ASUN

Tahoe is home to dozens of beautiful and scenic beaches. Each one with a unique twist to make it different from the others. Depending on your mood or activities you have planned, check out this guide to help you decide what beach is best for you this summer.

Feeling like a party?-Zephyr Cove

Zephyr Beach located in South Lake and is known for its outrageous partying. Zephyr has a volleyball court and a full bar that allows its users to drink openly on the beach. Zephyr is one of the best hot spots for Fourth of July. People going for the holiday can see the fireworks easily from the shore, and the party usually has people rushing in as early as 6am in hopes of finding a decent spot.

Bringing the Whole Family?-Round Hill Beach

The Round Hill beach is a very family friendly beach that is a favorite for both tourists and locals alike. This beach can be used for weddings and special events, too. Round Hill also has a delicious food court overlooking Lake Tahoe. There is a little something for everyone at this beach with activities like cruises, sail boats, jet skis, paddle boards, kayaks, and so much more.  

A Beach For You and Your Dog?–Kiva Beach is one of the few beaches in the Tahoe area that you can bring you dog too! Kiva Beach is a peaceful hidden gem that has a great view of Mount Tallac. The area is tucked away and hidden in the forest making it quiet and the perfect place to bring your furry best friend!

Does Tahoe Have a Nude Beach? Yes, yes it does…Secret Cove

Secret Cove might not be the best place for a family outing. However, this is one of Tahoe’s most beautiful and scenic beaches. It offers plenty of nature and  some of the best snorkel spots. Oh yeah…and is welcoming to nudity.

The Classic-Sand Harbor

Sand Harbor is one of North Lake’s best known and most popular beaches. The main beach is over 2,500 feet long. It offers everything from a visitor’s center to a boat launch. Sand Harbor is also home to the Lake Tahoe Shakespeare Festival that happens every summer.

Out of Sight?–Hidden Beach

The name speaking for itself, Hidden Beach, is one of the more private and sequestered beaches Tahoe has to offer. Located in Incline Village, this beach is mainly for people who might want to enjoy a relaxing afternoon reading a book, uninterrupted by the stimuli of the other beaches. Usually best if you get there early and find parking along the highway.

The Beauty-Emerald Bay

Emerald Bay is one of Tahoe’s most popular icons today. The bay contains a beautiful island called Fannette Island in its center. Emerald Bay is surrounded by breathtaking views of nature and scenery. Emerald Bay is also classified as an underwater park. You can never run out things to do here and the park is filled with tons of history and Scandinavian architecture.

If you’re anything like me, you love adventure… but you’re also super broke. Well, I have good news, fellow struggling students! Even though we may not be able to travel the world (yet), there are still options for us to satisfy the urge to get out there. Whether you want to settle into a sleeping bag on a mountaintop or explore a new city, I have gathered some helpful tips to help you explore on a budget.

Sleep in your car. It may not be the most comfortable place, but when you just want to get out and go, this is a viable option. If you don’t have a car (or if yours is too small), it may help to find another adventure hungry friend and crash in theirs. Once you have the vehicle, grab some sleeping bags, sleeping pads, and blankets to craft your nest. This can end up being very comfortable if you’re short. This is also perfect for spontaneous trips when you don’t have time to find a hotel room or campsite. NOTE: do a little research before you go. Sleeping on the side of certain roads and in certain parks may not be allowed. Look for signs and do a quick google if you aren’t sure.

Find a Hostel. Hostels are like super cheap communal hotels. Lots of people come to stay in one place, usually in bunk-beds. These are great for meeting new people, traveling to cities, and saving money as hostel stays are notoriously cheap.

Use hipcamp.com. It’s like Airbnb for campsites! Many of them are cheaper than state-owned ones and still quite nice. Plus, you can talk to the host for advice and help should you need any.

Stay on BLM land. It’s FREE to camp on BLM land. Do your research and respect the landscape while you’re out there.

Go searching for some hot springs. There are many hot springs in Nevada and California in gorgeous locations. To maintain their natural beauty, most of their exact locations are not made public. A fun adventure nearby could be simply heading out into the great outdoors with a general direction and a bathing suit (or none- I won’t judge) to find one of these diamonds in the rough and relax.

Look up popular nearby locations on Instagram. Sometimes there are hidden gems near you that will save you a long trip! The pictures can tell you how beautiful they are. Look for location tags on posts and follow some local Instagram pages.

Take a friend. This way you can split the cost of gas, food, and campsite fees.

Stay at a hike-in campsite. These are often either free or cheaper than car-camping sites!

Be frugal when shopping for gear. You can usually find great, affordable gear either in thrift shops or online. Check reviews when shopping online and look for higher quality brands in thrift stores- they sometimes carry high-end items that were unpopular because of factors like color.

Get creative! Use free beach showers or biodegradable soap to bathe in a lake or river.

While The Discovery was once a children’s museum, it’s not anymore. Patrick Turner, the Vice President of Marketing and Communications at The Discovery, said, “Over the last five years or so we’ve made a strong effort to reposition the museum as a science center that serves a broader demographic.” The Discovery has created several events that are for adults only, in order to better serve this broader demographic.

–Best Bang for your Buck–

Social Science (21+)= $20 for non-members/$15 for members

The Social Science series is a quarterly, themed event held at The Discovery. This series is a great deal at only $20 per ticket for non-members. Turner said, “A ticket to Social Science includes heavy hors d’oeuvres prepared by Whole Foods. They also sell beer and wine that’s included with your ticket price. You get two beverages with your ticket price.” Past events have focused on topics ranging from robots to attraction, and Turner said, “As of late, we’ve allowed our audience to pick a topic, so they’re free to nominate topics through our exit survey that we do at each Social Science.”

–Nice Price–

Science Distilled (21+)=$15 for non-members/$10 for members

Science Distilled is a lecture series, held regularly at Patagonia. The Discovery has partnered with the Desert Research Institute (DRI) to create this event. Turner said, “What Science Distilled let’s us do is tap into all the great research that’s happening at DRI, and bring those scientists to our audience and let them talk about their research.” According to Turner, this event varies from panel discussions to traditional lectures to round table discussions. Turner said, “We’re trying to keep it lowkey, so it’s in kind of a laid-back atmosphere. We partnered with Imbib Custom Brews, so they serve beer at the event. Definitely not your stuffy lecture series, like a lot of people might expect. ”

–Big Ticket Event annual event–

Chemistry of the Cocktail (21+)=$95 for non-members and members

Chemistry of the Cocktail is The Discovery’s annual fundraiser. Turner said, “Because it’s our annual fundraiser, it has a little bit higher ticket price. It’s close to $100 a ticket, but it is a fundraiser, so the cost of the ticket is part of what benefits the museum.” According to Turner, this event takes a look at the science behind mixology and cocktail making. Turner said, “It’s this really fun event because it let’s us bring in outside bartenders and mixologists, and they present all these interesting topics related to cocktails.” In addition, the event features live auctions and many local vendors.

Stuck in Reno this summer? Fear not! Instead of jealously watching the Instagram stories of your friends who somehow have the time and money to travel the world (guilty), why not explore some of the cool events in the Biggest Little City? If you love the outdoors like I do, you probably already know about all the fun things you can do in the area. But if you need more ideas for when you’re bored and don’t want to drive into the wilderness, there are plenty of fun events going on right under our noses. A personal favorite for me is Artown. The best part? It lasts for an entire month!

If you are a fan of any artistic medium, Artown will steal your heart. With music, dance, sculptures, exhibits, and other creative activities available, there is something for everyone. There are events going on every single day during the month of July to fit your schedule. If money is a concern, many events are free or very inexpensive to allow more community members a chance to enjoy Reno’s art culture.

While the Artown website has yet to publish the 2018 calendar, there are a few annual events to look forward to. On July 1st, the opening night jubilee typically consists of an artistic gallery on Arlington Bridge, music, and acrobatic performances. On the Fourth of July the Reno Philharmonic puts on a free concert topped off with fireworks to celebrate, a welcomed alternative for those who would rather avoid the long drive and wild crowds of Tahoe. Every year there is also a world dance night during which various cultures are celebrated, showing off their beautiful dancing styles. There are even more free events each week such as the Monday night music series, “dancing in the park” nights, and movies in the park. You don’t have to break the bank to get out and have fun!

I have often heard that Reno lacks in terms of culture, but Artown is working to prove this idea wrong. By focusing on the local art scene and celebrating creative minds in every medium, Reno celebrates its love of art every year. If you haven’t been to any of these events, I highly recommend you attend some this coming summer. You may find some wonderful talent and inspiration under the arch.

1.     Float the River

The Truckee river is filling up right now; accepting all of the snowmelt from the Sierras. When the weather gets warmer the water in the river gets a bit more bearable and is able to be optimized as a natural lazy river. Collect your inner tubes and pack two cars full of people because it’s time to float the river. To successfully execute this activity, you should park an end car at Wingfield Park. Everyone proceeds to pile into one car and drive up the river to Chrissie Caughlin Park. Here is where you enter the river and start floating. If you are wanting more control, float alone. If you want a thrilling and somewhat dangerous ride you should bring some rope and attach all of the inner tubes together. Bring some drinks, and be prepared for a relaxing day floating the river.

2.     Eagle Lake/Falls

Tranquility is closer than anyone ever expected. Located directly behind Emerald Bay in South Lake Tahoe is a quick 30-minute hike that uncovers a small and serene body of water known as Eagle Lake. At the beginning of the hike there are moderate sized falls cascading with snowmelt all summer. About halfway through, the hike unveils a breathtaking view of Emerald Bay and Tahoe collectively. Once arriving at the lake there is ample opportunity to swim in the freezing waters, walk across mossy rocks to an opposing side at the mouth of the lake, and hike further back into a quiet area that accepts nothing but contentedness. Bring a book and escape for a while! This hike is breathtakingly gorgeous in the summertime and is well worth the drive from Reno.

3.     Donner Tunnels

Art in nature is a juxtaposition that claims such a pleasing aesthetic to anyone willing to appreciate its existence. The abandoned Donner Train Tunnels are just this: art in nature. Upon arriving at the Sugar Bowl Ski Resort there are tunnels across the street that span for a few miles within the mountains and contain graffiti art that is so vibrant and strategically placed, displaying collages from numerous artists. The tunnels are technically a hike and during summertime are considered more of a river. The water in the tunnels is ankle deep, but the view of Donner Lake and the personal art that is painted within the walls and on the outer layer of each tunnel is one-hundred percent worth the soaked socks (bring an extra pair of shoes and socks for after the hike).

4.     Hunter Creek Hiking Trail

Nature offers a simple taste of adventure at the edge of Northwest Reno stowed behind the beautiful suburbs. This hike is a bit on the long side as it twists and turns around the edges of the hills in Northwest Reno. There is a steady uphill to downhill ratio as the hike unfolds in both directions. At the very beginning, there is a medium sized creek to cross. You can either barrel through and get your shoes soaked, or become a ninja and create a path across the exposed rocks at its lip. Upon arriving at the end of the hike there is a decent sized waterfall that is steadily flowing until all of the snow has melted. The hike will take roughly two and a half hours to complete depending upon the pace that is set. There is not much skill involved with this hike. Hiking it myself, I witnessed all ages coming and going, so invite your friends and family and enjoy a local experience.

5.     Grass Lake

Grass Lake is a moderate, yet lengthy hike nestled behind Fallen Leaf Lake in South Tahoe. The hike in total will take about three hours and is approximately two miles round trip. Along the hike there are gradual inclines and declines, but there are also pools of water that connect to Grass Lake and funnel into waterfalls along the entire trail. This hike is encompassed by evergreens and a forest floor that flows with water. There are many alternative routes that may have to be utilized during early to mid-summer due to high water levels. Don’t forget to look up when you finally arrive at Grass Lake, there are waterfalls higher than you can imagine, spewing with fresh snowmelt!