Palisades Tahoe Is the Place to Go for Summer Family Fun

If you asked us what our idea was of a perfect destination for family fun in Lake Tahoe, we'd have to say Palisades Tahoe (formerly Squaw Valley) near Tahoe's north shore. There's so much for families to do here—it really is the ideal place for a summer family getaway in the mountains.

Palisades Tahoe, which came to prominence as the site of the 1960 Winter Olympics, is of course known for its skiing and snowboarding, but it's also home to summer activities like biking, hiking, swimming, roller skating, climbing, zip lining, and even shopping in the Village. You never even have to leave the valley when you're there!

Family Activities

Active families will find plenty to do at Palisades Tahoe. One of the highlights of our visit was a trip via tram up to Palisades' High Camp. Climb aboard the cable car in the Village and ascend over 2,000 feet to High Camp (elevation 8,200 feet) where you can swim, relax in the hot tub, roller skate, play disc golf and lawn games, and hike through fields of summer wildflowers.

At High Camp you'll find also a restaurant and a small museum dedicated to the 1960 Winter Olympics. The tram ride up and down the mountain is pretty thrilling, and you're treated to amazing views of Lake Tahoe and the surrounding mountains once you're up there.

Another great option for families is for the kids to participate in Kids Adventure Camp. With this fun and fantastic outdoor adventure day camp program, kids will swim, ride the aerial tram, hike, bike, study navigation, engineer, cook, do yoga, and take park in many other hands-on activities.

Kids Adventure Camp is offered Friday through Monday from 9 am to 3 pm for kids ages of 5 to 13 and costs $170 per child, per day, including a tram ticket and lunch. You can reserve your camp spot in advance online here.

Photo: Palisades Tahoe

Palisafes is also a great place for a fun family bike ride. A safe, separated bike path runs from the Village down to Highway 89, where it hooks up with the Truckee River Trail, which you can take all the way into Tahoe City and beyond. Along the way you'll find spectacular views as well as a small park and playground near the entrance to the valley. 

You can bring your own bikes or rent them in there. We rented bikes from the Parallel Mountain Sports shop in the Village and even got free water bottles to take on our trip.

My kids also loved challenging themselves on the ropes course offered at the nearby Treetop Adventure Park. Similar to the one offered at nearby Granlibakken, this ropes course offers a series of platforms connected by rope bridges and zip lines, as well as climbing towers and a "leap of faith." Instruction and safety gear are provided, and you can do whatever activity you like there during your two-hour session.

It's less structured than the one at Granlibakken, which has more courses, but it's perfect for families with kids of all ages. We saw children as young as five tackling the course, along with teenager and grownups, too.

The Village offers plenty of activities, too, including a Skyjump bungee trampoline, an indoor climbing wall, and even giant board games you can play. Other activities include free outdoor movies, and live music. See the whole schedule of events and activities here.

Where to Stay

Staying right in the Village is a perfect option for families, since you're only steps away from all the fun, shopping, and dining. Condo suites in the Village are spacious and have a fully-equipped kitchen, gas fireplace, and all the comforts of home. You'll also have access to all the Village amenities including outdoor hot tubs, media room, children's game room, fitness facilities, and more.

It's super convenient to be right in the middle of all the activity in the village, and so easy to come back and relax after a day of fun without having to drive anywhere. Service is always helpful and friendly, and there's underground parking with elevator access directly into the buildings. Make reservations at www.palisadestahoe.com or at (866) 818-6963.

We've also been lucky enough to stay at Squaw Valley Lodge and highly recommend it for families. Conveniently located right next to the Village, the Lodge offers condo accommodations with the benefits of a hotel. Our two-level unit was spotlessly clean and nicely appointed, and had an amazing view of the mountains. It was fun to watch the tram whisk right past our windows. We also had a full kitchen with all the supplies we needed to make our own meals.

Amenities at Squaw Valley Lodge include a spacious lobby with a fireplace, a swimming pool and hot tubs, ping pong tables, and tennis courts. There's also free coffee and tea in the lobby, as well as gas BBQ grills by the pool. There's also a fitness center and spa on-site.

Make reservations online at www.squawvalleylodge.com or by calling (855) 549-6742.

Dining and Shopping

The Village at Palisades Tahoe is home to over 50 shops and restaurants, as well as accommodations. We like Fireside for pizza and Mountain Nectar for smoothies, wraps, and bagels. Don't miss the Palisades Tahoe Logo Company for T-shirts, caps, outerwear, toys, postcards, and other souvenirs.

Tips for Families

• Make your ropes course reservations in advance—they often sell out.
• Bring your own refillable water bottles. Palisades has water bottle filling stations located throughout the resort.
• Rocker sports bar has hot chocolate, which is the perfect thing to sip on during outdoor movie night.
• There's a Safeway in nearby Tahoe City where you can stock up on groceries.
• Tram tickets are expensive, so plan on making a day of it and maximizing your time in High Camp.
• Save your seats early for outdoor movie night by putting down blankets or other placeholders. (Comfy Adirondack chairs are provided to sit on.)

If You Go

Palisades Tahoe is located in Olympic Valley off Highway 89 near Lake Tahoe. To get there, take Highway 101 to Highway 37 in Novato and head east through Vallejo to Interstate 80. Take I-80 all the way to Truckee, where you'll take the Highway 89 exit and head south. Follow Highway 89 until it reaches Olympic Valley Road, where you'll turn right and follow it into Olympic Valley. For more information on activities at Palisades Tahoe visit www.palisadestahoe.com.

For other Tahoe family getaway ideas, check out our article on visiting Truckee and Tahoe City.

Disclosure: Palisades Tahoe and Squaw Valley Lodge provided us with accommodations during our stays.