Mahatma Gandhi once said, "When I admire the beauty of the moon, my soul expands in worship of the Creator." Expand your soul this summer by taking advantage of all there is to do in Tahoe under the light of a full moon.

Full moon dates are as follows:
Tuesday, May 20; Wednesday, June 18; Friday, July 18; Saturday, Aug. 16 and Monday, Sept. 15.

Psst: Want to know our No. 1 pick for enjoying the full moon in Lake Tahoe? From your lakefront vacation rental! Indulge in luxury, find your Lake Tahoe vacation rental here.

Tahoe City 1. Kayak Navigate the lake and explore the shores of Lake Tahoe under a full moon with Tahoe City Kayak. The shop will host Moonlight Paddle Kayak Tours on full moons in May through August. Meet at the Tahoe City store for these special event kayak tours where paddlers will be outfitted with gear and given a safety instruction talk. Tours will launch from Tahoe City just before sunset. Paddle along the shore and watch the sun slowly sink behind the Sierra, then enjoy the stillness of the lake at dusk. Continue on a leisurely paddle while you watch the full moon fill the sky and use its light to explore the lake in a completely new way. Tours finish in Tahoe City. For more information, visit www.tahoecitykayak.net, call (530) 581-4336, or email tahoecitykayak@gmail.com 2. Listen Relax under the full moon as you enjoy the music of the Lake Tahoe Music Festival. The festival starts July 17 and lasts through Aug. 9. The Lake Tahoe Music Festival celebrates its 26th anniversary this year of bringing contemporary artists to venues in North Lake Tahoe. The night before July’s full moon, check out the festival’s opening night with best-selling saxophone player Dave Koz at the amphitheater at Homewood Mountain Resort. Show starts at 7 p.m. Koz entertains with a mix of original compositions and chart-topping standards all with a contemporary jazz touch. When the moon is still full on July 19, enjoy The Christian Scott Quartet, backed by the Reno Philharmonic Orchestra. The Christian Scott Quartet brings a new generation of trumpet sound and an eclectic mix of rock, R&B and modern jazz to Homewood Mountain Resort. Show starts at 7 p.m. To purchase tickets or view a complete festival schedule visit www.TahoeMusic.org, or call (530) 581-1184.

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Kings Beach 3. Hike Take a short hike up to one of Tahoe’s best panoramic views of the lake and watch the next full moon illuminate the basin. From the intersection of Highway 28 and Highway 267 in Kings Beach, drive 2.75 miles northwest up Highway 267 toward Brockway Summit to the Tahoe Rim Trail trailhead. You will see a parking pullout on the left and a steep dirt road on the right, Forest Service Road 16N56. Park on either side of the highway, but this trailhead is on the right, or uphill side. If you reach Brockway Summit at the top of the hill, you have gone a half-mile too far. Bring warm clothes and a flashlight as you head out on your hike. Follow signs to Vista Point, about a mile and a half up the trail. There you will find boulder piles that make for great moon-gazing spots. Check out incredible views of the lake, or turn around and take in Martis Valley by moonlight. Visit www.tahoerimtrail.org for more information.

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Incline Village 4. Watch It will truly be a Midsummer Night’s Dream in Tahoe this summer as you take in the Lake Tahoe Shakespeare Festival under light of the full moon at Sand Harbor. The festival lasts from July 10 through Aug. 17. The 2008 season is set to be a phenomenal year with the festival’s first ever production of Richard III and the return of audience favorite, A Midsummer Night’s Dream. On the full moon July 18 at 7:30 p.m., enjoy A Midsummer Night’s Dream, a complex and thought-provoking comedy as well as one of the Bard’s most original plays. Call 888-32-SHOWS (888-327-4697) for more information or visit www.LakeTahoeShakespeare.com. 5. Walk Take a leisurely stroll to the Stateline Lookout in Crystal Bay to check out unparalleled views of the full moon on Lake Tahoe. Bring warm clothes and someone to snuggle with as you gaze out on a panoramic view of the basin. Hike is about a half mile from the road. Take Highway 28 North from Tahoe City and turn left on Reservoir Drive, just past the Tahoe Biltmore Casino. Turn right on Lakeshore Avenue, then left on Forest Service Road 1601 (by the iron pipe gate). Park in the lot just below the lookout.

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South Shore 6. Camp Take in the full moon from the bow of a boat as you boat camp in Emerald Bay. The Emerald Bay boat-in, 20-site campground is on the northwest shore of Emerald Bay. Favorite sites are 1, 21 and 22, which are set at lakeside for sweeping water views and awesome night-sky views of stars and full moons. Cost is $20, first-come, first-served, for campsite and mooring buoy (for power boats). In the summer season, reserve a site at (800) 444-7275. Emerald Bay State Park, (530) 541-3030; if no answer, D.L. Bliss State Park, (530) 525-7277; Sugarpine Point State Park, (530) 525-9528; www.parks.ca.gov. 7. Stay Get the best view of the full moon far and away from everyone else, high up in Eldorado National Forest. Originally used as a fire lookout station, Robbs Hut is now available to the general public as a mountaintop hideaway. Twenty miles west of Lake Tahoe and set at 6,686, Robbs Hut is easily accessed by car during summer months. You’ll be roughing it though, as there's no electricity or running water, and you'll cook your meals on a propane stove. The hut is cozy and rustic, with two basic rooms and three sleeping platforms, plus a fire ring and a picnic table. Weekend reservations are tough, so it’s good news most of summer’s full moons shine mid-week. For more information, call (530) 647-5415 or visit www.recreation.gov

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Truckee 8. Get Lost Lose yourself in a full moon at the Lost Trails Lodge. Lying six miles northwest of Squaw Valley and four and a half miles northeast of Truckee, the Lost Trail Lodge offers modern amenities in a rustic atmosphere, making for a comfortable backcountry destination and fantastic destination to take in a full moon. This 3,700 square foot retreat is completely off-grid and is powered predominantly with solar panels. Four cabins, each with their own bath (three with Jacuzzi tubs!), parlor stove, mini fridge, and entrance from the expansive deck, are attached to the great room and kitchen by wide hallways. Options for accessing the lodge in the summer abound. Folks desiring a true adventure from start to finish can hike or mountain bike from the pavement’s end in Truckee, a 4 mile jaunt. Hiking or horse back riding in from the Pacific Crest Trail is also a great possibility. For those guests who don’t want to work so hard on their vacation, the summer months allow the luxury of driving to the lodge. 4-wheel drive vehicles park on site. There is a designated summer parking area for 2 wheel drives ½ mile from the lodge. For more information, call the Lost Trail Lodge at (530) 320-9268.

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Reno - Beyond the Basin 9. Dance A full moon kicks off the Reno-Tahoe Blues Fest Aug. 16 and 17 so gaze up while you rock out to the star-studded line-up. This year’s performers include Gladys Knight, The Whispers, Jonny Lang, Mavis Staples, Ernie Johnson and Bobby Rush, just to name a few. Staged annually at Rancho San Rafael Park in Reno, the two-day festival celebrates the history, culture and spirit of the blues and attracts audiences from around the country to hear world-class performances. For more information, call (775) 857-3378 or visit www.RenoTahoeBluesFest.com.

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Anywhere on the Lake 10. Pier up Any dock around the lake will do (pending it’s public), so grab a blanket and a bottle of wine and head down to your nearest pier to gaze at the next full moon. Here’s a list of some Tahoe favorites: • Kaspian National Forest Picnic Area Two-thirds of the way between Tahoe City and Homewood, this pier is at the north end of a pleasant picnic area with a pebble beach, bicycle access and hike-in camping inland of the main road. • Skylandia Park South of Lake Forest development, picnic facilities with a small beach. At the end of Bristlecone in Tahoe City. • Kings Beach State Beach and Pier Public beach, picnic tables and barbecue grills. Off of North Lake Boulevard in Kings Beach. • Sugar Pine Point State Park The main attraction is the Ehrman Mansion. 175 campsites. Off of Highway 89 at Sugar Pine Point. • Round Hill Pines Beach Marina Off of Highway 50 at Stateline, Nev.

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