Things to Do in Lake Tahoe

If you are looking for a place to express your creative side, All Fired Up at The Hot Spot can help. A sanctuary for creation in the form of pottery painting, candle making, mosaics, succulent gardens, canvas painting and even slime making, All Fired Up at The Hot Spot offers the space to let your imagination shine. All ages and artistic abilities are invited to play. Come alone or in a group. In fact, it is an excellent option for those looking to create a party for bridal and wedding groups, birthdays, get-togethers, office parties, team building or mom gatherings. You're even invited to bring your favorite wine or beer to help get your creative juices flowing. Appointments or drop-ins are welcome. Long known as All Fired Up, this business is changing its name to The Hot Spot Tahoe, but everything else will stay the same.

Discover Lake Tahoe's splendor with Around Tahoe Tours, led by local experts Chris and Darin Talbot. Drawing on decades of insight since 1977, their tours offer a unique and entertaining way to get to know the area. Dive into their incredible Sand Harbor Experience for a hassle-free day at Lake Tahoe's premier beach, where you can enjoy an exclusive day, complete with complimentary transportation, awe-inspiring education, delightful entertainment and relaxation without the worry of lines or parking issues. Aptly named Camp Tahoe, their private Beach Lounge experience is open from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Located on a stretch of beautiful white sandy beach, this experience comes complete with everything you need for a great lakeside experience including umbrellas, chairs, beach comforts, towels and toys along with access to cocktails and food at the neighboring wet bar and restaurant. Interested in enjoying the entire lake? Check out their incredible six-hour Around Tahoe Tour. If discovering the neighboring areas to Lake Tahoe is your cup of tea, their Comstock Tour offers you six hours to enjoy and learn about awe-inspiring historical Virginia City. Around Tahoe Tours also offers other fascinating tours including their Colorful Fall Tour, Winter Ski Tour, North Shore Tour or The Perfect Tahoe Day Tour. They also offer the ability to create tailored adventures for private, semi-private or group tours.

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. 

With a history dating back to 1937, a completely renovated Crystal Bay Casino opened its doors on August 1, 2003. Natural stones cover the walls of the casino and a giant (fake) oak tree grows from the middle of the pit, spreading its branches out over the gaming tables and giving it a surreal ambiance. The gaming includes blackjack, craps and roulette as well as slot machines and a sportsbook. They’ve got rooms to rent out in an adjacent building called the Border House. Renovated to maintain a bygone charm with modern luxuries, the 10 rooms of the Border House are furnished with antiques and retro pieces and have Jacuzzi tubs and plasma TVs, and a few rooms have fireplaces. The casino hosts two clubs: the Red Room – with a small performance space – and the Crown Room, one of Tahoe’s premier performance venues. Set in an old bowling alley, the Crown Room has a state-of-the-art sound and lighting system, a hardwood dance floor and a capacity of 750. Crystal Bay Casino also is the home to the five-star Steak and Lobster House. To get a feel for old school Tahoe with all the modern luxuries, check out the CBC.

History buffs, campers, cyclists, hikers and those who love their water sports will find Donner Memorial State Park the perfect place for either a visit or an extended stay. The Donner name is a nod to the story of the snow-stranded emigrants and their ill-fated wagon train in the winter of 1846–47. One part of the forlorn pioneer group made camp near Donner Lake, now site of the state park, during record-breaking snowfall. Now visitors can go to Donner Memorial State Park and check out the new $6.6 million visitor center/museum that chronicles the Donner Party and the human and natural history of the region. During summer season the park has 142 spaces for car, RV and tent camping. There is also a concessionaire renting water-sport toys from kayaks and SUPs to two-seater personal watercraft. Being a state park in the Sierra, everything is surrounded by beautiful pines and plenty of hiking and biking in adjacent Cold Stream Canyon and swimming in the kid-friendly canal and China Cove. Depending on snowfall, a cross-country ski trail is groomed through the park, which is also a great place for snowshoeing. An entrance fee is charged.

Edgewood Tahoe's lakeside golf course is the definition of a crafted golf experience. From the first hole to the last, every moment has been designed to provide golfers with one-of-a-kind challenges, natural marvels and championship-caliber memories. Home to the American Century Championship, Edgewood Tahoe’s golf course has challenged the skill of golfers since 1968. Visitors can expect four sets of tees ranging in length from 5343 yards to the expert level of 7529 yards. Golf clinics and junior golf clinics are available, as are group packages.

The Flume Trail above Lake Tahoe is a mountain biking trail with a well-earned reputation. Between its historical significance and the incredible views that it offers, it is a route that practically everyone in the basin knows about, even people who have never once touched tire to trail. But for those who actually do like to get out and explore the backcountry on wheels and gears, Flume Trail Mountain Bikes helps make the shop's namesake a bit more accessible. Located at the end of the Flume Trail in Incline Village, they rent well-maintained and lightweight bikes and e-pedal assist mountain bikes. Helmet, pump and spare tube are included in the package. And just as important, they offer a shuttle service to the start of the route for a one-way ride back to Incline Village, ensuring that a fun day on the trail doesn't become a logistical hassle. If you're looking for something different, they offer Tahoe Rim Trail shuttle service on select days during the season to ride one way back to Incline Village and the bike shop. Bikes can be rented for a single day or more, and you can rent as a group. Be aware, however, that due to snow conditions on the trail, bike rentals are seasonal, usually beginning in May. Flume Trail Bikes also offers rental bikes and e-pedal assist bikes for the East Shore Paved Path along the shore of Lake Tahoe. This trail starts next to the bike shop and goes 3 miles to Sand Harbor State Park. It is a great way to get into Sand Harbor if the parking lot is full.  

You love Lake Tahoe, and you feel as if you’ve seen all the sights it has to offer. But as the old saying goes, you ain’t seen nothing yet ... not until you’ve seen it from the air, piloting your own aircraft over the Carson Range and into the Tahoe Basin. With Hang Gliding Tahoe, you fly a powered hang glider (with an FAA-certified instructor along) and enjoy the sight of the lake from an entirely new perspective. The flight can even count for training toward a pilot’s license. Morning flights offer spectacular year-round viewing conditions, and flights can be scheduled for 30, 60 or 90 minutes. Winter flights are warm and cozy with modern-technology heated clothing. Don’t forget to sign up for the photo or video services for a souvenir of the flight that you will treasure forever.

Lake Tahoe has only one outflow – the Truckee River. And for 25 years IRIE Rafting Company has given visitors a close-up view of the waterway as well as the region's north and middle forks of the American River and the Carson River. For those wanting to stay closer to Truckee, IRIE offers half- and full-day trips on the Truckee River after it flows past the town of Truckee. There is ideal paddling to be had for a range of ages and abilities as well as some thrilling rapids as the river runs down into the Truckee River Gorge. IRIE transports guests to and from Truckee to the put-in and take-out points on the river and provides helmets, personal flotation vests and paddles. Expect a two-hour trip that will be perfect for the whole family. By the way, IRIE stands for Isolated Rivers, Incredible Experiences. 

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 alpine lakes. Unique to Lake Tahoe Balloons is launching and landing on the upper deck of the U.S. Coast Guard–approved double decker, catamaran-style Tahoe Flyer, affectionately referred to as the world’s smallest aircraft carrier. The Tahoe Flyer is the only purposely built vessel for launching and retrieving hot air balloons. From this unique vessel, guests experience the stunning views of the balloon inflation, lifting off and deflation all while floating on the beautiful lake. Lake Tahoe Balloons' 2024 season will be from May 11 to October 20, but the fun continues with their land-based winter tours taking place over the Carson Valley.

Sail Tahoe Blue is a boating company based on a passion for doing what one loves and sharing it with others. The owners' dream was to spend every day on Lake Tahoe and share that excitement with others. Sail Tahoe Blue offers a safe, fun and entertaining adventure for any age. They sail on Blue, their 40-foot Santa Cruz sailboat. The sailing vessel provides a rich history of performance and chartering capabilities, while the captain and crew are highly experienced and delighted to give you memories you will treasure forever. 

With intention, Stillwater Spa works from the motto of "we believe well-being is the ultimate expression of our purpose.” Their curated menu of facial, massage and wellness services is designed to inspire relaxation, peace and renewal in their upscale, tranquil alpine retreat. Their personalized approach promotes a spa experience that allows your body to be the compass on your own distinctive journey to well-being. Located in the lower lobby of Hyatt Regency Lake Tahoe Resort, Spa and Casino, the spa supports a mindset of beautiful simplicity that allows you to follow your wellness intention for healing emotionally, spiritually and physically. They are also a Lululemon Authorized Retailer. 

Tahoe Art Haus & Cinema is not a regular movie theater. With leather rocking seats and comfy couches in the theater and a bar serving beer and wine in the lobby, this hip space takes going to a movie to a whole new level of fun. The Art Haus hosts independent films, ski flicks, locally created masterpieces, major motion pictures and environmental films. The Art Haus also offers a stage for dance performers, speakers, filmmakers and live music. The space is rentable for a large party or custom film showing. The bar has eight beers and cider on tap as well as wine and Prosecco and a popcorn spice bar. The Art Haus' big movies for the fall and winter of 2023 include Killers of the Flower Moon, Dune: Part II, Napoleon and Wonka.

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.

There may not be a better way to take in the true beauty of Lake Tahoe than from a helicopter. Tahoe Helicopters offers every style of tour possible to accommodate those who would like a bird's eye view of things. From waterfall excursions to sunset flights, from circumnavigation of the lake to exploring one specific area, there's something for everyone. The flights are perfect for all ages and will be certain to leave you in jaw-dropping awe. Tours are daily, and trips range in duration from 10 minutes to an hour. They welcome walk-ins; however, it is recommended to call first to check availability.

Tahoe Sport Fishing is Lake Tahoe's only U.S. Coast Guard-certified fishing fleet. An experienced crew and a fleet of seven boats put you right where the fish are biting for year-round adventure. The boats leave from both Zephyr Cove Marina (Memorial Day to Labor Day only) for private charters and Ski Run Marina (year-round) for public and private charters. They cater to single anglers, families, bachelor parties and corporate groups.

A combination of live theater, high-end lounge and tapas-style dining, The Loft Theatre Magic & Comedy Theatre offers the full package for a fun night out. The nightly entertainment includes world-class comedy magicians performing in an intimate 107-seat, stadium-style theater. The lineup of performances includes a full slate of all-ages, family-friendly shows as well as a more limited selection of adult-oriented offerings. In addition to entertainment, The Loft Theatre's restaurant, TASTE at The Loft, features a vibrant mix of small plates and American tapas meant to be shared with your dining companions. The menu and acts change frequently, making the destination fun to visit multiple times a year. The Loft Lounge is a late-night hotspot in Heavenly Village.

One of the treasures of winter is the pleasure of ice skating. In Truckee there is a fabulous family-focused ice rink that comes with the flurries of snowfall at the Truckee River Regional Park. Although not regulation in size, Truckee Ice Rink offers a great array of activities on the ice. From public ice-skating sessions (complete with rentals) to ice-skating lessons for young and old, the outdoor arena is a place that encourages smiles. Visit tdrpd.org/icerink for more information.

Take a look around and it’s clear that Truckee is a special town: history, mountains, lakes, river and forests. But there are many hidden gems known mostly to locals. Those gems are kept shining by the Truckee-Donner Recreation & Park District for the enjoyment of locals and visitors. Some of the amenities and facilities managed by the district are accessible for free, others for a fee. The district has deservedly received awards for its facilities, from the nine-hole Ponderosa Golf Course and an ice rink in winter to super-kid-friendly West End Beach and the public piers on Donner Lake. The crown jewel is the 40,000-square-foot Community Recreation Center with, among other things, a two-court gymnasium, a state-of-the-art indoor aquatics center, an indoor running track, exercise equipment, two climbing walls (one is 29 feet tall) and a state-of-the-art aquatics center. Want to find Truckee’s soul? Check out the bike park at Riverview Sports Park and the popular disc golf course and skate park in Regional Park. Be sure to explore all of Truckee-Donner Recreation & Park District's programing and facilities that continue to provide a wide variety of recreational opportunities in the Truckee area. 

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.

If sailing the turquoise water of Lake Tahoe in historical elegance is your cup of tea, then look no further than Wild Goose II Boat Charter. On this stunning 36-foot wooden commuter-style boat, the charter experience is inspired by the original Wild Goose, which was connected to the luxurious days of yesteryear in Lake Tahoe. Hand-built from Philippine mahogany, the water vessel is originally from Holland, Michigan, and was engineered by Grand-Craft. A commissioned cruise since 2006, this spectacle of beauty is U.S. Coast Guard certified, able to comfortably seat 12 passengers and offers both indoor and outdoor seating as well as a heated cabin for those blustery Tahoe evenings. Guests are asked to not wear high heels or black-soled shoes. Guests are invited to bring their own food and drink or they can add a charcuterie platter at the time of booking.