California-Nevada: Lake Tahoe

The Lake Tahoe area, on the border of California and Nevada, traces 70 miles of shoreline along the crystal-blue waters of the high alpine lake outward to the snowy peaks of the Sierra Nevada mountain range. The area is crisscrossed with hiking and biking trails, more than a dozen ski resorts, and a host of surrounding lakes and reservoirs. This is truly a four-season outdoor playground. In summer, visitors can go sailing, powerboating, and wakeboarding on the lake, or try cycling on terrains that range from flat, gentle paved trails to experts-only single tracks. Clients can also climb along cliff faces on Alpenglow’s via feratta at Squaw Valley or test their balance at the three high ropes courses of Tahoe Treetop Adventure Parks all year round.

Winter brings world-class skiing at mega-resorts Heavenly and Squaw-Alpine, but also at smaller family-friendly hills, such as Diamond Peak and Tahoe Donner. Fall is a great time to hike trails through Tahoe’s prime leaf-peeping terrain, including around the appropriately named Fallen Leaf Lake. Local guide Trout Creek Outfitters can help perfect travelers’ angling skills in the Truckee River or Lake Tahoe. Spring skiing is a sunny celebration of the outdoors that can be complemented by a round of golf — either frisbee or with that little white ball — at many world-class area courses.

Location: Sierra Nevada Mountains, United States