Lake Tahoe, 1,600 feet deep, is the big draw in these parts, but gold-rush hub Truckee, 12 miles away, doesn't suffer the same crowds as South Shore and Tahoe City. Plus, Truckee is within 10 miles of 10 other lakes: Donner, for fishing or swimming, and Prosser, glass-smooth in the morning and motor-free, for standup paddling.
Getting There: Fly to Reno; drive 40 minutes west.
Easy Living by the Lakes
Skip the Lake Tahoe crowds at Truckee, the nearby gold-rush hub just 12 miles down the road.