Lake Tahoe
Lake Tahoe is one of the most beautiful lakes in California due to its crystal-clear water and the surrounding mountains.
This lake was formed around 2 million years ago and sits at an altitude of 6200ft/1800m.
From Stanford, it is a 4-hour drive to South Lake Tahoe.
If driving is not an option, it is possible to travel by bus (Greyhound) or train (Zephyr) from Oakland to Truckee.
What’s great about Tahoe is that you can visit during both the summer or winter and have equally fun but unique experiences.
In the summer, you can go swimming and enjoy other water sports, and in the winter, you can hit the slopes and take in the incredible view of the lake from the mountains.
One of the most famous places in Lake Tahoe is Emerald Bay State Park.
As you can see above, the bay is wonderful.
During the summer there are a lot of hikes around the lake that are really great.
Bliss State Park also offers nice views of the lake’s clear water and the beautiful mountain landscape.
The ski resorts in Lake Tahoe are very expensive, but there are other resorts like Bear Valley that are much more reasonable.
If you are not a skier, there are many other activities to do such as hiking, sledding, snowshoeing, and even dog sledding.
