In 2004 I went to South Lake Tahoe for the first time. I spent the summer living with my sister and working in Harvey’s casino. My big sis left Bulgaria for Tahoe back in 2003 and still hasn’t moved. After my summer there I dropped in for a week in 2007 on my way from Boston to Bulgaria; then visited in 2008 for another two weeks, dragging my parents along, who had never even been to the States before that. This summer I’ll probably be heading there once more for my sister’s wedding. Unless they decide to have it somewhere else.
Tahoe is a beautiful mountain lake right between Northern California and Nevada. It’s a three-hour drive from San Francisco; or one hour from Reno, where the closest airport is. In order to get to Reno from Bulgaria you change at least three planes. My longest trip was around 26 hours, including the layovers. After 26 hours and 3 planes suicidal thoughts don’t seem weird, believe me.
South Lake Tahoe itself is almost entirely in Californian territory, except for the few big and not so big casinos.
2. Driving to Carson City - US 50 from South Lake Tahoe to Carson is allegedly the most picturesque road in the entire United States. On that road you can make pictures like this one:
We drive to Carson mainly to go shopping, since the stores are cheaper and quite bigger. I got my first US shopping experience in a Costco store where I actually got lost. I was twenty-one back then and I felt like I was four. I have managed to overcome my fear of huge stores by now but my sister’s idea of a shopping spree still intimidates me. Somehow she still finds the energy to shop for 8 hours, while I’m dragging behind her, completely exhausted.
3. The Magic Carpet Miniature Golf Course – another thing I discovered for the first time 5 years ago. I still insist that this is the most fun a person can possibly have. Especially if you are with some good friends, have the competitive drive of a professional golfer and a keen love for dinosaurs.
4. Horseback riding around Zeophyr Cove – if you want to see some amazing sites while riding a horse around some mountain trails, this is the thing for you. I’ve done it only once but it was still great.
5. The casinos – alright, I admit, the casinos have their appeal. They’re not as flashy as in Vegas but they offer some good entertainment and I don’t mean gambling only. There are some concerts and stand up performances throughout the summer. It’s full of excellent bars and there are even a couple of very decent clubs; and the cocktails are awesome everywhere. I should know, I served them for three months back in 2004 :)
Tahoe is a beautiful mountain lake right between Northern California and Nevada. It’s a three-hour drive from San Francisco; or one hour from Reno, where the closest airport is. In order to get to Reno from Bulgaria you change at least three planes. My longest trip was around 26 hours, including the layovers. After 26 hours and 3 planes suicidal thoughts don’t seem weird, believe me.
South Lake Tahoe itself is almost entirely in Californian territory, except for the few big and not so big casinos.
The place is truly magnificent, good for skiing in the winter, and in the summer you can go to the beach or fishing or kayaking. There are all kinds of beautiful spots, the air is so clean and it is actually a very nice place to live, if you’re not pursuing some grand career or a busy lifestyle. If you are a party animal though, this might be a good place to visit for a vacation but anything more could get boring.
The permanent population is around 34 000 according to official statistics, with most people working in the services sector. In summer and winter’s high season the town gets crowded with tourists, many of them from the San Francisco Bay Area. A good part of those tourists visit that beautiful place just to play video slots all night in the aforementioned casinos.
I have to clarify that I have been to South Lake Tahoe only in the summer, so I have no information about the ski resorts. Plus I don’t ski. I generally avoid endeavors that might suggest me breaking my neck.
But when I am visiting my sister, our primary activities include:
1. Hitting the Camp Richardson beach, armed with a cooler and some cold cans of bee…uhm…sodas inside. The lake is fricking freezing for most of the year, but in August you can actually go for a swim, as long as you don’t go too far away from the shore.
The permanent population is around 34 000 according to official statistics, with most people working in the services sector. In summer and winter’s high season the town gets crowded with tourists, many of them from the San Francisco Bay Area. A good part of those tourists visit that beautiful place just to play video slots all night in the aforementioned casinos.
I have to clarify that I have been to South Lake Tahoe only in the summer, so I have no information about the ski resorts. Plus I don’t ski. I generally avoid endeavors that might suggest me breaking my neck.
But when I am visiting my sister, our primary activities include:
1. Hitting the Camp Richardson beach, armed with a cooler and some cold cans of bee…uhm…sodas inside. The lake is fricking freezing for most of the year, but in August you can actually go for a swim, as long as you don’t go too far away from the shore.
2. Driving to Carson City - US 50 from South Lake Tahoe to Carson is allegedly the most picturesque road in the entire United States. On that road you can make pictures like this one:
We drive to Carson mainly to go shopping, since the stores are cheaper and quite bigger. I got my first US shopping experience in a Costco store where I actually got lost. I was twenty-one back then and I felt like I was four. I have managed to overcome my fear of huge stores by now but my sister’s idea of a shopping spree still intimidates me. Somehow she still finds the energy to shop for 8 hours, while I’m dragging behind her, completely exhausted.
3. The Magic Carpet Miniature Golf Course – another thing I discovered for the first time 5 years ago. I still insist that this is the most fun a person can possibly have. Especially if you are with some good friends, have the competitive drive of a professional golfer and a keen love for dinosaurs.
4. Horseback riding around Zeophyr Cove – if you want to see some amazing sites while riding a horse around some mountain trails, this is the thing for you. I’ve done it only once but it was still great.
5. The casinos – alright, I admit, the casinos have their appeal. They’re not as flashy as in Vegas but they offer some good entertainment and I don’t mean gambling only. There are some concerts and stand up performances throughout the summer. It’s full of excellent bars and there are even a couple of very decent clubs; and the cocktails are awesome everywhere. I should know, I served them for three months back in 2004 :)
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2 comments:
I want a whole blog post on the miniature golfing. Haha. Scores and all. It is a very fun thing to do.
You know, I had saved some score cards somewhere but I'll have to dig.
One time we played 3 games in a row - me, my sister and Mike. My sister got two games and I got one. Mike was in 2nd place for all three games, but in all three games he got beaten by a girl. That was one of the best days ever :)
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