Photo Essay: A Tour of Lake Tahoe in the Summer

You guys, Lake Tahoe in the summer is awesome! It may be my favorite year-round destination, outside of Southern California, of course. I've traveled to Lake Tahoe several times in the last couple years, but it's always been in winter, and it has quickly become one of my favorite winter destinations. However, this was my first proper summer trip, and it didn't disappoint. So which is better, winter or summer in Lake Tahoe?

Honestly, it's a toss-up. I love Lake Tahoe in the winter for everything it is, from great, offbeat runs on some of the local mountains like Kirkwood, to iconic ski weekend events atop Heavenly Ski Resort, to great apres-ski in South Lake Tahoe. But the outdoor experiences are just as good, if not better in the summer, from bicycling down one of the West Coast's top mountain bike trails, Mr. Toad's Wild Ride (not to be confused with the Disney ride by the same name), to paddleboarding around coves that you can see 50 feet down below the surface, to hiking the Pacific Crest Trail, to outdoor beer and music festivals. So who wants to go splitsies on a Lake Tahoe house?

All this to say that I believe that Lake Tahoe is the best year-round, seasonal destination on the West Coast. There, I said it. But I'll let the photos do the talking and let you decide if Lake Tahoe is a better summer or winter destination.

What are your favorite lake destinations around the world?