Do you want to play indoors or outdoors or both? In a town that never shuts down, both is often the answer when visiting the South Shore of Lake Tahoe.

Wildflowers are popping up at lake level now, with the higher elevations not likely to be awash in color until late summer. The delay is because of all the snow.

Before thinking about hiking in the higher elevations, check with our staff or the local Forest Service office. Explore Tahoe in the Heavenly Village is a great resource for where to hike, getting some history about the area and picking up the local public bus. It’s also an excellent place to take your kids.

Plenty of beaches in the area have water toys to rent - like kayaks, paddleboards, paddleboats and motorboats. The wind can pick up in the afternoon, so be cautious about getting too far from shore.

Cycling is another fun activity in the area. Rentals are available at the activities center if you don’t bring your own bike. Lots of fun dirt trails of all ability levels abound. A few paved trails exist, but it’s the dirt that makes you really feel like you are in Tahoe.

Less stressful is a ride up the Heavenly Mountain Resort gondola. The views - well - we don’t think they get any better. Be sure to get off at the midway point and walk the 360-degree platform. Make sure your camera battery is charged.

Another Kodak moment is being aboard one of the two paddle-wheelers - Tahoe Queen or M.S. Dixie II. They offer cruises to Emerald Bay in the middle of the day and at sunset.

If music is what you are looking for, Harveys is again having its outdoor concert series. There is also the Lake Tahoe Music Festival, events at Valhalla at the Tallac Historic Site, shows inside the casinos, and lesser-known acts at smaller venues. A good source for events is www.tahoesouth.com.

If you want to keep up with what is going on with local news now or when you are here, LakeTahoeNews.net is the only source for news and activities about Lake Tahoe seven days a week.

As always, our front desk staff doubles as our concierge service and are ready to assist you with your plans.

Happy Summer!
Kathleen

The free extravaganza is appropriately called Lights on the Lake. This is because the fireworks are shot off from a barge floating in the lake. With the midnight, black sky, the colors are brighter than most anywhere else.

The American Pyrotechnics Association, a trade association for the fireworks industry, ranks the Lake Tahoe South Shore the fourth best Fourth of July display in the country. New York, Chicago and Washington took the top three spots.

The fun starts at 9:45pm - well, at least the fireworks do.

The show is set to music provided by KRLT-93.9FM - so be sure to be close to someone with a radio. It just adds a whole different dimension to the event.

The fun can be an all-day thing. If you are going to watch the fireworks from one of the beaches, be sure to stake out a spot early. Also, it gets chilly at night, so bring layers and not just traditional beach clothes.

Many of the beaches don’t allow alcohol on the Fourth.

Also, no personal fireworks are allowed - on either side of the state line.

Consider hiking to one of the waterfalls during the day - Eagle Falls and Cascade Falls are in the Emerald Bay area. With the abundance of snow this year, it’s still melting in the higher elevations and making its way to lake level.

Several restaurants have dusted off their out outdoor furniture to make dining outdoors an option. Some are near the lake, some more inland. Our staff can direct you to the flavor of food you crave.