Journeys›Photograph

A Crowded Fourth of July on a Tahoe Beach

·Placer County, California·#beach#summer#lake tahoe#fourth of july#kids
A panoramic view of a sandy beach crowded with people, colorful umbrellas, boats on a lake, and distant mountains.

It was the Fourth of July back in 2014, and it felt like everyone with access to Lake Tahoe had the same idea: go to the beach. The shore was a sea of umbrellas, towels, and tents, and the water was full of people and boats enjoying the sun.

The day was cloudless and hot. For the kids, the main event was simply playing in the shallows. The water was incredibly clear, and they found a little patch of submerged rocks to conquer. They spent what felt like hours just balancing and hopping from one to the next, splashing in the cool water.

From the beach, you could see the mountains across the lake, some still holding onto patches of snow despite the summer heat. It was just a simple, classic Tahoe holiday—crowded and chaotic in the best way. We ended the day sandy and tired, which is usually the sign of a successful beach trip.

A panoramic view of a crowded sandy beach with people, colorful umbrellas, and boats on a clear blue lake, surrounded by forests.A child balances on a rock in shallow lake water, with many other people, boats, and distant mountains under a blue sky.A child stands on a rock in a clear lake with other people, distant mountains, and boats under a blue sky.A child in a purple swimsuit stands on rocks in a lake with other people, boats, and mountains under a blue sky.A child in a purple swimsuit stands on rocks in a lake with other people, boats, and mountains in the background.A smiling child in a pink swimsuit stands in shallow lake water with people, boats, and mountains in the background.A child in a purple swimsuit stands on rocks in a lake with other people, boats, and mountains in the background.A man in sunglasses carries a smiling child in a pink hat, another child stands beside them at a sunny beach.

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