Emerald Bay Cruise (M.S. Dixie II)

The M.S. Dixie II is a paddlewheel cruiser running narrated trips from Zephyr Cove to Emerald Bay, the most photographed inlet on Lake Tahoe. For non-golfing companions, this is the single activity that most efficiently communicates why the trip is worth taking.

The experience

The two-hour scenic cruise passes Fannette Island, the only island in the lake, with onboard narration covering basin geology and human history. The lake's clarity reads from the boat in ways shoreline viewing can't replicate, and Emerald Bay's colour, a product of depth and mineral content, registers best at close range from water. The paddlewheel format moves slowly enough to allow sustained observation of shoreline geology, and the narration adds context without becoming intrusive. Sunset dinner cruises extend the format into an evening event with a meal included. Afternoon departures fit naturally after a morning round, particularly for groups based on the south shore near Edgewood.

Logistics

Scenic cruises $55 to $75; sunset dinner cruises $60 to $90. Approximately two to two and a quarter hours. Indoor and outdoor seating; bring a layer because temperatures on the water sit below shore. Departs Zephyr Cove, roughly ten minutes from Edgewood Tahoe Resort. Late May through October, weather dependent. Book ahead for sunset cruises in July and August.