Lake Tahoe
Nothing quite prepares you for Lake Tahoe - it really is a sparkling emerald-turquoise color because the lake is so deep and the water is incredibly pure. Tahoe is a king-size lake (22 miles long, 12 miles wide), with smooth sandy beaches, surrounded by evergreen forests and high mountains. Lake Tahoe is accessible year round.
Tip:
Lake Tahoe is a very popular destination for families, summer and winter, but the fall is also a wonderful time to explore Lake Tahoe - in September and October, the beaches are deserted, trees turn golden yellow, and it's much less crowded.
Here's our own Travel for Kids hand-picked list of family hotels, all styles and price ranges, convenient to fun things to do with kids at Lake Tahoe:
