Placerville, CA Outdoor Activities

At 6,200 feet above sea level, Sailing Ventures' certified captains lead small groups into Lake Tahoe's waters, teaching them the skills needed to navigate their own aquatic adventures. The instructors can ferry students from beginner to advanced levels, with lessons catered to everyone from families to seasoned sailors wanting to make practical use of their anchor tattoos. Alternatively, the crew charters yachts into the lake, leaving passengers to enjoy the scenery.

Carved by glaciers, Lake Tahoe's bays and coastline set the perfect backdrop for Sailing Ventures' expeditions. Snow-capped mountains and dense forests paint the horizon as boats float atop waters clearer than the windows at a dermatologist's office.

Strapped into an ultramodern Apollo Trike powered hang-glider, FAA-certified instructor Paul Hamilton pilots air tourists above South Lake Tahoe’s crystalline expanse, which reveals picturesque reflections of the Sierra Mountains’ snow-capped crags. A light-sport aircraft powered by a purring Rotax engine, the Apollo Trike enables the prolonged airtime and weather compatibility not found in flights with a conventional hang-glider or out-of-control umbrella. During Paul’s introductory, intermediate, and advanced lessons, students swiftly suit up in appropriate flight gear before a quick safety briefing prepares them for the journey. An emphasis on hands-on training anchors the interactive lessons, which require no previous experience and may even take off in winter thanks to Ultimate Flight’s heated apparel and midflight campfires.

Surrounded by towering foothills and nestled next to the waterways of scenic Carson Valley, Sunridge Golf Club’s 18-hole, par 72 course stretches across 6,914 yards of picturesque vistas and challenging course play. The layout demands confident swings from the first tee box—the beginning of a 575-yard par 5—where errant shots will find an aquatic abyss to the right of the fairway. Tight fairways and intervening creeks supply the bulk of the challenge throughout the round, requiring golfers to summon sound course management, deft club selection, and one flutist versed in charming pond monsters. A relatively difficult course, Sunridge’s five tee options and photo-op-worthy topography make for an enjoyable round for golfers of all abilities. Players can warm up their swings prior to the round at the driving range, which offers both grass and synthetic-turf hitting surfaces, allowing players to choose whether to infuriate Mother Earth by tearing divots into her cherished dirt or by favoring her inorganic doppelganger.

Course at a Glance:

• 18-hole, par 72 course
• Length of 6,914 yards from farthest tees
• Course rating of 72.5 from farthest tees
• Slope of 137 from farthest tees
• Five tee options
• Scorecard

Gentle waves lap against the hull of the Tahoe Cruz as snow-capped mountains and evergreen trees peek through its sails. Helmed by U.S. Coast Guard–certified captains Mike and Jim, the 50-foot sloop glides along Tahoe's tranquil waters for afternoon and sunset cruises that sail travelers around the scenic lake, treating them to views of its abundant nature and grand homes—including Fleur du Lac, where parts of The Godfather Part II were filmed. Mike and Jim lead private charters as well, escorting groups as they take in the sights or race to interrupt a mermaid ex-girlfriend's wedding before she gurgles "I do."

For 26 years, the friendly and knowledgeable rafting staff of River Journey has outfitted visitors with the equipment and know-how to navigate the meandering waters of the picturesque Stanislaus River. Departing from Knights Ferry, guided and self-guided groups in fitted lifejackets bob under the longest covered bridge west of the Mississippi in their inflated rafts or kayaks, paddling with provided paddles or hiring a flock of unemployed ducks to do the grunt work. Adventurers then splash through Class 2 Russian Rapids—where their pictures will be snapped for optional purchase at the end of their trip—before floating between Two Bluffs, marked on each side by towering basalt cliffs where swallows and blue heron nest. Rafts continue toward Lovers Leap, a sheer rock wall with a uniquely shaped peak, and through the Throw Rapid after a sharp right bend in the river. Through Horseshoe Park and along to slow, calm swimming holes, three- to five-hour trips draw to a close at Orange Blossom Park after conquering 8 miles of the dynamic waterway and performing celebratory run-ashore dances.

With roots stretching back to 1933, the Marysville Stampede barrels forward each Memorial Day weekend with two days of rodeo festivities. The Marysville Stampede, backed by the Professional Rodeo Cowboys Association, showcases modern-day ranchers who ride bulls and break broncs to the thundering sound of cheers. Competitors also mount horses bareback, wrestle steers with their bare hands, spur steeds around barrels, and rope cattle in teams or using tie-down techniques. Youngsters can take part in the Mutton Buster event, in which junior ranchers aged 4 to 7 gain bravery from the encouraging roar of spectators.