The Squeeze In has been pleasing kids since 1974. Kids get toy baskets, get to write on the walls, have a special menu and are treated like actual guests at the Squeeze In home. Order their rockin’ hot cocoa piled high with whipped cream and sprinkles. It’s a winner every time, along with the signature Teddy Bear Pancake! A bear shaped smile for every kid, young and old!
At the Tahoe House, kids feel right at home by the cozy fire, with loaner crayons, colorings books and plastic and wooden toys – all of which keeps them busy as they wolf down their bagel. Family owned and operated since 1977, the Tahoe House Bakery & Gourmet features baked breads and pastries, the “best coffee on the lake,” sandwiches and much more!
Tubing, Sledding, Snow Play!!
Granlilbakken Granlibakken ski area features a groomed snowplay area with rental saucers for sledding. Open daily, weather permitting.
Snowtubing at Squaw Valley USA Squaw’s tubing park at the Papoose Learning Center offers two tubing lanes for varying thrill levels. Open daily, weather permitting.
Sledding and Tubing at Soda Springs Winter Resort Currently only open on weekends, at Soda Springs you can sled and tube! Sledding lanes, tubing lanes and a Little Dipper children’s area provide a variety of thrill and fun for adults and children alike.
Tubing Hill at Northstar-at-Tahoe Northstar-at-Tahoe offers tubing serviced by two separate tow lifts at mid-mountain just above the Gondola.
Right now are perfect conditions to put on those skates and head to one (or all!) of North Lake Tahoe’s ice skating rinks:
Ice Skating Rink at the Village at Northstar Located at the heart of the Village at Northstar, this 9,000 square foot rink is the center of a hubbub of activity, day and night. Rentals, lessons available.
Olympic Ice Pavilion Enjoy scenic views of the Lake while skating atop Squaw Valley on an Olympic-size rink at High Camp recreation complex. Open 11am – 9pm during the winter season. Rentals, lessons available.
Ice Skating Rink at the Resort at Squaw Creek Skate on the Resort at Squaw Creek’s own private rink with heated waterfalls, hot tubs, a pool and the peaks of Squaw Valley as a backdrop. Rentals available. Open December to April.
Truckee Ice Skating Rink The Truckee rink features skate rentals, a snack bar, group and private lessons for all age groups taught by experienced instructors, broomball leagues, and more.
These are just a handful of the family opportunities up in North Lake Tahoe right now. What are your favorite family activities?
So you’ve taken time off work and booked a trip to Tahoe this winter. Check item #1 off your list. Now you’ve got an entirely different task ahead: figure out how much you can pack into your trip to make it the best ever. We could come up with a thousand things to do, but that’s what GoTahoeNorth.com is all about.
Here are some tips from fans of North Lake Tahoe on the can’t-miss, must-do, make-plans-to-enjoy things you should add to your list.
Outdoors
Snowshoe(from Esther B.). You can snowshoe in a ton of places around Tahoe, from designated trails and hiking areas, like the Tahoe Meadows at the Mt. Rose Summit, to resorts including Tahoe-Donner Cross Country Ski Area, Northstar California and Squaw Valley. Several companies, such as Tahoe Adventure Company, offer snowshoe tours, and many more shops have rentals available for day trips.
Dog Sledding(from Alena S.). Truly an experience to remember (trust us, we cherish our memory). Wilderness Adventures has hour-long tours through the Squaw Valley Meadow, between the ski resort and Resort at Squaw Creek. The guide leads a team of 8-10 huskies with a four-person sled.
Hang loose and enjoy (from Richard A.). North Lake Tahoe is definitely built for relaxation. In the winter you can still hang out on beaches and enjoy the serenity of the lake. Or, enjoy a hot beverage and the company of friends at any of the area’s watering holes, coffee houses, lodges or villages. There’s never a shortage of warm fires and great views at Tahoe.
Paddleboard Lake Tahoe on a Bluebird Day (Andy C.). This may seem a little crazy, but if you throw on a wetsuit and try really hard not to fall in, it could turn out to be your best day on the lake, ever. Consider this, in the winter there are far fewer boats on the water, making it like glass on a calm, sunny day. There’s nothing but you on a board paddling across a blue expanse and surrounded by snow-covered mountains. Paints a picture, doesn’t it? Check out this post for details on where to rent a SUP for the day.
Indoors
Rent a cabin(from Jodi S.). Definitely a cozy way to experience Tahoe and maintain that homey feel. Cabins in the area range in price and size and have a variety of amenities from ski-in/ski-out to pet friendly, lakefront views, hot tubs and more.
Visit The Center for Environmental Sciences, Sierra Nevada College (from Diane M.). Open Tuesday – Friday from 1 – 5 p.m., you can tour the center and learn about Lake Tahoe’s ecology, see research in action, fly through a 3D model of Lake Tahoe and dive under the water, and also learn about the building’s sustainable design.
Picked twice within the last six years to host the annual Mountain Travel Symposium(MTS). Yes, we’re a bit flattered.
Credit: Nathan Kendall
This April 15-21 North Lake Tahoe is going to be hopping with more than a thousand ski and mountain travel industry pros building relationships and initiating contracts that will shape the course of the next ski and board season. MST is headquartered for 2012 at Resort at Squaw Creek but all of Tahoe’s north shore will be buzzing with reps from Orbitz, Expedia, Travelocity, Ski.com, Virgin Holidays and others.
In addition to the business-to-business side of the symposium, MTS also brings two days of general sessions and workshops providing timely and cutting-edge professional development from noted industry leaders.
North Lake Tahoe Resort Association and Incline Crystal Bay Visitors Bureau have teamed up to host MTS 2012. Their hosting efforts in 2006 have people still talking about the event, and about getting back on Tahoe’s slopes to enjoy the region’s awesome snow.
If you’re new to skiing and snowboarding you can shorten the learning curve at North Lake Tahoe’s resorts during the 12th Annual Learn to Ski and Board Weekend December 10-11. Geared towards beginners, it costs only $30 and includes an all-day beginner lift ticket, group lesson, and gear rental.
Reservations are not required, but plan to arrive early. You can purchase lesson packages at each individual resort the day of lessons. And, click on the links above to get resort-specific information.
Some restrictions apply, and resorts not open December 10-11 due to early conditions may offer a Learn to Ski Weekend later in the season when weather permits. We’ll be sure to post details if that happens.
If you’re heading in from out of town be sure to check Cool Deals for great lodging, dining and activity deals.
Back for a second year, Lake Tahoe Restaurant Week October 2 – 9 is a chance to dine out with abandon and sample the best from area restaurants in easy-to-order 3-course prix-fixe menus tailored for lunch or dinner. And, they’re all just $20, $30 or $40 per person…no passes, tickets or coupons required (although we’d recommend making reservations).
So just what can you try throughout the week? Here’s a look at the participating North Lake Tahoe restaurants along with links to their Lake Tahoe Restaurant Week menus (where available):
The Lake Tahoe Autumn Food & Wine Festival is a fun weekend to explore the world of wines and beer, sample tasty treats and learn tips and techniques from the pros. But it’s also a chance for chefs and wineries to compete for top honors. Here’s a list of the 2011 winners.
Judges Awards
Best Food & Wine Pairings:
Gold: Six Peaks Grille, Smoked Duck Breast with Camembert Crostini and Caramelized Fig paired with 2008 Villa Maria Pinot Noir
Silver: Hawks Restaurant (pictured right), House Cured Salame paired with Scott Harvey Napa Valley Sparkling Pinot Noir Blanc
Bronze: Chocolate Bar, Veal Cheeks, Carrots and Sweet Peas paired with 2008 Santa Barbara Collection Pinot Noir
Best Pairing Food and Beverages:
Gold: Hard Rock Café, Vietnamese Bahn Mi Sandwich, paired with Charbay Artisan Distillery, Green Tea Lemonade
Best White Wine:
Gold: Scott Harvey Napa Valley Sparkling Pinot Noir Blanc
Silver: 2009 ZD California Chardonnay
Bronze: Dr. Loosen German Sparkling Riesling
Best Red Wine:
Gold: 2008 Santa Barbara Collection Pinot Noir
Silver: 2008 Pride Sonoma Cabernet Sauvignon
Bronze: 2008 Renwood Old Vine Zinfandel
Best Food:
Gold: Hawks Restaurant, House Cured Salame
Silver: River Ranch Lodge, Wild Game Meatloaf with Mushroom Jus
Bronze: Wild Goose, Braised Pork Belly with Chipotle Guava Glaze
Blazing Pans Champion:
Longboards Bar & Grill beat out Evergreen Restaurant, secret ingredient rabbit
And the People’s Choice Awards…
Best Food & Wine Pairings:
PlumpJack Café at Squaw Valley Inn (pictured right), Plum & Cinnamon Braised Beef Short Rib with Mac ‘n’ Cheese
Orin Swift Cellars, 2008 Papillon Red Blend
Best Food:
PlumpJack Café at Squaw Valley Inn, Plum & Cinnamon Braised Beef Short Rib with Mac ‘n’ Cheese
Best Red Wine:
Orin Swift Cellars, 2008 Papillon Red Blend
Best White Wine:
Frank Family Vineyards, 2009 Chardonnay
Best Other:
Charbay Artisan Distillery, Green Tea Lemonade
Best Table Presentation:
Northstar-at-Tahoe and Stags Leap Clos du Val Winery
The Lake Tahoe Autumn Food & Wine Festival kicks off today. To help you navigate the festival and ensure you catch all the seminars and tastings you’d like, we’ve loaded a printable schedule of events. Just click and print. Enjoy!
Credit Jeff Lamppert. Chef Lars Kronmark's grilling demo from 2010. He's back in 2011 for the "Some Like It Hot" seminar.
The Lake Tahoe Autumn Food & Wine Festival is practically a culinary rite of passage at Tahoe, where guests can learn from some of the region’s top chefs and taste the Tahoe difference. This year’s festival is another phenomenal experience with a lineup of tastings, seminars and hands-on classes we’re already salivating over. Here’s this blogger’s quick pick list for Saturday’s events. Be sure to check the full schedule to see what delicious opportunities we couldn’t include here.
Outdoor Grilling with Chef Mark Estee, 11 a.m. Not only is Mark something of a local legend, the food in his Tahoe-area restaurants keeps us wanting more.
The Chocolate Bar, 12:30 p.m. They’ll have a chocolate-based cocktail and food seminar. We’d love to learn how to pair chocolate with as much as we possibly can.
Cuisine Unique Cooking Demo with Douglas Dale, 2:45 p.m. Chef Dale’s “fresh food, simply prepared” has made Wolfdale’s a Tahoe institution. We’re anticipating some great new tips on ingredients, techniques and unconventional food combos to keep our own home cooking vibrant.
Charbay Artisan Winery & Distillery, 5:45 p.m. Marko and Jenni Karakasevic showcase a tasting of whiskey in all its stages, from the beer they distill to the un-aged whiskey, then to the final barrel aged version. So cool to learn (and taste!) the process.
The festival also includes the 8th annual Grape Stomp and Vineyard Luncheon Friday, September 9 and the Culinary Competition and Grand Tasting Sunday, September 11. Saturday’s events also include the Gourmet Marketplace Wine and Brew Walk and Trade Fair.
August 9 at Lake Tahoe kicks off a four-day training session for two adaptive athletes on an adventure that culminates in a January 17, 2012 arrival at the South Pole. While they’ll be heading towards the Pole in a small group with just guides and a documentary team, they’re looking for a virtual “armada” of paddlers to join them in their Tahoe training, either paddling along or cheering from shore as the wrap up each leg.
John Davis
As part of rigorous training for a 100-mile journey across the Antarctic landscape – all of which will be professionally filmed – Lake Tahoe residents and spinal cord-injury athletes John Davis, a two-time Paralympics gold medalist, and Grant Korgan, a world-class kayaker and adventurer, are set to kayak approximately 50 miles in 4 days following the Lake Tahoe Water Trail. Seasoned guides Doug Stoup and Tal Fletcher of Lake Tahoe will accompany Davis and Korgan on stand up paddleboards.
Davis rates paddling Lake Tahoe as a soulful experience. “You’re completely surrounded by snowcapped peaks while sitting atop tranquil waters so clear that you can literally see 75 feet down. But the lake also makes for a fantastic cross-training venue as we’ll be paddling approximately 96,800 paddle strokes, just more than half the 176,174 pole pushes required to trek 100 miles across the frozen landscape to the South Pole.”
Grant Korgan
“The Push” expedition team encourages the public to join the paddle, whether it be for an hour or day, creating a human-powered armada to follow and cheer on the team via kayaks and stand up paddleboards. According to Korgan, “With this Lake Tahoe paddle training event, as well as the overall mission of ‘The Push,’ we hope to inspire people of all walks of life that they too can achieve the seemingly insurmountable. We encourage them to push their own everyday limits and live up to their ultimate potential.”
If you’d like to paddle along or cheer from the shore, here’s the rough schedule of events:
Day 1
Tuesday, August 9, 10 miles
6 a.m.: Launch from Sunnyside Restaurant & Lodge on the West Shore of Lake Tahoe paddling clockwise 7 miles to Carnelian Bay, California.
Approx. Noon: “The Push” team will land at a lakefront estate for a private lunch and presentation. Any paddling spectators can head on to Waterman’s Landing in Carnelian Bay for a light lunch.
“The Push” team then paddles to Waterman’s Landing for a quick stop before continuing onto Tahoe Vista, California, completing leg one
Approx. 5 p.m.: Arrive at Mourelatos Lakeshore Resort. One of the most festive days of the trip, this landing is open to the public and will include live music, along with free stand up paddleboard and kayak rentals and demonstrations.
Day 2
Wednesday, August 10, 16 miles
8 a.m.: Departing Mourelatos Lakeshore Resort and paddle 16 miles along the North Shore to camp lakeside on Nevada’s East Shore.
Day 3
Thursday, August 11, 12 miles
Paddle from East Shore clockwise along the lake to a campground located on Tahoe’s West Shore
Day 4
Friday, August 12, 12 miles
Depart early morning and paddle to the historic Ehrman Mansion at Sugar Pine Point on the West Shore, 10 miles south of Tahoe City
Noon: Picnic lunch at Ehrman Mansion, then continue on to Sunnyside Restaurant and Lodge
Approx. 6 p.m.: Arrive at Sunnyside Restaurant & Lodge. Another great spectator and cheering opportunity.
“The Push” Lake Tahoe Paddle Event is the second training event for the athletes, who visited Norway’s Svalbard arctic archipelago this past spring. A third filmed training session hits the ice in South America this September, with a final training event in Nevada’s Black Rock Desert this October. “The Push” is targeting a documentary film release for summer/fall of 2012. Follow the journey of “The Push.”
“The Push” is in support of the High Fives Foundation, a California-based non-profit organization whose mission is to help winter athletes suffering life-altering injuries get back on their feet, and ideally, get back to their sport.
If you’re looking for music outdoors with a variety of concerts, headliners and festivals then you’re looking for Lake Tahoe’s High Notes. Here’s a look at the summer-long music series, running through September.
Free Weekly Summer Concerts
Tahoe’s lined up free outdoor live performances every night of the week, except Mondays. Check out:
Tahoe City’s Concerts at Commons Beach, Sundays
Bluesdays every Tuesday at the Village at Squaw Valley
Wednesday Music in the Park at the Truckee Regional Park
Truckee Thursdays with live tunes along Commercial Row
Kings Beach rings in the weekend lakeside each Friday
Squaw Valley is also home to the inaugural KT Tribute Concert Series the first Friday of each month with free concerts under the legendary peak of KT-22
Be sure to check out the historic casino corridor where the Crystal Bay Club has free concerts throughout the week, as well as ticketed bands from the Bay Area.
Summer Headliner Events
The summer calendar is also packed with a number of fabulous ticketed musical events held throughout the region. In addition to its popular Shakespeare on the Beach, the Lake Tahoe Shakespeare Festival offers a Monday music series in their scenic Sand Harbor amphitheater. This summer’s calendar is the best of the best with the Reno Philharmonic performing Broadway on the Beach July 18, Mumbo Gumbo August 1 and Jelly Bread August 15.
Right on the picturesque Truckee River, River Ranch Lodge has its annual Summer Concert Series with Zepparella July 22 and Great American Taxi August 4.
The Lake Tahoe Music Festival has long been one of the summer’s must-attend events with a variety of musical performances, including the Blues Traveler July 21, Colbie Caillat August 4 and Michael Bolton August 25 at the Village at Northstar.
In addition to its free events, the Crystal Bay Club brings in ticketed performers, including Delhi 2 Dublin, July 16, that hosts gritty hip hop and electronic beats with traditional Indian influences and Celtic sounds. A locals’ favorite, 80s Dance Party Tainted Love, plays August 13, with the “Avant Cellist” Zoe Keating on August 18.
The Robert Cray Band performs August 13 on the driving range next to the Trout Creek Recreation Center at Tahoe Donner in Truckee. The Grammy-award winning Cray is considered to be one of the most impressive vocalists and guitarists on the contemporary rhythm and blues scene.
Summer Music Festivals
Namaste in North Lake Tahoe this summer with the ultimate in yoga throwdowns as the popular Wanderlust Festival returns to the scenic valley of Squaw Valley July 28-31. In addition to yoga sessions and wellness programs, the event includes the positive vibrations of Michael Franti and Spearhead, the electronic dance party mashups of Girl Talk and the ecstatic chants of Jai Uttal.
The summer calendar is also packed with a number of fabulous ticketed musical events held throughout the region. In addition to its popular Shakespeare on the Beach, the 
Namaste in North Lake Tahoe this summer with the ultimate in yoga throwdowns as the popular 
