When asked to join a Truckee rafting trip with Tahoe's Irie Rafting Company in June, I conjured up fond memories of floating lazily  down the river in an inner tube with PBR in hand. Little did I know that I had signed myself up for a white water rafting adventure instead.

Man does not live by bread alone, the philosopher once wrote. You've gotta throw in a half-pound of ground meat, some cheese, lettuce, pickles and other accoutrements of the all-American hamburger to really make things come alive. Add some fresh mountain air into the mix, and well, you've practically attained Nirvana.

There are plenty of places around Tahoe to grab a burger, big and juicy notwithstanding. But there can only be so many great places, and the five establishments that follow easily fall into that category.

As the old song goes, the hills are alive with the sound of music. And folks around Big Blue are getting an earful. Regularly scheduled, outdoor live performances abound this time of year in the Tahoe area, and many of the bands serenade their audiences free of charge.

If you want to witness one of the greatest light shows around, just toss your head back and watch the night sky for a while. But since light pollution has made naked-eye star gazing in the urban areas a bit difficult, you have to head to the hinterlands (and by that, we mean Tahoe) to get a better look.

One great place is Northstar California resort, just outside Truckee, where a slew of star-gazing tours will take place on a weekly basis through the end of the summer.