Swans and Totem Poles 

Our travels took us to gorgeous Nevada Beach, a half mile of panoramic views of Lake Tahoe and the Sierra Nevada Mountains. The water was around 50 degrees Fahrenheit, offering a bittersweet bite with the stunning breeze. 

Nevada Beach is managed by Tahoe Recreation, a Division of Vista Recreation, under a special use permit with the USDA Forest Service. The beach was bountiful, as many other beaches such as Sand Harbor tend to be pretty packed. 

Tundra swans, nicknamed whistling swans, are also scattered throughout the lake. The sighting was rare, as their usual migration occurs during winter. 

We stumbled upon some totem poles as we traveled to our next destination, capturing a group photo below it. Totem poles are not native to the Lake Tahoe or traditional Native American artifacts and are recreated that become national landmarks. 

Although not landmarks, they do become popular prominent landmarks outside restaurants, shopping centers and resorts.