Emerald Bay is a mile-long glacially carved inlet on the southwest shore of Lake Tahoe, framed by granite walls and named for the extraordinary blue-green colour of its water — deeper and more saturated than the already-striking turquoise of the main lake. It is one of the most photographed spots in California, and it earns the attention.
At the foot of the bay sits Vikingsholm, a Scandinavian-inspired mansion built in 1929 and now a California State Historic Landmark. The building is remarkable — turrets, hand-carved details, sod roofs — and tours run daily in summer. In the centre of the bay, Fannette Island is the only island in Lake Tahoe and can be reached by kayak. The bay is also designated an underwater state park, with several sunken boats on its floor accessible to scuba divers. The easiest way to see it all is to hike down the steep trail from the Highway 89 pullout; allow a full morning for the descent, the mansion, and the climb back up.