There's probably nothing better than the mountains in summer. The days are hot and sunny and the nights are cool with that perfect temperature for sleeping in a tent.
Lake Tahoe really comes alive in the summer months with various outdoor sports and special events. Even though this list could go on ad infinitum, we narrowed it down to the top 50.
1. Free festivals: Concerts at Commons Beach, Reno Sculpture Fest, Valhalla Music on the Lawn.
2. Get wet in the whitewater of the American, Yuba or Truckee rivers.
3. Rent a pontoon boat or jet ski from SWA Watersports.
4. Stand up paddleboard or kayak from Sand Harbor to the Thunderbird Lodge.
5. Get nude at Whale Beach and Secret Cove.
6. Tandem paraglide over the water with Lake Tahoe Paragliding.
7. Sip and shop during wine walks at Northstar, Truckee, Tahoe City and Downtown Reno.
8. Zip, tube or rock climb at Heavenly's Adventure Peak.
9. Share the "Boatrocker" cocktail at the Boathouse on the Pier.
10. Enjoy Higashino Farmhouse beer (with peppercorns and pear juice) at the Tahoe Mountain Brewing Company brewhouse.
11. Sit in the sand at Christy Hill's SandBar with a glass of Lioco.
12. Enjoy a Tahoe Hot Stone Massage at the Resort at Squaw Creek.
13. Play bocce at The Ritz-Carlton Lake Tahoe or the Truckee River Winery.
14. Pick up unusual gifts from Bespoke in Truckee.
15. Pick up handmade jewelry at Trunk Show in Tahoe City.
16. Hike the high altitude trails of Donner Pass.
17. Camp and meditate at High Camp during Wanderlust Squaw Valley.
18. Visit the hidden lakes of Blue Lakes, Kirkwood Lake and Angora Lakes.
19. Fish Tahoe's full creeks with Tahoe Flyfishing.
20. Visit a tiny, rustic town like Downieville, Genoa, Markleeville or Rough and Ready.
21. Section hike the Tahoe Rim Trail.
22. Tackle Mount Tallac.
23. Scramble up Job's Peak.
24. Sail during a summer sunset with the Safari Rose or the Sierra Cloud.
25. Grab a barbecue picnic from T's Mesquite, Sonney's BBQ Shack or Moe's Original BBQin Tahoe City.
26. Bike the nearly completed Tahoe Pyramid Bikeway.
27. Get a tan at Donner Lake's public docks.
28. Enjoy 4th of July fireworks in South Tahoe, Tahoe City, Reno and Sparks
29. Embrace the Bard at the Lake Tahoe Shakespeare Festival.
30. Get down and dirty during the Tough Mudder endurance race.
31. Celebrate art during the Trails & Vistas art hike and Reno's Artown.
32. Live in luxury at the Nakoma Resort or the Hyatt Regency Lake Tahoe Resort.
33. Get back to basics at Clair Tappan Lodge backcountry hut or Salmon Lake Lodge.
34. Befriend a trail horse at Alpine Meadows Stables.
35. Kayak camp in Emerald Bay.
36. Grab an organic smoothie and sandwich at Tahoe Central Market in King's Beach.
37. Get healthy with yoga and wellness at Granlibakken Tahoe.
38. Elope in Tahoe with Lake of the Sky Weddings or Mountain High Weddings.
39. Feast on local cuisine at Truckee Tavern & Grill.
40. Chow down on the views at Dockside 700 and Edgewood Tahoe.
41. Go old-school with drive-in (and bike-in) movies at Homewood Mountain Resort.
42. Jump from the rocks into the water at Sand Harbor, Fallen Leaf Lake and Rubicon Point.
43. Make reservations for a stay-and-dine package at the Sardine Lake Resort or the Gray Eagle Lodge.
44. Play a round at the Old Greenwood public golf course.
45. Get the best view at the lake with Lake Tahoe Balloons.
46. Enjoy a day in downtown Nevada City and Grass Valley.
47. Take the pooch to Kiva Beach or Zephyr Cove Beach.
48. Fuel up at Squeeze In or The Red Hut Cafe.
49. Sample farm to fork at Sample the Sierra.
50. Enjoy the sunset.
