Things to Do in Sun Valley

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.

Inside Bouncerz Indoor Party Center, kids can plunge down cushy slides, vault off of springy bounce-house floors, or reign over pumped-up castle turrets that are spread over a 6,000-square-foot, climate-controlled facility. Bouncerz also keeps tykes occupied with an arcade and dodgeball games, and parents can kick back with free WiFi. Each day, staffers clean and inspect the facility to ensure safe, sanitary conditions and to rescue abandoned action figures. It's also possible to set up parties at Bouncerz, or you can turn your own front yard into a mini carnival by renting inflatables from the facility.

Located inside of the Atlantis Casino Resort Spa, Atlantis Family Fun Center is stocked to the gills with games and entertainment suitable for players of all ages. Games such as Fruit Ninja, Super Bikes 2, and Big Bass Wheel come to life with vivid graphics and sound effects, and air hockey tables invite twosomes to pick up a mallet and battle for placement of a floating puck. The center also features classic arcade games such as Galaga and Ms. Pacman, which imbue thumb-twiddling fun with a vintage retro aesthetic.

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."

Smack dab in the middle of the Sierra mountains, the amenity-packed grounds of Squaw Valley resort sprawl across the pine-speckled lowlands surrounding Lake Tahoe and extend to summits rising 8,200 feet above sea level. Filling their lungs with brisk mountain air, visitors can hike the many trails, meander through the village's picturesque plazas lined with shops and restaurants, garner panoramic glimpses of the gorgeous landscape on an aerial tram ride, or traverse the ropes course in the activity-packed base area. Guests never have to worry about boredom hunting them down, as they can swim, paintball, zipline, or golf at a moment's notice.

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.