How to Plan a North Lake Tahoe Family Vacation

Lake Tahoe is a big vacation destination, literally and figuratively. It's the country's second-deepest lake (Crater Lake is the deepest, FYI). You could also say the vast diversity makes this place larger-than-life, too.

While many go to California to see Disney, Hollywood, or Monterey Beach, Lake Tahoe is truly in a class in of itself. You have 12 different resorts, dozens of famous restaurants, skiing, jet skiing, scuba diving, and fine wining. If you're planning for a Lake Tahoe family vacation, you'll want to make sure to make the most of it.

With so much to choose from, it can be difficult to prioritize. That's why we've spent hours compiling this guide for you. Grab a pen and paper and get ready to plan the best trip of your life!

Stay in a hotel or rent a home?

With so many options on the table, you'll need to ask yourself what's best for you and your family. If you're traveling to North Lake Tahoe with kids, you'll want your accommodations to be comfortable, yet modern. The best strategy to avoid breaking the bank while in Lake Tahoe is to plan to cook.

Shopping for a few days out of the week will allow you to eat healthier, control portions, and keep within budget. You could eat at the various restaurants for every meal, but be prepared to triple your budget. We prefer cooking our own meals as the lodges are spacious, have fully-loaded kitchens, and if you choose to rent a lakefront home, you can't beat the setting.

Plan a Packaged Vacation

You'll find it much easier to plan your trip if you can bundle major accommodations, transportation, and activities together. You'll also save more, too, especially when you're planning tour guides into the mix. Because Lake Tahoe is so massive, we recommend having guides and instructors along the way.

A good example is bundling of water sports-related activities together. You can have all water-related vehicles bundled (boats, kayaks, jet skis, etc.) and not have to worry about fuel, supplies, and safety gear. There's nothing better than spending an entire day out on the lake and never worrying about restrictions and supplies expiring.

All-inclusive ski resort packages also provide a greatvalue. You can plan your entire Lake Tahoe family vacation around them. These packages give you full access to all the lifts, ski equipment, instructors, parking, and more.

Plan Your Outdoor Adventures

Don't look at Lake Tahoe as just a sum of its outdoor sports activities. If you're jumping from the lodge to the slopes or the lake itself, you'll miss all the beautiful things in between. There are 17 major parks along the border of the lake alone.

You can move between these scenic locales as you travel to major attractions and venues in the area. The DL Bliss State Park is an excellent place to spend time and relax. This park is foot-traffic only, so you won't be interrupted by cars passing through.

Taylor Creek is another hidden gem, found along the South Shore. This is a great location for kids to play and observe bears during the big salmon migration upstream. As with the beaches, most parks like these are free and contain plenty of restrooms and amenities along the trails.

Eating Around the Lake

We did mention that you should cook some of your meals at home to stay on budget, but there are great restaurants out there. Lake Tahoe has a wide assortment of classic American cuisines and European dishes you can expect at fancy restaurants. As far as the best places to dine at for a family, there are a few ones that stand out.

If you're in South Lake Tahoe, the top places to eat are Evan's American Gourmet Cafe, Christy Hill Restaurant, and Camp Pizza. Evan's is a four-star restaurant with very affordable prices, serving all the traditional American dishes.

Christy Hill is a very high-end restaurant that contains a lot of great vegetarian choices. Of course, we have to also include a pizza joint for those who have kids who would never care for fancy dining. Camp Pizza is an authentic Italian experience. They use fresh ingredients and an open-fire oven to cook their pies to perfection.

Jalisco Grill deserves an honorable mention here, too. This is a Mexican-style grill that is serving up authentic Latin cuisines with a precise ordering of heat. Very family-friendly and nobody will leave feeling like they'll be fighting for the toilet all vacation.

North Shore has a pretty equal offering of upscale restaurants and American cuisines. We recommend the Char-Pit, The Soule Domain, and Six Peaks Grille, depending on where you are staying. All are worth an extended journey out to dinner.

Family-Friendly Activities

Planning your Lake Tahoe family vacation can be a challenge. That's why it's important to start as early as you can. Even a year in advance is not too soon, you'll soon learn why when it comes to deliberating activities.

Everyone needs to agree to partake in the same things, for the most part. The only times when you can split up is when each parent gets to go with separate children or when you find chaperones. Outside of that, you'll need to start looking at safe, but fun group activities.

Boat cruises, gondola rides, park exploration, and beach time are universally loved at Lake Tahoe. That doesn't mean everyone will have fun, of course. There will always be one person who wants to go shopping or the thrillseeker who sticks out.

You can still appease everyone if you play your cards right and plan for plan-B activities. Shuttle transportation and Ubers can take care of last-minute changes, but try to entice your family with lots of variety. Don't say "who wants to ride on a boat on the lake?" Rather, list out all the things you can do on and off said boat for a whole package of family fun.

Even the Heavenly Mountain gondola offers more than just observation (which is great). It is sandwiched in between two major lodges, shopping centers, and plenty of natural attractions for event-planning. Parents can enjoy the historical sights while shopping for new clothes.

Travel Like a Local

Lake Tahoe's diverse landscape means lots of scenarios to prepare for your trip. In Lake Tahoe, kids will be the first ones to tell you if it is too cold, they're low on batteries, or feel scared. If you're coming from the city, you don't want to be caught off-guard.

There are a number of vital travel essentials you should bring everywhere. We're going to try to narrow down which items are most appropriate for Lake Tahoe. Use this checklist to bolster your own vacation must-haves.

Printed Maps

You might say to yourself "those ancient relics?" when you hear of paper maps. Yes, you will find plenty of wifi or cell phone signal around Lake Tahoe resorts, but not always. Whether you're on the lake or in the mountains, you need a good map to prevent walking in circles.

Prioritize Water

Because you're going to be at a higher elevation, the air will be drier and you'll need to work harder to do anything. Hiking, at the beach, or in the snow, don't let dehydration creep up. Headaches can hit you hard, ruining your whole day.

Watch Your Alcohol

Another fact that is often overlooked at higher elevations is that alcohol is more effective. This can be seen as a positive for the night-time partier, but you may get in trouble on the road. Lake Tahoe PD isn't lax on DWIs, either.

Nutrient-Dense Snacks

Whenever you plan on spending a lot of time outdoors, it's important to keep your energy up. Rather than fueling your body with empty calories or fast-food options, keep a bag of organic granola, nuts, dried fruit, and other nutritious snackable foods.

Limit Cash Spending

Ideally, you should vacation purely off of credit and reservations. This helps keep your budget in check and your money safe. Tourists are preyed upon by scammers and thieves, no matter where you go. We recommend carrying prepaid credit cards on-hand and hiding major credit cards as backup.

Pack As Light As Possible

This goes for any vacation, but it should be emphasized that you don't need a whole dresser full of clothes to enjoy Lake Tahoe. Everything is super laid-back and casual, even in most restaurants. What you should focus on is layering. Some days can be frigid, while others you can enjoy yourself in just a long-sleeve and some jeans.

Defer Driving

This next tip we had to think long and hard about. Yes, it is great to be independent and hop in a rental car whenever. No, it isn't great to be on most major roads in Lake Tahoe. The combination of traffic and uncertain road conditions makes driving very unpleasurable.

Instead, try to map out your vacation around provided transportation and Uber rides. You'll be thanking us when your whole body is sore from skiing and you're being driven through hail in a warm car to your hotel door.

Consider Traveler's Insurance

Some vacation packages include things like AAA insurance for extra savings incentives. You really don't want to have to worry about lost luggage or damaged items ruining your whole trip. A peace of mind goes a long way, try not to measure the worth of insurance in just dollars and cents.

It's Time for Your Lake Tahoe Family Vacation

We hope this guide has prepared you for all the excitement that Lake Tahoe will bring. The important thing to remember is to not be rigid on your vacation plans. The more on your itinerary, the better, except when you've attached ETAs and deadlines.

Vacations are for relaxing and enjoying the surroundings. Set a good example for your kids by being calm and unbothered (even when you're not). If you need some more help planning the perfect Lake Tahoe family vacation, feel free to contact us.

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