Don’t forget to double check hours and COVID restrictions before venturing out.
I have been going to South Lake Tahoe with my parents for years. Now I get to share the beautiful lakes and mountains with my own kiddos. There are plenty of family fun activities you can enjoy in this beautiful area, rain or shine. These are all in (or near) South Lake Tahoe.
Climbing, Zipping, Trekking… Oh My!
Tahoe Treetop Adventure Park is the #1 outdoor activity on Trip Advisor in Tahoe City, and I can see why! This aerial park looks awesome. I can’t wait to check it out once our littles ones are old enough (ages 5 and up). Tahoe City is about 30 miles from South Lake Tahoe, so not too bad.
Take a Hike!
The weather and landscape create the perfect setting for a fun family hike. Tahoe has numerous hikes, but these are some of my favorites.
[Side note- Our toddler is more advanced than most with his hiking skills. Proceed with caution. These are merely hiking spot recommendations, but use your own discretion as to what you and your own kids are capable of, how well they listen, hold your hand, etc.]
One of my favorites is along Echo Lake. It doesn’t get as crowded, and both grandparents and toddlers can do it. The trail is relatively flat with some small rocks in the pathway, so it’s not too tough.
It could also easily be done with a baby or toddler in a carrier, but ours just wasn’t havin’ that …
The large boulder rocks along the mountainside path ahead make a great scenic lunch spot, perfect to take in the beautiful lakeside views.
At age 1½ our little guy was able to do 1½ miles, with a lot of handholding for rocky terrain and a few short ledges. But by the time he was 2½ years old (in the picture) he set a mean pace for my pregnant self for, well… funny it was about 2½ miles. Hmm, maybe this year we go for 3½ miles?
Little tip: there is a rope swing up ahead from which you can swing off the rocks into the frigid water. We weren’t that adventurous, but a couple other groups were having a blast.
Eagle Falls is a more popular (but challenging!) hike with its “staircase” of rocks, which was “23 flights” to Eagle Lake – and worth every “floor”!
The rest of the hike was safer than this “staircase” with a closer mountainside and much less of a drop-off. We still had to take turns with some hand-holding at times. With a few rest breaks, the grandparents met us near the top with IG-worthy views of Emerald Bay.
The parking lot at the trailhead is small and fills up fast. There is also parking along the highway, but get there early. You won’t be happy finishing the hike and then having another mile hike to the car.
Have one parent go get the car and come back to pick up the little ones, so they aren’t trekking down the curvy mountain highway. Yea. Highway.
The drive to get to the trailhead is just as magical as the hike. Crystal blue waters surround the road, with Emerald Bay on one side and Lake Tahoe on the other. Go see it for yourself!
Explore the Shore, on Wheels
Rent a bike (and of course a trailer or toddler seat for the LO) at Anderson Bicycle Rental and cruise down the family friendly National Forest Bike Trail, which is paved, safe, and away from traffic. This was our own toddler seat in the pic below.
Make a quick stop at the Rainbow Trail, which starts at the Taylor Creek Visitor Center. Here the youngsters can learn about wildlife with some old school faded signs. For a better view peek at some salmon through the underwater chamber. If you happen to visit in the fall when the salmon spawn, keep your eyes peeled for bears!
Keep on pedalin’ and stop at one of the picnic spots along the shore. This ride is pretty easy, but you’ll still earn a yummy ice cream at the popular Camp Richardson’s Ice Cream Parlor. Maybe this not-so-happy camper would have been a bit happier if he had an ice cream back there.
Have A Day at the Beach
Parasailing and paddle boating in Tahoe are some of my favorite memories with my dad as a child. Years later, I get to have that same fun with my little guy.
But you don’t have to be active or spend a lot of moolah to enjoy this gorgeous lake. Bring your sunscreen and beach toys and settle in the sand at one of these popular beaches:
Both charge for parking and get crowded quickly, so get there early.
- Zephyr Cove on the east shore off highway 50 offers volleyball, beach chair and umbrella rentals, parasailing/boating/jet-ski rentals, and a bar & grille. Leashed dogs are allowed on the north beach only, not the south.
- Richardson Beach and Marina on the south shore is just off highway 89 at Camp Richardson Resort. Kayak and paddleboat rentals, a lakeside restaurant and ice-cream parlor are all right there. Leave Fido at home – no dogs allowed.
There are plenty of other beach options in Tahoe. Here are just a few:
- Tallac Shoreline and Kiva Shoreline are both near Richardson and have smaller, narrow sandy shorelines, free parking, shaded areas, and allow leashed dogs
- Pope Beach is also near Richardson (no dogs allowed)
- Sand Harbor Beach (20 miles north of South Tahoe)
See the Lake from a Clear-Bottom Kayak
Clearly Tahoe has transparent kayaks for self-guided rentals, guided tours, or even LED Glow at night. Awesome!
They aren’t skimpy on the cost, but based on their stellar reviews, it’s worth it.
You can bring a 4-legged friend, but two-legged kiddos under 5 years old aren’t allowed. Hmm…Well, just another reason for us to come back in a few years, yeah?
Venture into the Great Outdoors
- Take in the views with a gondola ride up to the top of Heavenly Mountain Resort, where you can experience what they call an ‘Epic Discovery’. It includes an array of activities from mountain coaster and summer tubing, to zip lines and rope courses, hiking, and more. The ultimate adventure pass includes your gondola fee. Unfortunately, when we were there last it was temporarily closed due to COVID, but I can’t wait to try it all next time! Let me know what you guys think.
- My niece and nephew, ages 11 and 7, oh- and husband (unable to disclose his age), had a blast at the Bijou Bike Park. It’s in the Bijou Community Park which has a playground, disc golf, volleyball and basketball courts, a dog park, skateboard park, covered gazebos with BBQ pits, and a railroad exhibit.
- Raft the river rapids with Tributary Whitewater Tours out of Truckee (about 1.25 hour drive from South Lake Tahoe). Suitable for ages 4 and up.
- Every year as a child, I would drag my family to miniature golf at Magic Carpet Golf for my birthday. I haven’t been back in years, but the reviews online are still 4½ stars. Heavenly Village Mini-Golf is smaller and less impressive, but in a more convenient location (near restaurants, movie theater, shops).
- Throw on a funky hat (or don’t) and check out the Gatsby Festival for some quirky fun. It’s held annually in August at the Tallac Historic Site. Enjoy the old-time cars and fire truck, quick dress-up with outdoor photo op, live music, and games. My nephew devoured the pie eating contest, while my niece mastered the crafts, and Jameson kept busy with the little toys, dancing to live music and checking out the old fire truck on display. The same location also hosts 1920’s style family-fun “Heritage Days” and kids baking classes throughout the summer.
Or…Keep the Excitement Indoors
If the weather doesn’t cooperate with your beautiful outdoor plans, fear not, for there are plenty of rainy-day options that I’ve researched for you.
I haven’t personally tried any because we are usually there in the summer when the weather is gorgeous, but these all had good reviews:
- Tahoe Tot Spot offers play-room activities for newborn to eight years old. The fun includes a trampoline, ball pit, climbing wall, and so much more.
- In the mood for some brain-teasing fun? Trapped in Tahoe, Inc and Puzzle Room Tahoe are both good options for escape room activities, with the former having slightly better reviews on TripAdvisor. Another activity more suitable for the older kids though.
- Blue Granite Climbing Gym offers month and day-passes for kids and adults to test their rock-climbing skills.
- Skate your heart out at the Lake Tahoe Ice Arena
South Lake Tahoe is a beauty all its own. The family fun is infinite, in any season really, it just depends whether you fancy the sun or snow. Check it out for yourself and let me know what you think!
After you work up an appetite with all this hiking and biking, hit up one of the best restaurants in Tahoe.
