Nevada Beach - Lake Tahoe

 Nevada Beach was the first Tahoe beach we visited as a family, and we've been back many times since. If you want to enjoy a day at the lake this might be just the place for you! You certainly can't beat the view!

Tahoe Rim Trail from Spooner Summit - Lake Tahoe

We love finding nice kid-friendly hikes! We spent a couple of hours hiking and enjoying being outside on the Tahoe Rim Trail near Spooner Summit last summer, and you should too! 

UC Davis Tahoe Science Center - Incline Village

After a recent trip up to Nevada Beach we decided to do a little exploring and check out the UC Davis Tahoe Science Center. This was a fun little stop to learn more about the amazing environment up there, and it was totally free! 

Zephyr Cove Park - Lake Tahoe

 Just across the highway from the great beaches at Zephyr Cove, you will find a little hidden gem. We stumbled across it when we were looking for the public library and I'm so glad we did!

Douglas County Library - Lake Tahoe Branch

Our family LOVES libraries! They are one of the first things we check out when we move to a new place and are such a rich treasure trove of great family-friendly (and almost always free) fun. In my last post I raved about the El Dorado County Library's South Lake Tahoe Branch, and today I have another Lake Tahoe library review for you. As there are at least 5 public libraries around the lake I'm sure I'll have more of these to share with you someday, but for now the others are still on our bucket list. 

El Dorado County Library - South Lake Tahoe Branch

The other day we were itching to get out of the house and go somewhere fun so we decided to head up the hill to Lake Tahoe. We knew it would be pretty cold for being outside, so we looked up a few fun places we could go in case the kids got too cold. After walking the beach at Zephyr Cove the kids were ready to get inside somewhere, so we headed over to South Lake Tahoe and visited the El Dorado County Library there. This is hands-down our favorite public library that we have visited since moving to Northern Nevada. They have SO much to offer little kids!

Fallen Leaf Lake - Lake Tahoe Basin

We have a new favorite place to go when we head up the mountain towards Tahoe. It's beautiful, easy to get to, and the parking is free. What more could you ask for?!

Eagle Lake - Desolation Wilderness

When I asked around on various local Facebook pages for kid-friendly hiking suggestions, the trail to Eagle Lake got mentioned more than once. I did a quick google search and immediately knew this one needed to go on our to-do list! It took us two tries to actually do this hike due to the high levels of traffic in the area, but we're so glad we didn't give up! Luckily, while Emerald Bay drives a lot of traffic to that stretch of road, the actual hiking trail up to the lake is comparatively empty. 

Book Exchange Boxes and Little Free Libraries

Have you discovered the awesomeness of Book Exchange Boxes? I only learned about their existence a few months ago, but ever since then I've been scouring the area for every one that I can find! 

Rainbow Trail - Taylor Creek Visitor Center - South Lake Tahoe

During the week of Labor Day our family made a couple of trips up the hill to the Tahoe area to do some exploring. Some of the places we visited were planned, and some of them we ended up visiting as a back-up when our original plans didn't work out. The Forest Service Visitor Center at Taylor Creek was one of those happy accidents. We had a lot of fun here, and will probably go back again to finish seeing all there is to offer. 

Sand Harbor - Lake Tahoe State Park

We went up the mountain to Tahoe a few times in the late Spring/early Summer right after we moved here, but we've been avoiding it all summer. Why? Because we just don't do crowds. I don't want to fight for a parking spot, then fight for a spot on the beach, and have to spend my whole day trying to keep track of my kids among tons of people. Recently though we learned the trick to enjoying Tahoe, even during the busy summer months. I'm sad we didn't learn this sooner, but at least we'll know for next year!

Spooner Lake and Backcountry - Lake Tahoe State Park

Okay guys! This little lake is SO beautiful! We spent Memorial Day enjoying some family time and the great outdoors hiking at this lovely little lake. If you're looking for a good, kid-friendly hike this might be just the place for you.