Lake Tahoe Attractions

Bleu Wave Cruises is a luxurious way to see Lake Tahoe from the water. From its home base in Tahoe Keys Marina, the boat fits 47 people and is fully decked out to host a grand wedding or extravagant get-together. Complete with a stocked bar, fireplace, large lower lounge, stateroom, fly-bridge, gigantic party bow, restrooms and climate-controlled indoor facilities, Bleu Wave Cruises has everything needed to create a welcoming ambiance. Cruises are available daily and include regularly scheduled morning, afternoon and sunset cruises, which are open to the public. They also offer private charters for sightseeing or weddings.

DL Bliss State Park is a culmination of absolute Tahoe beauty in the form of stunning turquoise water, old-growth forests and giant cartoon-like granite boulders that balance themselves like toys in amazing ways. There are multiple hiking trails that lead from the park, giving plenty of opportunities to enjoy the splendor that outdoor Tahoe has to offer, and you'll find several good dive spots here too. To help enjoy the area even more, there are 150 regular campsites and one group site, all having easy access to the water via various points around the park. The park is also good for dogs as long as they're on a leash at all times and not on the trails. If you're coming to the park for day use only it is highly advised that you come early, as the park tends to be very busy and parking is limited. The park does not allow day use visitors once the parking lots are full. The park closes in the winter, although access to trails is still available. Visitors should remember to pack it in and pack it out and to leave no trace. 

Ed Z'Berg Sugar Pine Point State Park is your best bet for winter camping. Also open with a larger selection of sites in the summer, the park is positioned to take advantage of both the beautiful natural setting of Lake Tahoe and the historic aspects. Within the park is access to the Hellman-Ehrmann Mansion that was built in 1903. The property is still exquisitely maintained and is an excellent representation of the wealthy side of Tahoe. Tours are offered during the summer by Sierra State Parks Foundation (sierrastateparks.org). There are various trailheads, swimming beaches and great fishing within the park as well as a Nature Center that helps visitors identify the local flora and fauna. In the winter the foundation hosts full moon snowshoe expeditions, and this is a great place for sledding and snowshoeing. Dogs are allowed on leash only. Visitors should remember to pack it in, pack it out and leave no trace. An entrance fee is charged. 

You love Lake Tahoe, and you feel as if you’ve seen all the sights it has to offer. But as the old saying goes, you ain’t seen nothing yet ... not until you’ve seen it from the air, piloting your own aircraft over the Carson Range and into the Tahoe Basin. With Hang Gliding Tahoe, you fly a powered hang glider (with an FAA-certified instructor along) and enjoy the sight of the lake from an entirely new perspective. The flight can even count for training toward a pilot’s license. Morning flights offer spectacular year-round viewing conditions, and flights can be scheduled for 30, 60 or 90 minutes. Winter flights are warm and cozy with modern-technology heated clothing. Don’t forget to sign up for the photo or video services for a souvenir of the flight that you will treasure forever.

Imagine soaring peacefully with the cool morning breeze in a hot-air balloon over Lake Tahoe. From the lake surface to high above it all, Lake Tahoe Balloons provides this very unique perspective of the Lake Tahoe region. Below you spread the immense green forests and granite landscapes of the Sierra Nevada Mountains that frame the turquoise and azure blues of Lake Tahoe and the surrounding alpine lakes. Unique to Lake Tahoe Balloons is launching and landing on the upper deck of the U.S. Coast Guard–approved double decker, catamaran-style Tahoe Flyer, affectionately referred to as the world’s smallest aircraft carrier. The Tahoe Flyer is the only purposely built vessel for launching and retrieving hot air balloons. From this unique vessel, guests experience the stunning views of the balloon inflation, lifting off and deflation all while floating on the beautiful lake. Lake Tahoe Balloons' 2024 season will be from May 11 to October 20, but the fun continues with their land-based winter tours taking place over the Carson Valley.

Sprawling Tahoe Donner and its 6,000-plus properties above Truckee are home to full-time and part-time residents and a year-round destination for visitors from all over who are drawn to its beautiful neighborhoods, vast trails, open spaces and unique amenities. With the world-class Cross Country Ski Center and Downhill Ski Resort open to members and the public in the wintertime and the Tahoe Donner Trail System and par-72 championship Golf Course open to members and the public in the summertime, plus private amenities like the Beach Club Marina, Tennis Center and Trout Creek Rec Center open exclusively for Tahoe Donner members and their guests, this High-Sierra community offers year-round recreation and enjoyment unlike any other. Following your adventures, visit any of Tahoe Donner’s restaurants for casual or fine dining, including The Lodge Restaurant & Pub, Alder Creek Cafe or Pizza on the Hill. Each offers an inviting menu with fresh menu options and a lively and family-friendly atmosphere. Keep an eye out for live music and other fun events open to the public throughout the year.

The Tahoe Symphony Orchestra is on a mission to raise awareness and appreciation of classical orchestral and choral music in the greater Reno-Tahoe area by bringing quality, affordable, live performances to intimate, local venues and providing an opportunity for accomplished, Tahoe-area musicians to display and develop their talents. Founded in 2005 by James and Nancy Rawie as a 501(c)(3) nonprofit musical arts organization, the Tahoe Symphony has a worldwide footprint, having performed shows around the globe, including Italy, Salzburg-Prague, Slovakia/Hungary, Southern France and more. Upcoming performances in the 2024 season include Red, White and Tahoe Blue, an upbeat showcase of Broadway, opera and patriotic music in July; the annual 9/11 Memorial Concert, honoring America’s finest in September; and the moving Holiday classic, Messiah, in December. Those younger than age 23 always get in free, and a senior’s discount is available for all shows. Tickets are available on their website.

Take a look around and it’s clear that Truckee is a special town: history, mountains, lakes, river and forests. But there are many hidden gems known mostly to locals. Those gems are kept shining by the Truckee-Donner Recreation & Park District for the enjoyment of locals and visitors. Some of the amenities and facilities managed by the district are accessible for free, others for a fee. The district has deservedly received awards for its facilities, from the nine-hole Ponderosa Golf Course and an ice rink in winter to super-kid-friendly West End Beach and the public piers on Donner Lake. The crown jewel is the 40,000-square-foot Community Recreation Center with, among other things, a two-court gymnasium, a state-of-the-art indoor aquatics center, an indoor running track, exercise equipment, two climbing walls (one is 29 feet tall) and a state-of-the-art aquatics center. Want to find Truckee’s soul? Check out the bike park at Riverview Sports Park and the popular disc golf course and skate park in Regional Park. Be sure to explore all of Truckee-Donner Recreation & Park District's programing and facilities that continue to provide a wide variety of recreational opportunities in the Truckee area. 

Explore the untouched meadows and woodlands of Washoe Meadows State Park, offering serene trails and breathtaking views at the base of Echo Summit's escarpment. Named in tribute to Native Americans who thrived here for millennia, the park remains undeveloped, preserving its raw beauty. Enjoy dog-friendly trails while abiding by leash regulations. As a part of the Sierra State Park Foundation, please lend a hand and help keep this treasured part of our heritage cleaner than you found it.