Looking for fun ideas for your summer trip to South Lake Tahoe? Say no more! We have a list of over 13 things that you can do solo, with friends, and with family! South Lake Tahoe boasts beautiful scenery, crystal blue water, and endless views! If you’re into hiking or you’re just looking to get away and spend some time in nature, take a look at our top list of fun things to do in South Lake Tahoe!
After you check out our list, make sure to keep reading to get our insider scoop on the Best Restaurants in Tahoe, South Lake Tahoe Weather, and even check out the South Lake Tahoe Live Cam!
Look at the beautiful blue water! If you’re at a stalemate and don’t know what to do, we suggest going straight to the lake. You’ll draw some immediate inspiration from there and then you can consider all these other fun ideas!
- Emerald Bay State Park: Emerald bay is beyond beautiful! Emerald Bay State Park is a place to stop and eat lunch with a view or walk down to the beach and rent some kayaks!
- Explore Fannette Island: Located in Emerald Bay, you’ll find a small island with a small structure to explore. Take a kayak or paddleboard and explore!
- Mountain bike on Corral Trail. Corral Trail is a popular place for novice and advanced bikers. Some bikers will even bring their furry friends along for their ride!
- Float down the Upper Truckee River! This river is 23 miles long and it’s perfect for anyone who wants to have a relaxing day! Most people will use kayaks but you’ll also see some SUP’s!
- Spend a day at the Edgewood Hotel: This hotel offers golfing, a spa, and all the bells and whistles!
Top Tahoe Activities Continued…
6. Book a Hot Air Balloon for the day!
7. Explore some local hikes! We love Powerline Trail but there are many other options that are not as long! If you start your day early and get a great hike in, you can reward yourself with some celebratory beers from South Lake Brewing Company!
8. Spend the afternoon at Bijou Community Park: This is a fun park for the whole family. There’s a dog park, bike trail, and even a disc golf course to play. Furry friends will love it here!
9. Stroll through one of the amazing Farmer’s Markets! There are multiple that happen during the week and on the weekend. The Ski Run Farmer’s Market takes place on Fridays from 3-8pm.
10. Take a swim in Fallen Leaf Lake! The water is actually super cold but it’s absolutely beautiful! If you’re not into swimming, you can also kayak and paddleboard here!
11. Visit the South Lake Tahoe Airport – for drinks! Okay so this is a funny one but there’s actually a bar that overlooks the South Lake Tahoe Airport! Flight Deck is a fun sports bar to try out while you’re in Tahoe.
12. Try out a Sailing Cruise on the lake! There are options for sunset cruises, fishing excursions, and daily trips.
13. Take a day’s adventure to Heavenly Village. This might be a little touristy for some but you can take a ride in a Gondola to the top of heavenly and get a chance to see one of the world’s most amazing views. Once you’re hungry, we suggest Base Camp Pizza. The atmosphere is awesome and if you’re there at night, it’s likely you’ll get to experience some live music!
Weather and Important Things to Contemplate Before Your Trip
Weather in South Lake Tahoe during the summer is ideal for an outdoor adventure. Sometimes the temperatures can get hot (80 degrees+) so we made a quick list of ways to prepare for your trip:
- Check the weather! Here is the South Lake Tahoe Weather report for the next 10 days
- Pack Sunscreen, bug spray, and bring a small emergency kit
- Bring outdoor-friendly shoes (for hiking and activities), clothing that will allow you to move freely, and bring a jacket because it can get cold at night
- Summer nights can still get down to the 40’s and sometimes lower so make sure you have clothing that can be layered
- Pack lots of socks if you’re hiking and make sure to bring enough water. If you’re planning a long hike, bring a camelback or something similar
- SLT can get very busy – book your lodging a few months ahead of time!
- Consider the elevation. Make sure to stay hydrated because at an elevation of 6,327, your body will need much more water to function properly.
- To get a sneak peek of South Lake Tahoe, Check out this South Lake Tahoe Web Cam.
- If you’re bringing your dog, make sure you’re prepared for the trip – check out our suggestions for traveling with your pup!
Best restaurants in South Lake Tahoe that You Absolutely Must Try
Once you’ve made it to SLT, you won’t just want to see the beautiful lake, you’ll also want to eat the best food!
Best Pizza in South Lake Tahoe: Hands down, this is Base Camp Pizza. Base Camp Pizza is great for to-go or dining in and during the summer, the patio draws in lots of excitement. You can listen to live music and enjoy the vibes!
Best Thai in South Lake Tahoe: My Thai is our go-to place! Service is quick, the food is amazing, and the portions are just big enough that you won’t need a huge to-go box!
Best Bakery in Tahoe: Without a doubt, Crazy Good Bakery is crazy good! This bakery gets busy in the a.m. but it’s worth the wait. Try out a piece of their Razzleberry pie, or ask for their breakfast biscuit. You can’t go wrong ordering any of their pastries or coffees. There’s no wifi here which is actually amazing – you can spend time enjoying your baked goods!
Best Sushi: The Naked Fish should be on your sushi bucket list. This is the freshest sushi that we’ve tried in SLT and we love the small, intimate atmosphere. Arrive early to make sure you get a table!
Best Brewery: There are tons of brewery options in South Lake Tahoe so we will actually list our favorite two – South Lake Brewing Company and The Hangar. Both Breweries are dog friendly – score!
Best Date Night: A fun date night could be a trip to MacDuff’s Pub or you could get fancy and check out The Lake House. If you’re looking for chill bar vibes, MacDuff’s. If you’re looking for a special dinner night, The Lake House.
Best Drinks: Beacon Bar and Grill! Located on the lake, you can’t leave without trying out their famous drink – the Rum Runner.
Best Healthy Lunch: Sprouts! Sprouts has been a staple in SLT for quite some time. We never leave Sprouts without fresh juice and nachos!
Best BBQ: Sonney’s BBQ Shack – their phone number has the word ribs in it, so that has to say something!
Final Thoughts
We’ve listed a ton of tasty restaurants above but would also like to call out that there are a ton of other options! South Lake Tahoe has tons of great food, quaint little coffee houses, and tons of options for every diet!
As always, thanks so much for stopping by Tru&Well! If you’ve visited Tahoe recently, feel free to drop some other ideas in the comments! We’ve only listed 13 but there are probably 100+ other fun ideas for every type of traveler.
xx,
T&W
1 comment
Your blog provides an exciting list of activities for a fun and adventurous summer in South Lake Tahoe. It offers a diverse range of experiences that capture the essence of this stunning destination during the warmer months. Thanks for sharing these fantastic ideas to make the most of South Lake Tahoe in the summer! 🌞🏞️