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All 44 South Lake Tahoe Attractions »

Vikingsholm

Hwy 89 at Emerald Bay State Park, South Lake Tahoe, CA
530-541-3030
4.5 of 5 stars 36 Reviews
Type: Castles, Historic Sites, Architectural Buildings
Activities: Hiking
Owner description: Built as a summer home in 1929, this grand castle on Emerald Bay is considered one of the finest examples of Scandinavian architecture in the Western...... more » Owner description: Built as a summer home in 1929, this grand castle on Emerald Bay is considered one of the finest examples of Scandinavian architecture in the Western Hemisphere. « less
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36 reviews from our community

Visitor rating
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Date Rating
Lindenhurst, Illinois
Senior Reviewer
10 reviews 10 reviews
Reviews in 5 cities Reviews in 5 cities
5 of 5 stars Reviewed May 25, 2012 NEW

Beautiful setting and well worth the work to and from. It IS a long walk up from the beach, be warned! Beautiful beach and interesting history of the home More

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Holbrook, New York
Senior Reviewer
10 reviews 10 reviews
Reviews in 6 cities Reviews in 6 cities
5 of 5 stars Reviewed May 14, 2012

Slow season..empty..views spectacular.Eagle Falls, lower, easy to moderate..if you can walk it will be ok..some steep going back up...wonderful history! More

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Tulsa, Oklahoma
Contributor
14 reviews 14 reviews
Reviews in 5 cities Reviews in 5 cities
5 helpful votes 5 helpful votes
5 of 5 stars Reviewed May 11, 2012
1
person found this review helpful

The waterfall above the house is the best part of the trip around the lake. We climbed down right next to the water and took lots of photos and video. The view from this cove is spectacular. More

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Dallas, Texas
Contributor
18 reviews 18 reviews
Reviews in 10 cities Reviews in 10 cities
11 helpful votes 11 helpful votes
4 of 5 stars Reviewed April 24, 2012
1
person found this review helpful

This incredible home has been carefully preserved and is run by the CA park service. . The history behind the home is very interesting, so definitely take the guided tour. The tour guide will point out the exquisite examples of furnishings, building techniques and historical references. There is a small booklet (written by the daughter of the home's architect) available... More

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See 2 more reviews by JillyPill for South Lake Tahoe
nyc
Senior Reviewer
8 reviews 8 reviews
Reviews in 5 cities Reviews in 5 cities
3 helpful votes 3 helpful votes
4 of 5 stars Reviewed April 23, 2012

The mile long "hike" to the site was cool. I wish it were open. From the exterior it looked less like a castle and more like a medieval home. Native stone and local wood timber roof. A storybook home. More

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See 2 more reviews by pandasnack for South Lake Tahoe
West Sacramento, California
Senior Contributor
23 reviews 23 reviews
Reviews in 8 cities Reviews in 8 cities
22 helpful votes 22 helpful votes
5 of 5 stars Reviewed April 12, 2012

If you're looking for a short hike with amazing views, park along the main road and walk one mile down to Vikingsholm. Bring a picnic and enjoy the spectacular waterfront ambiance of Emerald Bay and the Vikingsholm residence. If you're a more eager hiker, jump on the Rubicon Trail behind the caslte and continue your journey. The hike back up... More

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See 4 more reviews by arude for South Lake Tahoe
Nakhon Si Thammarat
Senior Contributor
43 reviews 43 reviews
Reviews in 17 cities Reviews in 17 cities
16 helpful votes 16 helpful votes
5 of 5 stars Reviewed March 22, 2012

Beautiful location and fabulous history, but it's a mile trek. More

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See 2 more reviews by Tubador for South Lake Tahoe
Incline Village, NV
Senior Contributor
24 reviews 24 reviews
Reviews in 13 cities Reviews in 13 cities
3 helpful votes 3 helpful votes
5 of 5 stars Reviewed March 8, 2012
1
person found this review helpful

The walk down is easy. The walk back up is challenging. More

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Adelphi, MD
Reviewer
3 reviews 3 reviews
1 helpful vote 1 helpful vote
4 of 5 stars Reviewed February 10, 2012
1
person found this review helpful

Worthwhile break from skiing iin South lake Tahoe. We parked and enjoyed the view, then hiked 1 mile down an easy and zig-zagged trail to the castle right on the shore. The trail was icey in places so be careful. We saw an athletic couple take a baby in a stroller down the trail but they were tough and experienced.... More

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See 2 more reviews by Jetdel for South Lake Tahoe
West Jordan, Utah
Contributor
17 reviews 17 reviews
Reviews in 10 cities Reviews in 10 cities
10 helpful votes 10 helpful votes
5 of 5 stars Reviewed February 9, 2012

We always hike down to the beach and take the tour of the castle. It is a family tradition. More

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See 3 more reviews by SLC-MLBF for South Lake Tahoe

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