8. Places in the US that Macrine and I had Visited-South Lake Tahoe, California/Nevada and Vicinity

South Lake Tahoe, California

Three years ago about this time of the year Macrine, David III and I spent one week of vacation at our time vacation resort at the 5 star The Ridge Resort, Tahoe in the Nevada side of Lake Tahoe. David III played golf everyday and also poker at the three Casinos, Harvey, Harrah and the Horizon. Macrine and I played the slots machine and also went to a lake cruise and dinner. This is our yearly vacation through a time-share program that we purchased in the early 1990's.

A detail description of our time-sharing experience is also described in this blog. Use the search gadget in this blog for the article, if you want to know more about time-sharing vacation packages from The Ridge, Tahoe.

Enjoying the amenities and scenery at the Ridge, Winter Time

Personal Note: Casino Gambling in Lake Tahoe is on the decline due to competition from Indian Casinos in Northern California, such as Thunder Valley, The Red Hawk, Cache Creek and other Casinos in Northern California.

SOUTH LAKE TAHOE, CALIFORNIA

South Lake Tahoe is a city in El Dorado County, California, in the Sierra Nevada Mountains. The population was 23,609 at the 2000 census. The east end of the city, on the California-Nevada state line, is mainly geared towards tourism, with T-shirt shops, restaurants, hotels, and Heavenly Mountain Resort with the Nevada casinos just across the state line in Stateline, Nevada.

The city extends about five miles (8 km) west-southwest along U.S. Route 50, also known as Lake Tahoe Blvd. The western end of town is mainly residential, and clusters around "The Y" (new intersection October 2008), the X-shaped intersection of US 50, State Route 89, and the continuation of Lake Tahoe Boulevard after it loses its Federal highway designation.

According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 16.5 square miles (42.7 km²), of which, 10.1 square miles (26.1 km²) of it is land and 6.4 square miles (16.7 km²) of it (39.03%) is water. Its elevation is about 6,260 feet (1,910 m).

History

The city incorporated in 1965 by combining the previously unincorporated communities of Al Tahoe, Bijou, Bijou Park, Stateline, Tahoe Valley, and Tallac Village. A post office was established in 1967. In 1991, Jaycee Lee Dugard was abducted from a bus-stop in South Lake Tahoe, aged 11. She was found in 2009 in Antioch, California 18 years later.

LAKE TAHOE

View of Lake Tahoe from the California South Side

Lake Tahoe is a large freshwater lake in the Sierra Nevada mountains of the United States. At a surface elevation of 6,225 ft (1,897 m), it is located along the border between California and Nevada, west of Carson City, Nevada. Lake Tahoe is the largest alpine lake in North America. Its depth is 1,645 feet (501 metres) making it America's second-deepest (the deepest is Crater Lake in Oregon, being 300 ft deeper, at 1,945 feet (594 m) deep).

The lake was formed about 2 million years ago and is a part of the Lake Tahoe Basin with the modern lake being shaped during the ice ages. It is known for the clarity of its water and the panorama of surrounding mountains on all sides. The area surrounding the lake is also referred to as Lake Tahoe, or simply Tahoe.

Lake Tahoe is a major tourist attraction in both California and Nevada. It is home to a number of ski resorts, summer outdoor recreation, and tourist attractions. Snow and skiing are a significant part of the area's economy and reputation. Mountain and lake scenery are attractions throughout the year. The Nevada side also includes large casinos. Highways provide year-round access from Reno, Carson City, Virginia City and Sacramento.

Lake Tahoe is the second deepest lake in the U.S., with a maximum depth of 1,645 feet (501 m), trailing only Oregon's Crater Lake at 1,949 ft (594 m). Tahoe is also the 16th deepest lake in the world, and the fifth deepest in average depth. It is about 22 mi (35 km) long and 12 mi (19 km) wide and has 72 mi (116 km) of shoreline and a surface area of 191 square miles (490 km2). Washoe Indians used the lake.

Approximately 2/3 of the shoreline is in California. The south shore is dominated by the lake's largest city, South Lake Tahoe, California, which adjoins the town of Stateline, Nevada, while Tahoe City, California, is located on the lake's northwest shore. Although highways run within sight of the lake shore for much of Tahoe's perimeter, many important parts of the shoreline now lie within state parks or are protected by the United States Forest Service. The Lake Tahoe Watershed (USGS Huc 18100200) of 505 sq mi (1,310 km2) includes the land area that drains to the lake and the Lake Tahoe drainage divide traverses the same general area as the Tahoe Rim Trail.

Lake Tahoe as viewed from Heavenly Valley Ski Resort during the Winter Season

This article is No.8 ( Part 1) of a series of articles that the David B. Katague family has either resided or visited in the United States. If you are somewhere in Northern California, this is a must place to visit and maybe spent some of your vacation money in the Casinos, enjoy a leisurely cruise on the lake ( summer time) or if your visit is on winter time, visit the ski resort of Heavenly Valley at 9000 ft elevation with a panoramic view of the lake.