Lake Tahoe · Nightlife

14 State Highway 28 at the north-shore state line, a small casino whose real draw is the Crown Room — a 21-plus music venue that books touring rock, jam and Americana acts — plus a second bar stage, a sports book and a steak and lobster restaurant.

Walk south down Lake Tahoe Boulevard from South Lake Tahoe and the pavement crosses into Nevada; the casino hotels start immediately, and with them table games, late bars and the outdoor summer concert arena behind Harveys. It is a two-minute walk from the California side, which is why South Lake's own bars close earlier.

Public houses in Incline Village, Nevada and in Truckee, California, each with 16-plus of their own beers on tap, food, and dog-friendly outdoor seating. The Incline site runs free Thursday sunset concerts, "Tunes on Tap", at its amphitheatre through the warm months.

Performances on the Warren Edward Trepp Stage on the beach at Sand Harbor in Lake Tahoe Nevada State Park, running July and August. The sun goes down behind the stage over the lake during the first act. Bring layers — it gets cold on the sand after dark — and arrive early, as parking at Sand Harbor is tight.

On the corner in Old Town Truckee, about 30 minutes north of the lake and the closest thing the north shore has to a proper late bar: kitchen to 9:30pm midweek and 10pm at weekends, bar to 11:30pm and 12:30am on Friday and Saturday, with live music. Reserve if you want to eat.