We wanted to see what all the fuss was about and decided to check out Lake Tahoe, the winter getaway spot of our posh friends Janeen & Mike.  We had heard rumors that it was as pretty as Lake Winnipesaukee in NH.  They weren’t kidding.  The lake is beautiful.  The water is super clear, super blue, and super deep.  With the deepest point at 1650 feet, this lake doesn’t freeze over like Winnipesaukee does.

Since we are tourists, we had to do the touristy thing and take the self-drive audio tour around the lake.  For a mere $19.99 we were entertained  in our car (sporting the brand-new engine, of course) with a CD narrated by a lively fellow who regaled us with anecdotes and lake history and even a bunch of songs during our drive.  Yes, there is a Jimmy Buffett of Tahoe and we have him on CD to prove it.

One of our first stops on the tour was Emerald Bay and Vikingsholm.  Emerald Bay is reported as being the second most photographed spot in the US, behind Niagara Falls.  Not sure if I believe that, but I did get a bunch of pictures just in case.

Vikingsholm is a mansion on Emerald Bay built in the Scandinavian tradition in the late 1920’s.  Sadly, tours inside are closed for the season, but we did hike around the grounds.  We also took in the view to Fannette Island, the only island on Lake Tahoe.  There is a tea room on the island that the owner of Vikingsholm had built, just to take her guests out to for tea.  Must have been nice.