There are some truly amazing sights to see in the Lake Tahoe area.  When visiting Tahoe Vista or any of the other lakeside villages and communities, you get a sense of the wonder and nature that surround you.  The mountains soar above you, capped with glorious powder than makes the area perfect for skiing.  The lake spreads out before you, offering incredible vistas and water sports that fill entire summer days with fun and laughter.

Tahoe isn’t known only for its scenery, though.  There’s a rich gaming history that’s been around since the 1940’s.  During Hollywood’s Golden Era, the starlets and the Rat Pack loved to call the posh casino hotels their home away from home.  None of these hotels were more popular than Frank Sinatra’s Cal Neva Resort.  He may have only owned it during the years between 1960 and 1963, but it will forever be remembered as his hotel.

Sinatra was responsible for the Celebrity Showroom that brought in celebrities from around the world.  He was host to Dean Martin, Sammy Davis Jr., Juliet Prowse, and Marilyn Monroe, and many others.  They were all delighted to “sing for their supper” in the Celebrity Showroom and the Indian Room.

The nostalgia is palpable when you walk through the doors.  Even without the many photographs on the wall that recall the glory days, you get a sense of stepping back in time.  You can even almost hear Dean crooning in your ear.  The gambling and entertainment available suddenly take backseat to the opportunity to belong to something bigger and better- a national landmark.

Unfortunately, nothing lasts forever.  On April 9^th, the Cal Neva Resort and Casino closed her doors.  There’s a chance that this great entertainment spot will be resurrected in the near future, but for now, she becomes just another candle in the wind.

Just as Loch Ness has its Nessie, so does Lake Tahoe have its Tessie.  Stories of Tessie, the beloved monster, seem to have originated in the mid-1800’s with the Washoe and Paiute Native American tribes.  Campfire stories to this day still describe her as being over sixty feet long, with dark skin, reptilian features, and a serpentine body.

Since Lake Tahoe reaches depths of up to 1645 feet, it’s a perfect place for sea monsters to call home.  Though most reports and sightings describe Tessie as something resembling a plesiosaur, still others describe her as a giant fish, such as a sturgeon.

Of course, as with all legends and myths, there is no actual evidence of Tessie’s existence.  Hundreds of people claim to have seen her; some even boast of video evidence, but to date there is nothing concrete.  Perhaps the most famous of the possible Tessie sightings was made by a legend himself- Jacques Cousteau.

The story goes that Cousteau led an expedition to discover the secrets in the deepest parts of Lake Tahoe.  What followed was an encounter with something so terrifying that he clamped his lips shut and refused to divulge it with the rest of the world.  All he would share was that “the world is not ready for what is down there!”  None of his film footage has been released, and any further information died with Cousteau.

When a renowned oceanographer such as Jacques Cousteau, who likely faced down numerous monsters in the deeps of the ocean, finds something horrifying, how can we possibly write it off as a myth?  He certainly had enough experience to tell the difference between an illusion and solid fact, right?  And yet, without the solid proof, we’ll all continue to doubt and whisper, keeping Tessie very much alive in our stories.

Tahoe Vista and the area surrounding Lake Tahoe promise one of the longest ski seasons that you can find anywhere, whether you prefer Alpine or Nordic skiing.  The Lake Tahoe area is home to more than one dozen ski resorts that dot the majestic mountains.  Specifically on the North Shore of Lake Tahoe, where Tahoe Vista is located, you’ll find Northstar-at-Tahoe, the Sugar Bowl, Homewood, Mt. Rose, and Squaw Valley, which was the home of the 1960 Winter Olympics.

There are several along the South Shore of Lake Tahoe, as well, including Heavenly, which caters to the luxury seekers, and Kirkwood, which offers up some killer slopes for the athletes.  Some others to consider throughout the area include Alpine Meadows, Diamond Peak, Donner Ski Ranch, Royal Gorge, Sierra at Tahoe, Soda Springs, and Boreal.

The ski season typically runs from Thanksgiving to Easter, but has been known to start before Halloween.  On occasion, the area will experience warmer weather, which delays the opening of the season into December.  If that’s the case, just visit one of the resorts that offer night skiing so that you can be sure to get your fill even after the sun goes down.

If you’re a beginner, never fear.  There are ongoing classes with professional skiers and coaches that will get you out on the slopes in record time.  Ski equipment is available for rental, too, so you don’t have to worry about breaking the bank for your brand new hobby.  Just be prepared to take it slowly, because nothing ruins a dream vacation like a trip to the emergency room!

If you don’t think being strapped to two boards while sliding over ice is the right sport for you, then just grab a mug of hot chocolate and relax by the fire in the lodge.  You can laugh at your friends and family as they come in, covered in snow and with wind-burned noses.

The crystal clear waters and snow-capped mountains of the Lake Tahoe area draw visitors from far and wide, from all different backgrounds and of varied interests.  When a location brings in this much attention and tourism, then eventually outlandish stories will be told.  Of course, with so many people visiting the area, there’s always more than one person ready to report on the crazy activity in the area.

Ghosts.  That’s what I’m talking about.  Spirits of the long dead, still here wandering around our hotels and hotspots.  Marilyn Monroe and Elvis Presley, frequent guests of Lake Tahoe, apparently loved it so much that they never really left.  Marilyn apparently takes control of a particular light at the Cal Neva Resort, and has been spotted crying on a set of steps.  From time to time, Frank Sinatra will even make an appearance at the Cal Neva Resort, which he owned at one time.  Electronic equipment has captured voices in Frank Sinatra’s cabin that are believed to belong to Sinatra and Marilyn Monroe.  Elvis, however, prefers to frequent Lake Tahoe’s Horizon Casino.  He was a frequent performer in life, and now serenades people on the seventh floor and in the penthouse.

Celebrities aren’t the only people that love Lake Tahoe so much that they never want to leave.  The Biltmore Lodge boasts two spirits, the ghost of Molly and the Screaming Ghost.  The Crystal Bay Club apparently doesn’t have a retirement plan, for a dapper gentleman still appears on occasion to deal at the #3 blackjack table.  Women claim to have seen him, but the security team never does.  The Hyatt Regency even has a story or two, including the Old Man who sits at the fireplace before disappearing into thin air, and the Body at the Beach, which scares the life out of swimmers, but disappears before lifeguards can offer assistance.

There’s plenty more in Tahoe that will make you shiver and check under the bed, but it’s all in good fun… right?