Folks looking to experience a peaceful view of Lake Tahoe's blue will find the seat of a kayak a great place to start. Featuring a rugged 72-mile coastline, speckled with hidden coves and beaches along the way, Tahoe poises itself as a kayaking Mecca. Choose between guided tours, self-guided day trips or the monster self-supported, five-day circumnavigation of the entire lake.

A handful of kayak outfitters offer rentals and lessons, but if you want to make the most of Tahoe's must-see lake landmarks, tours offer time-efficient, enjoyable alternatives to the choose-your-own-adventure approach.

Recommended tours

• Thunderbird Lodge
Owned in his heyday by the original eclectic Tahoe tycoon George Whittell, adds a little mystique and intrigue to the otherwise remote East Shore. Explore the ornate mansion complete with secret tunnels on a Wednesday-only tour offered by Tahoe City Kayak. Bonus: In addition to taking a ride in the Thunderbird time machine, folks also get to bask in the beautiful scenery passing Sand Harbor and Spooner Summit in the process.

• Emerald Bay
Get up close and personal with Tahoe's only island on a tour to Emerald Bay. Treat yourself to a treasure hunt and you just might find a sunken bathtub or a couple of ships while gliding over the sandy bottomed bay. On land visitors explore Fannette Island and its historic tea house on foot. While hordes of crowds pack the overlook on Highway 89 hundreds of feet above, accessing Fannette Island and Emerald Bay by kayak is an unforgettable and much less chaotic experience.

• By Sunset
Watching the alpenglow dance around Tahoe's peaks is best from lake level. Think Technicolor in surround sight. It's a must-see, must-do and every tour operator out there offers one.

• By Moon
There are few things as beautifully surreal as Tahoe by moonlight, but unfortunately motor boaters feel the same way. Be safe when traveling on the lake under moonlight and go with a tour. Tahoe City Kayak offers monthly dates for plying the cool, black waters under the silver glow.

• Truckee River Wildlife Tour
Get the best of both estuarine environments by paddling through the largest marsh and river estuary on the lake with Kayak Tahoe from South Lake Tahoe. A haven for avian life, this trip is a birder's must-do.

On-your-own approach

If you're planning to rent a watercraft and go on your own, choose your craft carefully. Tandems are the most efficient out there for two people. Plastic, sit-on-top kayaks offer the best versatility and stability for those unfamiliar with the "Eskimo roll" – righting a kayak from a flipped position. Canoes and sit-inside kayaks are recommended only for those experienced in "rolling" the boat. Still, this type of craft should carry float bags in the stern to help with flotation if open water bailing does occur.

Parties should travel early in the morning or in the evening after the winds have settled down to maximize efficiency on the water -- kayaks track much better in flat, calm water than wind chop common in the afternoons on the lake.

All rentals should come with paddles and lifejackets. It's also a good idea to bring a visor, warm layer, some food, water and sunblock. If you're planning on doing a point A to point B trip, ring up Kayak Cab (775-741-0735) to arrange a shuttle. And, if you're the type who likes to know where you're going and where you've been, by all means pick up the Lake Tahoe Water Trail Map ($8.95, available in most kayak shops on the lake).

* Wendy Lautner is a lifelong writer and adventurer. As a college student on that notorious "break," she migrated to the beautiful Lake Tahoe area from Michigan at around the turn of the century. Ever since, her life has revolved around the weather patterns - following the powder when it snows, the rivers when it rains or melts and the trails when everything dries out. If it's active and fun, Wendy's been there or will be there soon!