Heavenly Aerial Tram
(800) 2-HEAVEN or (775) 586-7000 ext. 6361
For spectacular views ride Heavenly's scenic gondola, which is an easy walk from Stateline. The 8-passenger cabin whisks passengers nearly 2.4 miles up the mountain -- 3,000 feet above Lake Tahoe -- to a 14,000 square foot observation deck that provides shore-to-shore views of Lake Tahoe, plus a birds-eye view of Carson Valley and Desolation Wilderness.
Stairway to Heavenly
Tallac Historic Site
(530) 541-5227
Once home to the rich and famous, the 74-acre site includes the Pope Estate, the Baldwin Estate and Valhalla. Heritage programs, guided walks, building tours, demonstrations, and behind the scenes tours are offered. A schedule of activities is available in the Visitors Center and the Baldwin Museum.
Taylor Creek Visitor Center
(530) 573-2694
The Visitor Center offers maps, brochures, wilderness permits and interpretive programs, and is where four self-guided trails start. It also houses the Lake of the Sky Amphitheater. Sales benefit the non-profit Tahoe Heritage Foundation.
Vikingsholm Castle
(530) 525-7277
This 38-room Nordic fortress, built in 1928, is a precise replica of a 1,200 year old Viking castle. Open to the public daily, mid-June to Labor Day, with guided tours on weekends.
Ehrman Mansion
(916) 525-7982
This archetypal turn-of-the-century bank magnate's summer home, an 11,703-square-foot rock-and-wood Victorian mansion, is open for tours at Sugar Pine Point State Park, near Meeks Bay. Includes a small beach, trails, a picnic area and a campground.
Thunderbird Lodge
(775) 832-8750
Built in 1939 for the very eccentric and very rich George Whittell Jr., this grand stone residential estate on Lake Tahoe has only been open to the public in recent years. In addition to the main house, there is a Card House, Caretaker's Cottage, the Cook/Butler's House, an elephant garage, the Admiral's House, the Boathouse with adjoining 600' tunnel, and Gatehouse. The Lodge is open for guided tours from May through October, and other times by prior arrangement.
A peek inside Lake Tahoe's house of mystery
Tahoe Rim Trail
(775) 298-0012
This fairly new 165-mile trail system for walkers, hikers, cross-country skiers, mountain bikers and horseback riders, accessible from nine trailheads in California and Nevada, circumnavigates Lake Tahoe. The trail passes through state parks, national forests and wilderness areas, with woods, meadows, creeks and lakes along the way, plus generous vistas of Lake Tahoe and the northern Sierra Nevada.
Donner Summit Bridge
Spanning a granite chasm, it was considered an engineering feat when built and is considered a work of art now. Visitors may use a restored walkway or view the bridge and Donner Lake from an overlook parking area. Apporximately half a mile east of Donner Pass on old U.S. Highway 40.
Gatekeeper's Cabin
(530) 583-1762
This is a hand-carved reproduction of a cabin that, from 1910 to 1968, housed the men responsible for measuring and regulating Lake Tahoe's water level. (The original structure was destroyed by fire 10 years after the last occupant moved out.) The Tahoe City site also includes a small museum displaying artifacts and natural-history exhibits pertaining to the region, featuring a library of books, newspapers and photos, and supplemented by temporary exhibitions of private collections.
Historic Downtown Truckee
Sights include a wagon road, Brickelltown, the Rocking Stone Tower, the Old Truckee Jail Museum, Gray's Way Station, the Sierra Mountain and Catholic cemeteries and old hostelries on West River Street. There are many stores, restaurants and saloons as well. The Historic District is at the eastern-most Truckee; for information pick up a walking tour brochure at the plaza visitor center or consult the display boxes on the sidewalks.
Lake Tahoe Historical Society Museum
(530) 541-5458
A comprehensive collection of early photos, artifacts and Washoe Indian basketry, as well as a model of the historic S.S. Tahoe.
Squaw Valley Cable Car
(530) 583-6985
Ride up 2000 feet to the High Camp Bath and Tennis Club, where you can enjoy the swimming pool and spa, decks and umbrella-shaded bar.
Donner Party Emigrant Trail Museum
Information on the emigrant trail over the Sierra, artifacts from the Donner Party and a bookstore. Rangers lead regular Donner Party History hikes 2-3 times a week, which are free to the public. Located at Donner Memorial State Park.
National Automobile Museum
(775) 333-9300
This collection features more than 200 antique, vintage, classic, special-interest, celebrity and one-of-a-kind cars arranged by era, with accompanying displays of automotive artifacts.
Fleischmann Planetarium and Museum
(775) 784-4812
The University of Nevada at Reno's planetarium offers star shows and science films in its 30-foot dome, plus sky viewing through a 12-inch telescope. Also features a museum that includes the state's four meteorite specimens.
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