Lake Tahoe Attractions

If you have only one day to spend in South Lake Tahoe, take this mountain ride. My twin 6-year-old boys begged for a second trip up Heavenly Mountain. We went up 2.5 miles to see a spectacular view of Lake Tahoe at The Deck -- a 14,000-square-foot place to breath in the jaw-droppingly beautiful Tahoe view. Pack a picnic lunch, and snack at one of the clean picnic tables while taking in the phenomenal view. You'll also find wandering rangers, who want more than anything to be asked about their favorite topic.

HeliTahoe offers scenic tours of Tahoe at all price ranges. Fly for 10 minutes over Emerald Bay, 20 minutes over the south shore, 30 minutes over Sand Harbor, or take a 60-minute sunset cruise. All offer very cool experiences.

For most of us, the word "museum" conjures up images of boring stuff to look at. Not so at this kids' museum. From its elaborate farm theme with small versions of haylofts and ridable miniature tractors to its adorable playhouse, it's all about hands-on fun. One night every month, the Kid Zone offers a "Parents Night Out." For a reasonable price, you can leave the kids in play heaven from 5:30 p.m. until 9:00 p.m. Call for prices and scheduling.

Ski enthusiasts throughout the world know Tahoe, thanks to the 1960 Winter Olympics at Squaw Valley USA. And, while Squaw is certainly a go-to resort for top-flight skiers (and families too, we might add), locals and regulars know that Squaw is but one of a bevy of fine resorts, each delivering its own particular brand of charm and first-class schussing for families with skill levels that range from beginner to black-diamond hot-dogger.

The South Shore is home to family-friendly Heavenly, Homewood, Kirkwood and Sierra-at-Tahoe ski resorts. On the North Shore, you'll find Alpine Meadows, Mount Rose Ski Tahoe, Sugar Bowl, Northstar-at-Tahoe and Squaw.

See our Tahoe Ski Resorts article for more information on these resorts.

MS Dixie II is an old paddlewheel boat that actually hauled cotton on the Mississippi in the 1920's. One of my 6-year-old sons devoured every moment of the two-hour cruise from Zephyr Cove to the famed Emerald Bay, but the other boy, also 6, put his head down on an indoor table and fell asleep. My husband and I enjoyed the trip, especially when we made it to Emerald Bay and learned about Vikingsholm Castle.

Magic Carpet Golf has two locations -- one on the north shore and a second on the south shore -- to serve when that inevitable miniature golf urge hits. It's fun and entertaining for the kids.

Commons Beach in Tahoe City
This one is too rocky for great swimming, but kids can build sandcastles and navigate the fun climbing wall and play structure. Free Sunday summer concerts, grassy areas, bathrooms and picnic tables under trees are offered.

Kings Beach State Recreation Area
At this classic beach, spend an entire day soaking up everything summer. The kids will love the great play structure, free weekly movies and live concerts.

Sand Harbor State Recreation Beach
This is Lake Tahoe's sweetest strip of sand, featuring turquoise water, fun rock formations to climb and jump from, easy parking, great bathrooms, barbecues and picnic tables.

A biking enthusiast friend recently told me that he had once thought, "why would I pay good money to bike down a mountain? I can bike for free anytime on the river trails." Last summer, he finally decided to do a day at the Northstar Bike Park and proceeded to spend 13 days last summer alone blasting down the trails, jumping hills, and maneuvering around obstacles. Mountain biking at Tahoe is for the thrill-seekers among us, not for those who love a quiet Sunday ride. The rides are steep (full protective gear required), and injuries can occur, so proceed with wisdom and caution.

With an incredible setting and scene-stealing back drop of Lake Tahoe, this event is certainly not "much ado about nothing." Lake Tahoe's Shakespeare Festival is famous in these parts. If you're in Tahoe (north or south), find time to sit under the stars in this beautiful outdoor amphitheater, and enjoy this classic Tahoe summer pastime. Visit the festival's site, and click on the "for kids" window. You'll find well-designed programs for children that help kids become comfortable and familiar with the Bard's important works.

Round Hill Pines Beach & Marina
Beautiful Round Hill Beach offers great parking, bathrooms and the best in water sports, including paddle boats and wave runners.

Regan Beach
More of a park then a beach, Regan beach provides a fun play structure, volleyball court and extensive snack bar. Regan is also is a great place to catch the fireworks on the Fourth of July. You'll be close enough to the magic, but far away from the gridlock of traffic.

Meeks Bay
This is Tahoe at its best -- crystal-clear swimming water, white-sand beaches. Picnic, barbecue, and make great memories in the great family atmosphere.

Zephyr Cove
Like Hawaii, this area offers lots of water sports, sand, sun and maybe even a margarita or two. Zephyr Cove offers great parking, bathrooms and activities.

The Tahoe Adventure Company offers kayak tours, hiking, biking and rock climbing -- all with expert tour guides. From May to October, try a two-hour introductory paddle, or go for the five-hour trip, and really get to know the intricacies of Lake Tahoe. Sunset and moonlight trips are always popular, but so is an astronomy tour. The "lodge to lodge" kayak paddle program lets you paddle from one amazing hotel on the lake to another, spend the night, enjoy the amenities and awaken ready for a new day of paddling and exploring.

As a kid, I had an absolute blast whitewater rafting down the Truckee River. Almost four decades later, I have great memories of the fun my family and I had when we booked a trip with another family and let the company handle everything, from life jackets to a white-tablecloth lunch. And that's exactly how the Tahoe White Water Tour folks handle it, too. They take care of everything, from start to finish, so you can sit back and enjoy the wild ride. Call to discuss specific river rides, kids' ages and skill levels. Kids 8 and older have the most fun. This activity is highly recommended.

Taylor Creek is absolutely a don't-miss place to take the whole family if your plans include a face-to-face experience with the wilds of Lake Tahoe. We just happened to visit during October, when the Kokanee Salmon spawn (laying eggs and then dying), and a black bear sauntered out of the brush and calmly reached into the creek for easy pickings. Summers are wonderful at Taylor Creek. Special programs for kids, ages 6 to 12, are on the schedule almost every day. Spend evenings sitting around a campfire, hearing legends and facts about the region. Smokey the Bear and Mark Twain are known to make scheduled visits to talk about the Tahoe region. It's an easy walk for little legs, and strollers a breeze to navigate on these trails.

Vikingsholm Castle is a win-win activity for families. Parents will find the castle fascinating, thanks to its rich history and architecture, and kids will love it for the running around and swimming activities the castle affords. Caution for parents with small kids: It's a steep, 1.7-mile walk to this castle, and, if you're not used to the thin mountain air and elevation, it can be a challenge. However, I've seen 5- and 6-year-olds hike to the castle, so it's certainly possible. There are plenty of nice resting spots along the way. On the trail down, you'll see butterflies, wild flowers and waterfalls, and at the castle itself boasts 39 rooms to explore.