Things to Do in Placerville

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."

A lone runner emerges on the horizon, covered completely in mud that falls from his arms in chunks. He soldiers up a hill, stopping only briefly before throwing himself between hanging car tires swaying from ropes. He’s smiling a big, goofy grin as he’s battered by the tires and exhausted by the distance—but he wouldn’t be here if he wasn't up for the challenge. Sierra Recon’s muddy courses traverse 4-, 7-, and 11-mile stretches with walls, beams, nets, and ice awaiting runners between the starting line and the after party. The race, which boasts at least two such creative obstacles each mile, attracts both daredevils and their enthusiastic entourages, who holler their encouragement from a dry deck with views of the course. Runners can choose both their difficulty and distance for the race, though all routes promise mud and creative obstacles built by licensed contractors.

Battle Born Sporting Clays and Shooting School has no real address. That's because its team of NSCA-certified instructors teach clay shooting amid the real-world conditions that only untouched, natural settings can provide. All avid shooters, the instructors started the business after looking for a place to practice with tournament-style targets and chart the migration patterns of clay pigeons. Unable to find such a place, they set up shop amid a slice of Nevada's rolling foothills, big sky, and vast, open terrain. Here, they teach customers the proper techniques needed to blast clay targets out of the sky.