Lake Tahoe Outdoor Activities Guide - Children's Activities

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High Sierra Backpacks Children's Activity Areas
Lake Tahoe Outdoor Activities Guide > Children's Activities

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Children's Activity Areas

Sledding: Echo Summit Sno-Park on U.S. Highway 50

The State of California Department of Parks and Recreation runs two sno-parks at Echo Summit on land leased from the U.S. Forest Service.

Jim Ussery operates a concession at one of the sno-parks, on the east side of Highway 50, where Jim and other famiily members sell snacks and equipment and rent sleds and saucers at the park. They also sell sno-park permits on site. The fee is just $5 for the whole family. Bring your own tube, snowboard or garbage can lid, if you like!

Trout fishing at Lake Tahoe: Jackson Catches One!

Sledding: Other Lake Tahoe area sledding hills...

South Shore Sledding: Across from the South Lake Tahoe airport on Highway 50 south of the "Y". You can't miss it. However, parking is limited, and you can't park on the highway. Bring your own sled, since this is not a commercial hill.

North Shore Sledding: At Spooner Summit, sledding is popular on the southwest corner of Highways 50 and 28. Bring your own sled, since this is not a commercial hill. (A Few Warnings: Do not park on the highway interchange, where you will get a ticket! And, please be especially careful when driving in this area, which is the scene of many high-speed accidents.) Access to parking is from Highway 28.

Taylor Creek: Because Kids LOVE Fish!

Running from Fallen Leaf Lake to Kiva Beach at Lake Tahoe is Taylor Creek.This alpine stream is now one of Lake Tahoe's most popular attractions. The entire area, from the underground view stream profile chamber to Kiva Beach, is great for kids. It gives a glimpse through big windows into the alpine stream habitat, as if you are under the water!

The National Forest Service has created interpretive hiking trails throughout the meadow where the creek approaches Lake Tahoe. The Lake Tahoe Basin Management Unit Visitors Center is located at the focus of these trails.

On the west side of Highway 89 the stream is a nice walking trail, and you can go to Fallen Leaf Lake Campground. The biggest sign you'll find is the locks controlling the flow from Fallen Leaf Lake. The creek is the only spawning habitat for Tahoe's Kokanee Salmon, a landlocked version of the Sockeye. The fish are very successful here, to the point that the area is used to produce fry to stock other California lakes. Every year (beginning of October), the Forest Service plays host to the Kokanee Festival to educate and celebrate the spawning season.

More About Fishing on the Nevada Side...

Cast your line at a close-by urban pond or venture out to any one of Nevada's remote and- beautiful fishing holes. Chances are, you'll get hooked. Nevada Department of Wildlife has a great site for fish stocking information, new information on hunt units, and changes in boating laws.

Arcades - For days when the weather is nasty outdoors...

Harrah's Family Fun Center - Check out the new Roadrunners virtual reality motorcycle race. It is one of the many virtual reality games in the Family Fun Center. The kids will love the new indoor playground equipment. They can enjoy two levels of slides, ball pools, climbing areas, lots of games of skill and the latest, coolest and the most "RAD" video and pinball games ever. Ski, racecars and motorcycles, compete with friends and family at dozens of enjoyable and exciting games. And anyone can win points that can be redeemed for lots of awesome stuff. The new Family Fun Center is a safe, well-lit, non-smoking and alcohol free environment. Birthday Parties are also available.

Harveys Virtual Forest Arcade - A fun, exciting environment for "kids" of all ages! You'll marvel at our variety of the newest technology in video and redemption games. Come and ski down alpine slopes, race Daytona cars, wrestle WWF stars or try your skill on redemption games and win plenty of tickets for prizes. Feel the "G" Forces while being a jet pilot or riding the roller coaster or bobsled in the Orbitron, our one-of-a-kind motion simulator. Whether you like battling bad guys, having a shootout with Maddog or riding motorcycles -- if you like fun -- there's something for you! Hours: 10 AM - 10 PM, Sunday thru Thursday; 10 AM - 1 AM, Friday and Saturday.

South Lake Tahoe / Stateline, NV also has a movie theater located at the Horizon Casino.

Online Reservations: Check availability for
Lake Tahoe > South Shore > Harveys Resort - Casino
Stateline, NV
Property Type: Lodging: Hotels and Motels

More ideas for children's activities at Lake Tahoe...

In South Lake Tahoe, Tahoe Trout Farm offers free admission, bait and tackle, no license, no limit and payment for catches only. Sawmill Pond is a fishing hole for children only, located on Lake Tahoe Boulevard at Sawmill Road.

The U.S. Forest Service Visitor Center, located on Highway 89 three miles north of South Lake Tahoe, offers a variety of activities, many perfect for children. Self-guided trails and a stream profile chamber are near the Center, and a program called "Woodsy Rangers" is presented each day for the children. The Visitors Center is open from 8:30 am to 8:30 pm during the summer months.

Tennis courts are at Caesars Tahoe & Harveys and at the Intermediate School, located at Highway 50 and Lyons Avenue (hours 7 am to 10 pm. Doubles $1.75, singles $1.25. Juniors and Seniors $.75 per hour). Call ahead

Peddle along Tahoe's many bike paths - a good outing for the whole family. If you left your own bikes behind, many local shops rent them, along with child seats, including Anderson's Bike Rental on Emerald Bay Road, Lakeview Sports on Highway 50 near Regan Beach, and Sierra Cycle Works, on Highway 50 near Safeway in South Lake Tahoe.

A tram ride is exciting! Squaw Valley's tram can whisk you and your little ones up to the 8200 feet High Camp, where you can gaze out over Lake Tahoe, even have lunch at the High Camp restaurants. On the South Shore, Heavenly's tram carries you on a mile-long excursion up to 8250 feet, where you can grab some munchies at the Top of the Tram. It's here you'll enjoy some of the most breathtaking views of majestic Lake Tahoe and the Sierras.

Children of all ages enjoy leaning over Fanny Bridge at the Tahoe City "Y" and spotting the giant trout in the water there. Take some bread and feed the fish.

Magic Carpet Miniature Golf, is located on Highway 50 (toward the "Y") 2455 Lake Tahoe Blvd. (530) 541-3787 , 66 holes in all, a 28-hole course and two 19-hole courses, plus a good size arcade. Cost varies according to course and time played. Hours are 10AM to 10PM, weather permitting.

Lake Tahoe Amusement Park is next to Magic Carpet in South Lake Tahoe. Open from 11 am to 10 pm, $1.00 buys a ride on every attraction except the Giant Slide and Bumper Cars. The slide is $1.50 for 20 minutes. (530) 541-1300. 2401 Lake Tahoe Blvd., So. Lake Tahoe.

Horseback riding is fun at Camp Richardson Stables, located on Highway 89. Breakfast and steak dinner rides include a delicious meal on the shores of Fallen Leaf lake. Fun for the entire family. Cost of the trail ride was $16.00 last we heard. The breakfast ride was $28.50, approximately 2.5 hours. The 3-hour dinner ride was $29.50. Children must be 6 years old to ride. Guided tours for children available. Parents need not be present, but must sign a consent form. Reservations required. Call ahead.

Zephyr Cove Stables, open from 9 am to 6 pm, is located on Highway 50 just past the M.S. Dixie II boat dock. Guided trails on U.S. Forest Service lands. Children must be at least 7 years of age.

City of South Lake Tahoe's Parks and Recreation Department is a good source of inexpensive activities organized for children., such as Youth Summer Day Hikes that introduce your child to practical outdoor skills while having fun. Call South Lake Tahoe (530) 542-6055 or Douglas County (775) 586-7271.

Public beaches on the South Shore are: Nevada Beach, El Dorado Beach, Regan Beach, Pope Beach, Kiva Beach and Baldwin Beach. There are paddleboat, jet ski and other water toy rentals available at area marinas including Camp Richardson Anchorage Marina, off Emerald Bay Road, Ski Run Marina, just off Highway 50 at the lake end of Ski Run Boulevard, Timber Cove Marina, behind the Timber Cove Lodge on Highway 50, and Zephyr Cove Marina, four miles past the casinos on the Nevada side.

Tahoe Bowl is open from 2 to 11 pm, located on Fremont Avenue in South Lake Tahoe.

Tessie's Lake Tahoe Monster Museum and Toy Shop is located at Kings Beach, and it features a video arcade, snack bar, toy store and free admission into the museum.

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