Is it any wonder that a huge portion of Lake Tahoe things to do are Mother Nature-based? There are mountains – tops, sides and bases, lakes, ridges, secret coves, beaches, waterfalls, rivers, bays, old-growth forests, meadows, wilderness areas and more. Then there are the state and local parks that encompass and enhance the experience of immersing into this environment. Other Lake Tahoe attractions are built into this landscape – castles and mansions more than 100 years old, monuments to the earliest inhabitants of this region and to the settlers who came later, a 72-mile aquatic trail and historic sites and museums. Then there are the Lake Tahoe attractions that take advantage of such a stunning backdrop: art festivals, music festivals, dance festivals, wine tours, Renaissance fairs, duckee durbees, outdoor markets, restaurant weeks, water races, helicopter and balloon tours, sightseeing cruises, parades, tram and gondola rides, holiday-focused festivities, guided tours, sporting events, hand gliding tours and so much more!
Featured for Your Visit
Lake Tahoe Attractions
Bear Street and CA Highway 28, Kings Beach, CA
With its easy location in the center of town, Kings Beach State Recreation Area makes enjoying the sandy shoreline of Lake Tahoe simple. The park itself is free, and offers day use of a few miles of sandy beach, public bathrooms, a children's play area and barbecue grills. There are boat, Jet Ski and paddleboard rentals, and parking costs $10 for both cars and trucks. Dogs are not allowed on the beach; however, they are allowed in the picnic areas. Dogs must be on a leash 6-foot or shorter at all times. In the winter most of the bathrooms and other facilities are closed.
With its easy location in the center of town, Kings Beach State Recreation Area makes enjoying the sandy shoreline of Lake Tahoe simple. The park itself is free, and offers day use of a few miles of sandy beach, public bathrooms, a children's play area and barbecue grills. There are boat, Jet Ski and paddleboard rentals, and parking costs $10 for both cars and trucks. Dogs are not allowed...read more
With its easy location in the center of town, Kings Beach State Recreation Area makes enjoying the sandy...read more
Lake Tahoe Attractions
Lake Forest Beach is a free day-use park within the neighborhood of Lake Forest Glen, a few miles outside of Tahoe City. The beach is a secluded, sandy and pebbly shoreline. The views are spectacular from the angle provided by the park, giving direct sight of Mount Tallac and other framing mountains. This beach is perfect for launching paddleboards, kayaks or windsurfing equipment. The area...read more
The south and east shores of Lake Tahoe span two different states and three different counties and exhibit physical attributes more diverse than one might imagine. This area contains the lake's one and only island and a native Washoe spiritual site. It contains a cove known for its afternoon winds and beaches known for their shallow shorelines and gentle slopes. The south...read more
Lake Tahoe Attractions
Lake Tahoe is the second-deepest lake in the United States (and the entire world at its elevation of 6,228 feet). The bottom depth is measured at 1,645 feet deep in Crystal Bay near Kings Beach. With such a deep floor the lake has some unique attributes: Its colors shift to play off the sky's hue, it never freezes and, sometimes, the waves get so big...read more
Lake Tahoe Attractions
The first inhabitants of Lake Tahoe were the semi-nomadic Washoe Indians who would migrate to the lake when the snow started to melt. The men would spend the summers fishing and hunting small game while the women wove baskets and gathered pine nuts. The lake was a spiritual place with healing powers for the Washoe, where they could rid themselves of worries and concerns. The...read more
Lake Tahoe Attractions
Imagine soaring peacefully with the cool morning breeze in a hot-air balloon over Lake Tahoe. From the lake surface to high above it all, Lake Tahoe Balloons provides this very unique perspective of the Lake Tahoe region. Below you spread the immense green forests and granite landscapes of the Sierra Nevada Mountains that frame the turquoise and azure blues of Lake Tahoe and the surrounding...read more
Lake Tahoe Attractions
Lake Tahoe Community College is a two-year educational institution offering associate degrees and certificates in more than 40 different academic areas. The college serves approximately 3,000 students per quarter in classes ranging from business administration to digital media, from criminal justice to wilderness education. The Visual and Performing Arts departments produce concerts, plays and art exhibitions that are open to the public and popular among...read more
Lake Tahoe Attractions
There is nothing more special than cruising Lake Tahoe. The shifting hues of blue and the robust mountains surrounding the lake create a spectacular setting that begs for time on the water. One of the best ways to enjoy this beautiful setting is to utilize Zephyr Cove's Lake Tahoe Cruises. A company with an exceptional reputation, Lake Tahoe Cruises offers one of Lake Tahoe's most famous...read more
Lake Tahoe Attractions
The museum operated by Lake Tahoe Historical Society informs and educates visitors about the lives of the Washoe people who were the first residents of the basin and chronicles the history of life at Tahoe from that time forward. View a pictorial journey of the early settlers, learn about the importance that the steamer boat played and get a glimpse of farming and ranching in...read more
Lake Tahoe Attractions
Lake Tahoe Nevada State Park is a park system found on the east shore of Lake Tahoe. With six different management units that total 14,301 acres, the park protects miles of dense Tahoe forest and beautiful sandy and rocky beaches. Within the park are the swimming areas of Sand Harbor, Chimney Beach, Hidden Beach, Secret Cove, Creek Beach, Boaters Beach and Whale Beach as well...read more
Lake Tahoe Attractions
If you desire a little bit of culture with your mountain experience, then you are in for a treat with the annual Lake Tahoe Shakespeare Festival. This festival is a coming together of highly talented theatrical acts interlaced with the elegance of fine dining set in an al fresco ambiance that looks out upon a luxurious Tahoe setting, giving you the opportunity to run your...read more
Lake Tahoe Attractions
Lake Tahoe Water Trail is a 72-mile water route along the shoreline that connects public beaches with launch and landing sites including 20 managed trailhead sites with wayfinding signage, restrooms and parking. The trail is divided into seven day-trip segments of approximately 10 miles for out-and-back or point-to-point excursions. Paddlers can plan their trip using the Water Trail website with route planning and mobile wayfinding maps,...read more
Lake Tahoe Attractions
The M.S. Dixie II is a unique, fun and entertaining way to see Lake Tahoe. A boat that resembles Mississippi paddleboat, the 520-person ship is an award-winning favorite for many visitors and locals. It has even been voted the Best Cruise in Nevada by Nevada Magazine. The M.S. Dixie II offers tours around the lake for a nominal price, leaving from Zephyr Cove. A wonderful...read more
