5 Spots Of Unrivalled Natural Beauty In The USA
#3 Lake Tahoe, CA
Divided by the state line of California and Nevada, Lake Tahoe sits under a horizon of snow-capped Sierra Nevada range mountains and is the brightest shade of aquamarine. Just a few hours north of Yosemite National Park, Lake Tahoe’s surrounds are littered with tall pines, cascading cliffs and moss-lined streams throughout the woods of Eldorado National Forest.
In the summer, the valleys and forests are alive with popping colours of wildflowers in the drying grass. The lake gives way to a bunch of coves, bays and swimming beaches to explore, but making our way to South Lake, we stumbled across the humble Emerald Bay, tucked away and only accessible by a short hike. The water lived up to its name as it glistened in the sun and we rested in the sand. Take a picnic and join the family of boats that anchor there to swim and BBQ the day away, then settle in with a blanket and watch the day fade into a million dollar sunset.
The translucent waters of Tahoe practically begged us to swim. It’s the largest alpine lake in North America, resting at an elevation of 6200 feet (1.8 kilometres), and the glacial water is freezing to touch. Be brave, though; once you’re in, you’ll feel rejuvenated from head to toe.
Falling asleep under the stars is good for the soul, and waking to mountain tops, bubbling creeks and fresh pine makes even the sweetest dreams feel like they’ve come true. We found a place to park our van and rest our heads along a sneaky service road hidden among the trees and rose early to head back to LA. The undiscovered scenic routes and unmarked back country roads are best found via paper maps, and being able to physically trace your adventure makes the drive even more rewarding.
One of the most magnificent journeys to Lake Tahoe starts with Route 395 through California. Scaling the Sierra Nevada Mountain Ranges and cutting across a sliver of Nevada, this route hides natural treasures of hot springs, top-of-the-peak vistas and sweeping panoramas. Small towns bearing badges of nostalgia offer ice cream, candy and local trading posts, alongside dusty hotels with neon facades.
Up next: Petoskey, Michigan…
