<p>Tahoe is rather large (73 miles to drive completely around) and in some places it offers really cools vistas. From my experience the West side of the lake rocks....mostly since an average person has more access to it. You can visit Nordic castle there...and Crystal Bay can be really nice, during some parts of the day and around sunset (glow). The No side has some beaches and some neat rocks that you can suntan on or just take some shots of deep waters (often turn turquoise). I'm not much into gambling, but that's there too....and there are some great views from the top of Harrah's Hotel. The water, particularly with a pola filter, it can be mesmerizing deep deep blue.</p>
<p>Lassen is definitely at the top 10 of my list. It's a quiet gem....and not as popular as some of the parks. Actually, when I used to live on the central coast of CA, I thoroughly enjoyed mentioning Lassen...and 9 out of 10 I'd get this weird stare, like<em> where the hail is that ? </em>Anyway, it is certainly possible to hike Mt Lassen to the top. The reason I'm saying this since the parking lot where the trail starts is at around 8400'. Besides, I was 60 when I hiked to the top (in 2010). If you're coming from E. side of the continent, then it would be a good idea to acclimatize oneself to elevations over 6500' (probably lowest elev in the park). I took my sweetest time to get to the top, since I was taking photos. You can take several hikes to view boiling mud, around a lake....in fact there are several lakes. Due to elev. the nights can dip into 40's even in July. In the last 10yrs I've camped there twice with friends for an entire week.</p>
<p>Redwoods is less known to me even though I've been through it more times than Lassen or Tahoe. Prairie Creek St PK is within Redwoods and it's an awesome place. If you are lucky you can spot some elk....there is this corkscrew tree (not too far) and also one of the redwood trees is just a shell....the inside is completely burned out. The trees sort of create this humbling effect as they are truely giant (a spectacle). The light may not be as plentiful as at some other places, but if you take a tripod and cable release, you'll be set.</p>
<p>You can't go wrong no matter which you decide to choose.</p>
<p>Les</p><div></div>