What To Do In Lake Tahoe In The Summer
The best thing about retreating to Lake Tahoe is that you’re bound to have the best time of your life whether you choose to have a tranquil weekend to meditate or reconnect with nature or a full-blast casino-hopping getaway with the entire group. What’s even great is that Lake Tahoe is an awesome destination regardless of what time of year you plan your visit. It is indeed a year-round palace for you — and even with your entire gang!
So to help you with your trip, we have listed the top things to do in Lake Tahoe during summer and winter — and of course, some bonus activities that you can do any time of the year.
The first part of this article will be about things that you can do during the summer season. Here’s our top ten.
Attend a Concert
Harvey’s Lake Tahoe is the coolest venue in the world for concerts. It’s an intimate amphitheater located in the back of the hotel. The concert line up each year is always great and there’s no bad seat. I would recommend either the side stadium seats or the first half of the floor seats. The back half of the floor seats are closer to the bar, but a little tougher to see the stage since it’s all flat.
I’ve attended Journey, Kenny Chesney and Keith Urban here. All were great, but Keith Urban had the best celebrity watching. We had 7 cast members from The Bachelor sitting a couple rows behind us, including the “Crier”. If you’re a fan of The Bachelor, you know who I’m talking about.
It is important to note that, however, that due to COVID-19, show schedules may have changed. Do not forget to check their website every now and then to keep yourself updated with the most recent changes.
What’s great about this place is that they also have their own hotel and casino, so it could be your one-stop shop for a weekend of fun with family and friends.
Cruise The Lake
There are several ways to explore the beauty of Lake Tahoe, and one of the ways to do that is through lake cruises.
A lake cruise with Tahoe Dixie II is definitely a must-do tour at least once in your lifetime. The Dixie is a mainstay of Tahoe and offers a variety of daytime and evening cruises of the lake.
I celebrated many childhood birthdays and family dinners on the original Dixie. The Dixie II went into service in 1992 and has been entertaining guests for 30 years.
On the other hand, if you’d rather do the lake cruise with a smaller number of people and in another way, then cruising through a catamaran is the way to go. This is the best way to go if you are travelling with a large group composed of family or friends. You can even take this cruise a notch higher by relaxing on the mesh netting of the catamaran. You may want to check out the Sierra Cloud Cruise that leaves from Incline Village just around the Thunderbird Lodge.
Ride A Mounting Coaster & Go Zip Lining
Marvel at the beauty of Lake Tahoe from the top! Try the Ridge Rider Mountain Coaster at Heavenly and be mesmerized by the breathtaking views. This adventure coaster ride is located at the top of the gondola at Heavenly Ski Resort at South Shore. You park in Heavenly Village and hop on the gondola for a picturesque ride to the top of the mountain.
This is my home mountain where I ski raced for 8 years as a kid. I love this mountain and all the memories it has for me. We enjoyed a day here at the end of summer before Marcus went back to school. It’s a perfect break from the valley heat and you can waste a full day in this beautiful spot.
Plan to make this trip a full day event. You can enjoy zip lining, ropes course and so much more at the top of the resort looking out at Lake Tahoe.
Go Paddleboarding or Kayaking
Lake Tahoe boasts of clear waters that makes kayaking and paddleboarding an experience you don’t want to miss. This is a must do summer activity. If you’re brave enough you can do it in the winter too. I can speak from experience, paddleboarding in the winter is a unique experience, just don’t fall in.
You can paddleboard or kayak pretty much everywhere on the lake and they are all awesome spots. If you’re on the Nevada side I would suggest 2 great routes.
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Do the 6-mile paddle from Cave Rock to Nevada Beach
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For something more adventurous, opt for the 13-mile paddle from Sand Harbor to Cave Rock