Beyond the classic North Lake Tahoe activities like skiing and hiking, there are tons of hidden gems that are perfect for spending quality time with your family! From lakeside castles and epic bike rides to once in a lifetime lake cruises and hot air balloons, we’ve got the lowdown on awesome, family friendly activities in North Lake Tahoe! Make some room in your regular Tahoe itinerary because you’re going to want to start exploring these different sides of North Lake Tahoe! No matter what you’re hoping to do, you can find awesome activities that are perfect for you and your crew!
Choosing The Right Activities for Your Family
Age
Not every activity is right for every age so you’ll find a suggested age range with each recommendation to make it easy for you to find the perfect activity!
The Fun Factor ⭐
Whatever you decide to do during your vacation, you’re going to want it to be a ton of fun! These suggestions take into account the importance of having fun on your holiday and ensure that whether you have to book ahead or can just step outside your door, these activities will ensure an afternoon of fun!
Accessibility 👍🏻
For each of these activities, we make sure to find out how accessible each activity is for guests with all abilities!
Affordability 💲
You might be on vacation, but you don’t necessarily want to break the bank with activities! We’ll do our best to let you know how expensive each activity is!
Go Biking!
893 Tahoe Blvd Incline Village, NV 89451 | (775) 298-7431
Recommended Age: 6+
Fun Factor: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
Accessibility: 👍🏻👍🏻👍🏻
Affordability: 💲💲
If you’re looking for a fun way to explore North Lake Tahoe and get some exercise with the whole family, jumping on a bike and cruising along the scenic coastal paths is a great way to do just that! With these bike rentals, you can find all kinds of bikes from mountain bikes to cruisers and e-bikes! Most rentals come with all the accessories you need like locks and helmets and you can choose full or half day rentals to suit your needs! Many places also offer drop-off and pick-up services so be sure to call around and find the right shop for you!
Other Considerations
Physical Fitness
While biking can be fun, if you’re not used to biking in the mountains, you may find that it requires quite a lot of physical exertion. If this is an issue, you may want to rent an e-bike to help you and your kids tackle those hills!
Safety concerns
Even the most competent cyclist can get hurt when they’re biking so it’s important to make sure that everyone in your party is comfortable and capable on two wheels!
Be Prepared
Remember to pack some snacks and drinks to keep the little ones energized and hydrated!
Lake Tahoe Shakespeare Festival
Warren Edward Trepp Stage, Sand Harbor at Lake Tahoe NV State Park
2005 Highway 28, Incline Village, NV 89451| (775) 832-1616
Recommended Age: 8+
Fun Factor: ⭐⭐⭐⭐
Accessibility: 👍🏻👍🏻👍🏻👍🏻
Affordability: 💲💲💲
Looking to get a little bit of culture while you’re in North Lake Tahoe? You’re in the right place! The Lake Tahoe Shakespeare Festival is a great way to introduce your kids to the Bard’s work and enjoy theater with the stunning backdrop of Lake Tahoe! The outdoor stage, located in Incline Village on the Nevada side of North Lake Tahoe, is a great place to watch a performance with your whole family! The venue offers a wheelchair accessible section, assisted listening devices and there are sign-interpreted performances for the hearing impaired!
Other Considerations
Toddler and Baby Seating
Children ages 2 and under may attend mainstage performances for free and sit on the lap of a patron seated in the Upper and Lower Gallery sections only. Children older than 2 must be ticketed at the Youth Ticket rate in these seating sections. Please note that there is not enough space between seats for car-seats or strollers.
Tahoe Treetop Adventure Parks
725 Granlibakken Rd Tahoe City, CA 96145 | (530) 807-1004
Recommended Age: 6+
Fun Factor: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
Accessibility: 👍🏻👍🏻
Affordability: 💲💲💲
If you have kids who like to be adventurous and a little daring, this is a great option! Tahoe Treetop Adventure Parks is a fun and unique recreation center that offers various rope courses amidst the towering trees! Here, you can create lasting memories with your whole family as you spend a day navigating numerous rope courses, ziplining, crossing suspension bridges and more!
Other Considerations
Safety & Fears
While Tahoe Treetop Adventure Parks take every precaution to ensure the safety of all their guests, climbing high among the trees and ziplining can be somewhat dangerous. Additionally, you may want to assess what level of adventure your little ones are comfortable with. There are some kids who, no matter how safe they are, don’t enjoy navigating courses high in the air.
Beach Day
Recommended Age: 0+
Fun Factor: ⭐⭐⭐⭐
Accessibility: 👍🏻👍🏻👍🏻
Affordability: 💲
One of the best ways to spend a sunny day in North Lake Tahoe is at a beach! Whether you’re staying near Kings Beach, or in Olympic Valley near Commons Beach, the beautiful turquoise waters of Lake Tahoe are perfect for cooling off during a heat wave! Plus, you can rent kayaks or paddle boards to launch from the beaches and enjoy an afternoon of paddling around the shores! This is a great option for families with a wide range of kids’ ages looking for a fun day out for everyone!
Other Considerations
Sun Protection
If there’s one way you can ruin your holiday is with a nasty sunburn or heat stroke! So make sure to bring sun protection, reapply sunscreen often and pack plenty of snacks and water to keep everyone hydrated and happy!
Safety
Spending a day near the water with kids can be an incredible experience for them but it’s incredibly important to keep them in your sight and make sure that they are fitted with a PFD that is appropriate for their size and weight.
KidZone Museum
11711 Donner Pass Rd Truckee, CA 96161 | (530) 587-5437
Recommended Age: 0-7
Fun Factor: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
Accessibility: 👍🏻👍🏻👍🏻👍🏻
Affordability: 💲
When you’re looking for a place to keep your busy little one occupied and escape the snow in the winter and the sun in the summer, the KidZone Museum is a great option! KidZone Museum is a toddler and small child oriented museum and is one of the best settings for kids to have a fun and educational experience! Your kiddos will have such a fun time making crafts, doing art, conducting experiments, dressing up in costumes, and climbing on the indoor gym that they won’t realize that they’re also learning! The infant area is also perfect for babies and small toddlers making this museum a stress-free place for parents to let their kids explore and have fun!
Other Considerations
Health
You’ll want to make sure that your little one is healthy when visiting to ensure that you don’t spread germs to other children and guests.
Horseback Riding
Recommended Age: 5-6+
Fun Factor: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
Accessibility: 👍🏻👍🏻👍🏻
Affordability: 💲💲💲
Horseback riding in North Lake Tahoe is an incredible experience for the whole family! No matter where you’re staying in the region, you can find fantastic stables with stunning trail rides, friendly people and gorgeous horses! Whether you’re staying in Olympic Valley or Truckee you can head out and explore the gorgeous landscape on a horse.
Other Considerations
Fears and Allergies
While all the horses that are used for family trail rides are calm, gentle animals, some children may find their size overwhelming and can be a bit tentative about getting on their back. Additionally, if your kiddo has allergies to animals or hay and they haven’t ever been around horses, it’s important to be aware that they could have a reaction to the environment and you’ll want to bring allergy medication with you.
Truckee River Raft Company
185 W. River Rd., Tahoe City, CA 96145 | (530) 583-0123
Recommended Age: 2+
Fun Factor: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
Accessibility: 👍🏻👍🏻👍🏻👍🏻
Affordability: 💲💲💲
River rafting is a popular activity in North Lake Tahoe and an exciting way to spend an afternoon! There are quite a few river rafting companies in the region but if you’re looking for the best one to enjoy with your whole family, the Truckee River Raft Company is it! The 2-3 hour raft rides will take you down the Truckee River so you can take in the breathtaking scenery and enjoy a few lively, but manageable, rapids – plus kids aged 2-5 are free!
Other Considerations
Safety
While all rafters are given all the necessary safety equipment necessary and the river route is fairly gentle for all ages, any water activities are a little risky so it’s important to keep a close eye on kiddos at all times
Fears
Some kids may find the river a little intimidating so it’s important to assess whether your kids would like river rafting.
Time
This rafting experience is between 2-3 hours which makes it a great activity to do for an afternoon but for some smaller kids that could be too long. Make sure you take into consideration what your kids enjoy and what they can handle!
Historic Downtown Truckee
Recommended Age: 0+
Fun Factor: ⭐⭐⭐
Accessibility: 👍🏻👍🏻👍🏻👍🏻
Affordability: 💲
If you’re at a loss of what to do for one of your vacation days, head to Historic Downtown Truckee! This charming town offers a diverse range of shops, restaurants, family-friendly activities like the Old Jail Museum and during the summer you can enjoy the outdoor market and live music at Truckee Thursdays! Explore the new releases at Word After Word Books, grab a treat at Sweets Handmade Candies, pop into Truckee Variety Co. for a new toy or game, enjoy a delicious dinner at Squeeze In and so much more!
Other Considerations
Parking
If you’re not staying right downtown Truckee, you’ll want to drive and park which costs about $1 per hour on most streets.
Lake Tahoe Balloons
2435 Venice Dr E, South Lake Tahoe, CA 96150 | (530) 544-1221
Recommended Age: 6+
Fun Factor: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
Accessibility: 👍🏻
Affordability: 💲💲💲💲💲
If you want to make your North Lake Tahoe holiday absolutely unforgettable, consider booking a hot air balloon ride! Suitable for all ages, you’ll never forget floating peacefully over the region and looking down on the lake, mountains and hills. It’s not just a ride; it’s a once-in-a-lifetime experience, guaranteed to be a lifelong memory for your whole family, making Lake Tahoe Balloons a must if you’re looking for an extraordinary family-friendly activity.
Other Considerations
Accessibility
While this is an activity for everyone, it is not suitable for infants, anyone who recently has had surgery, is injured, experiences chronic pain, is in their third-trimester of pregnancy or who has recently been scuba diving. Pets, including service animals, aren’t not allowed. Some special arrangements can be made for people who have trouble walking, climbing stairs or standing for long periods of time; however, the baskets can’t accommodate canes, crutches, or oxygen tanks. Please call ahead to see if your necessary equipment or needs can be accommodated.
Lake Tahoe Sleigh Rides
Nevada State Park off Hwy 28, South of Incline Village | (775) 588-2953
Recommended Age: 0+
Fun Factor: ⭐⭐⭐⭐
Accessibility: 👍🏻
Affordability: 💲💲💲
These incredible sleigh rides in Incline Village are the perfect activity to enjoy with your family during the winter! The whole family will love dashing through the stunning, snowy North Lake Tahoe landscapes! With beautiful horses and smooth sleighs that slide over the glistening snow, you and your loved ones can take in the stunning sceneries and make stops along the way as you get the chance to take numerous pictures, listen to storytelling or poetry, and sing songs with your guide!
Other considerations
Time and wiggles
Some younger kids may have an issue sitting for long periods of time and listening to the narration so you’ll want to make sure your little one can sit still and enjoy a calm ride through the snow!
The Tahoe Gal
952 N Lake Blvd, Tahoe City, CA | (530) 583-0141
Recommended Age: 0+
Fun Factor: ⭐⭐⭐⭐
Accessibility: 👍🏻👍🏻
Affordability: 💲💲💲
This iconic 120 passenger paddle wheeler offers daily cruises to Emerald Bay and along the North and West Shores of Lake Tahoe! Your whole family will love climbing aboard this massive paddlewheeler and taking a cruise around Lake Tahoe!
Other Considerations
Accessibility
Wheelchairs are only able to be accommodated on the lower deck.
Vikingsholm Castle
Tahoma, CA 96142 | (530) 541-6498
Recommended Age: 6+
Fun Factor: ⭐⭐⭐⭐
Accessibility: 👍🏻👍🏻👍🏻
Affordability: 💲💲💲
This stunning castle is a beautiful example of Scandinavian architecture, perched on the shores of Emerald Bay. After a short hike, kids will love seeing and touring a real castle and pretending that they are in a fairy tale and parents can enjoy learning about the building and the historical significance of Vikingsholm! Check out the incredible views of Emerald Bay from the grounds and enjoy exploring the surrounding forests! Best suited for kids aged 6 and up, or any little ones who can manage a short hike and have an interest in history!
Frequently Asked Questions
Which Side Of Lake Tahoe Is Best For Families?
South Lake Tahoe offers a lot of activities and is a well developed area but if you’re looking for a calm, nature-forward family vacation, North Lake Tahoe is where you should book! With lots of incredible resorts, quaint mountain towns and peaceful lakeshore beaches, North Lake Tahoe is a stunning place for a family getaway!
What Is The Best Month To Go To Lake Tahoe?
That depends on what you and your family are looking for! If it’s skiing and snowboarding you’re after, anytime from November through to February is perfect! For hiking, snow sports and some mountain biking, you can find cheaper accommodations in the off-peak months of spring and fall. But if it’s summer recreation you’re interested in you’ll want to book your holiday for anytime from June through August.
How Many Days Are Enough For Lake Tahoe?
You can enjoy lots of what Lake Tahoe has to offer over a three or four day long weekend where you can spend all your time on the slopes in the winter and on the water in the summer. However, if you really want to get a taste of everything this incredible area has to offer, you may want to consider staying for a week or two!
