Floating above the gleaming blues of beautiful Lake Tahoe in a strikingly colored hot-air balloon is one of those activities with a perfect dream-like aspect, one of carefree bliss. The air is clean and clear, and the stunning sights of lake and mountain are one-in-a-million. Get big air!

If spinning wheels and gorgeous trails whet your sporting appetite, Lake Tahoe has a rich menu of bicycling treats. And if rugged vistas and heart-pumping climbs are your thing, you won´t ride away unsatisfied. But if you just want to cruise on a flat, quiet trail to carry your daypack filled with picnic items, you�re also in Lake Tahoe luck. Many of the trails afford splendid views of the lake, and one, The Tahoe Rim Trail, will take you across tremendous chunks of the entire lake´s trails, if you´ve got the gumption. The Pope-Baldwin trail is one of the nicer South Shore trails, and it´s quite a bit less demanding.

Though the opportunity to roll the dice on real gaming felt has expanded to many California counties in recent years, there´s still some allure in going into the big, traditional Nevada casinos, with all their glamour and glitter. You´re in luck if you´re staying near South Lake, because you can combine all your boating with a little blackjack, since some major casino properties are only a short drive away. Good food, good times and, if the cards fall your way, good luck!

Golfing near the lake can be a special treat, because some of the majestic rolling greens have excellent views of those shimmering Lake Tahoe blues. There are four public courses close to the southern part of the lake, and one, Edgewood, even boasts a well-attended celebrity tournament. Even if the cup never seems quite within reach, there´s hardly a more beautiful place to blast that ball.

As befits a world-renowned tourist area, there´s plenty of evening entertainment taking place year-round in the Tahoe area. Of course, the local South Lake casinos always have something going on, whether it´s live music, comedy or variety shows. See our Casinos page for more. Gambling houses aside, there´s plenty happening on the evening streets in Tahoe—and even on the slopes, because some resorts offer night skiing. Here´s a small list of a few other lively nightspots in South Lake Tahoe, but there are plenty more, so head out and explore. The link below the nightspot lists will direct you to many more entertainment venues, courtesy of the Lake Tahoe Visitors Authority.

No matter if extravagant gourmet dining is your pleasure, or you´re simply hit with the need for a quick bite before you get back to the ski lift, Lake Tahoe will fill your needs—and mouth—with good grub. Many of the South Lake casinos have both fine and casual dining, but you don´t have to enter a house of cards to eat well in Tahoe. Click on the link below to see a comprehensive list of restaurants in the Tahoe area, from fast to slow food, deli dining to nouveau cuisine. Your appetite will be sated, one way or another.

Rafting on Tahoe rivers are a composite of moments: lazy paddling through sun-streaked waters, mounting anticipation on the edge of rapids, and the blasting push of the current and your craft as you ride the electric energy of whitewater. However you approach it, rafting Tahoe rivers is a blast! The rafting companies below can set you up for a scintillating ride.

Feel like gripping some granite in some high-country beauty? Lake Tahoe is no slouch when it comes to the thrills and challenges of rock climbing, and your rewards will be spectacular views that you´ve truly earned. Lover´s Leap and Eagle Creek Canyon are two of the area´s premier spots, though there are many choices to select from. Tahoe Sports in South Lake can set you up, and you can get a vast amount of route information and climbing resources from the Supertopo link below.

You might be looking for that perfect ski-season sweater or some shorts to match some of those sizzling summer days, and Tahoe is happy to accommodate shopping sprees of any size. There are many boutique specialty shops around the lake as well as sizable malls, so dig right in. The link below from the South Lake Chamber of Commerce will give you an intro list (many of which have website URLs) for a range of shopping needs.

The thought of floating through the sky with what seems to be just a gossamer kite overhead might not be some folks´ idea of a good time, but for a skydiving enthusiast, it doesn´t get any better. But it does—you could do your skydiving over spectacular Lake Tahoe, with views of the gleaming blues below, and all that fantastic mountain scenery surrounding the legendary lake. More info below.