Family Fun Guide | 2023 Summer Edition

Kids can hone their skateboard skills at Woodward Tahoe. | Nina Miller

Beyond Big Blue

STORY BY PRIYA HUTNER

Summer lake adventures that aren’t Lake Tahoe, Part I

Jumping into the cool waters of a mountain lake is a highly sought-after summer activity in the Tahoe Sierra. Seeking solace paddling on an alpine lake somewhere away from the crowds, surrounded by tall pines and craggy granite, is an awe-inspiring meditative experience.

Stillness, beauty and nature are a draw to the area for many nature lovers. In some cases, a picnic by the water’s edge where the family can enjoy a view from the shore is another lake adventure that requires little effort.

Finding quiet in a busy tourist town can be a challenge but there are hundreds of lakes within a short distance of Lake Tahoe. Some require a hike or short walk to get to for swimming or picnicking. The longer the hike, the quieter it’ll be.

Lakes of Donner Summit

Donner Summit has several beautiful lakes within easy reach. Serene Lakes, also called Ice Lakes, is in Soda Springs off Old 40 (Donner Pass Road). It is two lakes, Serene Lake and Lake

Dulzura, and once provided ice for San Francisco in the days before refrigeration. Quiet and beautiful Serene Lakes is perfect for swimming, paddling and picnicking.

Long Lake, Cascade Lake and Kidd Lake are also in Soda Springs located beyond Royal Gorge Cross-Country Resort. I love this area. Access to the lakes is on a long, bumpy, dirt road; all-wheel drive is recommended. There is a parking lot and a short hike to the lakes. Swimming, paddling, hiking and lying around are all welcome activities to enjoy here. The view of the craggy Devil’s Peak is a stunning backdrop. On the north side of Donner Summit Lakes Trail, Angela, Flora and Azalea lakes are along the Pacific Crest Trail These lakes are perfect for an easy hike and picnic. Start at the PCT Trailhead just off the Boreal exit off Interstate 80. There’s no swimming in Lake Angela, but a lovely trail surrounds the lake. It can be accessed by Donner Ski Ranch off Old 40. Check for road closure

CONTINUED ON PAGE 4

Prosser Resevoir | Priya Hutner

CONTINUED FROM PAGE 3 information for Old Highway 40 before taking this route otherwise use I-80.

The reservoirs of Truckee Prosser, Boca and Stampede reservoirs in Truckee are the perfect summer playgrounds. The farther in you go, the less crowded it gets. Paddles, picnics, hikes and swims are all fair game at these locations. There are also some lovely mountain bike trails around Prosser Reservoir area and out to Stampede via the Emigrant Trail. And the wildflowers are spectacular. Take the Hirschdale exit off I-80 to access Boca and Stampede or take Highway 89 North of Truckee to reach Prosser.

Shirley Lake

If a hike and swim are on the day’s adventure list, try the Shirley Canyon hike to Shirley Lake, where waterfalls and granite abound. Located in Olympic Valley, the trail can be wet, snowy and sometimes hard to find. It is well-traveled in the summer. A swim in the lake is cold and refreshing. The hike to the lake is about 3 miles uphill and involves a lot of hiking over rocks.

Five Lakes

Five Lakes is a 4-mile hike that intersects with the Pacific Crest Trail with, well, five lakes to explore. The trailhead can be accessed along Alpine Meadows Road. Enjoy a crisp alpine swim and a

picnic along the way. This hike is steep and sun-exposed; best to get out early. Note the trail is closed to dogs until July 15 for deer fawning.

Lakes north of Truckee

Independence Lake, Webber Lake, Lake of the Woods and Jackson Meadow Reservoir are lovely lakes located off Highway 89 north of Truckee.

Truckee Donner Land Trust and the Nature Conservancy protect many of these lakes that make for great family adventures, camping, picnicking, paddling and swimming. Webber Lake is also the headwater of Little Truckee River and reservations for camping lakeside go quickly.

Independence Lake is reached by a bumpy dirt road that recommends 4WD but you’ll be rewarded by the trip. To protect the lake, only the boats and kayaks at the lake may be used in its waters.

Jackson Meadow Reservoir offers excellent opportunities for paddling, swimming, hiking or camping.

Most local lakes and reservoirs allow swimming, while some do not (the ones that supply drinking water). Best to know before you go.

Be a good steward while enjoying Tahoe. Always pack it in and pack it out. Take any trash with you and clean up after your dog. Dog poop pollutes lakes and waterways n

Shirley Canyon | Palisades Tahoe

If a hike and swim are on the day’s adventure list, try the Shirley Canyon hike to Shirley Lake, where waterfalls and granite abound.

Tour Sierra Valley

never looked so good SUMMER

SUMMER FESTIVALS

July 22 - 23

LAKE TAHOE REGGAE FESTIVAL

August 12

BREWS, JAZZ & FUNK featuring ALO • MONOPHONICS • SAL’S GREENHOUSE

September 3

ALPEN WINE FEST

September 8

GUITAR STRINGS vs CHICKEN WINGS

Sept 16 & 17

ADVENTURE VAN EXPO

September 30

OKTOBERFEST

October 7 - 8

MADE IN TAHOE FALL FESTIVAL

free WEEKLY EVENTS

Tuesdays: June 20 - August 29

BLUESDAYS

7/4 RED, WHITE & BLUESDAYS MigHtY MiKe SCHerMer BanD rOY rOgerS & tHe DeLta rHYtHM KingS

7/11 MarK HuMMeL BanD ft. JuniOr WatSOn

7/18 aLaStair greene

7/25 rOCKY atHaS

8/1 Laurie MOrVan BanD

8/8 DenniS JOneS BanD

8/15 CHriS Cain

8/22 terrY HanCK

8/29 J.C. SMitH BanD

Wednesdays: July 5 - Aug 30

FIRST STREET YOGA

Thursdays: June 29 - July 27

FAMILY FRIENDLY BINGO NIGHTS

Fridays: June 30 - August 18

SUNSETS LIVE MUSIC

7/7 Peter DeMattei

7/14 Ben fuLLer

7/21 HOneY ViXen

7/28 JOeL O’COnnOr

8/4 DuSt in MY COffee

8/18 KYLe KirCH

8/25 JaCKeD uP

The lake. The mountains. The music.

Community Summit Stars Student Showcase - July 14

A Hero's Journey - July 21

Calm Sea and Prosperous Voyage - July 22

European Virtuosi - July 23

Community Concert: Mixing it Up - July 27

Made in America - July 28

Adventure Awaits - July 29

Community Family Day - July 30

Love, Murder, and the Violin - July 30

In the Air - Aug. 4

Drumroll, Please - Aug. 5

Musique de Table - Aug. 6

Classical Tahoe Summer Gala - Aug. 17

Classical Tahoe Orchestra concerts - July 22-Aug 6

Brubeck Brothers Trio with Roxy Coss and Lucas Pino - July 9

Visit

5-8:30PM • Historic Downtown Truckee

SUMMER FUN

Always check operating schedules before visiting. No smoking or vaping of cigarettes, e-cigarettes or marijuana.

DISC GOLF

EAST SHORE

INCLINE VILLAGE

(775) 832-1300 | inclinerecreation.com

18-hole course at Incline Park at 980 Incline Way. Free. Daily dawn-dusk. TART

PUBLIC POOLS

INCLINE VILLAGE

(775) 832-1300 | inclinerecreation.com

Thank

NORTH SHORE

NORTH TAHOE REGIONAL PARK

(530) 546-4212 | northtahoeparks.com

18-hole, o National Ave. Parking $5. Daily dawn-dusk. TART

PALISADES TAHOE’S HIGH CAMP

(530) 583-6985 | palisadestahoe.com

18-hole course. Disc rentals. Tram ticket required. TART

SOUTH SHORE +

BIJOU COMMUNITY PARK

A mostly flat and moderately wooded course with 27 holes covering 8,324 feet. On Al Tahoe Blvd. o Hwy 50. BlueGo

DISCWOOD

(209) 258-7277 | kirkwood.com

Experience disc golf at 7,800 feet at Kirkwood Resort.The 18hole course weaves through the trees and over mountainous terrain. Free.

TAHOE PARADISE PARK tahoeparadisepark.com

9-hole course in Meyers.

TURTLE ROCK PARK CAMPGROUND

(530) 694-2140 | alpinecounty.ca.gov | Closed for repairs Located in Markleeville.

ZEPHYR COVE

18 holes covering 5,256 feet with holes of varying lengths. On Warrior Way. BlueGo

TRUCKEE

DONNER SKI RANCH

(530) 426-3635 | donnerskiranch.com

18-hole course. Free to play; must register at restaurant.

SIERRA COLLEGE

(530) 550-2225

18 holes on campus. Free. Daily dawn-dusk. TART

TRUCKEE RIVER REGIONAL PARK (530) 582-7720 | tdrpd.com

18-hole course, o Brockway Road. Dogs must be on leash. Free. Daily dawn-dusk. TART

GEOCACHING

OLYMPIC VALLEY

(800) 403-0206 | palisadestahoe.com

High-tech treasure hunt on mountain using GPS to find 10 caches. Free with Aerial Tram ticket. TART

MINI GOLF COURSES

SHOPS AT HEAVENLY theshopsatheavenly.com

10 a.m.-8 p.m. daily

VILLAGE AT NORTHSTAR northstarcalifornia.com

Free. First-come, first-served. TART

25-yard, 8-lane indoor pool at Incline Recreation Center, swim lessons, aqua fitness, 1-meter spring diving board, inflatable slide (weekends). Daily rates & memberships available. TART

OLYMPIC VALLEY

(800) 403-0206 | palisadestahoe.com | Closed Swimming Lagoon & Spa at High Camp at Palisades Tahoe, free form lagoon with 50-meter lap lanes, two islands with waterfalls and native boulders. TART

SOUTH LAKE TAHOE

(530) 542-6056 | cityofslt.com

25-yard indoor/outdoor year-round pool. Lessons. BlueGo

TRUCKEE

(530) 582-7720 | tdrpd.com

Lap & recreation pool. Kids swimming area, slides.TART

ROCK CLIMBING WALLS

TRUCKEE

COMMUNITY RECREATION CENTER

(530) 582-7720 | tdrpd.com

O ers 29’ climbing wall & 12’ bouldering wall. All ages & levels. Lessons available. TART

SKATE PARKS

EAST SHORE

INCLINE SKATE PARK

(775) 832-1300 | inclinerecreation.com

Intermediate/advanced area with two, 5-foot tall bowls with a spine, 3-foot box and 2.5 foot bowl for beginners. Street course on top, with 8-foot flat rail, 6-foot down rail, four stairs and a 10-foot downward ramp. Corner Hwy. 28 & Southwood. Daily dawn-dusk. TART

SOUTH SHORE

BIJOU COMMUNITY PARK

cityofslt.us

Bijou Community Park features a skateboard park on Al Tahoe Boulevard o Highway 50. BlueGo

SKATEHOUSE

@skatetahoe

40’x80’ warehouse with indoor skate rink. 867 Eloise, South Lake Tahoe.

TAHOE CITY

SCOTTY LAPP MEMORIAL SKATE PARK scottylappmemorialskatepark.org

4,000-square-foot pop-up park behind the old Blue Agave building. Friday-Sunday 10 a.m.-sunset until the snow flies.

TART

TRUCKEE

TRUCKEE RIVER REGIONAL PARK

(530) 582-7720 | tdrpd.com

Truckee River Regional Park with several bowls with a spine and channel, a long rail and ledges. Knee and elbow pads and helmets required. Free. Daily dawn-10 p.m. TART

WOODWARD TAHOE

(530) 426-1114 | rideboreal.com

Featuring two skateparks – The Sierra Skatepark and the Eastern Sierra Skatepark, and indoor skate park at The Bunker.

BY KATHERINE E. HILL

Tahoe's top Summer kids’ adventures

You’ve finally made to your summer vacation in Tahoe and the kids keep asking “What are we doing tomorrow?” You’d be content to spend the week at the beach with a good book, but a kid’s idea of fun involves lots of activities and lots of time in the water. To help make those plans for tomorrow, here’s my picks for making the most of your time in Tahoe.

You’ll find options and even a few deals for many of these outings in this edition from our clients who support Tahoe Weekly through their advertising. You’ll also find some great options for dining out. Please be mindful of our fragile environment on your outings and only park in designated areas. Carry trash bags and pack out all of your trash (including your dog poop) and there may not be restrooms. While 17 million people visit Tahoe annually, only about 40,000 live here year-round so our resources are limited.

CONTINUED ON PAGE 11

Family riding the mountain bike trails at Northstar. | Northstar California Resort

Summer hello RECREATION ACTIVITY GUIDE

Come tr y all THREE Aerial Adventure Parks... each is unique! Adventure awaits you-- from fun & easy to challenging & exhilarating-- as you navigate between +/- 40 foot high platforms using a variety of bridges, zip lines, and more. ( You’re always clipped in to a safet y line!) N o expe r i e n ce o r spec i a l e q u i pm e nt necessar y.

Hours of unforgettable, super-fun outdoor ac tivity for the whole family! And a great way for visitors to experience what Tahoe’s all about. Courses for Adults, Teambuilding Groups, & Kids 6 + . Reser vations HIGHLY recommended (and required in the Summer!)

call 530-807-1004 or visit: Ta h o eTre e to p. co m

Voted #1 Tahoe Activity on

CONTINUED FROM PAGE 9

Spend time on the water

There has never been a time when kids of all ages had more options for activities than now, but the one absolutely must-do for a summer in Tahoe is to get out on the water.

Cruise | Take a cruise on Lake Tahoe. Whether you rent a boat or take a sailing or boat cruise, you’ll remember your outing for years to come.

Paddle | There are a plethora of options to rent SUP, kayaks and even outrigger canoes. Or take a guided kayak or SUP tour with a local outfitter.

Ski & surf | For the more adventuresome kids, sign up for wakesurfing, wakeboarding or waterskiing lessons. Float | The rafting companies that operate on the Truckee River between Tahoe City and Alpine Meadows aren’t operating this summer, but you can bring your own rafts to enjoy this 5-mile gentle float (be prepared to paddle due to low water).

Ride the rapids | Whitewater rafting further down the Truckee River is amazing this year and older kids will enjoy this thrilling adventure.

Explore local lakes | There are many other lakes besides Lake Tahoe to enjoy. Read our feature “Beyond Big Blue” in this edition.

Lifejackets are required in California and Nevada for kids younger than 13 on all vessels (including SUP and kayaks).

Beach time

Tahoe beaches get crowded fast so head out by 8 a.m. and plan on having to walk as parking fills up. I recommend a foldable beach wagon to haul all your gear along with little ones. I also recommend avoiding the East Shore beaches until after Labor Day; it’s not worth the hassle or getting towed. Find a list of local beaches in this edition or at TheTahoeWeekly.com/beaches.

Take to the trees

Climbing and soaring through the treetops is an amazing experience and a kid favorite. Tahoe Treetop Adventures offer three locations on the North Shore or enjoy zip lining at Heavenly.

Adventure awaits at Heavenly Heavenly offers a plethora of kid-friendly summer outings at Tamarack Lodge. Ride the Gondola to the top (be sure to stop at the Observation Deck for spectacular views) and enjoy a day riding the zip line, the Mountain Coaster, gem panning, the climbing wall and tubing.

Explore Palisades Tahoe

Palisades Tahoe may be closed for skiing, but summer adventures await at High Camp from roller skating with a view of Lake Tahoe, to playing disc golf, exploring the wildflower-filled

CONTINUED ON PAGE 13 Zip line at Heavenly. | Heavenly Resort

2435 Venice Dr., South Lake Tahoe, CA 530.573.1928 | birkholmswatersports.com

Food Distribution

TUESDAYS TRUCKEE | 4–5pm Warehouse, 12116 Chandelle Way, Unit 2D WEDNESDAYS K INGS BEACH | 3–4:30pm

Community House, 265 Bear St

THURSDAYS INCLINE VILLAGE | 2:30–3:30pm

St. Patrick’s Church, 341 Village Blvd

Anyone can pick up a bag and no application, ID, or proof of income is required. Home delivery is available on a case by case basis. To sign-up or cancel, e-mail food@sierracommunityhouse.org or call 530-546-0952 . Check website for updates: SierraCommunityHouse.org

Discovering Lake Tahoe

Historical Maps

1842-1942

Explore

Presented

Family friendly events

Until Aug. 16 (Wed.)

Movies on the Beach | Tahoe City | tcpud.org

Until Aug. 30 (Wed.)

Wildlife Wednesdays | South Lake Tahoe | ltwc.org

Until Sept. 30 (select days)

Truckee River Railroad | Truckee River Regional Park | tdrrs.org

July 14

Classical Tahoe Student Showcase | UNR Lake Tahoe | classicaltahoe.org

July 15 & 16

Gold Discovery Days | Plumas-Eureka State Park | plumas-eureka.org

July 22

Kids’ Fishing Day | Packer Lake | fs.usda.gov/tahoe

July 24-Aug. 3

Young Shakespeare | Area venues | laketahoeshakespeare.com

July 30

Classical Tahoe Family Day & Concert | UNR Lake Tahoe | classicaltahoe.org

Aug. 12

Pine Lodge 120th Birthday | Sugar Pine Point State Park | sierrastateparks.org

Aug. 12 & 13

Ta-Hoe Nalu Paddle Festival | Kings Beach | tahoenalu.com

Aug. 25 & 26

Truckee Professional Rodeo | Truckee | truckeerodeo.org

Sept. 17

Family Farm Festival | KidZone Museum | kidzonemuseum.org

Truckee Rodeo

CONTINUED FROM PAGE 11

meadows or geocaching. For a more exhilarating adventure, climb the Tram Face on the Via Ferrata.

Parasail with the family

Take a boat ride out onto Lake Tahoe, clip into a massive parasail with your family (up to three people) and then gently ascend into the blue skies above for an amazing experience. This gentle ride is a must-do summer activity.

Explore the trails

Take the tykes out on Tahoe’s many trails to explore nature. Don’t expect them to tackle long hikes, but instead focus on making the experience one they want to repeat. Local state parks are ideal for family outings with nature trails for easy exploration. Make it fun by asking them to find wildflowers or look for bugs under rocks. Download the iNaturalist app so they can take photos to identify their discoveries and participate in citizen science.

Mountain bike

Start kids out on easy mountain bike trails at local parks or take them on a downhill mountain biking adventure at Northstar, Kirkwood, Donner Ski Ranch, Sky Tavern or Boreal.

Stargazing

One of the most unique experiences you can enjoy is an evening under the stars with Tahoe Star Tours. Star guide Tony Berendsen provides a fascinating and inspiring look into the night sky with his mix of easy-to-understand facts, astro poetry and, of course, viewing celestial objects through high-powered telescopes at several locations.

Indoor adventures

If it’s raining out or the kids need a break from the sun, take them indoors. There are bowling alleys on both sides of the lake, several indoor climbing walls, an indoor skate park and an indoor mini-golf course (both in South Lake Tahoe), an escape room and Woodward Tahoe adventure park.

Be sun aware

Make the most of any outing in Tahoe by remembering that Lake Tahoe is at 6,223’ meaning you are a lot closer to the sun (and a sunburn) then you are at home so heed our tips:

• Always wear sunscreen & reapply

• Always wear a hat

• Wear sunglasses to protect your eyes

• Drink lots of water; avoid sugary drinks

• Consider a shade structure

• Wear sun shirts with UPF protection

• Purchase water shoes; many beaches are rocky n

Family wildflower hike at High Camp | Palisades Tahoe