Things to Do in Lake Tahoe in Summer

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 will soon change 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.

To get off the beaten path in North Lake Tahoe, Black Tie Adventure Rentals has you covered with e-bikes, kayaks, standup paddleboards and river tubes. You can visit their Truckee Adventure Shop to pick up gear, or they offer convenient delivery to your vacation lodging or adventure site. Their gear experts will ensure that your equipment is properly set up for a seamless adventure. When you're done, simply return the gear to their shop or enjoy the convenience of pick-up service. If conditions change or you need assistance during your rental, they are easily available and only a phone call away. Black Tie wants you to enjoy every minute of your adventure, so they will offer to meet you to collect the gear without imposing on your plans if you can't come to them.

Bliss Experiences curates and customizes opportunities for connection to nature and yourself. Join them for classes, events and workshops both at their location and around the Tahoe Basin. Through collaboration with other Tahoe small business owners and professionals, they help you reconnect with the outdoors and yourself through mindful practices and outdoor exploration. Celebrate an event, bring your family together, escape from the office or retreat from the day-to-day with their scheduled and private experiences that include forest bathing, hiking, paddle tours, boat tours, food and wine experiences, Pilates, beach yoga, paddle yoga, private yoga, massage and more. Bliss Experiences connects you with local small businesses for lodging, food and drink, remedies and outdoor guides, enabling guests to experience Tahoe like a local.

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.

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. 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. Flume Trail recently added another ride shuttle. Check out their Carson City to the Tahoe Rim Trail on Highway 431, with service accessing a one-way, 31-mile singletrack back to Carson City with 2000’ of climbing and 6000’ of downhill.

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. 

In one of the little ironies of life, Lake Tahoe Golf Course is one of the courses at South Shore that is actually farthest from the lake, over at Meyers. This in no way, however, detracts from the beauty of the location as it is in a high-altitude meadow set up against the rugged mountain scenery. The course, with layout by William Bell, welcomes casual players as well as custom-designed tournaments and events. Lake Tahoe Golf Course is also a popular venue for non-golfing special events, not the least of which are weddings. Whether the event takes place on the 10th tee near the Truckee River or in the clubhouse with views of Mount Tallac, the catering and event specialists here can help give your wedding day that special Tahoe flavor.

North Tahoe Watersports brings you the fun of Lake Tahoe in a safe and exciting way. Specializing in parasailing, the company offers high-flying adventures over Lake Tahoe in all three of its locations. In addition to parasailaing, North Tahoe Watersports offers boat rentals and jet ski rentals at its two Tahoe City locations and jet ski rentals and kayak and SUP rentals at its Kings Beach location. North Tahoe Watersports also offers private lake tours, bringing you to all of the magical parts of Lake Tahoe.

North Tahoe Watersports brings you the fun of Lake Tahoe in a safe and exciting way. Specializing in parasailing, the company offers high-flying adventures over Lake Tahoe in all three of its locations. In addition to parasailaing, North Tahoe Watersports offers boat rentals and jet ski rentals at its two Tahoe City locations and jet ski rentals and kayak and SUP rentals at its Kings Beach location. North Tahoe Watersports also offers private lake tours, bringing you to all of the magical parts of Lake Tahoe.

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 summer movies include Furiosa, Inside Out 2 and Deadpool 3.

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.

If finding some adrenaline fun via flowing rivers is your cup of tea, then you should check out Tahoe Whitewater Tours. A highly reputable company that offers guided trips down Truckee River as well as other rivers that near the Tahoe area, Tahoe Whitewater Tours is gifted in creating a trip that fits the wants and needs of the group. From basic river trips to heart-pumping whitewater adventures, they have you covered. 

The Village at Palisades Tahoe is the epitome of ski-in, ski-out luxury. Nestled just steps away from world-class skiing, thrilling activities and captivating events, this extraordinary lodging offers a perfect blend of comfort and convenience with stunning mountain views and a bird's-eye perspective of the vibrant village below. Whether it's a romantic evening dinner, a family-friendly meal or a lively night out, you'll find a plethora of dining options to suit your tastes. From charming coffee shops to lively bars, from street dancing to the rhythm of live music or a serene yoga studio, there's something for everyone. The Village at Palisades Tahoe is also the launchpad for the Aerial Tram which soars 2,000 vertical feet to High Camp, for breathtaking views of Lake Tahoe, hiking in wildflowers in the summer, skiing in the winter and dining year-round.

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. 

Lake Tahoe, 15 minutes away, gets all the attention, but Truckee has a gem of its own: Donner Lake. While not as big and broad as Big Blue, Donner Lake offers up a good bit of watery fun too. One of the best places to access Donner is West End Beach. In summer months, there is a modest admission fee to enter the 10-acre west end area, but the sandy beach and roped-off, kid-friendly swim area is the place to take youngsters to build sand castles and splash in the water all under the watch of life guards. Operated by the Truckee Donner Park and Recreation Department, West End Beach also has paddleboards, kayaks and pedal boats available to rent. There is plenty of fun on the beach area: two playgrounds for kids to get their kicks on, a sand volleyball court, tennis court and horseshoe pits. A snack bar serves up soft drinks, hot dogs and ice cream. Get there early and stake out a picnic table and grill. There are shady group picnic areas available by reservation.