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10 Unique Things to do With Family in South Lake Tahoe
Where to Stay in South Lake Tahoe:
Hampton Inn & Suites South Lake Tahoe:
My family and I really enjoyed our stay at The Hampton Inn and Suites South Lake Tahoe. The lobby was so nice and welcoming with a great design. It was in a perfect location to explore and another bonus was that it included free breakfast! The rooms were nice and spacious and we loved the indoor pool and the nice Jacuzzi outdoors.
Hotel Azure:
Although a little more dated, Hotel Azure was a great place to stay, especially with families. It was also located in a great location and it was more like a little condo. We had 2 bedrooms, 2 bathrooms and a full kitchen which was so nice to be able to make our own meals and snacks. There are views of Lake Tahoe in the distance and there was an incredible pool and hot tub area.
1- Lakeside Beach
Lakeside Beach was the first beach we visited on arrival at South Lake Tahoe and it is truly breath taking. The surrounding mountain views, long sandy beach and crystal clear waters makes Lakeside Beach one of the top things to do in South Lake Tahoe. We were there on a chilly October morning, but there were still people brave enough to take a refreshing dip in the lake.
During the summer time, this is a popular beach to visit to swim, relax and rent a kayak or paddle board. This beach is especially great for families because of the playgrounds they have there. My toddler had so much fun playing on the playground and then chasing me all over the sand with the lake in the background. It’s a really great place to relax and just enjoy the atmosphere and we definitely created core memories here.
Definitely one of the best things to do with family in South Lake Tahoe!
2- M.S Dixie II Cruise-
One of the unique things to do in South Lake Tahoe that needs to be on every visitor’s bucket list is the M.S Dixie II. When I asked my Toddler what his favorite part of the trip was, he confidently says “The boat ride!”
The M.S. Dixie II is a paddle wheeler scenic cruise that can fit 500 passengers and is the largest cruising vessel in South Lake Tahoe. To board the boat, you will head to Zephyr Cove Resort and Marina. (Make sure to leave time to explore this area as well because it’s really beautiful!) This is such a fun and unique way to see Lake Tahoe from a completely different perspective.
Another fun thing you can do is to join the cruise for a sunset dinner cruise that actually also includes live entertainment and delicious entrees to choose from.
My great grandma recently lived in a city near Lake Tahoe before she moved to live with our family in Utah. She recently passed away and at her funeral there was a table of some of her photos from her life and I saw a photo of her in front of the M.S Dixie II which we had just gone on and it was just really special and a full-circle moment.
Unique Things to do With Family in South Lake Tahoe
3-Lakeside Trail at Regan Beach
Regan Beach was one of our favorite and top things to do in South Lake Tahoe. There is a playground here that literally faces the lake and it is seriously unreal. I can’t imagine living here and getting to take my little one to the park every day with this as my view. My toddler absolutely loved this park and mama was happy because of the amazing views. The water here was also incredibly clear. We visited Lake Tahoe in the Fall (highly recommend) and this place was also teaming with gorgeous Fall leaves.
Aside from the park, there is also a beach side trail here that you can follow a little ways down and have a nice little serene walk and view of the lake making this one of the top things to do in south lake Tahoe.
4- Rabe Meadow to Nevada Beach
Lake Tahoe is full of beautiful landscapes and hikes and Rabe Meadows Trail is definitely one of the top things to do in South Lake Tahoe. It begins at the intersection of Highway 50 and Kahle Blvd. It is near Lakeside Inn and Casino.
This trail and area was so fun with a toddler and we just spent a few hours exploring this whole area. There are also many side trails that lead to little streams and amazing huge rock areas and more. The trail ultimately leads to Nevada Beach, but this trail is definitely so fun for Toddlers because there is just so much to see and explore and look at. I loved the incredibly tall trees and massive boulders everywhere. It made this area particularly unique.
5- Taylor Creek
Taylor Creek is a really beautiful area in South Lake Tahoe. It is also very unique making it one of the top things to do with family in South Lake Tahoe. It’s unique because every Fall, you are able to witness salmon spawning. It’s crazy because you can actually watch the fish swim upstream to try and spawn. If you time it just right, you can actually see salmon jumping up the creek’s small waterfalls and rapids.
This was a very fun family friendly activity as my Toddler loved seeing all of the fish. This area is also beautiful and there are little walking trails and bridges along the creek. It is also great for families because it’s really educational. They get to witness this awe-inspiring event in nature close up. They get to learn about their life cycle through little educational signs throughout the area.
6- Explore Fallen Leaf Lake
Exploring Fallen Leaf Lake might be one of my very favorite top things to do in South Lake Tahoe. It’s so interesting that right next to this massive lake is another hidden little lake (very close to Taylor Creek). You need to hike just a little ways to the lake and it is completely worth it. The lake was so clear and the views were incredible.
It was incredibly peaceful here and I definitely recommend picking up a little picnic lunch and a blanket and spending the whole afternoon at this serene hidden gem. We had so much fun skipping rocks here and the views were seriously incredible.
7- Discover Fall Foliage in Hope Valley
A particularly unique thing to do in South Lake Tahoe in the Fall is to explore the nearby Hope Valley for Fall foliage. The drive over here was very scenic with many beautiful Fall leaves. We were recommended to stop at Desolation Hotel and explore a bit and there were some beautiful Fall leaves and we even found a cute little cabin that said St. Nick’s on it!
8- Tour Historic Homes at Valhalla Estates
The homes are closed for the season but it’s a great walk along the lake and you can view the historic homes from the outside. Parking is free and there’s a lot near the Valhalla Grand Hall sign board. You walk toward the lake – follow the signs toward Valhalla Boathouse Theatre and Valhalla Grand Hall.
9- Dine at The Woods Lake Tahoe
The Woods Lake Tahoe is a great place to relax and eat dinner after a long day of adventures in South Lake Tahoe. It’s a two-story Restaurant with a nice bar and a great menu selection. There is also a rooftop bar with great views.
The restaurant was also very family friendly and we had our 2-year old Toddler with us and the next table over had two little kids as well. Our little one got a grilled cheese and fries that were very delicious and my husband and I ordered the chicken pot pie and the nachos and we enjoyed both selections.
10- Hike in Van Sickle Bi-State Park
Van Sickle Bi-State Park is one of the most unique things to do in South Lake Tahoe. It’s a very accessible park near the State-line and Nevada casinos. It’s just a short climb to the trailhead and then you are already in a beautiful forest. It has amazing viewpoints also of the lake down below.
There are also hiking, biking, cross country skiing and snowshoeing opportunities here. There are also picnic tables dispersed throughout the park.
More Favorite Things to do in South Lake Tahoe
Taking an M.S Dixie II Cruise is fun for the whole family
Our toddler had so much fun exploring Rabe Meadow, one of the best things to do in South Lake Tahoe
The water was so clear at Fallen Leaf Lake!
Fall definitely has to be one of the best times to visit South Lake Tahoe. The colors were so vibrant!
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