Outdoors

The Tower: Best icon to see destroyed

The annual Burning Man festival in the desert north of Reno is so wide open for interpretation that it could fit with many of the cards of the Major Arcana, but somehow The Tower seems most appropriate. In most decks, the Tower is usually depicted on fire, crumbling in some sudden act of destruction. It signifies a sudden, often perilous, change or the quick disillusionment of some grand folly. The bigger they are, the harder they fall. It’s often considered an ill omen, but every moment of destruction is followed, phoenix-like, by a rebirth.

Readers choice

Best spot to smooch under the stars

1. Lake Tahoe

2. Windy Hill

3. Truckee River

Best spot to run around naked

1. Burning Man

2. Lake Tahoe

3. At home

Best spot to hike

1. Lake Tahoe

2. Mount Rose

3. Galena Creek

Best snowboarding

1. Mount Rose Ski Tahoe

22222 Mt. Rose Highway, 849-0704

2. Northstar-at-Tahoe

5001 Northstar Drive, Truckee, (800) 466-6784

3. Squaw Valley USA

1960 Squaw Valley Road, Olympic Village, Calif., (800) 403-0206

Best ski resort

1. Mount Rose Ski Tahoe

22222 Mt. Rose Highway, 849-0704

2. Squaw Valley USA

1960 Squaw Valley Road, Olympic Village, Calif., (800) 403-0206

3. Northstar-at-Tahoe

5001 Northstar Drive, Truckee, (800) 466-6784

Best skiing

1. Mount Rose Ski Tahoe

22222 Mt. Rose Highway, 849-0704

2. Squaw Valley USA

1960 Squaw Valley Road, Olympic Village, Calif., (800) 403-0206

3. Northstar-at-Tahoe

5001 Northstar Drive, Truckee, (800) 466-6784

Best place to swim

1. Lake Tahoe

2. Truckee River

3. Pyramid Lake

Best place to ride a personal watercraft

1. Lake Tahoe

2. Pyramid Lake

3. Boca Reservoir

Best picnic spot

1. Lake Tahoe

2. Truckee River

3. Rancho San Rafael Regional Park

1595 N. Sierra St.

Best outdoor beer garden

1. Lincoln Lounge

306 E. Fourth St., 323-5426

2. Great Basin Brewing Co. in Sparks

846 Victorian Ave., 355-7711

3. Silver Peak

135 N. Sierra St., 284-3300

124 Wonder St., 324-3970

Best mountain biking

1. Peavine Mountain

2. Flume Trail

3. Northstar-at-Tahoe

5001 Northstar Drive, Truckee, (800) 466-6784

Best local hot springs

1. David Walley’s Hot Springs Resort and Spa

2001 Foothill Road, Genoa, (775) 782-8155

2. Sierra Hot Springs

521 Campbell Hot Springs Road, Sierraville, Calif., (530) 994-3773

3. Carson City Hot Springs [tie]

1500 Old Hot Springs Road, Carson City, (888) 917-3711

4. Grover Hot Springs State Park [tie]

3415 Hot Springs Road, Markleeville, Calif., (530) 694-2248

Best golf course

1. Lakeridge Golf Course

1218 Golf Club Drive, 825-2200

2. D’Andrea Golf Club

2351 N. D’Andrea Parkway, Sparks, 331-6363

3. The Resort at Redhawk

6590 N. Wingfield Parkway, Sparks, 626-1000