On the heels of major July Fourth traffic jams, the League to Save Lake Tahoe (Keep Tahoe Blue) is teaming with Chariot to launch microtransit service on July 9 in South Tahoe’s most traffic-congested tourist area in a pilot program to test lake-friendly transportation solutions.
“Tahoe jurisdictions and transportation officials have struggled for decades to address traffic at Lake Tahoe,” said Darcie Goodman Collins, PhD, the League’s chief executive officer. “By bringing microtransit to South Tahoe, we’re making Tahoe a laboratory for testing the next generation of transportation solutions.”
Best Lake Tahoe has been established to create a simple online portal to Lake Tahoe area resources. As such, this site is not intended to compete with the already existing abundance of Lake Tahoe tourism websites that are largely advertising based. Instead, this is a quick-guide to help people get an initial introduction and overview to what the area has to offer. Please contact us if you have any suggestions for improvement. Thanks!
[Source: YouTube, Trip Astute, 27 Apr 2018. Play full screen for best results.]
Here’s a great video from Earnest at Trip Astute sharing impressions from their March 2018 visit to the Lake Tahoe area.
About
“We visited Lake Tahoe in March 2018. Since we are not skiers, we didn’t head to the slopes, but instead explored the general area. We discovered beautiful beaches, snowy mountains, and some of the most scenic views that we have ever seen. From making s’mores at the Hyatt Regency to snowshoeing in the moonlight, we had an incredible weekend in Lake Tahoe. In this video, we share the highlights from our trip and some tips if you are planning a trip to the area.”
“A popular tourist destination in South Lake Tahoe recently increased fines for noise and parking violations to $1,000. It is part of an effort to address the dramatic increase in vacation homes available on internet rental sites. Carter Evans reports.” [Source: YouTube, CBS This Morning, 19 Apr 2018]
Commentary
The news coverage of higher fines in South Lake Tahoe seems to suggest that the noise ordinance is unrealistic and too burdensome on visitors, and that tourists want to stay up late, party, and make lots of noise. While that may be true of some vacationers, most people go on vacation to get away from noise. In a destination like the Lake Tahoe area, visitors most likely expect to enjoy the relaxing tranquility of nature.
Concerns about the $1,000 fine amount are valid. Unsuspecting or uniformed visitors, mistakenly parking incorrectly will certainly feel cheated. A graduated fine system would probably work better — where violators and rental owners pay incrementally higher fines each time there is a violation. Then for home owners, there could be a reset at the end of a season. This is actually what was passed by the City Council back in 2015.
The three-strikes rule seems excessive — property owners can lose their rental privileges for life after just three violations by vacation renters. Given that the behavior of the renters is outside the control of the property owner, this seems like an arbitrarily harsh policy.
A posible solution would be to have some limited areas zoned for rowdy college students on Spring Break, or loud vacationers who want to stay up late partying with the music blaring. Those living or renting in that area would be forewarned that noise can be an issue.
The Lake Tahoe area serves a diverse group of people. Some seek to find peace, quiet, and tranquillity. Others see it as a premier destination for partying and getting rowdy. Others are simply residents in the area. All groups need to be considered and have their interests addressed.
Here’s a nice video of the Lake Tahoe area from Mark and Tricia of Keep Your Daydream. Watch full screen for the best quality. It’s a long video, so skip ahead to areas of interest if needed. [Source: YouTube, 22 Oct 2017]
About
“The Lake Tahoe fun continues with exploring the abandoned train tunnels near Donner Pass, hiking Shirley Canyon and cliff jumping at Chimney Beach. We also take a few minutes to share some of the best things to do in Tahoe and our favorite places to eat including Sunny Sides, Jakes on the Lake, Fire Sign Café and Garwoods. But don’t forget to grab some ice cream at the Tahoe City mall (second floor).” [More…]
Hidden Gift Inside the Video!
So, there’s a hidden ‘gift’ inside the video in the form of a tip about an app called Geocaching. If you’ve never heard of Geocaching before, then you’re in for a surprise. It’s really a great app for people who travel and like adventures that combine mobile devices with hiking, biking and exploring areas. Spoiler alert: You’ll find the description of Geocaching at 17m 36s into the video.
Video Commentary and Critique
If you’ve followed Mark and Tricia’s adventures, you know that their videos are partly a personal record of their family travels, along with some helpful tips to those interested in visiting various designations. So, there’s some humor and family fun mixed in with the travel tips. As a result, these aren’t compressed 2 minute videos of National Geographic quality distilled footage. The flavor is a bit more casual and authentic as a result. It’s helpful to know this ahead of time so you can appreciate the videos for what they are.
There’s some very crisp drone footage, but most of the video and stills are standard definition apparently recorded with smartphones and sometimes not much stabilization.
[Source: YouTube, by Expedia, 10 Jul 2017. Play full-screen for best results.]
Filled with over 39 trillion gallons of pure Sierra snowmelt and pushed a mile into the Californian and Nevada skies, Lake Tahoe is the USA’s largest alpine lake and one of the country’s oldest, year-round vacation playgrounds.
Lake Tahoe has forever drawn travellers to its shores, from the Native Americans who call this place Big Water, to the trappers, timber cutters and pioneers who followed.
When you’re ready for a little alpine magic, take the four-hour drive from San Francisco to the sunlit shores of Kings Beach. Set on Tahoe’s northern end, this beach was named after local card shark, Joe King, who used his winnings to develop some of the lake’s earliest lodgings. On the lake’s southern shore, is Pope Beach, where you’ll find another Tahoe institution, Camp Richardson.
From Pope Beach follow the bike path to the Taylor Creek Visitor Center. An open-air classroom for the entire family, the center features fabulous interpretative walks such as the Rainbow Trail.
Nearby, at DL Bliss State Park, follow the spectacular Rubicon Trail into neighboring Emerald Bay State Park. This park is home to the Eagle Falls Trail, a moderate two-mile hike that takes in some of the Sierra high country’s finest views.
When the ponderosa pines bend with the season’s first snow, Tahoe transforms into the nation’s favorite winter playground. Whether you’re looking for snow-capped peaks or crystal clear coves, places to bond with loved ones or pockets of pure solitude, The Lake in the Sky has it all.
Video Stills
Below is a gallery of some still images as seen in the video. The header photo to this page is also from the video.
Here’s a nice video by Expedia showing some of the attractions around the Yosemite National Park area, just a few hours south of Lake Tahoe. [Source: YouTube, Expedia, 30 Oct 2016]
About
[Source: Video description from YouTube]
Yosemite National Park sits on the western slopes of California’s Sierra Nevada Mountains. Most visitors spend their time in Yosemite Valley, which despite being only 7 miles long and 1 mile wide, packs in more jaw-dropping scenery than just about any other place on Earth.
Near the valley entrance stop at Tunnel View, and stand before a panorama that’s reduced generations of visitors to silence. From Tunnel View it’s just a short drive to Bridalveil Fall. Fed by snowmelt, the fall reaches its thundering peak in May.
The Yosemite Valley ring road follows the banks of the Merced River, which shifts in character as it thunders from the valley walls, before gently winding across the valley floor. The ring road is dotted with trailheads that lead to 800 miles of hiking trails. The Four Mile Trail climbs the valley’s southern wall to two of Yosemite’s great outlooks, Glacier Point and Washburn Point. Further along the ring road is the trailhead for The Mist Trail, which offers stunning views of Vernal and Nevada Falls.
For thousands of years, the Ahwaneechee had villages throughout this valley, but it was at the base of Yosemite Falls where their great chief resided. Take the one-hour hike to the lower falls, or spend the day climbing all the way to the upper falls.
To the north of Yosemite Valley, is Tioga Road, one of the USA’s most scenic highways. Fill your lungs with alpine air at Olmsted Point, refresh yourself by the waters of Tenaya Lake, then spend the day at Tuolumne Meadow, the traditional summer hunting grounds of the Ahwaneechee.
From its high country to its waterfalls, its towering sequoia groves to its valley meadows, Yosemite is an American story unlike any other.
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