Nature, fireworks create big bang for July 4 at South Lake Tahoe

"Lights on the Lake," Lake Tahoe South Shore's July 4th Fireworks extravaganza is one of the most popular Independence Day celebrations in the West with 100,000-plus onlookers. The event has received national media exposure in USA Today, Travel & Leisure and ForbesTraveler.com as one of the nation's top Fourth of July weekend festivities.

Holiday weekend visitors can expect the fireworks show to explode into unusual and whimsical shapes such as jellyfish, stars, butterflies and smiley faces around 9:45 p.m. This annual family tradition is choreographed to music and broadcast on local radio stations KRLT-FM 93.9 and KOWL-AM 1490. "Lights on the Lake" is sponsored by the Lake Tahoe Visitors Authority.

The display includes memories for a lifetime: the magnificent backdrop of Lake Tahoe and the Sierra Nevada; the mountain air and scent of pines; a billion stars visible in the clear sky; kids in wide-eyed wonderment; and goose bumps with the traditional close of "American the Beautiful."

The fireworks are launched from offshore barges and can be seen from all corners of town. South Shore offers convenient access to viewing areas via public transportation, paved bike trails and nearby park-and-walk venues.

Numerous vantage points include:

• South Lake Tahoe's two paddle wheelers, the Tahoe Queen and M.S. Dixie II; both offer dining/viewing packages.

• Nevada Beach State Park has a soft, sandy shoreline equipped with barbecues and picnic tables.

• Regan and El Dorado Beaches offer front-row seating that fills up fast.

• Bijou Community Park is set back from the shoreline and boasts many amenities such as a skate park, disc golf course, dog park, golf course and playground to keep the whole family entertained while holding a preferred viewing spot.

• The Tallac Historic Site, off Emerald Bay Road, has an east-view perspective with nearby Baldwin Beach and its picnic tables.

• For the more adventurous, hike to the top of Mount Tallac for a bird's eye view of the fireworks extravaganza, but don't forget your headlamp for the trek back down.

• A Fourth of July favorite is Edgewood Tahoe Golf Course's 4th of July Celebration. This setting offers front-and-center viewing of Lights on the Lake from Edgewood's private beach and an all-you-can-eat buffet. Go to www.edgewoodtahoe.com.

• The Beacon Bar & Grill offers live music on the beach during the holiday weekend from 2 p.m. - 6 p.m. with local artists No Taboo, July 2; Dane Reinhart, July 3; and Cool Black Kettle, July 4. Other lakefront places to soak in the views, grab a bite to eat or catch the breathtaking sunset include Blue Water Bistro, Fresh Ketch, Lakeside Beach Grill, Riva Grill and Zephyr Cove Lodge.

For real time updates on events, promotions, packages, conditions and what's happening in South Lake Tahoe, The Lake Tahoe Visitors Authority is on Twitter: http://twitter.com/SouthShoreTahoe and on Facebook. For information about Lake Tahoe South Shore, call 1-800-AT-TAHOE (1-800-288-2463) or visit www.TahoeSouth.com.