Emerald Bay State Park. Lake Tahoe's crown jewel: a glacier-carved inlet of impossibly blue-green water cradling Fanette Island — the lake's only natural islet — and framed by old-growth forest. Designated a National Natural Landmark in 1969, it is the single most photographed spot on the lake.
Vikingsholm Castle. A 38-room Scandinavian-style mansion built in 1929 at the foot of Emerald Bay, considered one of the finest examples of Norse Revival architecture in North America. Guided tours run Memorial Day through September 30 and are reached via a steep one-mile trail or by boat.
Heavenly Mountain Resort Gondola. The Gondola at Heavenly rises from the heart of Heavenly Village in South Lake Tahoe to 9,123 feet, delivering 360-degree panoramas of the lake, Nevada desert, and Sierra Nevada. In winter it launches world-class skiing across 4,800 acres; in summer the Observation Deck, hiking trails, and a mountain coaster draw…
Tahoe Rim Trail. A 165-mile non-motorized trail that loops the entire Lake Tahoe Basin through two states, crossing sub-alpine meadows, granite ridges, and dense forest. Day-hike segments to Lake Aloha, Star Lake, and Round Lake are among the most spectacular alpine walks in the Sierra Nevada.
Sand Harbor State Park. On the Nevada east shore, Sand Harbor offers 55 acres of white sand beaches, polished granite boulders, and crystalline water with visibility to 75 feet — among the clearest lake swimming in the American West. It also hosts the annual Lake Tahoe Shakespeare Festival each summer.
Lake Tahoe Shakespeare Festival. Running since 1973, this beloved outdoor theater series stages professional productions at Sand Harbor's natural amphitheater with the lake as a backdrop. The 2026 season (July 3–August 23) features Macbeth and The Heart of Robin Hood under open skies.
Palisades Tahoe (formerly Squaw Valley). Host of the 1960 Winter Olympics and now one of the largest ski resorts in the U.S., Palisades Tahoe spans more than 6,000 acres across six peaks with terrain for every level. Its Base to Base Gondola connects two distinct villages; summer brings hiking, mountain biking, and climbing.
D.L. Bliss State Park & Rubicon Trail. Adjacent to Emerald Bay on the west shore, D.L. Bliss protects old-growth forests, dramatic granite formations, and one of Tahoe's finest sandy beaches at Lester Beach. The Rubicon Trail connects to Emerald Bay through some of the lake's most breathtaking shoreline scenery.