The geography of California is unlike anywhere else in the nation, and it’s not uncommon for residents to boast that they can sit on a beach at lunch and watch a sunset from a mountaintop for dinner, all in one day.
Throughout the state, California gifts visitors with beautiful lakes that range from recreation hubs like Lake Havasu in the south to famous resort areas like Lake Tahoe in the north. The state is also home to nine national parks and hundreds of state parks with beautiful lakes for fishing, recreation, and relaxation, like Castaic Lake, just north of Los Angeles.
Let’s explore some of the best, most beautiful lakes in California, what to do while you’re visiting, and where to stay during your travels.
The Best Lakes in California to Visit
1. Lake Tahoe
Lake Tahoe is an internationally famous lake that boasts the bluest blues and deepest depths of any lake in California and is the largest alpine lake in the state. Surrounded by the Sierra Nevada Mountain range, Lake Tahoe straddles the California and Nevada border and is about 200 miles northeast of San Francisco.
Popular activities at Lake Tahoe include water sports and sunbathing on the beaches, especially in the summer. Winter brings skiers, and the trails around the lake are popular with mountain bikers and hikers all year. You don’t even have to get out of your car to marvel at the beauty of Lake Tahoe. Driving around the lake affords plenty of views and opportunities for picture-taking and scenic overlooks.
For your first visit to Lake Tahoe, try a half-day coastal self-guided electric bike tour, which runs along the gorgeous eastern shore trail. If you want to challenge yourself, take your mountain bike to the Flume Trail, which is a moderately challenging 14-mile trail with outstanding views of the lake and mountains stretching from South Lake Tahoe all the way to the north.
Lake Tahoe suits virtually every type of traveler, too, with stays in vacation homes in South Lake Tahoe, as well as resorts and cozy old-fashioned motels along the eastern shore that look like they were plucked right out of a 1950s summer vacation.
Choose a South Lake Tahoe Retreat if you’re traveling with family or the Sunnyside Resort and Lodge for a classic lakeside Lake Tahoe experience.
See Related: Fun & Best Things to do in Santa Monica, California
2. Shasta Lake
Shasta Lake is a reservoir in Northern California and is just a few miles north…
Click Here to Read the Full Original Article at ViaTravelers…