PLACERVILLE

Placerville is a charming California "gold rush" town named after the placer gold deposits found in its river beds and hills in the late 1840’s. The City of Placerville is centrally located between Sacramento, the State capitol, and South Lake Tahoe, world-famous recreation center. Situated above the fog line and below the snow line, Placerville boasts an ideal climate with four distinct seasons.

Placerville, or Hangtown as it was called, was a crossroads in the Mother Lode. It is located at the junction of what is now Highway 49, then the Mother Lode Trail, and U.S. 50, then the main East-West road from Sacramento to the Comstock Lode in Nevada. 

Placerville's treasured heritage is reflected in the historical, nineteenth century architecture of its downtown core. The Gold Bug Mine is the major historical and geological attraction in the park. An excellent example of hard rock gold mining, the Gold Bug Mine has a solid wooden floor, lighting throughout, and an air shaft providing clean cool air at all times. The mine floor is often damp depending on the season. 

Received from Polish blogger Magda

LAKE TAHOE

Lake Tahoe is located along the border of California and Nevada. About one-third of the basin is in Nevada and two-thirds is in California. Lake Tahoe is the second deepest lake in the United States and the tenth deepest in the world, with a maximum depth measured at 501 m. It is about 35 km long and 19 km wide and has 116 km of shoreline and a surface area of 495 km2. The deep, emerald waters of this beautiful lake are set within an alpine valley at the highest point of the High Sierras.

Emerald bay lit in muted colors of winter

Lake Tahoe is admired for its great depth and clarity and beautiful alpine surroundings. It is a true jewel. Lake Tahoe attractions go beyond just the water. The area’s rich environment influences the majority of Lake Tahoe’s attractions: hiking, camping, skiing, snowboarding, sunbathing, paddleboarding and more. The surrounding peaks are also famous for their ski resorts. The world-class Alpine Meadows and Squaw Valley are well-known because the Winter Olympics were held here in 1960.