Lake Tahoe is the perfect summer getaway, and it’s just too good not to invite the kids along for the adventure. So you might have to listen to a few ‘are we there yet’s during the car ride over to your destination, but you won’t regret the extra company once you realize all of the fun kid friendly activities there are to do in Tahoe!

What to do if its sunny

Summertime is just around the corner and there’s no better way to spend a day in Tahoe than out on the water. Whether the youngsters prefer to jet over the water in the comfort of a boat or test their balance on water skis, there’s countless water activities that the entire family can join in on. Tahoe boating companies such as SWA Watersports and Action Water Sports of Incline Village provide all your boating equipment including sailboats, motor boats, and fishing charters, along with kayaks, jet skis, paddle boards, wake boards, and more.

If your kids are a little more on the braver side, then it’s worth feeding their need for adventure with a white water rafting trip down one of the various rivers in the Sierra Nevada region like the Middle Fork American River (which is dam controlled and not affected by the drought) or the Truckee River(assuming enough water flow). IRIE Rafting Company and Tributary Whitewater Tours are two great choices to check out when booking a trip.

And what if your kids don’t have their sea legs yet? No worries! There’s tons of dry land activities that will keep the kids entertained such as horseback riding through the meadows and forests at Zephyr Cove Stables. Camp Richardson Corral is another great spot for horseback riding because it offers pony rides around the stables for the little ones who are not quite old enough to ride the bigger horses.

What to do if it rains

If the weather misbehaves during your trip, you can always head over to one of the various Tahoe Museums. For a trip back in time, visit the Gatekeeper’s Cabin Museum, Watson Cabin Living Museum, or the Old Truckee Jail Museum. And if you’re looking to spend a rainy day entirely dedicated to the kids, check out the activities over at the KidZone Museum in Truckee.

Where to stay

There are tons of Tahoe hotels that are great for staying at if you’ve got the kids in tow. The Resort at Squaw Creek, for example, will have your children begging to come back again, as it offers an on-site FunZone arcade, ice skating rink, golf course, three pools and a 120-foot water slide to entertain the entire family. The kids will be too busy playing at the arcade and flying down the waterslide to realize you’re off relaxing at the pool or putting on the greens.

The Resort at Aston Lakeland is another kid-friendly accommodation, which presents a private beach and boat pier along with two swimming pools and a wading pool for the kids that provides perfect areas for lounging after a day spent exploring Tahoe. And if the parents want to sneak off to the casinos for a bit, the resort offers a summer kids camp with activities to entertain the kids all day long.

There are so many kid appropriate things to do in Tahoe that you won’t want to leave them behind when you plan your next trip to the lake!