn). A reasonably priced motel on the beach in South Lake Tahoe was our choice for 1998. South Lake Tahoe proved to be too crowded for our liking and a motel room also proved to be too crowded. The next year we found a house on a golf course in Incline Village for not much more than the price of either the studio at Tahoe Cedars or the motel on the beach. That spoiled us and we've had either a house or a condo ever since. Most recently we've been staying at a house at the edge of Tahoe City. The location is great, the price is right, and since we've stayed there several years now we feel quite at home from the minute we arrive until its time to leave. This was the first year we extended our stay from 3 nights to 4, though we've talked about it almost from the beginning. We also had company for the first time - JoAnne's sister and cousin came up and spent 2 days and a night (thank you Shelley, for the wonderful fruit platter!). Our days were filled with hiking, relaxing at Calawee Cove, rafting on the Truckee River, lounging around playing Hand and Foot, swimming in the lake at a place we've named Rock Beach, and a little shopping. Our evenings were spent strolling around downtown Tahoe City, going for walks in "our" neighborhood (beware of the bats!), taking in the sunsets at Commons Beach (more bats!) and North Tahoe Beach, playing Hand and Foot, and watching the Olympics. It was a good time as usual and I think I can safely speak for the group and say we all are looking forward to next year. The photos were all taken with my cell phone.

Beautiful blue Lake Tahoe from the Rubicon Trail

(yes, it really is that blue!)

Commons Beach just after sunset

Flowers in "our" neighborhood

Looking north toward Incline Village from "Rock Beach"

"Rock Beach" looking south toward Sand Harbor

Sunset from the highway above "Rock Beach"

Getting ready to leave "Rock Beach" on the last day (so sad!)

Last look at "Rock Beach" until next year