Grab handcrafted pasta, fresh bread, and local cheeses at this Genoa market to pack the ultimate trail picnic for your trip into the Carson Valley. 8.5

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

Passengers catch the mountain breeze aboard open-air cars pulled by restored 1870s Virginia & Truckee steam engines chugging along the outdoor Carson City track loop. 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