“There are many shades of Tahoe; turquoise water, orange sunsets, lilac evenings, dark-blue nights, gray mountains, and white sand beaches. We bathe in them all for what felt like a lifetime.”

Once again we rented a car and just drove. It’s as if we’re always running away. From the noise. From our busy lives. This time the destination was Lake Tahoe in California, and although we didn’t know anything about the place, we knew it would be beautiful. And that’s all we care about, beauty. Staring at the landscape, feeling grateful for having made it this far. We set up our tent in the woods and spent the days swimming in the lake, and the nights waiting for the bears to come. They never did.

There are many shades of Tahoe; turquoise water, orange sunsets, lilac evenings, dark-blue nights, gray mountains, and white sand beaches. We bathe in them all for what felt like a lifetime. That’s another thing about nature; days seem longer and time is always well spent. East of the lake in the state of Nevada, there is a spectacular place called Cave Rock. It’s a steep hike but from the top all of Tahoe becomes in sight, and with the lake at your feet you can see the sun setting slowly behind the gray mountain range.

Emerald Bay, Crystal Bay, Meeks Bay, it doesn’t matter where you go; it’s all equally stunning. There are the neighboring lakes as well, Fallen Leaf Lake and Cascade Lake, with their scenic hikes and secluded waterfalls. And it is there, surrounded by mountains and with your feet in the cold water, that the noise finally quiets and the world begins to sing.

Photographer: Francesca Beltran – francescabeltran.com
Model: Adriana Pauly