Emerald Bay State Park isn't just the most scenic spot in Lake Tahoe; it may be the most scenic spot in the country. In fact, visiting the area might convince you that someone conked you on the head and dragged you to Europe. The bay is an inlet, reminiscent of an Icelandic fjord, carved by glaciers back when mastodons were vacationing in Tahoe. Granite cliffs, towering cedars, plus the only waterfall directly flowing into the lake make this National Natural Landmark the most spectacular camping and hiking destination in the area.
If the view itself weren't enough, the park has some surprises up its pine-scented sleeve. Take a one mile uphill hike to Vikingsholm, and you will be greeted by a sight that appears to have dropped out of the sky: a Viking castle. A 38-room estate, built by serial-millionaire-marrier Lora Knight in 1929, is oddly not incongruous in the woods here. Built of local materials, the fortress seems at home in the Scandinavian-looking bay area.
Knight spared no expense on this project with awe-inspiring features like Nordic fireplaces and dragon's head beams. The whole thing is topped off with a sod roof that sprouts wildflowers every Spring. Inside are Scandinavian antiques -both real and painstakingly crafted museum reproductions - and ceiling paintings. You'll be acting out your favorite scenes from the 13th Warrior with a real Nordic backdrop. Half-hour tours are available, so you can harass the guide with questions like "Where's Beowulf?" or "Do you sell mead?" After the tour, have a picnic at a nearby table. Food lockers are all around the park, so you can stash the makings of a warrior feast for later.
If Vikingsholm puts you in mind of plundering, go jump in the lake -literally- and have a look at some booty. Emerald Bay was designated an Underwater State Park in 1994. SCUBA diving is an archaeological adventure here, where you can view the remains of the shipwrecked boats and barges from over a century ago. Artifacts from the heyday of Emerald Bay resort are also in abundance. With refuse ranging from abandoned sinks to a Model A Ford, you can play underwater I Spy. Keep in mind that this is an archaeological site, so while touching is okay, actual plundering is not. An underwater panel gives further instructions on conserving the area.
When you come up from the crystal clear water, take some more time to explore the park. While the strange surprises in Emerald Bay State Park may distract you momentarily, they still can't compete with the simple beauty of this showcase area.
This guide to Lake Tahoe's Emerald Bay was brought to you by Elizabeth Kelly