Lake Tahoe and Yosemite Adventure

Hello my name is Elizabeth and I am anxious to share with everyone my
wonderful Lake Tahoe and Yosemite adventure this past August. This is a
must do trip for anyone who loves the outdoors.

My adventure began with my hassle free flight to Reno on a muggy Saturday morning from Baltimore. What a relief as you step off the plane and feel NO
HUMIDITY. Sunshine abounds in Reno this time of year (the same for
Tahoe and Yosemite.) A quick stop at the Budget rental car station (on
site) and we are off to Tahoe, only 39 miles to paradise. Driving into
Tahoe the views are breathtaking. The lake is the color of the
Caribbean ocean and is surrounded by the Sierra Nevada Mountains, the
temperature is 73 degrees!! This lake has 72 miles of shoreline and is
dotted with a landscape of beautiful cabins nestled. For this trip to
Tahoe we opted for South Lake Tahoe which boasts abundant activities
and a night life (the North area is less congested and more laid back).

There are Casinos, specialty shops, and plenty of casual and fine dining options.
In downtown South Lake Tahoe we stayed one week at a Sunterra property
right on the lake. This property is very nice and is geared to pretty
much anyone who wants the convenience of walking to restaurants, the beach,
or enjoying the beautiful bike trail that encircles the lake for miles.
The property has a pool, hot tub, fitness center, and loads of activities
for the family. If your looking for peace and quiet however, you need to
stay outside of South Lake Tahoe, which I have done on several other
occasions. While in Tahoe we went biking, hiking on the many numerous
trails in the mountains (some require wilderness passes) and we kayaked
the lake. The best time ever was kayaking in Emerald Bay, if you want a
preview of this check it out on the internet, it is pure heaven. I never
wanted to leave this place. One of the hikes we did was above the
Emerald Bay which led to several alpine lakes that were
nestled in the wilderness.

Quite an extensive hike and well worth every minute of it. Don't worry though, if you just want to take in the views without hiking simply hanging out over the bay is really nice and its accessible to all. There are numerous places to go in and around Tahoe but one of my favorites was the small town of Truckee. This place really takes you back in time. It has that old western town feeling. We took
some fly fishing lessons on the Truckee river, they have wonderful
fishing guides. There are a few historical sites on the lake that are
worth visiting as well, they have big beautiful lodges that were once
owned by the rich or famous and they are available to tour. One evening
we participated in a "Murder Mystery" at one of the old lodges, quite
unique.

The water in Tahoe as I said is very blue, it is also very clear. We
went for a sunset cruise on a catamaran and laid on the beach at
different spots each day. When it was time to leave I would have been
very bummed out unless I had another awesome adventure just ahead. Upon
checking out in Tahoe we headed 4 and one hours to Yosemite. On the way
we stopped in Bodie, a real western ghost town. This was very
interesting and a recommended stop for any history buff. After Bodie we
continued on and entered Yosemite via the east entrance (approx. $20.00
for a one week pass) from there the views just got better and better.
This is the Tioga Pass, we stopped several times on our way to our Hotel
for some unforgettable vistas and amazing pictures. For our trip to
Yosemite we opted to stay at the Wawona Hotel. This place is really
quaint and very much an atmosphere that reminds you of the old days. It
is surrounded by beautiful pine trees, has an 8 hole golf course and
its in the park. The rooms are sort of Victorian style, simple but nice
(about $200 per night/must book well in advance as space fills quickly).
Wawona offers elegant dining and they have a piano lounge. Pictures of
Wawoona Hotel can be accessed via internet. While in Yosemite we visited
the all the popular sites. Mariposa Grove of giant Sequoias, Sentinel
Dome, and various waterfalls (observing a waterfall is best in spring,
however, if your lucky they will be running in August). We trekked upon a
bear with a cub and got some great pictures. We celebrated our
Anniversary at the Ahwanna Hotel. This is the best hotel in Yosemite in
my opinion, the place is nestled among giant rock cliff walls and has
elaborate log ceilings with massive fireplaces. It has a gift shop, the
BEST resturant you could imagine with impeccable service. This place is
pricy but well worth every penny. Rooms are around $500 a night.
Everyday in Yosemite is beautiful, we had no rain and the
temperatures are very warm with low humidity. The hikes are good with
levels for all. Yosemite Village offers cafes and grills, shops,
camping, informative movies, and transportation shuttles around the park.
This is really a must do trip as Yosemite is one of the most beautiful
destinations in the US, the park works hard to keep its rugged nature
while providing as many convinces as possible without polluting the
area.

In leaving Yosemite we drove back to Reno and stayed overnight at
Harrah's ($66), great hotel with great service, I played the penny slots
and hit for $120 immediately, I then stopped and enjoyed my night dining
out and relaxing in my beautiful room. This place is cheap for what you
get and Reno is a very interesting town. Every August it is the host of
Hot August Nights in which car restoration buffs come to the town to
show off their cherry vehicles. They close off one of the main streets
and parade their antique cars, and rev their engines. Car enthusiasts
will love this one.

WEATHER RATING FOR RENO/YOSEMITE/TAHOE - Sunny Sunny Sunny!!!! LOW LOW
HUMIDITY, every day is great!!!!

By the way I did not let the early summer fires discourage me. The
areas that were damaged by the fires did not affect the majority of the
area.

BEARS- Oh yes there are plenty, the Lake area is having a bear problem,
to me this makes the trip even more exciting.

TIPS: Book early for summer trips, these places fill fast!!!

Well there is so much to tell, and not enough time. Email me at crossingjordanministries@verizon.net if you want more info and I'll be happy to tell you what I know.