Emerald Bay on Lake Tahoe - Friday & Saturday

Emerald Bay is an inlet with an island. There's a state park on the cliffs above, some campsites with a bay view, and there are BOAT-IN SITES along the beautiful shores. The deep water is emerald, then turquois, then tan water in the shallows.

On Friday, we set up our tent at D.L. Bliss State Park, north of Emerald Bay. The road rises high above Emerald Bay along cliffs with 10 mph turns. Like us, the only people in the campground were setting up. We headed to the beach within the park, Lester Beach. We found few people there, most had arrived along the sandy shores in boats. (Asked one boater for a restaurant recommendation. He looked like Michael McDonald of the Doobie Brothers. Coincidentally, Mr. McDonald would perform at Northstar on the North Side of Lake Tahoe Saturday night.)

Ate our first night's dinner about 40 minutes north in Tahoe City. Rosie's, decorated with wooden skis & sleds and refurbished wooden rocking toys, had food for everyone! Pizza, salad & taco salad.

On Saturday, Tom & Bets attended a Condo Time Share presentation at Eagles Nest at Heavenly Ski Area. Bobby gave us the hour-long pitch and we declined (who can commit to one week somewhere?). We walked away with $100 off voucher for a boat rental. That made the price justifiable, so we stopped at the Timber Cove Marina and reserved an 18' boat for 10am Sunday.

We did some laundry and hung out at the lake. Unlike Lester Beach which is a hike down from a parking lot, we discovered Baldwin Beach near Camp Richardson. The parking lot was packed, no surprise, because it is level with the water. We found parking a mile east in Tallac. This is a dog beach (pets not allowed on other beaches). We hiked in and wandered down to a strip of sand between Baldwin and Tallac which we named "Simpsons Beach". (NOTE: Due to the level of relaxation, no pictures were taken.)

We found this amazing lunch spot at Emerald State Park. Drove to the tent loop and parked. Walked up to the SCENIC OVERLOOK. Voila! View PLUS picnic table. We brought our sandwiches, which we purchased at 3 different shops along the same strip mall.
Weather was becoming cloudy and looking like rain. Decided to eat in town rather than rush back to the campsite and prepare something there. Dinner at Passaretti's Italian Restaurant. There were TWO wedding receptions being held there. Got a table at 6:30. Home cooked food, homey and delicious. It rained about 20 minutues while we were there.

Caught this spectacular sunset on the lake on our drive North to Bliss.

Night was falling on Emerald Bay...time for a fire and early to bed for our big day on the lake.