Many Nevada vacations center around Lake Tahoe. When visiting Nevada, one of the most scenic drives in the American West is the journey around Lake Tahoe. The lake is located less than a half-hour away from Carson City via U.S. 50, and is perfect for those looking to experience natural Nevada tourism. The first leg of the trip is the drive through the mountains and over Spooner Summit. Soon, you’ll catch your first glimpses of Lake Tahoe and begin to understand why Mark Twain once wrote that it was “the fairest picture the whole earth affords.”

Just below Spooner Summit, the Nevada tour road branches south to Stateline and Zephyr Cove or north to Incline Village, Crystal Bay and Tahoe City. Heading south, the road passes through Glenbrook, a community that is especially important to Nevada tourism. Glenbrook was the site of Lake Tahoe's first resort, built in 1863.

Farther ahead is Cave Rock, where the highway passes through 75 feet of stone. The rock is a sacred spot for the Washo Indian tribe, the original inhabitants of Lake Tahoe, who would place their dead in the waters below the distinctive rock. A few miles south is Zephyr Cove, home of the M.S. Dixie II sternwheeler as well as a fine beach and a rustic lodge, restaurant, and horse stable.

Continuing south, the Lake Tahoe drive brings you to Stateline. In addition to being the boundary between Nevada and California, Stateline is also where most of the Tahoe action can be found. A half-dozen, first class hotel-casino resorts, including Harrah’s Tahoe and Harvey’s, sit at the south end of the lake.

Beyond Stateline is South Lake Tahoe. Here, the highway is lined with motels and hotels, but off to the right you can still view the loveliest lake in the world. Less than a mile from the state border is the Heavenly Valley Gondola station, a lift that carries you 2.4 miles up the mountain to a platform that is nearly 3,000 feet above Lake Tahoe. Operated by the Heavenly Valley Ski Resort, the gondola ride is fun whether you’re a skier or not.

About 15 miles from Stateline, you pass out of the heaviest development around the lake and head north on Highway 89. Here there are several beaches—El Dorado, Regan and Pope—as well as Camp Richardson and the Tallac Historic Site. The latter is a collection of sprawling mansions built in the 19th century by some of America’s wealthiest families. The restored and maintained homes are open to the public for tours.

The nearby Taylor Creek Visitor Center, operated by the U.S. Forest Service, offers information about not only the Tallac Historic Site but is also home of the Stream Profile Chamber, an interpretive center that provides underwater views of Taylor Creek. Floor-to-ceiling glass windows in a special, underground exhibit present a one-of-a-kind view of the creek, which is home to trout, Kokanee Salmon, crayfish, frogs and a variety of water insects.

The center also hosts the Lake of the Sky Amphitheater, an outdoor stage that is a popular site for special nature programs offered by the rangers. There are also several short trails that wind through the area around the visitor center.
Once back on the road, you’ll find that the views are even more magnificent as it winds through the mountains above the southwestern edge of the lake. At Eagle Falls, the road crosses over Eagle Falls and overlooks Emerald Bay, considered one of the most photographed places in the country.

Ahead is D.L Bliss State Park, located a few miles from the turnout for Emerald Bay. Bliss Park is a perfect spot for photographing the clear, deep blue depths of Rubicon Bay. In addition to hiking trails and some outrageously wonderful scenery, there is also a fairly secluded but highly recommended beach and a picnic area.

A few miles farther is Meeks Bay, where you will find another stunning beach and a campground. About three miles north is Sugar Pine Point State Park, which includes shaded picnic areas as well as the Ehrmann Mansion, used in filming "The Godfather Part II.”

From here it is about seven miles to Tahoe City, one of the more developed spots on the north shore. Since Tahoe City serves as the outlet for the Truckee River, it is also the site of “Fanny” Bridge, named because people have to bend over to see the large trout spilling out the lake and into the river.

Continuing the trip around the lake, you next reach Carnelian Bay, another fairly developed community with plenty of restaurants and businesses, Tahoe Vista, and King's Beach. There is a fine public beach at King's Beach.

Crystal Bay is the northern border between California and Nevada on the lake. Not surprisingly, you'll find a number of hotel-casinos offering the famous Nevada-style fun including the Tahoe Biltmore and the Cal-Neva Club, once owned by Frank Sinatra and famous for its swimming pool that is half in Nevada and half in California.

Three miles further is Incline Village, which has a number of businesses, restaurants, and golf courses. A few miles outside of Incline Village is the site of the Ponderosa Ranch (no longer open to the public), which was used for filming the long-running "Bonanza" TV show. Just south of the Ponderosa is Nevada's Lake Tahoe State Park, offering one of the most beautiful beaches at the lake at Sand Harbor. You can also find a boat launch.

About 10 miles further south is the intersection with U.S. Highway 50, where you can bid adieu to the lake and return to Carson City.

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