Blair's Parents Visit Tahoe!!!

So... my parents drove across the country to visit us.  Honestly, I was totally jealous of their road trip and all the awesome places they visited along the way.  At first I thought they were crazy for driving across the country... twice... they gotta get back home somehow, but it wasn't crazy at all.  They have made an awesome trip out of it.

We spent the weekend seeing the sights around Tahoe.  Enjoy some pics...

During their stay, the parents wanted a day to relax/recover from the long drive (and mom's unexpected face surgery which happened the FIRST day of their stay in Tahoe), so Mike and I spent one day of the weekend paddleboarding around Sand Harbor.

We paddled to a little private beach and soaked up some relatively smoke-free sun rays!

Slowly, the smoke from the Rim fire which is STILL burning South of Lake Tahoe, began to creep into the Tahoe basin.  

Overall, my parents got pretty lucky that there wasn't more smoke.  It was relatively clear the entire time they were here.  We did a lap around the lake... stopping at Fallen Leaf Lake... Angora Falls... Eagle Falls... Emerald Bay... Tahoe City for lunch... and Sand Harbor.  It was a full day trip.  

Angora Falls was barely trickling compared to what it was back in April... 

Now (September): 

Then (April): 

The parents in Emerald Bay... 

Mike and I took Zater out to the beach for some swimming and running.  

We were also able to enjoy a sunset view from the top of a mountain looking down over Lake Tahoe.  The hazy/smoke actually made it a beautiful sunset.  

And the best part was that we didn't have to hike up there... we were able to do a little 4-wheelin' in Mike's truck.  

We rode out to Blue Lakes... and Middle Creek... and Caples Lake... and Kirkwood Ski Resort... and Woods Lake.  It was a sight-seeing PACKED weekend.  

Middle Creek 

One of the Blue Lakes

Woods Lake

It was so awesome to have them here.  I think they saw why we love it here.  We definitely miss our friends and family from home, but Tahoe is an amazing place to live.  We are trying to make the most of it by getting out and enjoying it as much as possible.  This morning my parents left on their road trip home.  They will be missed but hopefully that wasn't their only trip to Tahoe!!!  

I work half days on Tuesday... so this afternoon we took advantage of the 75 degree temps, SUNNY, CLEAR, SMOKELESS Tahoe blue skies, and zero humidity!  The weather was simply too perfect to stay indoors.  So, Mike and I headed to an area called Glen Alpine Springs... the oldest vacation area in the Tahoe Basin.  It was a short hike in to this historic area.

Lots of fallen tress... possibly due to wind or avalanches... Mike and Zater are in the lower center of the picture.  

We continued up to Grass Lake.  It was beautiful.  

We are so grateful for the firefighters battling the Rim Fire down by Yosemite.  They have the fire approximately 80% contained.  And because of their hard work, we can enjoy our beautiful Tahoe with less smoke and more of the crystal clear skies we are used to.  Thank you to all firefighters!  

And thanks to my parents for being excellent company!  You guys are always welcome to come back to Tahoe any time you want!  Miss you and love you guys!