Lake Tahoe is one of the most beautiful places in North America to visit. Located between California and Nevada, the lake has been dubbed the jewel in the sky and for good reason. When you visit Lake Tahoe you will find that it is nestled in the Sierra Nevada mountain range, at an elevation of 6,225 feet and with a maximum depth of more than 1,645 feet in some places, the shorelines are incredible and very diverse. After reading this, you will be a little more familiar with the features of Lake Tahoe.

The north shore of Lake Tahoe is probably the most neglected. Kings Beach is a small town that brings more character to the North Shore. If you look hard enough or just ask a few locals, you’ll discover the best Mexican restaurants in the area tucked away in the side streets. Tahoe City is by far the most popular city on the North Shore, attracting millions of thousands of tourists each year, especially during the 4th of July and Memorial Day and Labor Day weekends. Here you will find your common tourist shops selling anything with the Lake Tahoe name on it. A popular place for tourists to gather is the Fanny Bridge, which leads to the west shore of Lake Tahoe. Here you can look out and see hundreds of trout eagerly waiting to be fed.

Once you cross the Fanny Bridge, you’ll head to the west shore of Lake Tahoe. The West Coast is where you’ll find some of the biggest homes, many of them owned by popular celebrities. If you’ve seen The Godfather Part 2, you’ve seen bits of the west shore of Lake Tahoe, a lot of the filming was done there. As you make your way south, you will eventually come across a part of the coastline aptly named The Gold Coast. This stretch of coastline is a number one contender for the most beautiful beach in the world. The shoreline is decorated with a flowing display of golden sand that would make any king envious. Unfortunately, most of the sands on the Gold Coast are privately owned and not shared by some of the wealthiest in the area. Don’t worry, though, because a quick trip south will bring you to one of Lake Tahoe’s most popular features, Emerald Bay, home to the only island in the lake, Fannette Island. Located on Fannette Island is the “Tea House” which is one of the best examples of Scandinavian architecture built in the Western Hemisphere. The west shore of Lake Tahoe is very beautiful in the spring, summer, and fall, but watch out for massive amounts of snow during the winter. This coastline is usually the most affected and due to the fact that there is only one road, you may find yourself trapped and covered in snow. What can not be so bad if you take with you a pair of skis or a snowboard? So when planning a visit to Lake Tahoe, don’t forget to visit the North and West shores.