
Lake Tahoe
If you are looking for something to do with the kids while they are out of school, this itinerary is guaranteed to create some summer family fun. Four days of activities and adventures for everyone in the family to enjoy! Below are the highlights of these fun summer activities, to see the full article with information click here.
Summer Family Fun Day 1
Go back in time with a self-guided tour of the Truckee Museum. The Old Jail Museum, one of the few surviving 19th-century jailhouses in the West, and Truckee Railroad Museum, located inside a Southern Pacific Railroad caboose, are two family favorites with interactive exhibits for little ones. (Source)
Then take a stroll through downtown and enjoy all the shopping and restaurants that they have to offer. The kids can enjoy the toys and the adults can enjoy an alcoholic drink. Kid favorites include Truckee Variety Co. for toys, games, and t-shirts and Word After Word Books, our local independent bookstore with a huge kid’s section.
Finally, you can end your day with a peaceful hike through the Tahoe National Forest. Just over 1 mile long, this easy loop is great for young kids and accommodates strollers, wheelchairs, and strider bikes. Be sure to stop and have a snack at the overlook and soak up the gorgeous views of Truckee, Castle Peak, and Donner Pass. (Source)
Day 2
Start your day at the Donner Memorial State Park Visitor Center! Pop into the Visitor Center to grab a map and learn about local Native Americans, the Donner Party, and the builders of the transcontinental railroad. Then, go for a mellow stroll on the lakeside interpretive trail to stretch your legs. There are beautiful picnic areas and beaches along the way!
Then take your kids to have a little lunch on the lake at one of the many restaurants and ice cream parlors. Donner Lake’s dining options are local gems with a welcoming vibe that will make you feel right at home. (Source)
Finish your day at the lake having some beach fun that everyone can enjoy. Supervised swimming by lifeguards, a place to lay in the sand, picnic benches, and even boat rentals… what more could you need!
Summer Family Fun Day 3
Start your day by exploring more of the amazing lake Tahoe. Truckee is only 12 miles from the north shore of Lake Tahoe, the largest alpine lake in North America! The drive takes about 20 minutes from downtown Truckee, and once you’re there, there’s plenty to do – hiking, kayaking, paddleboarding, splashing around the shallows with little kiddos, and soaking up panoramic mountain views. (Source)
On your way to the lake, grab lunch to-go from Red Truck, located near the Truckee-Tahoe airport, in a reusable green box. Browse the list of Tahoe public beaches to find a beautiful spot for lunch with a view. Remember to take care of Lake Tahoe and leave no trace during your picnic lunch. (Source)
Finish your day by enjoying some of the refreshing beers that are made locally in Tahoe. Alibi Ale Works – Truckee Public House is a great spot to bring kiddos and all their beers are brewed with Lake Tahoe water!
Final Day
On the last day, you and your family can rent bikes and ride around the Truckee River Legacy Trail. It is a 9.5-mile scenic paved path. It’s a perfect trail for riding bikes, pushing strollers, or taking an easy walk with the family. Dogs are welcome as long as they are behaved and stay on their leash!
If you want to do something inside instead head over to the Truckee pool and state-of-the-art climbing gym. With over 12,000 sqft of indoor climbing, this is a great place to learn rock climbing basics and have fun monkeying up the walls. Another great option is the Truckee-Donner Community Pool which features a lazy river and water slides! (Source)
Source: Kenney, Siobhan. “Truckee 4-Day Early Summer Family Itinerary.” Visit Truckee-Tahoe California, Official Tourism Office, 4 May 2022, https://www.visittruckeetahoe.com/blog/four-day-family-itinerary.