Emerald Bay State Park, the jewel of Lake Tahoe

Emerald Bay is so enclosed that it looks like a lake glued to Lake Tahoe. The Lake Tahoe Scenic Drive, the road that circles it, runs along the edge of the cove, which stretches for around 3 kilometres, while Cascade Lake stretches along the mountain side. Here you can fish, swim, hike or picnic. Just let yourself be captivated by nature's captivating freshness and authenticity.

California boasts some of the most beautiful national parks in the US, such as Yosemite and Kings Canyon, but there are also lesser-known and fortunately less-frequented state parks such as Emerald Bay State Park, Julia Pfeiffer Burns State Park in Big Sur on the coast, and Jedediah Smith Redwoods State Park with its redwood grove. There are therefore fewer tourists here.

Here, in this unspoilt park, the pine forests are dense and, fortunately, there are trails that make it easy to explore. If you want to stay close by, there are hotels in the Tahoe Keys area, a few kilometres to the east. This is a great opportunity to discover this residential area with its marina full of cosy little cottages, a bit like the Florida Keys or the Sausalito marina.

A hiking trail, the Rubicon Trail, runs around the bay, giving you an easy way to discover all its riches. The trail is easy and quick to complete. Along the way, you'll come across the famous Vikingsholm mansion to the west of the bay. This small Scandinavian-style manor house, as its name suggests, was imagined a century ago by its owner, Mrs Lora Knight, who saw in the Emerald Bay a perspective that reminded her of the Norwegian fjords she had visited.

In 1953, California acquired the property, which is now open to visitors in summer only: 48 rooms acting as a museum, filled with antiques and authentic furniture from the 1950s. The mansion itself is one of the finest examples of Scandinavian-style architecture to be found on American soil. Its garden is open to visitors all year round.

Lora Knight and her husband, who had no money problems - they financed Charles Lindbergh's flight across the Atlantic - also bought the small island emerging in the middle of the bay, Fannette Island, where they built a tea house in 1929. Here they welcomed their many friends and guests for tea time and cupcakes, in all simplicity.

If you head back to the right of the villa, the picturesque Eagle Falls waterfall awaits you, still on the Rubicon trail.

A few steps to the south, Inspiration Point is a lookout point offering a unique view of the bay. It is reached via Emerald Bay Road (Highway 89). The paved path through the pine forest allows access even for people with reduced mobility. Once you've had your fill of this exceptional viewpoint, push on to Cascade Falls, but don't think about walking around the lake itself, as it is surrounded by private land to which access is forbidden.

Cascade Lake is a lake located to the south of the bay. It is a lake formed by the melting of an Ice Age glacier, like Fallen Leak Lake, for example, but also Emerald Bay. The Cascade Falls are well worth the diversions: from the Bayview campsite, you only have to walk around 1,500 metres on the Cascade Falls Trail, which takes you above the waterfall that falls more than 60 metres into the lake. You'll make your way along the mountainside, taking in the splendid views.

Once you reach the waterfall, the trail managed by the US Forest Service ends and marks the entrance to El Dorado County and the Desolation Wilderness, an unspoilt wilderness area covering 257 square kilometres. To enter, you need a permit. Access to Desolation Wilderness via the particularly steep upper canyon is dangerous and not recommended.

It is pleasant to fish in the bay, which is relatively sheltered from the wind. It's a great place to fish, as fish like to spawn in areas sheltered from the swells and storms to which the rest of the lake is particularly exposed.

Lake Tahoe is home to a dozen species of fish, including trout, Kokanee salmon and lake trout. The fish remain on the surface, as the depths of the lake are not home to any animal life. A lucky break for the angler! And as activity on the lake tapers off in autumn, it's a good thing that fishing is possible all year round, as the lake doesn't freeze over.

Ideally, you should have a boat to hand, so you can move where the shoals move. But don't panic, fishing along the shore of the bay can also pay off.

To do all this, you'll need to be in possession of a fishing licence at all times of the year, which you can produce in the event of an inspection, and respect the limited number of catches. These are 5 trout, including a maximum of 2 grayling, and 5 salmon. These quotas may fluctuate. Find out more.

Finally, it may be worth taking private fishing lessons from Lake Tahoe fishermen. This is an opportunity to set off by boat to discover fishing spots in complete peace and quiet, with the benefit of experience.