Tahoe Thing to Do: Equipment Rentals

Offering double-decker pontoon party boats, Battle Born Boat Rentals is your one-stop shop for fun. Set sail on their 2021 Avalon Catalina Double Decker "Funship" that seats up to 13 people. In this stylish ship with slate teak flooring, a silver interior package with black accent vinyl and an upgraded blackout package that gets the boat noticed, you feel like royalty stepping upon her deck. The boat comes set up with a bluetooth six-speaker sound system, a waterslide, tubes for tubing, a paddleboard, a spacious upper deck, a Bimini top and a pop-up changing room. Outfitted with a Mercury 150 HP outboard, the boat also comes equipped with a Garmin Striker 5CV GPS Fish Finder and a ski tow bar. Half-day and full-day rentals are complete with an approved operator so you don't have to worry about a thing.

Black Tie specializes in premium ski rentals delivered straight to your door. That means no standing in long lines or trying on boots in a crowded rental facility. With locations in all the top ski destinations in North America, it’s no surprise that Black Tie Ski Delivery brings the top gear to North Lake Tahoe as well. This Truckee-based location of Black Tie Ski Delivery serves North Lake Tahoe resorts including Northstar, Alpine Meadows, Palisades Tahoe, Sugar Bowl and in the Sierra Nevada range north and west of Lake Tahoe. Black Tie calls itself a ski concierge, meaning the staff sets its customers up from head to toe with helmets, goggles, outerwear, boots and skis – all custom-fitted in your hotel room, condo or ski lease. When you’re all done, they’ll swing by and pick up the gear. What if those boots you started out with are killing your feet? Black Tie will head up to the slopes and get you back out on the snow with new gear. Call or make your reservation online and they will come to you. 

Through their retail location in Tahoe City and rental beach-side location at Commons Beach, Tahoe City Kayak offers everything you could need if you desire to go kayaking or standup paddleboarding on Lake Tahoe. Ready to outfit you from head to toe with new gear or rentals, Tahoe City Kayak prides itself on being the trusted North Tahoe source on all things kayak (in a single or tandem rendition) and paddleboarding. In addition to selling boards, boats, accessories and gear, the experienced crew also gives tours, with various types to choose from – the sunset journey, the historic West Shore tour and a brunch tour as well as a Fourth of July excursion and guided moonlight paddles.

Sprawling Tahoe Donner and its 6,000-plus properties above Truckee are home to full-time and part-time residents and a year-round destination for visitors from all over who are drawn to its beautiful neighborhoods, vast trails, open spaces and unique amenities. With the world-class Cross Country Ski Center and Downhill Ski Resort open to members and the public in the wintertime and the Tahoe Donner Trail System and par-72 championship Golf Course open to members and the public in the summertime, plus private amenities like the Beach Club Marina, Tennis Center and Trout Creek Rec Center open exclusively for Tahoe Donner members and their guests, this High-Sierra community offers year-round recreation and enjoyment unlike any other. Following your adventures, visit any of Tahoe Donner’s restaurants for casual or fine dining, including The Lodge Restaurant & Pub, Alder Creek Cafe or Pizza on the Hill. Each offers an inviting menu with fresh menu options and a lively and family-friendly atmosphere. Keep an eye out for live music and other fun events open to the public throughout the year.

One of the greatest ways to see Lake Tahoe is via bicycle. With miles of dirt trails, bike routes and paved roads, there is fun to be had no matter what your age or athletic ability. To help make this outdoor activity simple, Truckee River Bikes is conveniently located at the corner of Highway 89 and the entrance to Olympic Valley. From cruisers to high-level mountain bikes, they have a huge assortment of bikes for rent. The shop also offers bike sales as well as access to some of the best bike mechanics Lake Tahoe has to offer.

Waterman's Landing is a place of gathering, delicious food and adventure on the shores of Lake Tahoe. A collective of local businesses as well as a small cafe, this year-round hotspot is nestled on Patton Landing Beach. With easy access to Lake Tahoe, Waterman's Landing provides kayak and paddleboard tours and lessons as well as rentals of paddleboards, kayaks, canoes and other water toys. With a menu providing breakfast, lunch, snacks and alcoholic and nonalcoholic drinks, the locally owned, family-run cafe provides hearty meals to keep energy levels high. Waterman's Landing is open year round.