What Can My Family Do in Squaw Valley/Lake Tahoe?

Spa Discounts

The Spa at Squaw Creek, rated one of the top five resort spas in the country, is offering our group a 10% discount off midweek (Monday-Friday) treatments.  Call 530-583-6300 for reservations, and mention the 62nd Annual Institute. Pick up a discount voucher at the Foundation’s registration desk ahead of time. www.squawcreek.com/lake-tahoe-california-spas.php

Trilogy Spa in the Village at Squaw Valley is offering our group cozy fireside relaxation in their wine/champagne bar, in addition to a 10% discount on spa services.  Call 530-584-6125 for reservations, and mention the 62nd Annual Institute.  www.trilogyspa.com

In the Mood for Adventure?

Visit the Tahoe Adventure Company at http://tahoeadventurecompany.com for kayaking, stand-up paddleboarding, cycling, sailing, mountain bike tours, guided hikes, peak climbing, rock climbing, backpacking, historical tours, and custom adventures.  Reserve ahead of time, since many of the trips sell out in advance.

Moondogs - The Band

Join our own Susan Miller Bisong and Stuart Butzier and their fabulous band, Moondogs, at the Village at Squaw Valley for an outdoor concert on Friday evening, July 22. Details to come.

Aerial Tram

Ride the aerial tram from the base area to High Camp at an elevation of 8,200 feet.  Climbing 2,000 feet, the tram offers incredible views of the Sierra Nevada mountain range and Lake Tahoe itself.  Family pets are welcome on board.

Beaches

Soak up the California sunshine on one of the many beaches at Lake Tahoe, surrounded by majestic peaks.

Climbing Wall

Try one of the outdoor 26-foot rock climbing walls, located outside the Funitel, at the top of High Camp, and inside the Tram Building at the base of the Village. Numerous routes will test any climber, from beginner to expert.

Croquet

The classic game of croquet has made its way to Squaw Valley.  Drive wooden balls through a series of wickets set out on the lawn.  Available free of charge on the grass area outside of High Camp.

Cycling

Take a leisurely 7-mile bike ride on a paved bike path, completely apart from the road, which runs the length of the Truckee River until it meets Lake Tahoe in Tahoe City.  Great views and wildlife.  You can even rent a mesh trailer for the little ones who would rather relax for the ride.  For more serious cyclists, the path extends along the north and west shores of Lake Tahoe, all the way to Sugar Pine Point.  Excellent single-track mountain bike trails also originate near the Village base area.

Disc Golf

Squaw Valley’s disc golf course includes 3 beginner holes at High Camp for those looking to get a feel for the game, and 15 extreme holes that wind up and down Shirley Canyon.  Bring your own disc golf equipment.

Gambling

Visit the North Lake Tahoe casinos, about 20 miles from the valley.

Geocaching

An outdoor treasure hunt in which participants download an app to their phone to locate more than 2 million caches or hidden treasure boxes worldwide.  There are hidden caches all over the upper mountain for geocachers to find.

Golf

Challenge your golf game on the 18-hole Links at Squaw Creek, a narrow course where accuracy is more important than distance.  Or play on a custom-built 18-hole miniature golf course that winds through the Village – fun for kids and challenging for adults. 

Hiking

Start your journey at the base area or at High Camp, choosing from a variety of trails (maps available from Guest Services).  Climb to the weathered buttresses atop Squaw Peak, visit the historic Watson Monument at Emigrant Peak, or meander through the meadows covered with wildflowers.  Enjoy the panoramic views of Squaw Valley’s spacious upper mountain and hike through pristine alpine beauty on the mountain’s vast trail network.  Shirley Canyon leads hikers through lush greenery and cascading waterfalls.

Movies

Families and friends can snuggle up under the stars while enjoying new releases and family classics on the big screen in the Events Plaza at the Village. A different movie shows every Thursday.  Or see a movie on Commons Beach.

Music

Enjoy live music nightly everywhere, from an intimate casino once frequented by Frank Sinatra to one of North Lake Tahoe’s largest beaches at sunset.  Bluesdays happen every Tuesday – a free outdoor concert series at the Village that features acclaimed blues musicians, grab and go food offerings from Village restaurants, and a blues bar.

Paddleboarding

Challenge your balance and try stand-up paddleboarding on Lake Tahoe.

Roller-Skating

Roller skate at the High Camp Roller Rink (known as the Olympic Ice Pavilion in winter months).

Ropes-Course

Built into the hillside facing beautiful Shirley Canyon and Squaw Valley’s mountain peaks is one of the largest ropes courses in California.  Beginner and intermediate aerial trekking circuits complement vertical climbing elements, including 9 different bridges, 7 short zip lines, 5 vertical climbing events, and the giant swing.  Available for kids 5 years and older. 

Shakespeare

Take in the Lake Tahoe Shakespeare Festival, a summer staple at Sand Harbor’s outdoor amphitheater overlooking one of Tahoe’s most beautiful areas.

Slackline Park

Made nationally famous by the Gibbon Slackline Team, which performed at the 2012 Super Bowl, slacklining is an emerging sport that challenges participants to balance along a dynamic surface known as a slackline.  Since it can help improve core strength, balance, and reaction time, slacklining is popular with climbers, cyclists, and other athletes.  However, balancing on the slackline is also a fun and mentally stimulating activity for all ages.  Squaw Valley’s slackline park utilizes a myriad of poles and concrete blocks secured in the ground as anchor points for the slacklines, allowing for many different configurations and line lengths. The Squaw Valley slacklines vary in difficulty for all ranges of expertise, with lines from one to three feet off the ground.  Slackline Park is completely free to use.

Tahoe City

Visit the Foothill Farmer’s Market and Gatekeepers Museum.

Truckee

The historic Old West town of Truckee, less than 15 miles from North Lake Tahoe, features wonderfully preserved downtown buildings, modern boutiques, restaurants, bars, galleries, shops, and the Tahoe Art Haus & Cinema.

Tennis

Play tennis on the breathtaking mountaintop courts overlooking Lake Tahoe.  Rent racquets and purchase high altitude balls at the High Camp Sport Shop.

Trampoline

On the Skyjump Trampoline, you can bounce 25 feet in the air while performing somersaults and backflips.

Triathalon

Stick around on Sunday and join the Donner Lake Triathalon.

Yoga

Free yoga class every Wednesday at the Village, with special guest appearances from well-known yoga instructors.  Mats are available.