Tag: Ponderosa Ranch

Have a Taste of Hollywood on your Lake Tahoe Vacation

Have a Taste of Hollywood on your Lake Tahoe Vacation

Who would ever have thought that you can have a taste of Hollywood on your Lake Tahoe vacation?

A lot of big screen films and television shows have been to various filming locations in the majestic Lake Tahoe, and who among Hollywoods biggest names in tinseltown could resist the beauty of Lake Tahoe.

Indeed, only to name some, the famous Ponderosa Ranch of the TV series Bonanza is actually located on the Nevada side of Lake Tahoe.

And another bit of film trivia is that the opening sequence of the famed TV series was filmed at the McFaul Creek Meadow with the beautiful Mount Tallac in the background.

In the highly acclaimed motion picture The Godfather Part II, the Corleone family lived in a compound on the shores of the Nevada side of Lake Tahoe.

In one of the famous scenes during the final minutes of the film, Fredo Corleone is taken out onto the lake for a fishing trip, on the orders of his brother Michael (Al Pacino) to be executed for treachery, where Michael stands by the shore watching the deed being done.

The house and grounds portrayed in the film are also located on the California side of Lake Tahoe in the summer estate of Henry Kaiser known as Fleur du Lac.

The only structures used in the movie that still remain are the complex of old native stone boathouses with wrought iron gates.

And although Fleur du Lac is private property and no one is allowed ashore there, the boathouses and multi-million dollar condominiums are easily viewed from the lake.

In the film Smoking Aces, most of the scenes were filmed in South Lake Tahoe and Stateline.

Many of the hotels and casinos are visible in the film with their older names. The climactic scenes of the 1987 Charles Bronson film Assassination were filmed around Lake Tahoe.

Top Gear a British TV program on state-of-the-art cars and gadgetry filmed one entire episode at Lake Tahoe sometime this year.

Located between the borders of California and Nevada, Lake Tahoe boasts of over 300 days of warm sunshine, 396 inches of annual snowfall, 18 world-class ski and snowboarding resorts, incredible golf courses, fantastic hotels, casinos and many, many more.

For a relaxing and romantic getaway, one can find many romantic destinations that boast of world-class service, elegant decors and scenery, superb cuisine and a wide array of choices to select from. From five star to first class, standard and deluxe, even economy accommodations, a large number of hotel and motel establishments are more than willing to provide free information about Lake Tahoe and how it could be best enjoyed.

And this is how Lake Tahoe has indeed captivated filmmakers and movie buffs alike.

So now you can also have a teste of Hollywood in your Lake Tahoe vacation

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There is a lot You Can Do Other Than Skiing

There is a lot You Can Do Other Than Skiing to Enjoy a Lake Tahoe Vacation

A lot of people come to Lake Tahoe during the winter because it is considered to be a skiing paradise. But during the summer, there are also activities you can enjoy which means you can consider spending a Lake Tahoe vacation when school is over.

One adventure you can try out is horse back riding. There are ranches within the area so you can visit one and borrow a horse from the stable. Once you are on the saddle, you can gallop along the trail and see the lake as well as the snow capped mountains.

There are also trails for those who want to ride a bike or take a hike. Some are long while others are short so you can choose between those that are 2 miles long or longer. This is part of the 150 mile Tahoe Rim Trail that encircles the lake.

When you see Lake Tahoe, you will feel the blue water inviting you to go for a swim. If you go a few yards out, you will even see fish and a few other objects 70 feet below by using a snorkel and pair of goggles. Once you get out of the water, you can lie down in the sand and get a tan.

If you want to work up an appetite, you can do some kayaking or parasailing that you can rent from nearby stores.

One of the key attractions in Lake Tahoe is the cruise. There are two vessels to choose from namely the M.S. Dixie II and the Tahoe Queen. Both of these go on a 2 hour scenic cruise daily with a dinner cruise offered once a week.

While in town, you might as well do some sightseeing. Given its strategic location between California and Nevada, you can try your luck at the nearby casinos, shop for souvenirs at the local gift shop and visit the Ponderosa Ranch which is a theme park inspired by Bonanza, a television show which was quite a hit in the 1950s and 1960s.

Another attraction in Lake Tahoe is Vikingsholm castle. It is a 38 room estate that resembles an actual 1,200 year old Viking castle.

You shouldnt miss the sunset in Lake Tahoe and the best place to get the view is to up the mountain. There are trams or cable cars and gondolas which can take you all the way up. There are shops, sports facilities and restaurants so there are other things you can do instead of just walking through the woods.

If you want to see the Lake Tahoe and the surrounding area much better, there is no other way but to get a good view by air. There is a hot air balloon tour and a helicopter ride. These tours are only open subject to the weather conditions so if it is too windy, you will have to reschedule your little trip.

A vacation in Lake Tahoe is just the thing you need if you want to spend time with nature. There are properties you can rent along the lake as well as those secluded in the forests which is far different than staying in a hotel. So the next time you are planning a family adventure, consider a Lake Tahoe vacation.

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