8 Best Sights in Lake Tahoe, Nevada

Antique and classic cars made by obscure and familiar companies fill this engaging facility. Celebrity vehicles include the Lana Turner Chrysler (one of only six made), an Elvis Presley Cadillac, and the Mercury coupe James Dean drove in the movie Rebel Without a Cause. Hard to miss are the experimental and still futuristic-looking 1938 Phantom Corsair and a gold-plated 1981 DeLorean.

A photogenic 3-mile cycling and walking path linking Incline Village and Sand Harbor State Park, this paved lakeside trail edges classic patches of turquoise water, giving way to cobalt blue, with the mountains as a backdrop. You can traverse portions of the trail by stopping at Highway 28 vista points, but parking is for only 20 minutes. Park at the Tunnel Creek Road pay lot for longer walks, less expensive than Sand Harbor's day-use fee.

Learn how Lake Tahoe was formed, why it’s so blue, and how its ecosystem is changing at Tahoe’s only science center. Hands-on exhibits include aquariums, a virtual ecology lab and research boat, a watershed map with the 63 streams that flow into the lake (and the only one that flows out, the Truckee River), tables that teach how to identify trees, and a theater projecting an intriguing 3D movie. Visitors ages eight and older will gain the most from the experience.

Seventy-five feet of solid stone, Cave Rock is the throat of an extinct volcano. The impressive outcropping, pierced by two U.S. 50 tunnels, towers over a parking lot, a lakefront picnic ground, a small beach, and a boat launch. The views are some of the lake's best; this is an excellent spot to snap a photo. The rock itself is a sacred burial site for the Washoe Indians. Hiking to it from the state park is prohibited.

Protecting much of the lake's eastern shore from development, this park consists of several sections that stretch from Incline Village to Zephyr Cove. Beaches and trails provide access to a wilder side of the lake, whether you're into cross-country skiing, hiking, or just relaxing at a picnic. With a gently sloping beach for lounging, crystal clear water for swimming and snorkeling, and a picnic area shaded by cedars and pines, Sand Harbor Beach sometimes reaches capacity by 11 am on summer weekends. A handicap-accessible nature trail has interpretive signs and beautiful lake views. Pets are not allowed on the beach from mid-April through mid-October. Parking is $10 for cars with Nevada plates, $15 for out-of-state cars. Amenities: food and drink; parking (fee); toilets; water sports. Best for: snorkeling; sunset; swimming; walking.

Take this beautiful drive to see some of Nevada's most expensive real estate. The route begins off Highway 28 at the western edge of Incline Village. You can also pick up the boulevard between the Hyatt hotel's green towers and beach and drive westward along the lake. 

Although less than a mile long, this is the widest beach on the lake and especially good for swimming (many Tahoe beaches are rocky). You can boat and fish here, and there are picnic tables, barbecue grills, and a campground beneath the pines. The beach is the best place to watch the July 4th or Labor Day fireworks, but most of the summer the subdued atmosphere attracts families and those seeking a less-touristy spot. Amenities: parking (fee); toilets; water sports. Best for: sunrise; swimming; walking.

A formerly dilapidated section of Reno's waterfront is now the toast of the town. The Riverwalk itself is a ½-mile promenade on the north side of the Truckee River, which flows around Wingfield Park, where festivals and other events take place. On the third Saturday afternoon of each month, local merchants host Wine Walk tastings ($30). The monthlong Artown festival in July presents outdoor art, opera, dance, live music, and kids' performances, most at Wingfield Park.