In North Lake Tahoe, where the lake spills into the Truckee River, is an unusual feature: Fanny Bridge. Travel guides have often instructed visitors to take advantage of their nature-viewing trip to the bridge and look around, very closely, and see how the bridge gets its name. The famous Mushroom Rock in Kansas may come to mind, if, like some other tourists you start looking around for the giant derriere-shaped land mass. Fanny Bridge must have been named for its surrounding natural resemblance to fannies, right?

Wrong. One of the best photo ops in the city occurs when the sightseers peer down into the Truckee's waters to see the masses of glittering rainbow trout below. Step back a few feet, where you'll see in full view the rounded backsides of the gawkers leaning over the bridge's rails. Aha! Fanny Bridge. UK travelers are somewhat more confused, as they use the word to describe a different part of the anatomy. Be sure and snap a shot if you see a head-scratching Brit.

Fanny Bridge isn't just an elaborate punchline, though. Besides the view and the massive trout - which you can feed - raft rentals are available close by so you can travel downstream yourself along with the fish. The self-guided raft tours allow you to cool off, relax and float the Truckee River for a full five miles, ending at River Ranch Pond. The run takes about two to four hours, and although it's more of a leisurely rafting experience, there are some small rapids. Time your outing just right and you can cap it off with dinner and a drink at the River Ranch's bar and restaurant.

If you want to exert yourself just a tad more, bike rentals are right next to the bridge. The trail is four miles, also ending at river Ranch, and is fairly flat and easy (your whole family can make this ride without complaint). You can return your bikes and pick up your car right at the same spot.

A stop at Fanny Bridge is a no-brainer for travelers who want to spend some time outdoors, but aren't up for backbreaking sports or steep hikes. Plan to spend an afternoon biking or rafting; don't forget to feed the trout, and be sure and make as many jokes as possible about the "view" at Fanny Bridge. Here's one for grandpa: tell him the bridge was designed by Seymour Butts.

This guide to your thirteen-year-old boy's best day in Lake Tahoe was brought to you by Elizabeth Kelly.