At the beginning of 2019, I put a picture of Lake Tahoe on my vision board and then set out to make it happen. Visiting Lake Tahoe became a stop on my tour of Northern California that included San Francisco, Yosemite and Napa Valley. I planned my trip for mid-September and was told be local Lake Tahoans that it was the perfect time to visit because most of the summer tourists were gone but the chill of fall hadn’t quite settled in yet. I spent a little under 48 hours in Lake Tahoe and below are the highlights of my stay.

I drove the winding roads from Yosemite to Lake Tahoe drinking in the breathtaking views. The trip took about 4 hours through the back roads of California.

My first glimpses of the lake after reaching South Lake Tahoe.

Emerald Bay is a natural national landmark t in South Lake Tahoe and home to Fannette Island, the only island in the lake. The stone ruins that can be seen at the top of the island is called the Tea House. The island itself is only accessible by boat, canoe, or kayak.

As I continued my drive into Lake Tahoe towards Tahoma where I stayed, I saw two baby bears wandering along the side of the road. I was only able to get this low-quality photo of one of them, but I wish I had been fast enough to capture the adorable image of a little brown cub frolicking in the sunshine.

I stayed in the cutest little mini-cabin in Tahoma. I, unfortunately, forgot to take pictures of it, but it was conveniently located just a short walk away from the lake. My first morning in Lake Tahoe, I was determined to watch the sunrise on the water and I was not disappointed. The way the fog rolled in off the water as the sun popped over the mountaintops was a stunning sight. The whole lake turned golden as the sun touched it and from certain vantage points almost looked like it was on fire.

From my research, I found that Sand Harbor was one of the top recommended beaches in Lake Tahoe, so I made the hour-long drive over to the Nevada side of the lake to check it out. I found Sand Harbor beach to be quite popular even for the end of the summer season. There was a $10 admission fee to get in and visitors were only permitted by vehicle (no walk-ins allowed). While I opted to not swim, I thoroughly enjoyed walking the boardwalk, climbing the rock formations, and wading about knee-deep in the chilly water.

After a lovely afternoon at Sand Harbor, I made my way back to Tahoma, with a stop in Tahoe City for dinner. I was able to enjoy fresh seafood at a lakeside restaurant before heading down onto the sand to watch the sunset behind the mountains. I never fully grasped the phrase “purple mountain majesty” until I saw that sunset. All the beautiful hues of purple, blue, and yellow flashed before my eyes as the sun went down.

My final night in Lake Tahoe, I was determined to get a photo of the stars. The night sky is so clear in that part of the country that I knew I needed to capture it. I spent forever on the cold pitch dark beach, but I finally got a couple of pictures that showcased the Milky Way Galaxy in all of her glory.

On my last morning in Lake Tahoe, I woke up to catch the sunrise one last time. It was just as beautiful as the day before. I realized that it’s something I would probably never get tired of seeing.

My last glimpse of the lake as I headed out of town. Seeing the crystal blue waters of Lake Tahoe definitely had me daydreaming of photographing a wedding on its shore.

My time in Lake Tahoe was so brief and I definitely wasn’t able to do and see everything I wanted. But even though it was a short visit I completely fell in love with the lake and I know it’s a place I will be returning to in the future!

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