Emerald Bay State Park
Given the park’s name, it should come as no surprise that this piercingly blue bay is a South Lake Tahoe must-do. You have several options for ways to admire the natural beauty here: pull-out vistas on the roads, hike-in or boat-in camping, or California's first underwater trail, which guides scuba divers and snorkelers along submerged barges. The park also contains Vikingsholm, one of the most renowned examples of Scandinavian architecture in the Western Hemisphere.
El Dorado Beach
As the largest beach in South Lake Tahoe, El Dorado boasts at least a weekend's worth of activities: shaded picnic tables with barbecues, kayak rentals, a boat launch with floating dock, and prime shoreline real estate for throwing down your beach towel for the day. And it's the perfect place to catch the sunset year-round.
South Lake Tahoe Bike Trail
One of the best ways to take in South Lake Tahoe's natural beauty is by cruising along this scenic 11-mile-long bike trail. The combination of paved and dirt trails are relatively flat, leading cyclists past restaurants and through forests and meadows, and even over the state line into Nevada. It also connects to other bike paths for a choose-your-own-adventure day.