Grab fresh Nevada peaches and local sourdough under the morning sun at Mills Park before hitting the Sierra Nevada trails. 7

Hikers and picnickers head to this 1860s Washoe Valley park to splash in its geothermal spring pool and relax under massive ponderosa pines right at the foot of the Sierra Nevada. 7

Families wrapping up a morning trek through the Sierra Nevada foothills can pop into this historic Carson City center so kids can dig for fossils and learn about local high-desert wildlife away from the afternoon heat. 6.5

Grabbing a fast ski boat here puts outdoor diehards straight onto Tahoe's chilly, glass-clear northern bays for early-morning wakeboarding before the afternoon chop kicks up. 8.5

Gliding across Sand Harbor in a transparent boat exposes giant granite boulders resting dozens of feet beneath Lake Tahoe's ridiculously clear blue surface. 9.5

Riders grab e-bikes in Incline Village to cruise the paved three-mile East Shore path straight into Sand Harbor, skipping Lake Tahoe's brutal beach parking lots. 9