Best Times Ever?
Family Time.
A glistening turquoise pool stretching for miles. Pine-covered hills to hike. Lake Tahoe is an outdoor playground of epic proportions. And, no matter the season, Lake Tahoe’s abundance of kid-friendly fun will also keep parents blissfully entertained.
You’ve got a restless brood. Vacation is calling. The need to get away is real. But family travel destinations that appeal to everyone can be few and far between.
Where can you take the whole household for fun, adventure, dining and lodging that results in squeals of glee from parents and kids alike?
Lake Tahoe.
A glistening turquoise pool stretching for miles. Pine-covered hills to hike. Options for family fun in Lake Tahoe is an outdoor playground of epic proportions.
Family friendly activities are found around every turn in this alpine paradise. No matter the season, Lake Tahoe’s abundance of kid-friendly fun will also keep parents blissfully entertained.
Lake Tahoe is packed with lodging options the family will love, ranging from vacation rentals and quaint log cabins to multi-faceted resorts.
Book Basecamp Hotel’s “Great Indoors” room for a touch of the outdoors, but with amenities like a walk-in shower, plush bedding and wi-fi. Share tales around the indoor, faux log fire or picnic table before resting in camp-like bunk beds.
On the west side of Lake Tahoe, historic Camp Richardson is overflowing with accommodations.
“Visitors can camp out in . . . a tent or RV, stay in the historic Camp Richardson Hotel or Beachside Inn, or rent out the Richardson House, Marina Duplex or one of the many cabins,” Vanessa Alling, operations and marketing manager for Camp Richardson says.
Now that you’ve settled in, check out some Lake Tahoe Family Activities.
My kids blissfully fall into bed every night after our fun-filled days in Lake Tahoe. There’s too much to do, we need a week!
Veronica Coleman
Family Fun in Lake Tahoe
Lake Tahoe brings out the kid in all of us, all year round. From the towering alpine peaks offering mind-blowing vistas, endless snowbound excitement and extraordinary hikes, to the shimmering waters beckoning from below, Lake Tahoe is a boundless outdoor playground for all ages.
Limitless Activities in Lake Tahoe
Parent’s Night Out
When parents need a date night, here’s where you can go
See For Yourself
It’s wet outside. 🌧️
The temperature is 39°F.
Ready to snuggle by the fire?
In Lake Tahoe, days pass quickly outdoors when hiking and mountain biking, skiing, snowboarding, snowshoeing, and sledding. It’s a utopia for nature lovers and explorers.
“My kids blissfully fall into bed every night after the full days in Lake Tahoe,” Northern California resident and mom of two young boys Veronica Coleman says. “There’s too much to do; we need a week!”
Children don’t just leave with stories to share; they depart a bit more knowledgeable about the outdoors.
Lake Tahoe is an alpine paradise. What to do first? Horses, sleigh rides, what could bring grins to little faces faster?
Make a reservation with Borges Sleigh and Carriage Rides in winter or summer, pile into the sleigh and let massive Belgian horses guide your family on a magical excursion through the snow.
Plenty of family fun is also found at Zephyr Cove. A wide swath of sandy beach at the resort beckons sunbathers and swimmers. In the summertime, kick your adrenalin into overdrive on a parasailing adventure, hop on a jet ski, rent kayaks and paddleboards or gaze at the sunset on Tahoe’s famous paddlewheel boat, the M.S. Dixie.
On the other end of Lake Tahoe, get out and explore Camp Richardson, a resort established in the 1920s. Cool off at their old-fashioned ice cream shop, then visit the year-round Mountain Sports Center.
Experts there can help with bicycle rentals, trail maps and gear for extraordinary outdoor excursions with the kids. During the winter, head for the groomed hills surrounding Camp Rich. The sports center can also outfit your family with snowshoes, cross-country skis or sleds, then point you to the groomed trails.
Burgers, pizzas, tacos, barbecue—we’ve got little tastebuds covered in Lake Tahoe. But the selection doesn’t stop there.
Red Hut Café is a longtime local’s favorite for breakfast. Fuel up for playful days amidst bits of Tahoe’s history at this old-fashioned diner.
Down the road, freshly crafted brews can be sipped by big kids, while smaller appetites are sated with the comfort foods at Cold Water Brewery and Grill.
A cornucopia of culinary delight can also be found in Heavenly Village. Families will find something for the pickiest of eaters at Azul Latin Kitchen, California Burger Co. and Base Camp Pizza, among other restaurants, all within walking distance from each other.
Camp Richardson’s marina is headquarters for water-born adventures each summer. Find family fun fishing, sailing, renting a power boat or taking the Rum Runner cruise (with non-alcoholic beverages for little ones) to picturesque Emerald Bay.
In the heart of Lake Tahoe, Heavenly Lake Tahoe is aptly named. This mountain resort entices all ages with endless sources of amusement each summer and winter.
Grab an Epic Discovery Pass while the weather is warm and take a gondola ride to the top of Tahoe’s peaks, hike along jaw-dropping trails, then course down the mountain on Heavenly’s exhilarating mountain coaster.
In winter, go snow tubing, take a guided UTV tour, learn to ski or snowboard or show off your existing prowess. Your family will feel as if they’re on top of the world.
Looking for indoor excitement?
Test your penchants for problem-solving at the Puzzle Room Tahoe. Gather your group and wander the labyrinth of themed rooms filled with brain-stimulating challenges.
At The Loft Tahoe, bewilderment is a nightly mission. Ooh and ahh your way through their family-friendly, magician-studded performance, Magic Fusion, then follow it up with s’mores roasted over a fire pit.
A favorite all-ages indoor activity is the Arcade in Harveys Resort and the Arcade in Harrah’s Lake Tahoe.
Flatstick Pub at the Chalet combines indoor mini-golf (all ages before 6:00 pm) a fully stocked bar and a delicious restaurant.
Lake Tahoe is ideal for travel with kids. Let the little ones play the day away while you breathe a deep sigh of relief, gazing at some of the most exquisite scenery on the planet.
What’s that unfamiliar feeling? Sheer bliss.
Lake Tahoe is simply ethereal when temperatures chill. Lake Tahoe winters offer snow-capped exhilaration for the whole family. Take the kids on a magical horse-drawn sleigh ride through the snow, teach them to ski or snowboard, strap on some snowshoes, tube down glistening hills and ride a mountain coaster. Tahoe time brings the family closer. Come, let the fires over which s’mores are giddily roasted ignite stories and form memories to share for generations.
Fun for the Whole Gang
Tahoe epitomizes outdoor adventure, whether you’re skiing the area’s powdery slopes during the winter or splashing in the lake’s crystal-clear waters during the warmer months. Of course, kid-friendly good times don’t stop at the ski run or beach. From zip lining to escape rooms, outside-the-box activities raise the bar on family fun.
Family Memories in the MakingInsider Tips
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