Lake Tahoe sits on the corner of Google maps and the internet. Just kidding, it’s depth spans into a giant crater like lake, cold as hell. The border between California and Nevada is there. If you look at a map, you know where that sharp point where Nevada splits; that’s where Lake Tahoe is. Lake Tahoe is where I learned how to fish for crawdads. Found out about Tahoe Tessie. But Lake Tahoe is the best place in the world because my Grandparents have a home there. They taught me so much in those summers lifeguarding for my life.
Tahoe Tessie Taught me How to Swim
I remember my Grandpa took me to the Recreation Center in Incline Village. It’s a beautiful place to lifeguard, swim, and keep your worries away. As a little kid, I swam so fast thinking Jaws or Tahoe Tessie would get me in the water. My Grandpa bought me a ticket to swim my first time, for my first big swim meet. I had a wetsuit. I’ll never forget jumping in the lake, even in July, at freezing cold temperatures to swim. I can still feel my breath beating and see the snow capped mountains. My family followed me in a boat and picked me up, proud of me enough to by me dinner. What kept me going was being scared of Tahoe Tessie.
Truckee White River Rafting
Want to have the best day of your life? Go down the Truckee River in the summer. There are bike trails, people happy, bars and restaurants along the way. You start off in Tahoe City. Get your gear and your sunscreen for some ultimate fun. Its about 3 hours down from Tahoe City to River Ranch. I’ve never had so many amazing times fording this river. But the best and most memorable time is when my grandma sat on a cooler in the raft. Little did she know, sitting on a beer cooler would pierce a hole in the raft. I remember holding to dear life as an 8 year old on the side of the raft, surviving down the rapids to River Ranch. You can get some awesome beer, fries, chicken wings and all the comforts at River Ranch.
Emerald Bay is Insane
You haven’t lived a day in your life until you’ve been to Emerald Bay on my Grandparent’s boat. LOKO (Larry Olin, Karen Olin) will take you across the water until you meet this mass where the water suddenly turns into the Emerald City. The water is emerald green, the beer is cold, the turkey sandwich just has mayo on it. You just got out of Chamber’s Landing, more on that later. You navigate these seemingly shallow green waters only to find an amazing rock in the center of the bay. You can swim there, go hiking to some waterfalls. You can see the old Swiss Family Robinson family who lived there in the 1800s. They filmed the Godfather nearby there. You will have one of the best days of your life if you had my Grandparents taking you to Emerald Bay.
You Want to Jump off some Rocks in Sand Harbor?
Park your big ass boat. Have a sandwich, we’re going swimming in the most beautiful spots in the world. Have a drink at CalNeva or another bar before you get there. The world is your oyster and this is the pearl. I took all my cousins and jumped from a seemingly precarious position into moments of pure laughter. The rocks are hard as hell to climb but they’re worth it. Just make sure to keep your little ones safe from bumping their heads on these precipices. Hold on motorcycle, we’re off to another adventure in the best place in the world, Lake Tahoe.
Chamber’s Landing – My Destiny
I used to hate this place. It felt like our parents dropped us off here at the beach to go drink. I would see my Uncle Brian get out of his stand-up Jetski to want to party and drink. I love this place now. It is a Californian treasure and should be a National one. Boats line up for days to get more gas, to make their way to Emerald Bay or wherever else on the lake. I was so shy and introverted as a child, I didn’t understand the revelry and mirth of adults. As an adult, I get it. I wanted to name this website “Chambers Landing” as my husband has this energy I never had. A landing page is where people go to find solace on the internet. I wanted to give that to other people. My Grandparents are outstanding people and the experiences are a testament to that.
Playing Gin in Agate Bay
One of the most things I miss about my Grandparents is sitting with my Grandpa in the morning. We would drink coffee and do the crossword. He comes off sharp, but is one of the most caring person I have ever met. I miss my Grandma making me an Olin Sandwich (Bread, Mayo, Turkey) – she calls it a LaBounty sandwich. Who cares? We’re Irish, we’re French. We’re American. We lived in Tahoe. We LIVED. All I miss in Life is going on that boat, swimming in that cold lake, having a beer, riding down the Truckee River. I dedicate this website to my Grandparents and all they’ve given me. I would kill to play one more game with my Grandma, one gimlet, one glance at Agate Bay. We had so many amazing experiences together I will never forget. I miss playing cards against you Grandma. I miss your stories Grandpa. I miss our entire experience and how you made me the man I became.
Why did I Write this Article?
I wrote this article to make up for time slipping away from my fingers. I had the best moments of my life in Lake Tahoe. Why is Lake Tahoe the best place in the world? Because I was raised there. Because my Grandparents live there. I learned everything important about life there. I see all your hard work come to fruition, your legacy continues with my heart. I love you Grandma and Grandpa, Karen and Larry. Lake Tahoe is the best place in the world because you made it so. Thank you for all the memories, thank you for raising me from afar. I know our time is limited, but I wanted to say goodbye properly. One day, we will meet again. I hope it will be as beautiful as Lake Tahoe.