Tahoe Things to Do: Swimming

Ed Z'Berg Sugar Pine Point State Park is your best bet for winter camping. Also open with a larger selection of sites in the summer, the park is positioned to take advantage of both the beautiful natural setting of Lake Tahoe and the historic aspects. Within the park is access to the Hellman-Ehrmann Mansion that was built in 1903. The property is still exquisitely maintained and is an excellent representation of the wealthy side of Tahoe. Tours are offered during the summer by Sierra State Parks Foundation (sierrastateparks.org). There are various trailheads, swimming beaches and great fishing within the park as well as a Nature Center that helps visitors identify the local flora and fauna. In the winter the foundation hosts full moon snowshoe expeditions, and this is a great place for sledding and snowshoeing. Dogs are allowed on leash only. Visitors should remember to pack it in, pack it out and leave no trace. An entrance fee is charged. 

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, though it costs to park there. In addition to a few miles of sandy beach, there are public bathrooms, a children's play area, volleyball and basketball facilities. Alcoholic beverages and smoking are not allowed at this beach. Charcoal or wood barbecues are prohibited, though propane/gas barbecues are allowed. There are boat, personal watercraft and paddleboard rentals. Dogs are not allowed on the beach; however, they are allowed in the picnic areas. In winter the bathrooms and most other facilities are closed.

You can’t say you’ve taken in everything the area has to offer until you’ve gazed down into that clear blue water to the depths below from atop the surface of one of the most spectacular lakes in the world. And one of the best ways to soak it all in is with a cruise on a private luxury yacht. That’s where Tahoe Yacht Charters comes into the picture. They allow people to craft a lake cruise just the way they want it. Tahoe Yacht Charters’ fleet of boats of various sizes can accommodate up to 12 people, and the boats are equipped with surround-sound Bose speakers and top-line facilities from galley to head. Tahoe Yacht Charters is known for its experienced, friendly captains, ease of booking and ability to custom itineraries to each customer's specific dreams and desires. Just give them an idea of how many passengers will be on the cruise, what date you would like to book the trip, what your particular interests are at Lake Tahoe and whether you have a particular event you are celebrating or activity that you specifically want to do. With this framework in mind, Tahoe Yacht Charters begins a conversation to help develop your once-in-a-lifetime outing. 

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. The sandy beach and roped-off, kid-friendly swim area is the place to take youngsters to build sandcastles and splash in the water all under the watch of lifeguards. 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.