LauraSBly: Words of wisdom greet visitors to a pier in South Lake Tahoe, Calif.
LauraSBly: Hikers on the Tahoe Rim Trail above Tahoe City, Calif. get a birds-eye view of the lake.
LauraSBly: Crispy zucchini sticks have been a tradition at Tahoe City's Sunnyside Restaurant since 1965
LauraSBly: Boaters at Emerald Bay State Park pull up to Lake Tahoe's only island, Fannette Island.
LauraSBly: The Cal Neva Resort, on the North Shore of Lake Tahoe, straddles the line between Nevada and California. It was once owned by singer Frank Sinatra.
LauraSBly: A stand up paddleboarder makes her way past granite boulders at Sand Harbor State Park, Nev.
LauraSBly: This 1931 Baby Gar is typical of the boats that will be on display at Tahoe's Concourse d'Elegance wooden boat show, Aug. 10-11.
LauraSBly: Marilyn Monroe stayed in this cabin at Lake Tahoe's Cal Neva Resort the weekend before her death on Aug. 5, 1962.
LauraSBly: A $34 gondola ride delivers this view from the observation deck at Heavenly Ski Resort in South Lake Tahoe.
LauraSBly: Gambling remains a draw on the South Shore of Lake Tahoe, though the weak economy and rising popularity of nearby Indian casinos have taken a toll in recent years.
LauraSBly: A classic summer morning: A runner and his dog admire a group of stand up paddleboarders at Lakeview Commons in South Lake Tahoe, Calif.
LauraSBly: Front desk staffer Alexia Sitton greets guests at the just-opened Basecamp Hotel in South Lake Tahoe
LauraSBly: This marker along the Rabe Meadows Trail in South Lake Tahoe tells the story of a thwarted casino and the protected open space that took its place.
LauraSBly: Swimmers take the plunge at Sand Harbor State Park, Nev. on the East Shore of Lake Tahoe.
LauraSBly: Nature meets glitz: A view from Rabe Meadow toward the casinos of Stateline, Nev. on the South Shore of Lake Tahoe.
LauraSBly: A leisurely float along the Truckee River near Tahoe City is a summer right of passage for many visiting families.
LauraSBly: Historic Camp Richardson, in South Lake Tahoe, Calif., is a popular summer draw.
LauraSBly: The 165-mile Tahoe Rim Trail passes through two states (California and Nevada), six counties, one state park, three national forests, and three wilderness areas.
LauraSBly: A group of children, using hot dogs and bacon as bait, hunt crayfish at Sunnyside Resort, a Tahoe landmark since the 1950s.
LauraSBly: A close-to-full moon rises over the pier at Gar Woods Grill and Pier, a popular North Shore dining spot.
LauraSBly: Built in 2006 and inspired by the original Wild Goose from the gilded age of Lake Tahoe, the 36-foot Wild Goose II offers dinner and cocktail cruises.
LauraSBly: Golfers at Edgewood Golf Course in South Lake Tahoe cap off a round with a dip in the lake.
LauraSBly: During July and August, shoreline water temperatures on Lake Tahoe can climb to a relatively balmy 65 or 70 degrees.
LauraSBly: Sailing weather on Lake Tahoe can be capricious; the mountains ringing the lake often create gusty conditions, even when winds are relatively light.
LauraSBly: Brothers Jacob, Nicholas and Thomas Kiesel, from Modesto, Calif., enjoy the sunset at Sunnyside Resort, a West Shore landmark since the 1950s.
LauraSBly: Heavenly Village, at the base of the Heavenly gondola in South Lake Tahoe, is a popular spot for shopping and dining.
LauraSBly: The Tahoe Queen paddle wheeler is based on the South Shore of Lake Tahoe.
LauraSBly: Thanks to strict emissions standards, Jet Skis on Lake Tahoe are more environmentally friendly
LauraSBly: Mark Twain impersonator McAvoy Layne imparts the author's wit, wisdom and love of Lake Tahoe aboard the M.S. Dixie II on Tahoe's South Shore.