If you haven’t been to Lake Tahoe yet, it is certainly worth the trip! From hiking to boating , to river floats and ropes courses. They really have it all. This is a recap of our Fourth of July week trip to North Lake Tahoe/Truckee area.
Adventures abound:
Tahoe Tree Top: This is a little and big kid playground. They have three different locations: one in Squaw, Tahoe City and Tahoe Vista area. They are all different, from challenging to easy. They give you two hours to enjoy all the different ropes courses and zip lines. My kids can’t get enough of these courses and beg us to come back every time we come to Tahoe.
Truckee River Rafting: A perfect river float for the whole family. It is easy, scenic and fun for all ages. There are different places along the way that you can stop and jump out of your boat to hang out, swim or just take some pictures. The best part is you finish off right at this great outdoor restaurant, where you can spend the afternoon watching everyone else finish up their river float.
RaftCalifornia: If you are ready for something a little more exciting and a little more thrilling than a float, this is for you! Trip length is 7 miles and kids 7 and older can take on this portion of the Truckee River. Trips start at $79 per person.
NorthStar California: We make sure to come here in the summer and the winter. They have great activities for children in both seasons. In the summer you can go roller skating on their large ice rink in the center of the village. They have a great miniature golf course setup throughout the village. You can take the gondola up to the top of the mountain and hike or bike around, dogs included! They also have panning for gold, a rock wall, a spider climb and a bungee trampoline. They even had a kids adventure games this year, but we didn’t get there in time to participate. Last but not least they also have live music at night, check their local calendar for dates and times.
Lake Tahoe/Donner Lake: Either one is a win win. Both have boats, paddle boards and jet skis for rent. We personally go to Donner Lake. Just a little smaller and fewer people. We always call ahead and rent our boat and jet skis before we depart for our trip.
Truckee Bike Park: This is a well maintained dirt bike park, with tons of different tracks. This is my nephew’s go to spot when we are in Tahoe. They have tracks for beginners, to those folks ready to fly off the jumps. They even have a side by side slalom course, where you can race one another.
Hiking: Obviously there are a lot of hiking and biking trails around. I would do your research here, to determine what is right for you and your family. One of our first hikes out this trip we 
ran into a brown bear and her cubs. This made the kids a little nervous about hiking the rest of the trip. So we stayed on paved trails the rest of our stay.
Truckee 4th of July Parade: If you happen to be in the area next year, don’t miss out on this parade. It is everything a small town parade should be and I have actually seen a few in my day, despite being from the city. It only lasts about an hour, but you should still get there early to put your chair out and get a good spot.
And a quick note on our favorite restaurants:
The Cottenwood: Great food with a great view
Drunken Monkey: Sushi time, even in the mountains
Bar of America: Upscale bar food and a place we always make a stop at when we visit
FiftyFifty Brewing Co: Beer destination with some food on the side
