Page 152 - 2014 Travel Guide to California

LAKE TAHOE SOUTH SHORE
Wilderness and wildness
B Y B I L L F I N K
FROM SERENE VIEWS over mirror-flat
morning waters of Lake Tahoe and the
gentle footfall of hikers on pine needle-
covered forest paths, to the jangle of slot
machines and the pumping bass of a
casino dance club, Lake Tahoe South Shore
(what the marketers call Tahoe South) is a
destination hosting a unique mix of
wilderness and wild-ness, an indoor and
outdoor playground with equal measures
of altitude and attitude. Visitors can follow
their desires to find peace and solitude on
back country hikes or ski runs, or dive into
a swirling social scene at a packed summer
beach, holler at a crowded craps table or
slurp microbrews at an après ski bar com-
plete with go-go dancers. It’s dealer’s
choice on the South Shore.
A TRANQUIL DAY on Lake
Tahoe, above; Brad Paisley
performs in Harveys
Summer Concert Series,
right; hikers take in the
grand view from the summit
of Mount Tallac, opposite.
Summer
Summer activity around the South Shore is
understandably focused on the beautiful
waters of spectacular Lake Tahoe. Beaches
are packed with summer revelers, while
the waters are filled with every type of
floating vessel imaginable—from kayaks
and stand-up paddleboards to small sail-
boats, fishing cruisers, water-ski boats,
luxury cruising vessels and even two mas-
sive paddleboats, the Tahoe Queen and Ms.
Dixie II that run daily Emerald Bay cruises.
For fun out of the water, the South Shore is
a hiker’s paradise with journeys ranging from
multi-day treks into the Desolation Wilder-
ness and a steep day’s climb up to the
awe-inspiring views of Mt. Tallac, to relaxed
family strolls in flat meadows or along the
waterfront. Cyclists can take advantage of a
network of road rides and mountain paths
with everything from a scenic roll in the
woods to treacherous, teeth-rattling moun-
tain descents. The ambitious can even bike the
entire 72-mile circumference of Lake Tahoe.
Golfers can check out the lakeside Edgewood
Tahoe Golf Course (home of the hugely
150 2014 T R AV E L G U I D E T O C A L I F O R N I A
LAUREN LINDLEY. TOP: CELSO DINIZ/SHUTTERSTOCK. OPPOSITE: RACHID DAHNOUN