NEVADA

We adore Lake Tahoe for family time and have been going for nearly two decades, with and without kids. Since COVID, summer in Tahoe has been insanely crowded; it’s hard to find parking near beaches, and it takes forever to drive even a short distance. So if you decide to go, especially in peak summer months, I highly suggest staying at a property with beach access that you can walk to so you spend the most time enjoying the visit instead of being stuck in traffic or circling a parking lot.

Lodging:

Several properties right on the lake have 1-bedroom set-ups with kitchens, which makes meals much easier at night, and also gives some space for littles to nap and sleep. Hilton Vacation Club (South) was a good choice for us as it had a one bedroom option and a balcony. Several others along South Lake side do as well, though they can get very pricey during high season.

Food:

The influx in visitors has made eating something that needs to be planned. Higher-end places like Rivas on the water or some of the hotel spots are best with reservations. Even breakfast/brunch can easily see a 60 minute wait at favorites like Heidi’s Pancake House. If you have littles, bringing snacks, finding a hotel with food options or getting a place with a kitchen will greatly improve your visit.

Beaches:

There are several public beaches we love (and actually got married at), Round Hill Pines. It has a tiny parking lot, so it fills up very quickly, meaning the beach itself often isn’t as crowded, but you have to get there early. It is a wildly steep descent to the lake from the road, so the beach is only open in the summer and completely shuts off access in the winter due to that. You can go to Zephyr Cove any time, which is right next to it. The plus to Zephyr is that they have more amenities (volleyball court, bathrooms, food, next to the hotel); however, it gets very crowded and can be a younger, more rowdy crowd. There are also public beaches on the California side of Tahoe, but it is important to note that you cannot have alcohol at these, which can work great for families, but less so if you want to drink at the beach. Some are dog-friendly, but not all.

Hikes:

The Emerald Bay area has a lot of great hikes, but really, the entire area does as Tahoe is nestled in the mountains.

Snow:

In the winter, you have several great ski runs to choose from, snow parks for kids and adults alike and you can rent snowshoes at the Ridge near the Heavenly Gondola. They have great hiking trails in the summer, which turn into snowshoe paths in the winter, and make for an awesome workout, whether you’re wearing your kids or not. This is much harder for littles to navigate though. I’ve skied up in North Lake Tahoe but we are less winter-sport-people and the one time I did ski it as a bizarre summer where there was still snow on the 4th of July, so needless to say I’m not as versed in skiing if that’s your priority.