Urbanity - Summer 2008 - (Page 12)

Zany Mad Wacky Nuts The majesty of the Sierra’s finds ultimate expression in the emerald waters of Lake Tahoe. We only needed one reason to make Lake Tahoe one of our summer destinations. A drive around the lake (72 miles of shoreline) with the top down and I was in love. There are beautiful places on this planet, but very few can equal this palette. It’s a struggle to find a worthy description, and even the most wonderful images fall short of the reality, and the air? The clean high mountain smells so delight the olfactory that breathing becomes a conscious act. The Sierras are so vast the breadth of its natural beauty is almost incomprehensible. One experiences a curious ambivalence here; odd to feel powerful and inconsequential at the same time. The lake is 22 miles long and 12 miles wide. At 1,645 feet deep it is the second deepest lake in the U.S., and sixteenth deepest in the world. In the basin the trees are a mix of conifers, fir and pine in what I understand are many different flavors, anyway, they’re like towering sentinels. I heard some scuttlebutt about Tahoe Tessie. I’ll worry about her when someone proves the existence of Nessie. Around the lake to state line there’s Harveys and Harrahs for gambling; I got a fine spanking in the poker pit, but I’m not mad. I don’t think Texas Hold’em is real poker anyway. The casinos offer fine dining, and some super, big name shows. Celebs love Tahoe. With no commercial air it’s a trek to get to, so there’s very little paparazzi. Well known faces are fairly common…but they don’t get in anyone’s way. The casinos also offer shopping arcades, soda shops, and a great game arcade for the kids. As to lodging…so many choices; the casino hotels, a house boat on the lake (replete with a Zodiac to putt around in), B and B’s abound, as do great summer rentals; we stayed in the penthouse above Cecil’s—it was pretty great, but there are some marvelous choices in houses as well. There is biking, parasailing, hiking, jet skiing, golfing—some say the ball flies farther at the Edgewood Tahoe. I don’t know about that, but it’s a gorgeous place to drive the golf cart and drink mimosas. The gondola at Heavenly is a trip, but to fully experience Lake Tahoe you’ve got to stay awhile and get out and about. The high mountain air stimulates the appetite. Throw in a brisk hike and you’re ready for some serious food. As luck would have it there are a number of wonderful restaurants and small cafes. Naked Fish is excellent for sushi, and Cabo Wabo… something to do with Sammy Hagar, is crazy fun. FYI, a little of the100% blue agave tequila goes a very long way. Harveys has ‘19’ on the 19th floor, and ‘19’ has impressive food. Then again if you have the skill—and any stamina left, go fish out a couple of German Browns from the lake…now it does happen to be a fact that there are prehistoric sturgeons in Lake Tahoe, and they are just the scariest thing ever to 12 urbanity Summer 2008

Table of Contents Feed for the Digital Edition of Urbanity - Summer 2008

Urbanity - Summer 2008 Contents Editorial Destinations / Travel Zany Mad Wacky Nuts The Palate Eye of the Beholder Plaza Sweet Where’d You Get That? Hale Fellows Well Met Ah The Good Old Days Ruminating On Architecture The Wearing Care & Feeding of the Body Beautiful

Urbanity - Summer 2008

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