The United States of America has fifty great states. Each of these great states has their own identity, achievements and personality. During an exploration of America’s west coast I had the chance to tour through California and Nevada. I’m sure you know these states for their famous cityscapes. I must admit, LA and Las Vegas are impressive, but I bet you didn’t know that California was where the fortune cookie was invented. Or that it is illegal to drive your camel on a highway in Nevada. But beside revolutionary cookie concepts and camel laws, what separates these two great states?

A lake. A big, beautiful lake.

The crystal-clear waters of Lake Tahoe  attract tourists throughout the year, offering a magnificent aquatic landscape surrounded by spectacular mountain ranges and forests. The perfect destination for water and snow sports all year round. The lake itself stretches across the state line, allowing visitors to get the best of both words as they swim, cycle and ski on both Californian and Nevadian landscapes. (Just keep your camels in California).

Tahoe is a skiers paradise. With over 24,000 acres of skiable terrain, and 155 chairlifts, you can ski down the mountain for days and not have tried every slope… Or you could end up getting lost in California when you have accommodation booked in Nevada that night…

We spent two days skiing in Tahoe. We were staying on the camel-less, Nevada side of the mountain. With a strip of tacky casinos and gift stores at the bottom of the mountain, it was a nice base, but the real thrills were on the summit. Each day we would take the 15-minute gondola, through the gorgeous lush landscape up to Heavenly resort. We then wound find ourselves in a winter wonderland. After growing up only skiing on Australian slopes, the soft (ice-free) slopes were absolutely heavenly. Even easier slopes, were never dull, as you could constantly admire the view of the snow-kissed valley and magnificent lake below, with the stark contrast of the high Nevada desert in the distance.

The west coast of America has many great things to offer visitors, but skip the cookies and camels and visit Tahoe. It is not just the resort food that’s heavenly, the slopes are to die for…