Lake Tahoe stretches across the state border to be in both California and Nevada. I was at Lake Tahoe in 1997 but only on the Nevada side. Saw basically the same area again so I DEFINITELY need to plan a future trip here to cover the two thirds of the shore which is basically the California side. The Donner Lodge in Truckee CA is probably worth a couple nights' stay. Lake Tahoe is breathtaking. South Lake Tahoe CA has that touristy resort feel to it. I like it.

The air in South Lake Tahoe, especially in the morning, smells really good. While walking back to my room from breakfast I saw some large pine cones on the ground. It reminded me that I had gotten one of them when I was here in the 1990's. That pine cone sat on my desk at work for at least ten years before it started falling apart from dryness plus had collected lots of dust. Co-workers would see it and say something like "wow, where did you get that pine cone, it certainly was not from around here". I picked up one on this trip but it had rained the night before and the pine cones were soggy so no replacement just yet.